MANCHESTER 1
Join Date: Apr 2004
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I hope Atlanta is not cut, while transferring through American hub airports is not my favorite option, the shear frequencies and number of routes Delta operate out of ATL makes it possible to get to almost any where in North/South America via a single stop.
Plus ATL is one of the better US airports to transit through, as just seems more organised tan other places.
If the route is passed back to Delta, a 767-300 might be a more realistically sized aircraft on the route. Especially with the dilution of them upgrading the 757 to a 767 aircraft on the MAN-JFK route and the new services to the US by Virgin and other airlines.
Plus ATL is one of the better US airports to transit through, as just seems more organised tan other places.
If the route is passed back to Delta, a 767-300 might be a more realistically sized aircraft on the route. Especially with the dilution of them upgrading the 757 to a 767 aircraft on the MAN-JFK route and the new services to the US by Virgin and other airlines.
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A lot of knickers getting in a twist about something that has been mentioned once and once only on an 'I have heard' basis.
I was a regular on the DL - ATL and am slightly less so on the VS operated version (although I've already used it more than most would in a lifetime).
Unscientific observations:
1. The Business cabin on the DL76 and the VS 330 are both similar sized and there is rarely a spare seat in either cabin (save for the pilots' rest seat on DL)
2 The back end seems to do ok on both
3. Oddly I have observed that spare seats are most likely found in the Premium Economy section.
4. The bar on the VS gives an opportunity to get to know one's fellow travelers, I have to say it surprises me how many are connecting onto SFO - however 2 per week in the summer ain't going to cut it for the business traveler
Overall I would suspect that DL and VS do pretty well out of MAN-ATL
So I agree it would be madness to cut some ATL for some SFO
I was a regular on the DL - ATL and am slightly less so on the VS operated version (although I've already used it more than most would in a lifetime).
Unscientific observations:
1. The Business cabin on the DL76 and the VS 330 are both similar sized and there is rarely a spare seat in either cabin (save for the pilots' rest seat on DL)
2 The back end seems to do ok on both
3. Oddly I have observed that spare seats are most likely found in the Premium Economy section.
4. The bar on the VS gives an opportunity to get to know one's fellow travelers, I have to say it surprises me how many are connecting onto SFO - however 2 per week in the summer ain't going to cut it for the business traveler
Overall I would suspect that DL and VS do pretty well out of MAN-ATL
So I agree it would be madness to cut some ATL for some SFO
Join Date: Dec 2000
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no harm in flagging up the issue. Perhaps you prefer a not in front of the children approach?
It's a bit early for flights to be on sale as yet - the Virgin website seems to sell 11 months ahead, but FWIW picking various dates in February next year it looks as if the ATL flights will be running 7 days a week, unlike the reduced schedule this year. If that plan stays in place I would suspect it less likely that the summer schedule would see a reduction in flights. Given the SFO/BOS aircraft will have 2 days off are we sure it isn't 2 more ATLs a week that is being planned?
Join Date: Jan 2013
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In terms of aircraft utilisation, dropping ATL does not aid this at first glance.
The 2 B744 will operate a mix of 12 weekly MCO and 2 weekly LAS, with MCO looking like it will increase to 14 weekly once the peak A330 arrives to operate LAS. (Last and this summer MCO ran at 13 weekly in peak summer so 14 weekly is an increase of 1).
1 A330 will run 3 weekly SFO/2 weekly BOS/2 weekly BGI < fully utilised
1 A330 runs 7 weekly ATL < fully utilised
1 A330 arrives in July to run 3 weekly LAS < 4 days of non use.
So, you have 4 aircraft fully utilised and 1 aircraft with 4 gaps.
Now, dropping ATL to 5 weekly would not fit in the 3 weekly LAS nor would it be needed to operate any of the new routes.
If anything, the peak A330 could be used to increase any of the destinations, as last year and this year, the aircraft sits at MAN all day between flights doing nothing.
Given the popularity of ATL, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the aircraft could run anything up to 4 extra ATL flights making it up to 11 weekly.
The 2 B744 will operate a mix of 12 weekly MCO and 2 weekly LAS, with MCO looking like it will increase to 14 weekly once the peak A330 arrives to operate LAS. (Last and this summer MCO ran at 13 weekly in peak summer so 14 weekly is an increase of 1).
1 A330 will run 3 weekly SFO/2 weekly BOS/2 weekly BGI < fully utilised
1 A330 runs 7 weekly ATL < fully utilised
1 A330 arrives in July to run 3 weekly LAS < 4 days of non use.
So, you have 4 aircraft fully utilised and 1 aircraft with 4 gaps.
Now, dropping ATL to 5 weekly would not fit in the 3 weekly LAS nor would it be needed to operate any of the new routes.
If anything, the peak A330 could be used to increase any of the destinations, as last year and this year, the aircraft sits at MAN all day between flights doing nothing.
