I heard yesterday, and I'm not sure how true this is, that Thomsonfly will not now be flying to Portugal, despite earlier claims by the PR machine that such flights were already fully booked for the first few months. Can anyone clarify this?

Secondly, despite the fact that I've admired Peel's dogged determination to stick with the project in spite of Kirkham's/McDonald's rentacrowd, Fat Boy Prescott, Fiends of The Earth etc. I still don't like the name they've given it.

public inquiry
 

In reply to a previous comment,re the Finningley PI. It was not a govt inquiry,but came under local legislation. The same strength and format,but paid for out of local taxes. It cost our local authority in the region of £1.000.000,to be paid out of council tax.

Holidaymax,

You mention the following airlines have been announced. Do you know where I can find the flight times and a/c types?
(excl Thomson/fly)

Thomson
Thomsonfly
Thomas Cook Airlines
Pegasus
Balkan
Excel Airways
Air Malta

Cheers

flybe.com, flights to Portugal were never said to be sold out. They were cut soon after hoilidays went on sale so that other destinations could be added. The best selling are the Spanish routes.

As far as timings and aircraft types, they are in the brochures for the respective operators.

I wonder how many of the original 18 or so "suggested" destinations by Thomsonfly, will actually happen, now they have opted for a base in Bournemouth as well. The five based TOM 737s look like they have shrunk to 2 because of this, and the based BAL 757 appears now to be a B737-800. Were their original plans a little too ambitious maybe, for the first year?
I believe Hapag-LLoyd Express are to announce flights into DSA, as they have done at Coventry. The airline being part of the TUI group will sell the flights as dual TOM/HLX flights on their respective websites.
Anyone heard who will be the handling agents at DSA when it opens? I heard that it was going to be Servisair, but I stress that was only heard as a rumour going round the industry.

finningley
 

coaster,Servicair is a fact. I am checking on the rest.

The Charter programme will be operated by a 737-800. This is for operational reasons and not an indication of sales.

The Thomsonfly product is yet to be announced, but will be a fleet of 3-4 737 aircraft. Varient yet to be decided. Destinations, as has been said all along will be announced in December, following the IATA slot conference in November. The list of destinations for THOMSONFLY (not be confused with Thomson Holidays) issued at the press confernece in April was a 'target list' and it was always made clear this was not final.

With regards to the other operators, many charter airlines will be using the airport, and more scheduled carriers will be announced in the comning months.

Finally, the ground handling agent is Servisair/Globeground and the fuellers are Conaco.

Security and cleaning will decided over the next 4-6 weeks.

hi gareth

hows the building work going on airport ie:runway,other building's????

Rather vague, what specifically from an operational perspective? Can you clarify that. From an industry perspective it looks like a lack of "bums on seats"

From an operational perspective it looks like a 'bums on seats' issue. Hardly surprising with it being new airport/route, operationally you don't put a big expensive asset on it to start.

holidaymax - thanks for the Portugal answer.

Moving on... I wonder which freight operators might be interested. Wasn't it the case that the DHL hub was originally planned for Finningley? but changed to EMA because of the length of time it took to be given the go-ahead?

Terry - check your PMs.

Hi all,
I'm sure one of you DCS experts will know the answer to this. Drove down to DCS on the weekend from the North. Came down the A1, then onto M18, only to find that although the field was virtually alongside the motorway, there was no exit for it. In fact then had to drive through Doncaster to get there.

Are my navigation skills totally lacking, is there a more direct route? Are there plans to construct a southerly off ramp at or around junction 3 of the M18
Would make a big difference in travel time for those from up my way working or travelling from DCS.

Aside from that, all looked very impressive.

I understand one of the options is to construct a Junction 3A (between 3 and 4) on the M18, which would be right next to the airport where the A614 passes over.

As with all these things though, could be years off.

Flybe-I do not think so, DHL have been operating from EMA almost from the word go, and the Hub was planned for us -subject to planning etc.
As for others, well all the integrators are tied up and why would any major freight outfit just up sticks and move because Finningley opens?

OK. It no particular order. The code is DSA not DCS.

The 737-800 is an INCREASE in what was originally contracted with the carrier. DSA is, and has been almost since launch one of the top 3 best selling airports for TUI for summer 2005. The reason it is not a 757 is a lack of 757 aircraft within the BY fleet and some other crewing issues .... hence operational reasons.

Now, time for a moan. Why are you 'professionals' always so bloody cynical about everything? The airport is proving to be popular with holidays makers, it it not impacting on other airports, it will generate an additional 1,000 next year in the Doncaster region. Moan over.

Access. New motorway link will be from the existing Junction 3, not a new junction, and will link the motorway with the A638 at Parrots Corner. A new junction from the A638 into the back of the new terminal will then be added. Completion in 2008/9.

Cargo, the airport is making sound progress with cargo carriers, and expects flowm cargo on both dedicated frieghters and belly cargo from opening.

FAO. yes the route was dropped for a variety of reasons, slot availability etc etc etc, but replaced with BJV.

The build programme is on schedule, in fact parts are ahead!

Now for the really exciting bit. The airfield will be open to private flights from 3rd Jan 2005. The airfield will at that stage be unlicensed and without RFFS. The airfield will have ATC cover however.

GJK22

finningley link road
 

With all due respect,Gareth,the route of the link road is not yet decided,unfortunately. What is certain is that it will come from the existing junc.3.

Attention is being paid to a route south of Rossington,avoiding Parrots Corner (Rossington Bridge),with links at Rossington village,and Bawtry Road. This could then be taken either into High Common Lane or Hurst Lane,directly to the terminal.

Why access to the airport is not directly off High Common Lane,I do not understand,but.......

Bundybear - Unfortunately, until the new link is built from M18 jnc 3, it is a bit of a long way around. From the A1 southbound, you can either come off at jncs 38, 37 or 36 (they're all about the same timewise) and go through Doncaster, or come off at jnc 34 (Blythe) and effectively double-back on yourself via Bawtry.

It will still be quicker to get to DSA than MAN from the south Leeds area even before the new road is put in, which it will be mark my words.

But even quicker still to get to LBA, surely? :confused:

Granted, but LBA does not have transatlantic routes whilst DSA at least has a runway capable of such flights. Also try and get a package to Greece ex LBA, MAN no problem, just watch DSA with TUI and Thomsonfly.