MANCHESTER 1

[LandingConfig]

QR023/024 becomes QR045/046 from 25OCT15.

[LAX_LHR]

Qatar are likely to make the Triples a regular feature from March, passenger numbers are not great, but cargo is regularly over subscribed, hence the triples we are seeing in Oct.

[Jamie2k9]

Pholling

Why would the US be concerend with self service desks?

The bags still go through the same process....and self service is available accross the US!

[Mr A Tis]

I've used self service bag drop in Manchester(Flybe), Southampton(Flybe), Amsterdam(KLM), Frankfurt(LH) & Vancouver (AC). It's rather like Tesco's i.e. takes longer than staffed desks - nothing "efficient" about it whatsoever- other than saving staff costs. As the manual check in desk at Vancouver said...."these machines almost never working right, " Unexpected suitcase in the tagging area...............

[LAX_LHR]

Due to bans of their aircraft from Austria, the UK and now Sweden, Iraqi Airways are likely to suspend UK ops until the situation is resolved.

[eggc]

Last few UK into flights into MAN and LGW have been operated by a 734 of a Maltese charter airline, wondered why. Why have they been banned, their 738's are brand new !

[pholling]

Why would the US be concerend with self service desks?

The bags still go through the same process....and self service is available accross the US!

While online and self-service checkin is common in the US, I haven't seen many instances where the bag-drop portion is automated. Though it looks like that is beginning to roll out. Typically when you drop your bag in the US they insist on matching your photo-ID to your boarding pass. This hasn't happened at the self serve bag-drop points that I have used in Europe. Obviously, this could be done, by performing checks in the line along with the usual ICTS(sp?) checks that they tend to perform for US bound flights. However, the system seems to be currently set-up for single airline at-a-time per desk/group of desks. To really achieve the efficiencies that the airport would like, you need to move everything but special situations to truly common use, i.e. anyone can use any machine. A slightly less efficient would be group all the US departures together. Further, in the case of pre-clearance, if the system is similar to DUB they photograph your bag on check-in, and you are asked to match it in Immigration. I can imagine that some groups who are travelling together but not family could have issues with this part.

[TURIN]

Is there a link to any plans for the terminal developments apart from the CGI shots of terminal 2.

Here's what I remember from the brief...

[IMG][/IMG]

Sorry it's a bit rough but my pc drawing skills are rudimentary to say the least.

[eggc]

T3 extends to the right of pier B, but apart from that I think your design is roughly what we are looking at.

[Jamie2k9]

While online and self-service checkin is common in the US, I haven't seen many instances where the bag-drop portion is automated. Though it looks like that is beginning to roll out. Typically when you drop your bag in the US they insist on matching your photo-ID to your boarding pass. This hasn't happened at the self serve bag-drop points that I have used in Europe. Obviously, this could be done, by performing checks in the line along with the usual ICTS(sp?) checks that they tend to perform for US bound flights. However, the system seems to be currently set-up for single airline at-a-time per desk/group of desks. To really achieve the efficiencies that the airport would like, you need to move everything but special situations to truly common use, i.e. anyone can use any machine. A slightly less efficient would be group all the US departures together. Further, in the case of pre-clearance, if the system is similar to DUB they photograph your bag on check-in, and you are asked to match it in Immigration. I can imagine that some groups who are travelling together but not family could have issues with this part.

Bag photo's are a small part and can be done internally and don't require the passengers present as is done with transit passengers.

As for matching ID in the US, I expect this is most likely airline policy rather than US security policy as they are domestic flights and if strict procedures were not in place anybody could fly under anybody's name. Saving them from been fined. This wouldn't be a problem for Int flights.

Think you are over analyzing self service desks a little to much, any technology can take automatic photo's if the US really want them taken at check in.

[pholling]

Bag photo's are a small part and can be done internally and don't require the passengers present as is done with transit passengers.

As for matching ID in the US, I expect this is most likely airline policy rather than US security policy as they are domestic flights and if strict procedures were not in place anybody could fly under anybody's name. Saving them from been fined. This wouldn't be a problem for Int flights.

Think you are over analyzing self service desks a little to much, any technology can take automatic photo's if the US really want them taken at check in.

It isn't the technology that is the problem, it is the hard-soft interface, someone who occasionally travels vs a member of staff performing a task repeatedly. Taking pictures of the bags, as done in DUB, is really an automated process, though initiated by a member of the check-in staff. An automated bag acceptance system could just as easily do this. This is similar to how the T3 gates automatically take pictures of departing domestic passengers, which are then matched later. The issue is when the images get crossed. If my wife and I are travelling and I see her bag and she sees mine it isn't an issues since we know what each other's bag looks like. When I travel with colleagues I am not familiar with their bags. The issue is that this process can fail and when it does can cost the operators tens and hundreds of thousands in delays. It is not that these systems cannot be made to work. The key is that you deliver them in such a way as to work out the issues before you remove the viable alternatives. Unfortunately, I have found this often not to be the case.

US airlines safety and security policies are, in many cases, effectively the law. Failure to comply can in some cases be considered a criminal violation. This is because they have had the policy approved as a means of compliance to a portion of either the CFR or USC. Of course the airlines can propose an alternative means of compliance. This doesn't happen instantly, but as you say there is nothing, inherently, that prevents the use of automated or semi-automated systems, it just has to be properly proposed and rolled out.

[kieb92]

Lufthansa LH404 diverted into MAN 30 mins ago with a wheel well fire indication. Landed safely with no fire on 23L. Aircraft was D-ABYA Boeing 747-8 so first visit of this type to MAN?

[eggc]

Not a first type visit, Cathay have sent them previously.

[Armodeen]

There's a nice picture on twitter from the incident

[Bagso]

Well what do you know...

Manchester Stavanger direct flights and hotels being pushed by MAN today . A route that clearly needed a 'leg up' not so long ago being given some extra umph !

[Bagso]

As you were re promotion of our 'direct'
Manchester Stavanger.

....every flight was via Amsterdam with KLM, even the direct ones.

If you do not have non stop flights to a destination by all means promote the next best option BUT if you do ?

Well...... answers on a postcard!

[GavinC]

wasn't this the first time for the 747-8i then as the previous visitors were the 8F?

[Ian Brooks]

Correct Gavin as to honest not many pax B748s around other than Luftie


Ian

[GavinC]

appreciate that this is not MAN related but interesting nonetheless particularly for MAG owned STN and perhaps for MAN in the future.


Ryanair talking to IAG about transfer connections - RTÉ News?

[Skipness One Echo]

He said he had spoken with IAG "in the context if IAG were to do something long-haul out of Stansted," a major operational hub for Ryanair.

That's likely "never" then.