I would expect the passengers to be called flight at a time and block of seat numbers at a time, like they do at airports with airbridges and only one entrance to the aircraft. There is also no reason why a bus couldn't pull up outside another lounge, just because they are called domestic/international coach lounges doesn't mean they are any different to the other ones.

J.

Coaching - Any stand could be used for coaching and is at times.

As for calling wide body flights together, for a start the airport is slot controlled by ACL and then like centrefix has said you call the flights separately and then seats numbers. I have experienced long haul from NCL in 330-300's and even a 74 most times bussed to what was 15 and now 16 or 22 with no problem.

Yes we could do with more stands, but look at the likes of LHR or CDG I've waited 20-30 min inbound on the aircraft for the stand to become free!
:ok:

I'm talking from personal experience of working AT the airport day after day and not just those ppl who use the airport a few times a month to fly from.
Also talking from a Crew point of view! NCL just isnt big enough!
Gate 3 - Intl Coaching Lounge!! Its a laugh! one exit door, and its not very big! you would maybe fit the passengers of a A330 plus maybe a 737 AT A PUSH!! , and its not set out to board more than one flight at a time.
Gate 6 - Domestic coaching lounge - Urm, ive boarded 2 full jetstreams from there before, so your talking about 40-50 people, with most standing, and have you ever tried letting an imbounf flight through at the same time? ITS A NIGHTMARE!!!
If its anything like last year, there is a lack of coahes and their drivers. On the ground you find yourself being hurried to board because the coach is needed for flights that have just landed etc... its not enough! I can see major delays this summer!

Anyone who has travelled on a BA 757 from or to LHR will no what im talking about, it arrives on the INTL side of the airport, and you have to cross back through a single door middle of the pier to cross back to Domestic, its not only a right faff but very embarrasing for the staff doing it, you get a lot of Anti NCL Airport comments!
Personally I think a/c such as Fokker 100/70, jetsreams, CRJ's, ERJ's and maybe even 737's with a low passenger figure should be put off pier, 220 people on a A321 takes about 3-4 coaches. and they are a nightmare to board.

I really feel sorry for all the groundstaff based at NCL this summer, from check in, airport authority staff, etc etc.... its gonna be busy! there is hardly any check in space at 6am! ALL DESK in use! which means only 3 check in desks per flight, so expect Q's, complaints and more.... so basically, one or two typical summer charter delays and its thrown the spanner in the works!

Good luck Guys, your going to need it.

Has anyone at the operations department took a look at a saturady morning in particular, i.e where flights are going to check in and where passengers/aircraft board from?

2 TCX 757
2 BY 757
1 MYT 320
1 MYT 321
1 XLA 738
1 HH 734
1 MON A330
1 Spanair M83

plus on the scheduled side, AF ERJ, BA 320, BA 737, 5 EZY 737, SN RJ, KL F100, BE Dash 8

All between the hours of 0530-0900???

BY that they will need a few check in counters, considering airlines pay for a certain amount per aircraft???

I agree with what was said earlier, the masterplan needs bringing forward as it is all well and good attracting extra flights/new destinations and longhaul routes but the airport needs space!! MOre check in's, more stands and more security and ground personnel. Que's at security this winter have been horrendous! What is the point on having 5+ x-ray machines and only one is ever staffed and anyone passing through will have witnessed some of the que's at check in, even for a 757. God knows what it is going to be like peak summer??? (Que's outside or what about the mobile tent check in, being used for football charters????:} )

crewboi,

not sure you're cunning plan could be fitted with a tail and called a weasel.;)

yes, sure you can park all the biggies on pier and offload/onload large numbers of pax without the need for coaching. that's fine.

however, do you really think that the airport has enough gates/coaches/drivers to simultaneously board several a/c parked off stand as would be the case? plus, can you really see ba accepting their pax and crew coached in from the remote stands after having parked up next to the knackered old emerald? i'd love to see their faces - it would be like arriving in darkest africa or afghanistan!

there simply aren't enough gates to allow simultaneous departures with coaching, especially if all the long haul guys are parked up for 60 minutes plus at the pier. sooner or later, regardless of the handling company, there would be an almighty cock up with pax loaded to the wrong coach, or taken to the wrong a/c. pax of little intelligence struggle to make it to the gate on time as it is, without complicating the system further.

no. park the big boys off stand and limit the scope for a cock up. yes it will be a pain in the bum to manage the numbers, but at least the frequency of flights is vastly reduced from the scheduled operators.

not an ideal situation, but there you go.:)

Whitchdoctor i fully understand what your saying. but coming from airport groundstaff point of view, its alot easier in terms of passengers in the coaching lounge. no lounge will fit the 300+ pax of an A330 or 767.
When coaching we normally only get one or two coaches to board passengers, which means doing multiple trips to and from the remote stand, its a pain in the Ass!!
this is the main thing as well..... if you take 80 passengers and dumb them at the aircraft side, they wonder round and go up any steps they please, so u end up with chaos in the cabin, mr and mrs bloggs got on at the front door, however they are sat in for 41!!! u see my point? for sum reason when you board an aircraft on stand, its easier... rows 1-20 front steps, 21-41 back steps and so on.....
for sum reason you pop the geese on a coach and they are off, brain left on the bus! just personal experience of the airport and its passengers, im sure both my idea and yours will be use during the summer, that is of course, after they have checkd in @ the mobile check in counter, in the long term car park..... popped in past the beer tent..... Q'd for 45 mins for the one security machine... then finally made their way past the army of girls in pink coats tryin to flog u EVERYTHING in duty free! NIGHTMARE!


And as for the BA comment.... i think you'll find that they do get off stand quite a bit... especally the 757 flights. only stand 3 is reserved for BA, with all these EZY 737's round BA have kinda been out numbered.... so they LGW 737 gets put wherever there is space, normally with the rest of the airport.... in the long term car park!!!

crewboi,

Whatever happens, I'm sure it will be an interesting summer, especially as it will be my first. Are you allowed to fraternise with the 'enemy' from next door?;) If so, maybe you'll say hi sometime.

See you on the ramp no doubt.:D

I no longer work on the ground, only did for the winter, work for a well known charter airline, prob the only one that your company will handle, so thay may giv a clue to who i work for lol!
Anyway drop me a pvt message, then ill know who u are, and then i will say hi, when im standing at the bottom of the front steps for those many early morning departures we ave this year!