Catflaps

I am sure there is investment going on but it is not the kind that Infratil would go public with as it isnt very exciting or newsworthy.

New taxiway lighting, demolition of the old bonded store due to asbestos and to make way for a new oil tank plus many more boring projects. All of which must be in preparation for potential new operators. I dont think we will see another EUjet style operation but more charters and perhaps some schedules which won't necessarily be Low Cost.

More effort would need to be made in order to attract bizjets but the airport cannot be all things to all men. It would appear that the main focus at the moment is on building the freight business, and from what I hear they are getting fairly slick in turnarounds and the current operators like the service provided.

If DAS can attract some more maintenance business, Summit go ahead with their new jet engine facility and Avia (Air Atlanta) keep bringing aircraft in for cleaning and servicing the whole business park could rapidly fill with Aviation related businesses which in turn will attract others to the area.

The airport does need some passenger traffic as these pax will spend in the carparks and the retail outlet providing a cash revenue.

I think, providing Infratil hold their nerve they can make a reasonable success of MSE. NikNak apparently knows different and whilst I am not going to dismiss his info I think its a bit too early for them to throw in the towel.

Enough waffle from me, what are the views out there?

MDIS

There has been little to complain about since the new thread started, but then an idiot posted almost verbatim that which someone else had written. He is now on break to improve his manners. :ugh:

:D Thank you mods

At last. The admins/Mods have seen sense.
WOW! :}
Cheers guys.
Anyway. Back on topic....

So World Airways. I thought they had a fleet of MD-11's. Like they used on the american routes from MSE?

Infratil's report

Kent International handled 2,408 tonnes of freight during February, a year on year increase of nearly 50%. The drop of 15% on January volumes is considered to be primarily a seasonal issue.

Cosmos and Kent County Council announced that the weekly summer charter service to Virginia would not be operating. This venture, which was initiated and primarily backed by the local Governments at each end, would have been an unexpected bonus on business plan expectations. At 26 total flights, the volumes would have been modest. The best prospects remain for domestic and European scheduled and charter services.

Where my post gone again :eek: :mad: .Anyway what I was asking was is there a DAS DC-10 and another World Airways DC-10F coming in next week to MSE for maintenance.

Regards

James

"The 15% drop on January volumes is primarily a seasonal issue"

Seems unlikely - Prestwick freight went up by over 300 tonnes....

Anyhows....freight has always been like this at MSE - operators come, they go, they come back, they go again etc - it's a kind of yo-yo effect, rather than steady growth.

Planestation acheived the best tonnage about 4 years ago.

Not to worry. Folks will be able to cheer themselves up when Kent Escapes start in six weeks. Even someone such as myself who believes MSE is doomed, can see that offering a miniscule capacity to extremely popular destinations will mean full aircraft (at least before Lydd gets going).

Of course, if the aircraft AIN'T full, then MSE isn't just doomed, it's double-doomed with brass knobs on, then gawd 'elp the lot of us.......

Manston Airport - Your missing post was (in common with most if not all of your posts) regarding spotting, not professional aviation news or debate. I imagine thats why the mods deleted it. Respectfully, and this isn't meant as a personal attack, I suggest in future you post in the spectators forum as I'm sure you don't want this topic closed again.

Right, I have heard through the grapevine that the BMed freight rumours were way off the mark, what was actually being looked at was MSE becoming the daily recipient of a certain high profile 'ghost' flight. Anyone heard anything?

Well, I read it in the Sunday Times!!!
Yes, a spokesman for the airline in question confirmed that they had considered Manston (amongst other alternatives). The reason given for not taking their interest any further was that they needed to fly to an airport that was open 24 hours, and MSE isn't.

Ok thank you Tommy,If thats what it is then could the Mods PM me then please and I will post on the Spectators Balcony ( Spotters Corner).

Regards
James

Manston Airport- James

That was a dignified and mature response.

Well done.

Here here! Well done and thoughtful. Now if everyone thought as you do..........................:D

Freight Figures
 

I had not considered a comparison between Prestwick and Manston freight figures. However, it is interesting to note that for the months of Dec 06, Jan 07 and Feb 07, Manston has in fact outperformed Prestwick.
It is a valid comparison because Prestwick's freight performance figures for passenger aircraft can, for all intents and purposes, be ignored. For instance, one month there was only 9 tonnes carried on passenger flights.
January 07 was a poorer figure for Manston, probably due to the inclement weather in that month, but that is only an opinion and maybe someone can confirm whether that is the case.
What is not in doubt is that in January 07, Manston was 317 tonnes down on December 06 as has been pointed out. Note however, that year on year the tonnage handled in January 07 represented an increase of 1435 tonnes. Prestwick, for the same period, showed an increase of only 306 tonnes.
I have no idea how to post it here, but a graph I made of Manston/Prestwick freight figures, clearly indicates that since mid 2006, Manston has steadily been overhauling Prestwick as a freight mover. Whether this continues remains to be seen, but the Infratil strategy of gradual increase of freight traffic does seem, for the present, to be working.

Only if the revenue from this traffic is acceptable.

Infratil have stated they need to increase value from throughput.
MK are MSE's main carrier, and historically have benefited from heavy discounts. Without MK the airport could not maintain the appearance of almost daily use.

Favourable comparisons with other airports is meaningless unless a full commercial rate is being charged at MSE.

I see that Das Maintainence have been rather busy the last few days, with three plane being worked on over the weekend and a forth this afternoon. (I'm Assuming that they have been working on their own plane). Is this a sign of things to come or just a blip?

deedave
I couldn't agree more that Infratil have to increase value from throughput.

The plain fact is that we do not know what the rates are that Infratil are charging MK. Personally, I suspect that MK are not offered heavy discounts, but that is only my view. It would set a bad precedent and they would be pressured to offer similar terms to other carriers. That is not the way to run a profitable business and Infratil strike me as more professional than that..

We will just have to watch and wait.

P

If you look at the Kent International Web site then go to flight info, the Domain name KIA has run out . So you cannot look up any flight info and weather on daisy. Is the system being changed, or have they forgot to renew the domain name.

Ad C
DAS Air were maintaining one aircraft of World Airways from Weds last week through to Sat. Another World Airways is due tomorrow and one of their own fleet due on Friday.
The DC10 in DAS colours on the ramp is owned by Boeing and in storage. The 747s on the ramp are being maintained by Air Atlanta.

Hernebay , i would like to think that a new website is being made and updated.
At least lets hope the domain is re-instated?

On the note of the AFX B742 being scrapped.... what is the state of play with that area of the airfield?
It has always been just a "Storage" area but is there any plans to do something with it?

H9
I have recently been told that both Manston and Prestwicks websites are being revamped - daisy is having a few problems at the moment and the last i heard, was that AFX was just waiting for official paperwork to be completed before it can be scrapped, but prob by the summer it will be gone.
In fact if you have a look on the air salvage website it is pictured there...