Or it could be shortage of ATC staff, due to say staff sickness.

Not saying it's necessarily the reason here of course!

Would be surprised if NCL didn't have enough room to hold an a/c on the ground until a/its stand became free.

Have just seen a brand new advert for Emirates new flights from Newcastle on Channel 4 so they seem to be trying to promote the route well on national t.v.

Question re Emirates ops at NCL, heard a comment that they were actually to utilise two stands whilst A330 on ground.8 & 9. Is this correct ?

About Emirates, How are they going to manage With the Massive Ques For Customs And Then the Crowded Baggage Reclaim?

Just O Saturday After arriving Around Half three The Baggage Reclaim And Customs Was Just Manick On Arrival:ugh:

Hopefully All Will Be well For Emirates :\

Skyman 771
Emirates

I was talking to Airfield Operations the other day and asked the same question and they were telling me that the A330 is to park on stand 30. Which is another centre line running down 9, but means the aircraft wing will hang over stand 8 effectively closing the stand for the duration of the turnaround. This will give everyone extra space with 2 sets of handling agents around the aircraft and all the cargo.

I was correct about the Irish interest in Sunderland FC being good for the airport....charter flights in double figures this weekend.

Anyone know whats happening with the schedule of the first EK flight?

Just wondering what time it is Arriving / Departing might be able to get up there with my camera :ok:

Cheers Guys

Did anyone see the United Arab Emirates private 'toy' that was up today. Well, it took off, i dont know when it got here. 747, and looking very nice, no doubt something to do with the launch of DXB. Looked like a 747-400, had winglets..anyone shed any light?

I saw this plane a couple of years ago about this time of the year, great piece of kit it was, it comes in every year i think as the Crown prince of Dubai comes up to NCL in his 747 for grouse shooting in Northumberland.


EGNT

Jamesair,

Do you not think the interest might have been for Liverpool rather than Sunderland this weekend?;)

There's an awful lot of support for Liverpool (and Man U for some reason) in Ireland. In fact, I watched the 2005 European Champions League final in a pub near Galway. Loads of Liverpool support - I felt right at home.

I agree...two teams with a lot of Irish support....still good for the airport.

EGNT

Airport timetable shows Dubai arr. 1140 dep. 1340

Cheers mate.

Still hoping that its going to be on time and running smoothly, we dont want to lose this service its a big step for NCL.

I'm sure a lot of other airlines will be watching this one closely to see how it develops

Yes, i guess if everything goes to plan there will probably be a big growth in interest from major long haul airlines.

That is is, of course, if things go to plan. A big airline like Emirates arnt going to put up with bad service.

But, im hoping that it will go to plan, and be the start of the major long haul growth :D

Many Regards

Yes i agree but I think all the other airlines will have their nose out of joint as EK has demanded so much.... They are going to use stand 9 but becuase of the parking position on the A330 stand 8 will not be used, how come stand 8 can still be used when MON has their A330 on stand 9?
What a waste of 1 more stand... facilities are already limited enough when your trying to get an aircraft away from a remote stand, im sick of only having 1 bus to load/unload passengers, or waiting ages for the cabin lift after arrival.

Maybe the cargo has something to do with it. If EK are to operate with cargo, then they will need the extra spce to load and unload the load.

If it attracts enough support, would the airline go double daily or would they introduce a larger a/c? Can NCL handle a 772 or 77W?

On Sunday I'll be there awaiting it's arrival. My sister in law is on the inaugural flight, coming from Perth via Dubai. I'm booked to go out that way 16th Jan 08.

I have it as arriving at 12.10 and departing at 13.10
The timings change after 28th October.

But where's this growth going to come from? Newcastle's a long way down the hierarchy - passenger levels are similar to Bristol, Liverpool, Belfast and East Midlands, some way behind Luton, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and way, way behind Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Manchester, the smallest of the big four handles nearly four times the number of passengers that Newcastle does.

Growth can stimulated by (a) more accessible locations overseas (b) more local visitors or (c) the airport acting as a hub. It's difficult to foresee (c) happening - there just isn't the physical capacity. Newcastle's peripheral in England - it's not a major business centre, and there isn't much culture/tourism, so again it's difficult to see much (b) growth here (which would probably be shorthaul anyway).

As for (a), well, EK is a start. Crewboi has already alluded to the physical problems of handling the EK 330, so any expansion here would require further capacity. But where's the market? The charter market is seasonal so where's the regular business/leisure travel going to come from to form this growth? There might just be sufficient potential for a couple of charters in summer to New York and California, but little for regular weekly or daily flights - it would have happened by now if it was going to happen.

Having said all this, I'll be flying NCL-DUB-HKG and back at the end of September. I commute from NCL virtually every week so I'm well aware of the airport's strengths and weaknesses; my longhauls are either via AMS or CDG - anything to avoid LHR, which is why EK's enterprise is to be welcomed.

3A

Smallest at the moment. Expected to become 2nd biggest by 2030! Just thought I would point that out!;)

Totally agree with what you are say though

MUFC fan:

NCL can handle the 777 on stand 9 just like the A330. I belive a 747 also used that stand this summer.

Dont think we have had a 777 in since the Gate Gourmet strikes.