Remember, EK was the market leader for MAN-HKG per CAPA's analysis. But EK's passengers are up! I wonder how much of a hit the CX/BA offering over LHR has taken

The Scouts and associated parties going to Japan number 700 according to the airport. At least they didn't go on a bland charter aircraft

CX
 

Until recently, I worked with a girl from Hong Kong who always used AF or KL to go home as she found them to be significantly cheaper to use. She was aware of CX opening in MAN but felt them to be too expensive to consider. Unless pricing has changed, I wouldn't expect AF/KL to be losing too many to CX.

Given CX's huge range of Chinese and other SE Asian destinations compared to their European competitors, I expect it's a very popular with business travellers. One would think a daily service, at least in peak season, should begin as soon as the required airframes become available.

Cathay Pacific's demand
 

Qatar Cargo 777F due into MAN in 30 mins as QTR8102 operating Chicago-Amsterdam. Reason unknown although could be a fuel stop? A7-BFC currently over Dublin

-- Now declaring an emergency into MAN!

It's down safely, anyone know the issue?

Fuel emergency.

Also got given an 05R arrival against the flow of normal traffic. Don't see that every day.

I was thinking it was perhaps a different tech problem which meant he might not be able to clear 23R being the active runway, but 05R was a shorter approach from the west for a fuel problem. The wind being fairly light and across the runway also helped. Good decision by ATC.

Fuel divert. Must of been on fumes as he arrived on 05 when ops are 23.

Jet2 not currently operating Vienna for Summer 2016, last flight in timetable down as January 2016. Seems easyJet/Austrian too much competition.

Well, I don't think it would have took a genius to work out that all 3 wouldn't all be able to stick out on VIE.

Feel sorry for Jet2 though. They gave MAN the route when no-one else would.

Austrian are back to daily at the end of March after their 5 weekly winter reduction, so, seems like they intend to give it a good go.

VIE by LS was still on sale for summer up until a few days ago. However I noted the winter schedule varied a bit. As LAX_LHR says a shame because they took a risk on a route which was lacking when no one else would.

To be honest I would prefer OS provided they stick with it. Went to VIE with them in April from LHR. I was not looking forward to going through LHR but T2 was a breeze both ways as was VIE. T2 to me seems functional and pleasant to use. I hope MAN gets somewhere near to what T2 has.

Back to LS as of today they are a net 10 flights up on last year. Things are however constantly changing as always

315 in Saturday, 300 Thursday.

Didn't CX stop flying to DME a little while ago?
Start up route! Resumed route technically speaking!
The first CX 350 is on the final assembly line at Toulouse, and I believe the 2nd has just arrived there. My understanding is CX will receive 1 per month from Feb 16 with a total of 12 by the year end. Initially the first a./c will be operated in and around Asia for around 3 months before ULH services, to yet to be decided destinations, start.
CX take delivery of their 52nd 777-300ER, next week I think.
So maybe by the back end of next year there may be enough a/c to start a daily operation to MAN, if they decide to of course, we will have to wait and see what the decisions will be.

Thanks Spanners. Those two inbound loads you gave average 90% Not bad eh!

With regard to increased frequency, I guess it doesn't have to go straight to daily. Isn't it possible CX could squeeze a 5th flight in sooner, say a Friday, just leaving Wednesday and Sunday without a service? I appreciate it's 30 hours return trip for an aircraft but just a thought.

In post 2445 I wrote

So guess what I just found in the MEN - the new Director of Security and Customer Services writes on a busy summer ahead

Opinion: Collette Roche - Manchester Evening News

Previously worked as HR Director and at one time with United Utilities...

I' sure that's a possibility, don't forget a few other destinations also start(ed) this year, Dusseldorf, Boston and Zurich to name a few, somebody did explain how they look at things.
It's done over quite a long period, they expect an initial surge, but it's look at over a period to ensure it's not a one off blip and that it is a sustainable route, what that period is I can't remember but it is at least 12 months. So come December time, someone will analyse it work out if and when to increase frequency, should that coincide with the 350 launch we can only wait and see.

Major trade mission to Asia led by PM with emphasis on London BUT delegation showcasing N West ls being fronted by a junior minister!

To say Leese Emmerich etc are apoplectic is an understatement.

It's precisely this type of clumsy planning which leads to a fragmented view of how the UK is perceived from outside markets and reinforces the view that London is the place to be.
Clearly it does not help MAN extend reach.

Whitehall civil servants yet again need a good kicking !

Ps On a more positive note there is a major Chinese delegation in Manchester on tour see M E N business. Sorry no link

Major trade mission to Asia led by PM with emphasis on London BUT delegation showcasing N West ls being fronted by a junior minister!

To say Leese Emmerich etc are apoplectic is an understatement.

It's precisely this type of clumsy planning which leads to a fragmented view of how the UK is perceived from outside markets and reinforces the view that London is the place to be.
Clearly it does not help MAN extend reach.

Whitehall civil servants yet again need a good kicking !

BAGSO

You're suffering from the delusion that people get when they can't see beyond their own corner of the world. Everyone believes that where their own patch is concerned, there is no better place on earth. The delusion is usually backed up by conspiracy theories about the capital city elite and an unfriendly media. This is not even a UK phenomena, it happens in most countries.
From the outside looking in - from China or elsewhere - London is thee place in the UK for business or tourism. Manchester or anywhere else in the country doesn't have anything close to the scale and type of iconic, world famous imagery that London has and people from all over the world flock to see.
Imagine you wanting to visit Japan for example, you'd want to visit Tokyo probably, not Osaka.
It's the way of the world.
I wish it was different but it's not.

All Names Taken,

I'm not sure it is the way of the world, it maybe true of the UK and France but pretty much every other major country in the world is less centred on 1 city. Take the US or Germany, neither country could be accused of being Washington or Berlin centric, public transport funding in Germany is spread out evenly based on population, here in the UK 80% gets spent in the South East the rest is handed out when and where the South East decides.