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.

Qatar Amiri Flight A330-200 A7-HHM due into MAN in 5 mins from Nice.

Photos: Airbus A330-203 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Here's the link - it's property investment

Chinese investors to check out Manchester Place plans - Manchester Evening News

with regards to CX, do we have an idea as to how many of the pax are transferring onto them from feeder flights at MAN?

You mean it reflects population density in much the same way?

Skip, you're not suggesting that 80% of the population is in London and the South East, are you. I thought it was about one-third of the population of England without taking into account the rest of the UK. Otherwise, I don't know how to interpret your comment.

All Names Taken, do you think there's any possibility this also applies to civil servants and government in Westminster?

Personally, if regions outside London and the South East (and I don't just mean Manchester and the North West) just accept the situation with a 'can't do anything about it' mentality, I fear the North South divide will just get wider be it in terms of infrastructure spending, wealth, jobs or inward tourism. I admit London is very effective at promoting itself with the tools at its disposal, and it's up to the regions to do likewise and kick up a fuss when necessary. Sadly, many MPs in our own area appear happy to accept the status quo. Whether devoManc will make any difference, who knows.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popula...United_Kingdom


around 26.6% of the population of UK live in the S.E. Around 14% live in the North. More people live in the Northwest than do in Scotland but spending is probably a lot more in Scotland than it is in the Northwest.

According to those Wiki figures:

Greater London [12.9%] + SE [13.7%] = 26.6% (as GavinC points out)

NW [11.2%] + NE [4.1%] + Yorkshire & Humberside [8.4%] = 23.7%

Therefore, the population distribution of London and the SE versus the 'Northern Powerhouse' catchment is 26.6% v 23.7%.

Not a particularly marked disparity by the numbers. Measured by capital investment in transport infrastructure from state funding, however, and I suspect those percentages will be vastly out of proportion.

Skipness ... I've never doubted that you do know your stuff, so could you clarify the point you were trying to convey in your 13:56 posting. Clearly you cannot believe that the North is sparsely populated?

No no no not the infrastructure spending thing again :ugh: that's not the point I was making.

I am alluding to the fact that if you're a foreign national wanting the English experience you will want to see Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Harrods etc etc ad nauseum,
Manchester Town Hall, or Selfridges in Brum just ain't going to cut it. And despite what we might think of the Peak District, most of the time it's cold, wet and grey - not really the kind of thing you'd fly half way round the world to see.

Likewise if you're a foreign businessman, your first point of call is going to be London.

These are the reasons why most UK airports only really handle small numbers of inbound pax - London was, is and always will be the number one destination for foreign visitors by a country mile. It has it's own large outbound market and a massive inbound one that all other UK airports can only fantasize about.
Not saying I like that situation as a northerner myself but sadly it's the way it is.
We just need to get over it.

All Names Taken

Many thanks for your latest observation, always providing a rich contribution to the forum. Delusional (?) I had no idea you had CSE grade F in basic medical training although at least you have managed to pull yourself up in later years by gaining a degree in negativity.

I despair at the utter lack of ambition displayed by some of the posters on here although trust me I shan't lose any sleep :ok:

If you honestly believe that Mr Cameron should be leading a trade delegation in Asia just to support Gtr London rather than ALL of the UK then I would suggest that it is YOU that is deluded !

We are talking INVESTMENT, not just tourism !

I would draw your attention again to the M E N which is currently covering a delegation from China who are looking for major investment in housing, I mentioned this earlier AND a Swiss company who have just announced their operation HQ will be Manchester.

...at least some people up here are at least "trying" to up their game !

This can only be of benefit to MAN !

PS "No no no not the infrastructure spending thing again" and don't throw us a line and expect a few of us to then sit on the fence, we won't !

You say negativity, I say realism.

Ranting on about perceived or real iniquities on a plane spotter forum won't change anything though.

The mission to Asia actually includes three ministers and many businesses from the North have been invited but have declined the opportunity to go because of such a large ministerial presence from what I have heard.

Not sure if the countries with one dominant capital city is limited to France and the UK. Would say that most of Europe falls into this category: Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the Scandinavian and Baltic countries and most of Central Europe, etc.. Germany is very much the exception mainly because of recent history. It’s also much the same in most of Asia, Africa and the Americas, most of the rest of the world in fact.



Devo Manc will make no difference, but will dump on Mancunians (if the Greater London pattern is followed) the eye-watering expense of a directly-elected mayor, several unelected "deputy mayors", all on six-figure salaries of course, plus a huge bureaucracy of highly paid functionaries, etc, etc., all paid for by the council tax precept.

Be very careful what you wish for.

All this despite Manchester citizens voting against a directly-elected mayor a couple of years ago, but this doesn’t stop them having one imposed (as part of devo Manc).

Shades of the European Union here, n’est-ce pas!

But your interpretation of 'realism' sounds more like 'defeatism'. I doubt that any reasonable contributor here would deny that London has a world-class offering for the tourist. But that does not mean that the regions should throw in the towel on the misapprehension that they have nothing to offer in their own right.

