I went into the new pier whilst everything was being tested on Thursday morning and it really is nothing special besides a long walk which is bound to result in delays of people getting to the gate, especially from central search. It requires going up one flight of steps, along a very long corridor with high windows which you can't see out of, down another set of steps and into a long, narrow room which is naturally well lit and boarding gates along one side and the back of the hall (I think it was seven.) I think one or two test flights have already boarded out of there, and all that's missing at the moment are seats otherwise everything is in place.

it's not the prettiest bit of construction I've seen, but it does the job ok.

I see the Excel schedule this year is being run by Air Malta rather than some outfit with dodgy MD80's. However, Air Malta have had to lease in a Turkish B737-400 to operate the flights, hopefully this'll be reliable or Excels reputation at EMA will certianly head down the drain

WNC

Your both right its not nice looking, but at the end of the day its a business and to be honest i dont think its here to stay for the long run.

Anyone know whats going on or not with UKIA?

Also anyone know what work is being done on the east ramp?

I'm surprised people keep returning to Excel out of East Midlands, their performance over the last couple of years has been terrible, but I suppose most people aren't aware when booking package holidays of the airline they're flying with. Air Scandic in 05, followed by Skywings/UKJet last year, I've heard Air Malta have quite good reliability but the contracts they're offering UK-based crews mean they are heavily under-staffed for EMA, with some people just walking off the course. bmi are still doing some flights for them this summer with the Airbus, but only three days a week as opposed to a week based A320 with a further one on weekends.

The new departure hall does the job, though I'm not sure who will really benefit from it in terms of the low-cost airlines, as inbound flights will still need to be bussed to the arrivals hall, which I don't think is being extended in any way to accommodate the additional flights, despite some talk a few months ago it was getting an extra belt plus offices for the handling agents.

air malta
 

aircraft type is A320 KM flights to alicante and palma yesterday were A320.

East apron has just been remarked to make life little easier, I think we gained another B767 stand, we are supposed to be getting another widebody stand to the east but not sure of timescale

I guess we will have to wait for ups, lsg, tnt to move down untill we get some more gates that the likes of ryanair would like to use.

I was hoping last week ryanair would tell people about the ema and hahn

The Turkish B734 operating the Air Malta/Excel flights is delayed, it apparently went tech this afternoon, oh dear....

Owen, yesterdays flights were operated by the Bristol based Air Malta A320 which has now gone down there so EMA is stuck with what appears to be a knackered B737-400 :bored:

FC

Does anybody know how the T3 EMAABZ route is doing?

Landside Arrivals
 

I paid a visit to EMA this afternoon, had a look at the developments, first time since they opened. One observation is that the far end of the landside arrivals hall, past the car rental desks is a real mess. Not a very good impression for first time travellers into EMA when they walk out of customs.... I hope it is still on a builders "snagging list" somewhere.

I don't think the work in the Arrivals hall is completed yet, I was under the impression that eventually new flooring is going to be put in as well as trying to get more natural light into that part of the building as currently it looks pretty dingy and grey. Also, the gap between the main terminal and arrivals interchange will become quite annoying with the bad weather, plus the information desk seems easily crowded and quite small. Having the information desk in Arrivals and no information presence in the check-in hall may be a problem in assisting pax with issues outside the control of the airline or handling agent staff, as they have to walk outside to find someone who can. Otherwise the rest of the building work is nearing completion or has been completed and is looking nice, especially the refurbishments done in departures; a lighter, brighter, larger central search and more gates.

The first FCA flight to Varadero, Cuba takes off this morning.
Anyone know what the loads are/were like on it?

Cheers
SAM-EMA

Does anyone know if the VLM Saturday Jersey flight is running this summer?

With regards the VRA. As i'm sure you know it's a split load with BRS.
BRS had 195 booked, so that left 63 max for EMA. I and i think out of the 60 odd star class premium seats EMA only had about 10 booked.

Michael O'Leary will be at EMA on the 17th, not sure if he is just travelling through or official visit. Hopefully there will be news on the two aircraft earmarked for sept/oct.

FR Expansion?
 

According to the Scotsman, MOL will be at EMA today announcing further expansion. http://business.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=766042007

Just booked my day trip to DUB for myself and partner with the FR latest offer and paid a pricely sum of 4p!! INCREDIBLE. Here's to lots more destinations from our local airport. :)

If MOL announces another pair of aircraft for EMA, are baby actually going to do anything? I know our golden child base at the moment is BHX, but with the same number of based units as Ryanair, there is always a swarm of their aircraft rather than ours as they're used more efficiently. Any chance of another tiny town? Bring back some decent routes rather than night PMIs and IBZs.

How are FRs new routes to RIX and BUD going to be slotted in to the schedule. What routes are being reduced or chopped to compensate for them?

Cheers
SAM-EMA

ryanair ema
 

hey all, normally ryanair drop bergerac and some of the other french routes during the winter season so these new routes will start the winter season off as replacements