OzzyOzBorn

The incoming president is going to have it all on to extricate the US from the Covid-19 crisis caused primarily by Trump's denial and ineptitude. I can't see much improving in the next 3/4 months that is going to kickstart Florida tourism from UK, or elsewhere in Europe. Since for us northern European Florida is, for whatever reason, primarily a summer destination, it'll be 2022 before things get back to something like normal in that market.

BACF have announced (& bookable) 11 week-end destinations from Southampton for S21. Does that mean no return to MAN for S21? My flights this year to JMK were cancelled even though at the time it was perfectly possible to go to/from there and with no quarantine.

There will be no Cityflyer Ops from MAN or STN for summer 21. Perhaps SOU provided a sweeter deal than M.A.G.

Mr A Tis
I have heard that both the MAN and STN programmes have been cancelled for S21.

(There's a link to the article on the Southampton thread - post #35)

Looks like the MAN & STN units are just being redirected to SOU - great news for SOU

bar none

I read that they only gave permission for the LHR flights to ISB and LHE.

MAN has permission too and the first flight departs at 1235 tomorrow (10/12) on a 787-9 (G-VOWS).

MAN-ISB starts Thursday according to 'SPD travels' !

This was the article, no idea how accurate it is though but as they also state they are using A330s I’ll say not very.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1594253/vi...stan-on-dec-13

Well according to MAN departure boards, VS 362 to ISB departs 12.35 from Gate 31 in T1 and passengers told to wait in lounge. So it seems promising!

BHX5DME
Re BACF flights S21:

This was the 4th post reiterating this news, so message received and understood! So if your main purpose was to congratulate Southampton, why not just post it on their thread?

I'm reading on SPD Travels that easyjet are proposing to increase capacity on some summer routes that were operated by BACF, which subject to further changes would more than compensate.

Does anyone know the reason for TOM104 being diverted back to MAN en route to St. Lucia? G-TUID operated the flight and is currently sat on the ground in MAN

I don't know the reason but it can't have been too serious as it's just taken off again in the past few minutes according to FR24.

Further news posted on SPD Travels on the Aer Lingus plans to operate from MAN to the US:

Aer Lingus has applied to US DOT for rights to start Aer Lingus UK and routes from Manchester to New York, Boston & Orlando. 2 A330 used initially, EI-EDY and EI-ELA to be transferred to UK register, followed by 2 A321N

British registered Shamrocks is certain to drive certain parts of my family into a whole new level of rage, I hope this might be a return to MAN getting some TLC from Aer Lingus, they could finally do what BMI failed to do and make a decent go of a long haul operation alongside Virgin.
If it's a new AOC, then the callsign will be interesting....or beige, could go either way. Perhaps even BA will finally launch ORK-BOS on the A321N? #takenittoofar What a time to be alive.

Well we already have one G-registered harp (G-RUKA) with more to come, according to reports. Not a big leap to add shamrocks really? And EI- registered aircraft have been based at UK airports for years too ...

Meanwhile - sacrilege, I know - I hope that Aer Lingus delays the launch of the new base at MAN until Summer '21. I'd expect them to fly alot of fresh air around during February to May which would get things off to a very bad start and undermine the long-term financials of the project. By Summer, there is a much improved chance that the innoculation programme and easing travel restrictions will facilitate a broader range of flying again. Early in the year, I can only foresee a debilitating labyrinth of restrictions and travel bans for discretionary Transatlantic business. Of course, perhaps they will take early season bookings 'just in case' and then consolidate them over DUB closer to the time? That early morning A320 still operates MAN-DUB most days. Connections available. Consolidating onto BA over LHR using the Shuttle would also be an option in the early months, this being a codeshared IAG initiative.

I see that the Canaries have just been cancelled again by HMG ... for the crucial Christmas / New Year trading period too. No light at the end of the tunnel for leisure air travel just yet. Sadly, it looks too soon for Transatlantic to resume in volume.

MAG Stats – November 2020

November Pax

MAN – 166,317 down 90.9%

STN – 160,805 down 91.5%

EMA – 17,136 down 93.2%

12m Rolling Pax

STN – 9,340,917 down 66.8%

MAN – 8,755,690 down 70.2%

EMA – 1,091,665 down 76.8%

Cargo

EMA – 41,613 up 26.45%

STN – 19,810 down 9.4%

MAN – 4,417 Down 54.0%

That print media is a rag and best referred to a government mouth piece . Owned by the Haroon and Jinnah families . Its far from authoritative and critical.
Fact is they and the Pakistan government don’t really want Virgin in their backyard .
The heavy restrictions on PIA have however twisted their arm and Pakistan’s weak economy desperately needs the link.

Rutan16

Let’s be honest, ISB is not a route that Virgin really want to be flying, more of an opportunity to generate cash in these lean times.

The 96er

Who says that Virgin do not really want to fly to ISB. What is the basis of your allegation? The route could prove to be very lucrative.