I don't want to get into a long list of tourist attractions, so I will just cite a couple of examples to illustrate the point. Durham Cathedral is one of the finest cathedrals in Europe. However, you might be forgiven for failing to realise that because low-key promotion overseas has resulted in far lower recognition than its underlying status deserves. Similarly, the Settle to Carlisle railway line: a magnificent example of rail engineering at its most challenging, and a scenic route arguably in the world's top 10. But recognition of its tourism potential arguably extends little beyond neighbouring counties and knowledgeable rail enthusiasts. This region also offers the world's first passenger railway and the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, as catalogued by Marx and Engels.

The North is not deficient of worthy tourist sites. But it is lacking international recognition of these. There are many more examples which I have not mentioned. So, whilst acknowledging that the SE has an outstanding offering for the overseas tourist, it is unwise to suggest that attractions elsewhere in the UK are consequently undeserving of committed promotion. It is not London or the rest; it can and should be both.

PPRuNe just a plane spotter forum? You would be amazed by who frequents this particular website. It reaches the very top of this industry, plus influential journalists, analysts [eh, Skip?!!!] and decision makers.

The Peak District may lack international recognition as you say. But Beatrix Potter's Lake District is beloved by the Asian Market. As are traditional castles such as those located along the North Wales Coast, and the stately homes which have featured in costume dramas sold to countries worldwide. And we mustn't overlook Alnwick Castle, recognised as "Hogwarts" by millions of kids around the world.

There is a market for this product. Promotion of these attractions is worthwhile - alongside London, not instead of it.

'London is fantastic for the tourist, so to Hell with the rest' is really not the attitude to which we should be aspiring!

Quote:
The Italian stock exchange is in Milan not Rome, the Lombardy region is wealthier than the capital with much industry and commerce concentrated there, the centre of fashion is Milan not Rome, tourist attractions are spread throughout the country, Florence, Pisa, Venice, the Amalfi coast, Sardinia and so on, not really that much like Britain.

I think Barcelona would argue it was much more of a tourist draw than Madrid. But guys, we digress. I'm not sure the Mods will allow much more of this Geography, Economic & Political debate.
Can we get back to new routes at MAN and how crap the walking route is from the Station to T3 ? :)

Anybody know why immigration insist you use your e-passport even if people are free at the desks?

A worthy thought, but it's a bit quiet on that front just at the moment aside from what is already known. It will be interesting to see how Iberia Express and Austrian perform when they start - I guess advanced bookings will be an indication for those in the know.

Meanwhile we wait patiently, and in hope, for news on China, India and a possible capacity increase on Hong Kong. Any further rumours are welcome!

It still surprises me how busy most of our long haul routes get when the summer school holidays start, despite the ludicrously high fares some passengers will have paid. Still, good business for the airport and higher yields for the airlines.

U.S. Officials will be at MAN tomorrow and Thursday to discuss the next stages of US CBP.

The announcement of confirmed airports for CBP is likely to be in the next 4 months, with MAN highly likely and implemented by 2018 (2018 is due to the MAN facility being custom built in the extended terminal rather than shoehorned into an existing area of the terminals).

Heathrow unlikely to feature in this round due to the complexity of implementation such as mix of terminals and the large volume of staff that will be needed to handle the amount of pax Heathrow generates, but the U.S. Officials will also visit Heathrow to see if work can be done to implement CBP in the future.

Johnnychips
Anybody know why immigration insist you use your e-passport even if people are free at the desks?

They don't. When you're approaching the queue, just ignore the guy that does the EU/NonEU/E-passport shout out and make your own judgement call. Do it all the time and never had a problem. If you stop and have the conversation waving your e-passport though they will direct you to the e-gates.

MANFOD
It will be interesting to see how Iberia Express and Austrian perform when they start - I guess advanced bookings will be an indication for those in the know.

I have just had to book a fight to Vienna for mid August: believe it or not for my travel dates, Jet2 were the most expensive. Austrian after that.
Significantly cheaper were SN Brussels - I've gone for that and saved £88 which will comfortable pay for my first night's accommodation. Easyjet will shake this market up I think when they start.

LAX
with MAN highly likely and implemented by 2018

This implies that at least the non-charter carriers to the US will all be in the extended T2, including AA, Can you confirm?

all of the scheduled long haul carriers will be in T2. T3 will be some low cost and the smaller aircraft, with anticipated no wide bodies at T3 due to a widened parallel taxiway being installed past the 50's gates at T3.

the plans for the redevelopment are:

2016: new car parks to the west of T2, to enable 'staff west' and the infamous apron car park to be moved out.

2016-2018: new apron space created all the way towards the M56, with one of the new piers, and ultimately, the CBP pier, to be built and operational.

2018: pier C demolished and parallel taxiway system to T2 created. T2 main terminal area expanded and airside link to T1/3 created

2019: 2nd T2 pier construction. Expected to be pre-fabricated to minimise loss of apron space timings. Most, if not all, t1 airlines now moved to T2/3 and T1 no longer uses for check in and arrivals unless required.

2021-ish: gate 142 area of T3 to be demolished to allow parallel taxiway system to 23R, also taxiway alpha dueled.

2023: 3rd pier, primarily a code F pier created.

2024: Terminal 1 main area demolished.