Teesside-2

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by P330

I see Teesside Airport won airport of the year!!

From an outside view it sounds a complete joke but from an insider's view you have to ask yourself. Do you actually take these sort of surveys seriously?

Obviously having that so called title is good news for Teesside and the mayor and the local population will rejoice in it. But come on in all reality and if I can make that quote from John McEnro "you can't be serious!"

[Grumpy1]

Most of us one here have life experience and know that these things are meaningless nonsense but you just have to look at the comments on Facebook to realise that the world is full of naive folks who suck it up and believe it's real. This one is like the "competition" that the mayor has been promoting inwhich you pay a fee that allows you to claim to have been shortlisted but in both cases we are "competing" again a very small number of other airports who have paid the fee. Generally the winner is dictated by how much advertising you purchase or requires supporters to disclose their valuable personal data to vote. Just look at say car of the year or perhaps camera of the year etc.

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by Grumpy1

Most of us one here have life experience and know that these things are meaningless nonsense but you just have to look at the comments on Facebook to realise that the world is full of naive folks who suck it up and believe it's real. This one is like the "competition" that the mayor has been promoting inwhich you pay a fee that allows you to claim to have been shortlisted but in both cases we are "competing" again a very small number of other airports who have paid the fee. Generally the winner is dictated by how much advertising you purchase or requires supporters to disclose their valuable personal data to vote. Just look at say car of the year or perhaps camera of the year etc.

Your last sentence is spot on, the rest is unbelievable but true. Regarding cars, I once bought what was supposed to be "car of the year' not because I knew it was at the time but it was probably one of worst car's that I have ever purchased.

[mmeman]

Interesting comments, isnt this award decided by a panel of industry experts, and wasn't Teesside up against Newcastle, Birmingham and East Midalnds, with Newcastle and Birmingham actuallly sponsoring awards at the ceremony and still didnt win? Were all the other winners meaningless? And just because other people have a different point of view they are naive?

[highwideandugly]

I’m not sure what the criteria is, however..

an airport with..this winter a maximum of 4 schedule departures per day..minimal surface transports links, massive loss making, poor arrival experiences (see Facebook), points in the direction of an other massive PR campaign by the mayor and his team!

It has though been reborn compared to past history!

[N707ZS]

Is this the award that the public had to vote for?

[SWBKCB]

Originally Posted by N707ZS

Is this the award that the public had to vote for?

No - it's the annual TTG award, voted by a panel of industry experts

[Wallsendmag]

I've found out over the last couple of years attending award functions that the actual product being pushed has no relevance on who wins, it's all down to "sponsorship" or Ad revenue. I mean in what universe is Teesside UK and Ireland Airport of the year? It'll be Carlisle winning next year.

[mmeman]

Has anyone commenting on this award had any experience of using Teesside? Why can't Teesside be the best airport in the country - genuinely interested in what you consider the criteria to be to be the best airport in the country? If you are going to say range of destinations or flights, then that doesnt mean the airport experience is any good. Whether that experience continues to be good when the airport becomes busier, then that remains to be seen. And this point on sponsorship, I am not aware that Teesside sponsered anything, although I maybe wrong, but Newcastle and Birmingham certainly did and they did not win.

[SWBKCB]

A panel of aviation and travel expert judges assessed entries from airports across the country before awarding the gong to Teesside. They recognised the mammoth efforts undertaken to turn Teesside Airport around, including how it had grown its flights and improved the customer experience, is capitalising on its land and assets and has been leading the sector – for example, in becoming the first UK airport to scrap the 100ml liquid limit in security.

From the airport's press release - so the criteria isn't just about the passenger experience.

[Grumpy1]

"Why can't Teesside be the best airport in the country - genuinely interested in what you consider the criteria to be to be the best airport in the country?" Teesside may well be the best airport in the country, or perhaps more correctly the best of those who paid the fee to enter, we shall probably never know. The "industry experts" made a desision based on written submissions and apparently did not visit any of the airports or speak with any passengers. Still the airport can use the award on marketing and advertising material for the next year (normally subject to paying a licensing fee) and that can only help.

[SWBKCB]

Why can't Teesside be the best airport in the country - genuinely interested in what you consider the criteria to be to be the best airport in the country? If you are going to say range of destinations or flights, then that doesnt mean the airport experience is any good.

