Fingers crossed for our next trip to Perth from NCL on 16th January 2012.

Has anyone heard any rumours or hints of new routes or other expansion for 2012?

Can't find the story linked - what does (did?) it say?

Click onto the link in Seljuk22's post and the quote is near the end of the interview.

Thanks - but when I click on the link it doesn't take me to the story but 'the hub' page with many news items which doesn't include "Five minutes with... Emirates Airline" (I can find "Five minutes with...Malaysian" and "Five minutes with...London Southend Airport"). Also, I search doesn't find it either.

SWB
I've just tried the link again and it now does what you say. However, the article didn't say any more than the poster put.

Basically all it said was all UK flights are doing well, they'll be more A380s to the UK in the future, and that Newcastle will be upgraded to a 777 when a suitable variant becomes available (i.e. 2 class 772ER or 77W).

Thomas Cook
 

I wonder if TCX will be basing 4 aircraft at NCL next summer. From what I have heard there has been a lot of slack in the schedules this summer and it looks like some flight series have finished earlier than planned.

Tommorrow ( Friday ) only one departure from 4 aircraft in the morning.

Normally most summer charter departures go through to mid/end of October with the returns early November when the winter services kick in.

It's quite common for the Greek flights to finish earlier than e.g. the Spanish ones so I wouldn't read too much into that. With 4 aircraft the programme was lighter per aircraft than it has been in the past but as long as they can get someone to fly for them next year again I would expect the 4 based units to return.

Re Emirates possible upgrade to a 777..Will it get off the 7,300ft runway, I know BHX does it but they have 8,600ft (to be 9,750ft by 2014).

Surely off the small NCL runway would have to operate with restricted weight, unless NCL are going to extend their runway a bit as well?:sad:

Nigel

The runway is a bit over 7,600ft. There's an earlier discussion about which 777 version would have to be used. Emirates have already flown the 777 in and out of Newcastle for the 75th anniversary celebrations.

I heard NCL will be extending the runway! At the Dinnington End permission has been granted to reroute the road to do so!

"I heard NCL will be extending the runway! At the Dinnington End permission has been granted to reroute the road to do so!"

I'd heard the extension was going to be an underpass under the road.

"I'd heard the extension was going to be an underpass under the road. "

Now that'll make for interesting arrivals/departures...:eek: ;)

I was only joking with that one.
What I'd really heard is that they were changing the runway into a 3000m moving walkway to save aircraft fuel.

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

from memory, it was suggested in the masterplan from a few years ago that if there was going to be an extension it would be at the Dinnington end.

Runway extension... about as likely as a scheduled service to NY, dream on boys.

B777 & EK
 

Nigel......Ironically Emirates I think operated their B777 movement from Birmingham earlier in the year due snow at Birmingham? Plus a Glasgow 777 ?

Dont think any of the diverted flights operated fully laden back direct

CentreFix25
At least someone has restored reality. Incidentally I think you have even over stated the probability, as reality is that there is NO CHANCE of any significant extension.
I believe the maths were done some time ago when things were looking a lot brighter (5M pax & increasing) and then even in projecting steady continued growth the maths simply did not add up. Massive costs & no one prepared to pay, least of all the airlines themselves! & then to cap it all the bubble burst !!!:{