Theres a lot more about Esperia on the Manston thread

I managed to get to the layby at the end of the runway yesterday (30-07-06) and I must say I was not disappointed! I loved the way the Sunderland air show aircraft did very brief displays to say thank you to the airport for accommodating them. I also loved the way the Harrier hovered over the threshold of the runway and then bowed to the airport.

Was anyone else there? I was with the bright purple Rover Metro.

Regards.

Just a few things.
Firstly does anyone know what the heap of what looks like hardcore is going to be used for? Think its near the fuel farm was too far away to tell. Apron extension maybe of foundations for something?

The other thing is the article in yesterdays (aug 3rd) paper about parking at the airport. Again the Northern Echo has attacked the airport. The article states that the parking fees charged are only exceeded by major airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick. It actually goes on to say that the airport charges more than Newcastle. Well for one Newcastle isn't in Heathrow's and Gatwick's league. The other annoying thing with the statement with regards to Newcastle airport is that it isn't more expensive, in fact on most stays Newcastle is more expensive. For example if you are going away for a week Monday to Monday say that 8 days at Newcastle it would cost £55 or £40 depending on if you booked on the internet. At MME it would cost you £53 or £43 depending if you bought on the internet. Ok it cheaper at Newcastle over the internet but the paper was quoting the prices paid on the day at the airport. For 14 days Newcastle would charge you £85 or £70 depending on how you book and MME would cost £83 or £67. Still MME is cheaper. Ok what about other aiports that are pushing similar pax numbers. Well Robin Hood will charge you £52 or £42.50 for 8 days depending on how you book. For 14 days £82 and £67 depending on how you book. Both MME and Robin Hood offer a 15 day (2 week) stay option (NCL doesn't) and that works out at £88 and £71 for MMe and £87 and £71.50 for Robin Hood.
The article has no research done into. The Northern Echo have just thought lets see what we can dredge up on MME today there is no relevence in the article at all apart from the fact that it can cost to park your car at an airport. The Northern Echo is out to get MME and this is the sort of article that can actually hurt an airport.
Why has there been so little in this newspaper about the problems that have occured at NCL this summer with easyjet? Ok it not NCL's fault but I haven't seen anything. The Northern Echo has a good reputation but this crass reporting is going to let them down and drag down or certainly stifle growth at MME.

Onion

Well said, the 'story' isn't the car parking prices at Durham Tees Valley Airport but the standard of reporting at the Northern Echo!

The article makes refence to a 'Which Report' and if the paper had actually bothered to do there research they would have quickly realised that 12 of the airports mentioned in the report (DTVA wasn't actually in it) are more expensive, so how they can justify their claims is beyond me.... but then again "Local airport has competitive car park rates!" is hardly a headline grabbing.

Northern Echo Reporting
 

Cant comment about the Northern Echo, but I can assure you that the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal has featured articles re Easyjet cancellations, and takes the opportunity to do negative reporting about NCL whenever it can in my opinion justified or not. So dont get a complex it happens to Newcastle and other airports also.

Fl dutchman my problem is with the Northern Echo, they are the North East newspaper of the year and so should be reporting on happenings at Newcastle as well. The only thing is that they seem to have a massive problem with MME and many of the articles are slating MME. Newcastle on the other hand always seem to avoid the flak from the Northern Echo. The Newcastle Chronicle and Journal are very localised papers and don't really compare with the Northern Echo in terms of coverage of the area.

on a different front, does anyone know what is happening to the based B737 that currently does the NOC rotation when said route comes to a limping end?

also, when does the BRU route go on sale?will be interesting to learn of sales figures when it does!

p.s was thinking the other day does anyone also know what the passenger figures for the once weekly NCE route were like?would have thought it would be a popular route given that holiday villa rentals often change over on a sat when the flight operated?

BMIBaby are now showing Birmingham - Durham on their website, an unexpected turnup ?

Bmi Baby Durham Tees Valley- Geneva
 

What happened to this route. It was on website when winter shedule released. Now no trace at all!.

Fl dutchman it still there just hidden, just click on timetable, click on a current route and then once that has come up go back to the box and you should be able to get geneva. I don't understand why this is so.
Regarding the Birmingham I can't find it. Have they already taken it off. Was it as a replacement for the Knock? Or was it to fill the vacant rotations during the winter.

Geneva
 

onion

Yes I found it but its not bookable. I dont think the route has had an official launch. Perhaps if it goes ahead they will launch it with some other routes to fill the gaps in the utilization of a/c no2 during the winter??

Does anyone know when the Excel Airways Boeing 747-300 will replace the Omni Air McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 if at all? I believe the 743 had gone to help with the evacuations in Beirut? Also, I noticed that Thomsonfly Boeing 737-800 G-CDZI has returned and thus replaced it's replacement G-CDZH, G-CDZI needed a spare part didn't it?

Also, I'd like to let you all know that I've revamped my DTVA website, and to avoid breaking PPRuNe's no advertising rule I'll refrain from placing the www, dots and slashes in the address:- geocities com dtvairport

Regards.

Nice site there DTVAirport

DTVAirport: excel's 743 will not be replacing the omni air dc10 due to excel's demanding summer schedule they were finding that crewing the a/c was difficult.

I notice on the front page of today's the Northern Echo an apology regarding the car park prices article last week

"The comparative figures used in the article were misleading and we apologise for creating a false impression"

They also are feature a piece on the easyjet problems at NCL and the canx flights due to lack of staff.

Is the tide turning or has guilt set in?:=

Does anyone know what is happening with bmibaby? Are they going to do AMS and BHX? Plus the Geneva has been taken off the timetables.
Also the BRU hasn't gone on sale yet, hope they don't leave it too late, it should of gone on sale as soon as possible after the announcement of the route. People are now forgetting about it and are probably making alternative arrangements for travel to BRU from the area. Come on Eastern strike while the irons hot.

Be patient Onion, all will be revealed very soon. ;)

There may be some nice surprises for you, all I will say, is that there is definately no baby BHX service.

Just a quick note to say that the airport was shut for a little while last night after a bmi A320 decided to throw a wobbler ;)

I believe it was backtracking out off the 'B' taxiway down to the 23 end to turn round when one of it's engines went bang and set itself on fire :confused:. The aircraft was then evacuated on the runway and the airport fire brigade put out the fire pretty quick. This all happened about 1835, the aircraft was towed off and the runway cleaned of oil etc that had come out of the knackered engine. The runway was reopened by 2000, a good job done by the team all round I think :ok: :ok:

bmi diverted in the '7EH' Edinburgh - Heathrow flight to pick up the stranded (47! :() passengers and take them down to Heathrow

mmeteesside

Wow! Well done to the airport fire department! All the interesting stuff happens while I'm away! Any images of the incident?

There is, but I don't know where you could find them, I saw them on the local BBC news the evening after it happened.

Some news for you all, next summer DTV will have 25 charter flights per week (confirmed so far, there will be more when Goldtrail add theres) with Thomsonfly doing 15 of those. Holidays4u will be returning, however in 2007 they will operate a full season, using Onur Air still, however this time around the flights will be on Wednesday evenings rather than Thursday mornings as it is this year. Nothing much else seems to have happened as regards to next year though.
I believe we will be looking at roughly 30 charters per week for Summer 2007 ;), better than the 3 we have this winter (2006/07) which is very very bad :(

Any news on the expansion, seems work might start soon, about time too :ok: