....but there is no competition from MAN to TXL/SXF and Jet2 still can't make a go of it. So disappointing - Jet2 are bad news for MAN.

OK you can do indirect like KLM via AMS, etc but thats a ball-ache.

Looks like we're stuck with sleasyJet from LPL if we wanna direct flight to Berlin :uhoh:

I also think that Jet2 are guilty of not giving things a chance. If a route isn't working as well as they'd have hoped, they seem to just pull it rather than decreasing frequency or improving timings. Barcelona is a good example. Any idiot can see that a 7pm departure from MAN isn't in the slightest bit appealing for travellers. Why not attempt to change the timings rather than just drop it? Perhaps a little difficult with the slot restrictions at BCN but I'm sure other slots are available. And SXF didn't do all that badly. Averaging around 90 pax per flight. If they reduced frequency on this route, then surely that would work better for them than pulling it altogether.

There's a lot of routes that they're just not willing to try out in the winter at all. At the end of every summer season, NCE and VLC are dropped completely. Why not try these out during the winter, maybe 2 x weekly. I'm sure the demand is there but they just don't seem interested in trying to make certain routes work once the lucrative summer months come to an end.

They were running ATRs before the Q400 groundings.

Have leased a plain white one from Interstare Airlines (PH-) for a few months and have also had Avanti Express (D-) covering at shorter notice - possibly for tech issues.
The 145s have started leaving MAN already for Eastern Europe, so maybe these leases will increase.

They have also been borrowing 737s and 146s as well in the past few weeks.

Cheers AWR, will miss the 145s, great fun on such a short hop

Looking at Jet2's offerings on their site for next summer looks like Manchester is currently earmarked for 9 sunshine routes only.....very disappointing indeed

Surely it must be time for somebody to come in and have a committed stab at a decent European network from MAN? There are now gaping holes in the European network.... Madrid, Vienna, Berlin, Tallinn, Riga, Geneva (a decent year round offering might be nice?!), some decent competition on the BCN route might be good and also KL will soon have the MAN-AMS route to themselves.

Anybody got any rumours or news on any positives in the pipeline for MAN for winter 07 or summer 08? We desperately need some!

Geneva is a current destination
 

I don't know about you, but flying MAN-Geneva on a 777 sounds quite appealing. This is currently available on Saudia. Okay, it's only twice a week at the moment but still, can't complain.

VLM are offering a further 8 MAN-London City-Luxembourg services per week - they've stated that they've carried over 3,300 passengers from MAN to LUX since they began the through route 6 months ago. DOn't know the impact on the frequency of MAN-London City but I think it's safe to assume that there will be none.

Yes I must admit a hop over to GVA on the Saudi 777 would be quite an experience!

I just think its such a shame that BA cut and run saying they couldn't compete in the regions partly due to the loco expansion, but now the loco's have a good playing field at MAN, none of them seem able to cobble together a decent network of European flights mixing both the sunshine and city destinations. Jet2 seem to be going for it at LBA, BMIbaby are doing the same at BHX, FlyBe have hardly thrown all their weight into MAN, all they seem to have done is trim some old BACON stuff and add a few French regionals.

Anyone got any thoughts on who or what might be the answer here?

I guess you've answered the question yourself...

Add in 'The Orange One' and that 'Irish One' flying from LPL, and you can see MAN is surrounded by lo-cost at LPL, BHX & LBA.

Maybe they've just given up on European cities and are looking at stuff further afield and 'around the Med'. :{

Unless a new lo-cost enters the market up't north or LPL burns to the ground, then MAN has missed the boat.

Pity, decent airport - crap management only interested in empire building (EMA, etc). Maybe they should have bid for LBA and shut it down! :E

Supply and demand
 

BA Connect were doing OK on all the previously mentioned routes with a 49 seat aircaft and good load factors, regularity and service. Then Jet2 came in, undercut them with rediculously unsustainable prices, raised the load factor a bit but not the yield. They could not fill a 737 never mind a 757 or make either pay. BA Connect had to pull off the routes which have now been dumped by Jet2. Winner - nobody, loser Jet2, BA Connect and primarily the passenger. Flybe may have a go at some of these routes when they get their fleets sorted out. Perhaps the passengers can also learn a lesson here - a bit of customer loyalty can keep a route in existance. I doubt it though, generally the cheapest ticket wins.

SkinHeadFlyer - I'm pretty sure that Jet2 started SXF at the same time that BA flew to TXL, which was obviously not going to survive. MAN-TXL has been flown by BA for decades, it once routed through HAJ when I used it in 1990.
From now on, I'm not worried about having to pay up to travel to where I want and need to go. I wanted to go to Berlin in Feb, and I've found a fare with SN for £149, and later on in Aug I'll be going to GVA possibly on SV or maybe AF.:ok:

AB are apparently looking at 4x weekly TXL again from MAN.

I have also heard that IB in the shape of Air Nostrum are considering restarting a daily MAD MAN route, with a night stop in order for connections to be made in MAD to the Latin America network provided by IB around mid morning from MAD.. Would make sense and this time they would not have competition from ZB and BA as they did beforehand.

Arrivals Pickup
 

I just arrived into MAN T1 this P.M waited for ever for bags fair enough it was busy.

I parked my wife where the taxi rank was and raced round to get the car dived into the car park loaded her up and left....

9 mins entry to exit £1.80 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad::mad:

I would mind so much but my other half uses a wheelchair to go long distances, so getting arounh isn't easy. What happened to 10 mins free on pick ups?

It's a bloody outrage the first hour in ALC is 1 euro!! Just another case of ripping off the punters, I feel.

Rant over, sorry

yep Jongeman, you're right. The 2 did have the route to themselves - and the (indirect and shortly defunct) offering from Air Berlin was around too I think at the same time. I've done AB, BA, KL & LS to Berlin this past 12 months. Best direct flight was with BA; indirect AB (despite STN!)

On the face of it, surely someone can make money out of it now.

Enjoy yer trip in February - just a shame you have to route via BRU. Makes a < 2 hour flight into a long journey via BRU, AMS, etc.

"AB are apparently looking at 4x weekly TXL again from MAN"

Now that is some great news if it comes off. Nice one!

I don't mind routing through BRU or anywhere else.......I went to Rome once on a cheap Sabena/Virgin Express ticket, and there was just enough time between connections to get on a train to Brussels and walk to Le Grand Place for a memorable couple of pints of Stella Artois. Well worth the effort.:)

A man after my own heart.

Given a choice between flying LGW-SXM next May by VS or routing NCL-AMS-SXM by KL; I would rather have a night in Amsters and transit through there than endure the mare that LGW is becoming. Given the choice of a swift couple on Damrak or an overpriced warm half pint in Horley... no brainer really.

:}

Really hope the Nostrum service if it does at all start is a night stopper.......about time we had a Madrid service since Flybe pulled the plug on Bacon.

What on earth have the managers been doing to attract new carriers and routes??......... nothing judging by the non annoucement of any new routes to mention this winter.Its about time we had some decent new routes....especially Madrid!!...come on pull your finger out Mr Muirhead!!
Looks like the Airport is more interested in Cargo ops at the moment!!

Re Jet2 about time they decided what they are really doing.....constantly chopping and changing the schedules.......think they are more interested in the Bucket and Spade destinations rather than cities......reminds me of when Bmibaby started......great fanfare, then gradually withdrew services that were not performing well....then focused on another Airport/Airports.

Anybody heard of a Volare service supposed to be starting in November to Milan.....not surewhich airport but been reported on another forum????

Happy landings.

Volare commence 6x weekly MXP MAN service from 28/10. T1, Flight Support handliong.

re Volare.......Better get a move on then.....the MXP service is not even for sale on their web page.......:confused:

I agree Gleno, its all good if you happen to be a box at the moment, a new service to the States, multiple services to the Far East to choose from and even Moscow if the mood takes you!

Be good if its true and IB / Nostrum have another crack at Madrid, I think the results would be quite different now the route is vacant. This is a key route from MAN that needs reinstating asap. I was on the last flight back with BACON (a full 143 op by Flightline!) and there was dismay amongst pax and staff at Madrid that this route was being chopped and nobody else was stepping in. Best for IB / Nostrum to have a go rather than one of our loco's to wade in only to drop it 4 months later :ugh:

Re a possible return from AB to TXL I think the results would be better now the route is vacant although I still think their commitment to MAN looks a little uncertain. Are we now any clearer that the Hamburg and Paderborn are sticking around?