The rumour from the ground is that Menzies staff have been told to expect large redundancies. Possibly even pulling out of MAN completely.
Very sad and devastating for all concerned.

All Menzies staff involved in Ramp handling, i.e Baggage handling, Check-in, Operations have been put at risk of redundency. This for the second time in a few months after previously losing the AF/KL contract. I'm told that they will not be pulling out due to the IAG contract which runs through to Jun 2022, because in doing so, would put the rest of the contract at risk in EDI, GLA and DUB. Menzies still have an expanded Loganair contract to service along with Iceland air.

Swissport, who also provided cleaning services for Flybe may also be looking at staff numbers, although, I've not heard anything official.

Just as with Thomas Cook, there will be job losses across the board, the effect of such a huge airline going under affects everyone.

Handlers, cleaners, refuellers, caterers, maintenance staff, shop staff, bus drivers, meet and greet parking, the lot! Painful for the staff who have to go through this over and over again, ie Monarch, BMI, Thomas, Flybe, and the rest.

The rate of turnover in the industry is remarakable - when I was at Servisair our big customers were Air Europe, Britannia, Laker, Orion and Wardair...

I wonder if there's a chance of RYR have T3 all to themselves in the not too distant future? I understand T3 was set to be FB and RYR only at such time at T2 was fully open (T1 closed) with all other carries processing through there.

Also, does anyone know what happened with the aircraft ownership when FB was taken over? Could Virgin do their Virgin Connect airline by buying the others out of the aircraft ownership (if the aircraft to transferred out of FB)?

Sorry but Mark Anderson specifically said the Connect project was dead and would not be going ahead.

I think Virgin is going to keep out of regional flying for a while
Connect could do it with a rebrand of stobart.
At the moment I think Branston is feeling a bit sheepish.
Bit like when you walk in to the office the day after the Christmas party.

In a pickle maybe?

As I understand it Branson has little if anything to do with Virgin these days. Though he is inextricably linked to the brand name. I think Delta own the majority shareholding in Virgin Atlantic and have done for some time.
David

As an american company, Delta can't be the majority shareholders - this seems to be the latest position?

https://inews.co.uk/news/business/ri...ce-klm-1330277

Heard there’s gonna be a replacement on the MAN-LUX route too. Probably EasyJet or Ryanair would be my guess?

Luxair? Didn't they run LUX-MAN-DUB flights for many years?

Being Positive, :- I understand it's Luxair with DH-8D, 3 x week on a Mon Wed Fri from around early May.

Being Negative :- I wonder if MAplc are beginning to regret putting all their eggs into the " Passenger " basket after successfully ridding themselves of any substantial freighter only operations?

I know freight is in a downturn at present as well as pax but diversification is the name of the game these days, especially with lots of runway slots available now.

I do hope Mr. Freight organiser (based at Stansted I'm told) catches a cold down there as well !

As a possible revenue earner, how about drag racing on 23L / 05R, - not much need for it as a runway at present!

Tin Hat at the ready, I think I hear the first Salvo inbound now? - ---------- crump crump crump!

MAG enjoys all the revenues from their specialist cargo operations at EMA and STN. They appear to redirect all (MAN) cargo enquiries to those airports whenever possible as a matter of policy. So I'd guess they won't be concerned that dedicated freighter aircraft are rarely operated through MAN (FedEx excepted).

This situation isn't great for MAN itself, but the airport owners will see it as all part of the plan.

The major distribution hubs, whether supplied by air or by container from the gateway ports, are all in a area of the north Midlands, because trucks from there can reach most regional hubs, eg for the supermarkets, within 4 hours or so. The driver can do a round trip within legal hours. EMA is best placed for these.

Manchester doesn't need freighters, the revenue generated by such flights is a drop in the ocean for an airport the size of MAN. The inconvenience of losing vital stand capacity isn't worth the hassle, when you've got EMA just down the road.

I agree on your comment and I understand it will be Terminal 3.

Using 23L/05R for car racing was an tongue in cheek idea in 2001 after the Twin Towers attack and subsequent downturn. The runway had only been open a few months.

And in the 70s, the then Airport Director, Gordon Sweetapple, who was a great racing fan, used to test his go kart out on the main runway on a Sunday morning when it was particularly quiet. If ATC required the runway for an aircraft movement, they flashed the edge lights on and off and the go kart then cleared the runway. No safety cases and standard operating procedures in those days. :ooh:

On a more serious note, many jobs at MAN and other airports are now at risk and I keep my fingers crossed for each and every one of you.

I take the point you're making, but handling a commercial aircraft on a scheduled operational turnaround isn't "losing a stand". It is putting a stand to the use it is intended for.

[QUOTE=Suzeman;10709177]Using 23L/05R for car racing was an tongue in cheek idea in 2001 after the Twin Towers attack and subsequent downturn. The runway had only been open a few months.

And in the 70s, the then Airport Director, Gordon Sweetapple, who was a great racing fan, used to test his go kart out on the main runway on a Sunday morning when it was particularly quiet. If ATC required the runway for an aircraft movement, they flashed the edge lights on and off and the go kart then cleared the runway. No safety cases and standard operating procedures in those days. :ooh:

He did a couple of friends of mine used to sort the engine for him. We where only talking about it a week or so ago. It was a class 4 with a Villers engine. if I remember correctly