Any news on the hotel yet?

A bit of progress on the Hotel issue .. a planning application went in yesterday for the erection of the large Hilton (Doubletree) signs and some flag poles etc outside what will be the the main entrance !!

should be open early in the new year :ok:

Next years flights for Manx2 to the IOM are quite an expansion from the old Eastern schedule with:-

M/W/F... 2 rotations
T/Th/Sa/Su....1 rotation

Making 10 return flights a week with a return of the Saturday flight.

Just done a return trip to Dubai with Emirates and notice they were using 3 class configuration A330's on both legs, six days apart. Not sure if this is just to to lack of available twin class aircraft as unable to book first class via their website for random dates in Jan?

EK have been useing the 3 class A330's on and off for a while now! I think its just fleet rotation etc. Plus i heard that EK intend to get the ICE system installed on the A330 fleet, maybe thats a factor. There is not first class service on either the outbound or return leg when the three class aircraft is used!

EK
 

Hi Chris 1001 and Earlyriser! Yup, I too came back recently on a 3 class A330, and yes I think it is just operational availability. Mind you, it enabled EK to sell more business class seats, albeit by 2 more than normal, which is an added bonus. My outbound flight 31 October was a 2 class version, both classes were sold out with the usual 27 in business class. On my return though on 20 November, I was amazed at the figure of 29, that coupled with the cargo is what makes proper, hard core revenue. The guys at Parkers exec limos who pick me up/drop me off at the airport, say they have been very busy for weeks with EK pax which is always good to hear. The EK flight has been a Godsend for me since it started, I for one will always use, and promote it given the opportunity. I hope your flight experiences were good too

The Loads on the EK have been great lately!

Good to see Air Transat back for next summer!

EK
 

Good to see it doing well - it even got a little mention on Steve Wrights Radio 2 show yesterday.

saying what?

They had a posh travel agent in talking Winter holidays, then Dubai came up the the flight from NCL got mentioned.

I am trying to take the family out to Dubai for a break at the end of March. Nearly every flight towards the end of March is fully booked in economy according to EK website. Didn't realise that Easter falls the first week in April so no doubt due to school hols.

Looks very promising for Emirates next year and good luck to them for having the balls to commit to Newcastle - the best thing that's ever happened to the airport. Just a shame the UK press seem to have it in for Dubai especially over the past week or so. They are blowing everything totally out of proportion with the same old pic of a dust covered car and trying to say there are thousands of them abandoned at dxb as expats flee the country. What absolute garbage.

Not wanting to start rumours but I reckon the next long haul route from NCL could be Doha since Qatar airways are creating a worldwide hub similar to Dubai - could be a couple of years off though. They have plenty of aircraft onorder and routes to fill. Not in the industry myself but know the Middle East well - just my opinion.

New direct connection to HAJ with BE starting 31 March 2010; bookable now! (M/W/F dep. 0900)

PP ;)

Good news to see this route back, and with better flight timings than Tuifly offered in the last couple of years.

NCL-HAJ
 

Good news for NCL.

Looks like the aircraft is operating EXT-NCL-HAJ-NCL-EXT.

BE705 Will depart EXT 07:20 arriving NCL 08:35 then depart with the same flight number at 09:00 arriving HAJ 12:00

BE706 Will depart HAJ 12:25 arriving NCL 13:25 then depart with the same flight number at 13:50 arriving EXT 15:05

hannover
 

Great news!! Flybe said it was hoping to add haj and maybe more german routes from ncl.
Pitty its not a 3rd based aircraft but still good work by airport and flybe!!

Perhaps a Berlin to fill the gap left by EZY or MUC, which has been served by HLX previously. Finally, there are signs are economy going up?!

Jim Denyer
 

I was rummaging around a 2nd hand English bookstore in Barcelona last weekend and to my surprise found a book all about Newcastle Airport and the Newcastle Aero Club

'Small Enough To Conquer The Sky : Jim Denyer Mr Newcastle Airport' by John Sleight (published by City Libraries and Arts)

Engaging little book charting the history of the airport from its days as an RAF encampment up to 1993 and the death of Denyer. Nice little chapter on the last ever Danair flight from the airport and a nice general insight into the airport. Well worth a read for anyone with an interest in the airport and Denyer.

I remember going into a lounge a long time ago (after the first major redevelopment) that was named after Denyer, is there anything at the airport still to credit his role?

(I also see on the fans website that FlyBe are using the Kevin Keegan aircraft to do a special day return fans flight for Plymouth V Newcastle into EXT)

I'm very surprised that Air Southwest are not stepping up to the plate with a direct to Plymouth charter flight. Probably left it too late now

jKKne

The Denyer Suite in the terminal. Next to the Boardroom. It's a private meeting room.

BE to HAJ
 

A bit surprised that neither NIA or BE have made any sort of official announcement - more fuss been made about the FA cup flights!