Given the popularity of ATL, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the aircraft could run anything up to 4 extra ATL flights making it up to 11 weekly.
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VS do say lots of things some turn out to be true others don't reach fruition. In this instance with the same source saying SFO and BOS, I didn't believe them at first and then a while later it gets announced so when they tell me the ATL flight will go to 5 a week, whether true or not I thought it was worth a mention. The loads haven't been great of late, I guess it's a bit seasonal and will pick up again come summer time. A fair few were cancelled over the winter so who knows what goes on with them!
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Not sure if something has been lost in translation or if Chinese whispers missed a sentence but I'd heard MAN - ATL would be gaining an additional 5 weekly flights. Didn't ask what days or if on VS or DL metal but the person I spoke to seemed to be impressed with the bullishness of their plans.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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VS are taking MAN very seriously.
We've not seen the end of growth from them, far from it if the jungle drums are to be listened too.
IMO MAN will overtake LGW and become VS's 2nd largest station at some point in the future...I mean who would have thought we'd ever see the 5 based units we may see next year ?
Tie-in's with feed from BE and maybe even co-operation with TCX (SFO maybe) will only enhance those chances.
I'd be hugely surprised if they would, at this stage of their plans, reduce the MAN/ATL service.
We've not seen the end of growth from them, far from it if the jungle drums are to be listened too.
IMO MAN will overtake LGW and become VS's 2nd largest station at some point in the future...I mean who would have thought we'd ever see the 5 based units we may see next year ?
Tie-in's with feed from BE and maybe even co-operation with TCX (SFO maybe) will only enhance those chances.
I'd be hugely surprised if they would, at this stage of their plans, reduce the MAN/ATL service.
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You are forgetting that Virgins new 787's were for fleet replacement and expansion. As the 787's will replace some A330's it does free them up for other routes so this may not mean a decrease in the Atlanta service. Just more availability of aircraft making this all possible.
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It is however quite strange that potentially dropping ATL to 5 weekly seems to have created more discussion than the fact Virgin have added 6 extra weekly flights, 2 new routes and Manchesters first full service scheduled alliance carrier to the West Coast since the days of BA MAN-LAX.
I know negative news does need discussion too, but, bloody hell, you would think Virgin had just announced they are pulling their Manchester base, not increased it! There's not even any confirmation what so ever that ATL is being reduced?!?
I know negative news does need discussion too, but, bloody hell, you would think Virgin had just announced they are pulling their Manchester base, not increased it! There's not even any confirmation what so ever that ATL is being reduced?!?
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It is however quite strange that potentially dropping ATL to 5 weekly seems to have created more discussion than the fact Virgin have added 6 extra weekly flights, 2 new routes and Manchesters first full service scheduled alliance carrier to the West Coast since the days of BA MAN-LAX.
I know negative news does need discussion too, but, bloody hell, you would think Virgin had just announced they are pulling their Manchester base, not increased it! There's not even any confirmation what so ever that ATL is being reduced?!?
I know negative news does need discussion too, but, bloody hell, you would think Virgin had just announced they are pulling their Manchester base, not increased it! There's not even any confirmation what so ever that ATL is being reduced?!?
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VS do say lots of things some turn out to be true others don't reach fruition. In this instance with the same source saying SFO and BOS, I didn't believe them at first and then a while later it gets announced so when they tell me the ATL flight will go to 5 a week, whether true or not I thought it was worth a mention. The loads haven't been great of late, I guess it's a bit seasonal and will pick up again come summer time. A fair few were cancelled over the winter so who knows what goes on with them!
The only part(s) of the globe where I suspect BAs shuttle model still captures a lot of the market will be the US, South Africa and maybe some limited parts of the Far East (e.g. Japan)
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VIR to SFO.
Not sure if a start date has been mentioned for SFO, but I was told this morning at the airport that it's 28 March. This is encouraging because new 'seasonal' services to the US have often started 1 May or even later.
I know April includes Easter and the school holidays but the early introduction perhaps gives cause for optimism that Virgin are looking to make it year round in due course.
Not sure if a start date has been mentioned for SFO, but I was told this morning at the airport that it's 28 March. This is encouraging because new 'seasonal' services to the US have often started 1 May or even later.
I know April includes Easter and the school holidays but the early introduction perhaps gives cause for optimism that Virgin are looking to make it year round in due course.
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VIR to SFO.
Not sure if a start date has been mentioned for SFO, but I was told this morning at the airport that it's 28 March. This is encouraging because new 'seasonal' services to the US have often started 1 May or even later.
I know April includes Easter and the school holidays but the early introduction perhaps gives cause for optimism that Virgin are looking to make it year round in due course.
Not sure if a start date has been mentioned for SFO, but I was told this morning at the airport that it's 28 March. This is encouraging because new 'seasonal' services to the US have often started 1 May or even later.
I know April includes Easter and the school holidays but the early introduction perhaps gives cause for optimism that Virgin are looking to make it year round in due course.
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