Looking at the winter timetable on the Teesside Movements website, the only difference to the Peel era is three flights a week to Alicante. Surely flights are the reason for an airport?

[Flying Hi]

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

Looking at the winter timetable on the Teesside Movements website, the only difference to the Peel era is three flights a week to Alicante. Surely flights are the reason for an airport?

Jobs, no matter how temporary? No airport - no jobs at all.

[Cautious Optimist]

Originally Posted by highwideandugly

Poor arrival experiences (see Facebook)

Can you elaborate on this? I've seen with my own eyes the reactions of arriving passengers and aside from the odd grumble of the walk from plane to immigration and the lack of a free pick-up window in the car parks, it's overwhelmingly positive

[onion]

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

Looking at the winter timetable on the Teesside Movements website, the only difference to the Peel era is three flights a week to Alicante. Surely flights are the reason for an airport?

You are correct flights are and there were 1950 movements in July, mean Teesside was busier than Humberside and Cardiff, and roughly equal give or take a couple movements a day to Southampton, Bournemouth and Prestwick.

Passengers are not the be all and end all for MME.

[SWBKCB]

How many of those flights needed a terminal?

[Grumpy1]

We have previously seen attempts to deflect attention from the poor passenger numbers by introducing movements. The Business Plan that was used to explain and justify the huge tax payer investment did not do so on the basis that the number on light aircraft going round and round in the circuit would be maintained. In fact has the airport not discouraged the tiddlers?
The Business Plan predicted a 10 fold increase in passenger numbers by now. As Covid is now behind us it would be nice if the mayor or others would explain what went wrong.

[highwideandugly]

Cautious..first hand experience of queuing in the rain waiting to get into Immigration..
There have been numerous Facebook remarks on this. Even Ben has stated work needs doing to improve this side of the airport.

Agreed though the outward experience is a vastly superior product if you compare to pre Covid.



Cargo is an interesting one also.

Nissan charters accounted for all? ..Inbound freight in last published figures..
Outward figures are rather poor….a sad reflection on NE industry?

[onion]

Originally Posted by Grumpy1

We have previously seen attempts to deflect attention from the poor passenger numbers by introducing movements. The Business Plan that was used to explain and justify the huge tax payer investment did not do so on the basis that the number on light aircraft going round and round in the circuit would be maintained. In fact has the airport not discouraged the tiddlers?
The Business Plan predicted a 10 fold increase in passenger numbers by now. As Covid is now behind us it would be nice if the mayor or others would explain what went wrong.

Again Grumpy I was responding to a direct comment regarding the reason for an airport.
which does have knock on effects to performance and experience.
For instance dealing with multiple tyes of aircraft make it much harder for ATC to integrate the traffic. Which can lead to delays.
Yes the distinction from aerodrome to airport is usually passengers - (commercial activity)
I agree that some targets were overly ambitious, but the whole enterpise is moving in the right direction.

I think it's a little unfair to have a go at MME for winning an award. Especially the comments that that award was bought (which are unfounded).
The saying goes you have to be in it to win it. MME were and did and the panel appear to be independent so why go after the place? If they didn't win you'd be pointing the finger asking why didn't they or word to that effect.
MME are damned if they do and damned if they don't with alot on here.

[SWBKCB]

Cautious..first hand experience of queuing in the rain waiting to get into Immigration..
There have been numerous Facebook remarks on this. Even Ben has stated work needs doing to improve this side of the airport.

Particularly when more than one aircraft arrives at a time

Agreed though the outward experience is a vastly superior product if you compare to pre Covid.

But at what cost? ABZ/AMS could have continued with minimum changes to the terminal. 'Global connectivity' hasn't improved. The terminal changes must have been aimed at the likes of RYR/TUI but they seem to be operating at a minimum level to satisfy their contracts. If the much flagged new services are the expected RYR TFS/AGP a couple of times a week, it starts to look like a 'cheap holidays for local people' exercise.

Cargo is an interesting one also.

Nissan charters accounted for all? ..Inbound freight in last published figures..
Outward figures are rather poor….a sad reflection on NE industry?

Yes - at present, MME's cargo busines is Nissan. And that business is what it always has been, 'just in time' feast or famine. The odd other bit is to use empty a/c on the return leg.