Just as LDY, FR will huff and puff and then block off a few rows and operate 738s. They've got so many they have no choice.

edited to put the right code in this time!

Guys,thanks for the replies.

Wasn't meant to be a RYR-bashing thread.Whatever people may think of them,I would welcome more flights from them or anyone else who wants to try ABZ.

If anything it is a BAA/BAA Aberdeen-bashing thread,as I am not their greatest fan,although they do finally seem to be noticing that traffic at ABZ is actually growing,and has been for a few months now.

I take it that RYR's 738s are more efficient to operate than their 732s(fuel efficiency,etc)? Suppose also depends on the sectors they operate.

O.K. you probably guessed I have a personal axe to grind with Mr. O'Leary and his Airline.

I don't happen to think that 'legitimate' Airlines are in the habit of cancelling flights for no offered reason and leaving over 100 bewildered passengers stranded at 10.30pm in a foreign country with no information or alternative transport options on offer - as happened to us in June with Ryannair! Most other Airlines would be maybe just a little concerned about their customers.

As for taxpayers money being used to extend runways? BAA may now be a private company (used to be a Quango) but don't you think that Govt money would be required for something that expensive. Maybe not, who knows, I may be wrong on that one.

BSD
I think the BAA had to raise the money for the proposed Stansted expansion. If you recall,there was/is a hullabaloo about increasing LHR charges to fund it.

So the government says this/that will be approved,now please find the money!

OK, here's a bit of bashing! It seems to have become a regular occurance for aircraft to have to wait for a stand for ten to fifteen minutes. I would imagine that sitting on the taxiway burning fuel for that length of time would seriously erode the operating margin for LoCos and thus make ABZ unattractive for them.

The problem seems to have got worse since the BAA stopped remote parking on the East apron (anybody know why?).

Until the BAA spend some serious money on some new concrete for parking, to satisfy their existing customers, I'm afraid that ABZ will remain a hick little airfield with little chance of real expansion.

ABZlad:

Fit like?

Apparently the ground at the east apron is leased by CHC Scotia & they are no longer willing to allow a/c to park there.

(So why don't the OWNERS,BAA,just TELL CHC that a/c WILL park there?)

Yes,have also noticed,especially at peak times,a/c are having to wait for their stands.

ABZ has 5 "terminals":

Main Terminal
Broomfield House(for oil fixed-wing flights)
Bristow Helis
CHC Scotia
East terminal/Bond

Wonder why they don't just allow fixed wings to use,say,the east terminal(eg.Citystar,Eastern) or come to a deal with one of the helo cos?

Ryanair could always use their B738's with the higher engine ratings (which is the majority of them) the -7B27's

Only the EI-CSA > CSZ have -7B24's, the rest from CTA onwards have the -7B27's

mmeteesside

OK...hold your bashing fire for now.

Any delay waiting for stands is possibly because the airport has become a victim of it's own success! Some of the big problems have arisen from:

- Losing Stand 4 for several months while the International Departure Lounge is enlarged (to cope with more flights)
- The increase in B737NGs and A320s (as a result of new operators such as bmi) with their larger wingspan has required some stands to be reduced in width - for example 11 can only take up to J41 size - no good if a Saab or Dash 8 is waiting for 12/13 to become free (again, more flights).
- New routes such as BHD/OSL/BLK/CPH/LPL/AGP and not forgetting all the NWIs you can shake a stick at ;) - (yes, more flights being the culprit again)

The airport movements and pax are significantly higher than recent years - this is to the benefit of those who work there, those that travel from there and for the city as a whole - so I don't think that aspect should be bashed. Now, investment in things like runway extensions and parking areas does seem non-existant, especially compared to projects like the Gatwick Sky Bridge and T5 of course - and that part is frustrating! :{

The Echo Apron restrictions only came into force last Thursday - because of the limited timescale and the fact that very few aircraft that parked there would now park on a main apron stand, I don't think that aspect can be blamed for the holding to any great degree.

actually mmeteesside, i think it was the buzz 737s that were 24k , i'm pretty sure all the regular ryan fleet is 26 k engines