Dakota on site
 

DC3 Dakota
 

It has been at HUY for a few weeks now. I believe it is 'based' here for the summer season. It will be flown at air shows et al, and will hopefully be flying in and out on a regular basis.

I had the privilege of going on-board when it first came to HUY and it is in amazing condition for its age, complete with original bullet holes all over the fuselage. Impressive stuff!

I think it is owned by Air Atlantique who own a lot of classic aircraft.:8

A 'flagship' more than a money spinner for the airport, but there will be another cruise flight on 14th January 2010 for Fred Olsen to Barbados. Return will be from Nicuragua. This year's flight must have sold well for them to be returning :ok:

Not meaning to be 'uptight' but will HUY have a future up to 2010???

The way things are going they may not be many flights operating by 2010???

I sincerely hope so.:confused:

Why do you say that AI? The biggest loss of flights has been from TOM relocating to DSA. New owner on the cards could be the best thing to happen here.

May catch a close up of the machine tomorrow weather permitting.

Its owned by Dakota Heritage Inc and registered in the US

Once upon a time Dakotas were regular at HUY of course - with the original Eastern flying to Heathrow in the early 80's

ooops
 

my apologies AH, maybe i should have looked on the net first.:ugh:

There was a solitary Red Arrow parked next to the DC3 this morning.

Anyone know why he's there?

Is he lost? :E

Diverted into Humberside due to bad weather in Scampton/further south.

Red Arrows
 

Maybe the Red Arrows arent going to be moving to Waddington!!!


Maybe they are moving to HUY one by one!!!

Now thats another RUMOUR!!!:eek:

Totally off the wall but would the Hawk have to pay landing fees?

Supose thats upped the value of the airport for the potential sale of HUY, still no news, maybe the potential visitors had a look at the books or are counting their beans before making a "substantial" offer.

Time will tell

HUY
 

I do hope that HUY, in the last few days, hasn't seen it's future. A clapped out DC3 and a lost Hawk. Any prospective buyers will be looking for the potential of lots of shiny A319's and 738's. I'm not sure that in these difficult times that any major investor will be able to convince any operators that they should place its cash on MAG's table.

I hope that I'm wrong. But I sense that it's the right airport, in the wrong place (because of the competition), and for sale at the wrong time.

Circseam - Im not so sure we will hear anything official soon. PriceWaterhouseCoopers have ben apponted advisors so doubtless will have some reviews to do, prospectus to prepare maybe. All behind the scenes stuff. And the timetable MAG have is the end of the year, so no really urgent rush

By the end of the year, who knows what the situation with fuel will be? I think along with the experts who seem convinced MAG will get what they want for it. Airports are still good investments no matter big or small. I do believe (had MAG seemed to court lo-co before DSA) FR would be operating a few succesful routes here right now.

The airport needs investment and a more outgoing marketing strategy, along with around 1 million within 45 minutes drive of the airport it is certainly well underperforming compared to other airports.

I dont think DSA is as much of a potent competitor as most would have us believe, it has EMA, MAN and LBA surrounding it.

Goldtrail have axed Antalya about a month before it is due to begin. Would have been new for this year. Sun Express flight remains

Goldtrail are notorious for pulling flights at the last moment, in fact I'm sure they did the same at HUY in the not too distant past.
For the last few years they've negotiated deals with a number of UK regional airports and each year they've pulled out of the majority to concentrate on the one or two airports they see as the most profitable, usually Luton or Stansted, not terribly ethical, but that's business I suppose.

No consolation to HUY and it appears that a bleak Summer is on the cards.

Hopefully it won't take too long for PWC to get things in order for the sale, but I'm not sure that the books will make attractive reading to prospective buyers.

Pug said:

I think you're spot on there, to be honest a quick look at the HUY arrivals board versus the DSA one on some days during the week would have you beleive HUY has more going for it.

DSA has done very little after all the 'biggin it up' when it kicked off. I personally think it has VERY LITTLE going for it. TOM pulled a blinder by basing there and pulling out of the LBA base - handed the business to Jet2 on a plate. I bet PM was rubbing his hands when he saw the back of their base.
Lost of customers lok at me stupid whenever you suggest DSA as a starting point and to be honest I tend to encourage them away from the place. Why endure a longer drive to what really is a "tin pot" airport, when you can goto MAN and play with the big boys. The cutomers of W.Yorks (and prob much of E.Yorks) dont want HUY (or LBA) moved down to DSA, theyd rather go full hog and get their butts to MAN.

I've a feeling the managers at DSA hve probably cottoned onto this :)

RobT100

Stop talking out of your arse, I am from East Yorkshire and would go from HUY every time if I could.

2 mins walk from car park into the terminal, very short journey through security straight into departures, hardly any delays straight onto plane.

Compared to BIG BOYS at Manchester 2hrs of driving, parked miles from anywhere, airport falling to bits, massive queues at security and duty free and when you get onto plane taxi ways falling to bits, queuing to cross 1 runway to get to the other, join the queue at the takeoff runway

By this time I would already be on the beach.

Take your pick folks

DLM and Bodrum were ment to start in March but actualy began last month. Other than that think it is the first time HUY has faced the Goldtrail 'axe'. While this is a very frequent occurance - NWI, DSA and LBA have all experienced it this for example - what surprised me was how late the axe was. Most other flights axed were done a couple of months ago

It should also be said that the summer doom and gloom is being offset in part by winter growth. Should be back to passenger number increases in November ... will be the first for a couple of years

Think companies like Goldtrail should be penalised or made to run either part or the full summer course.

I think HUY needs to be a bit on the mean side at times, As an example the FR & XLA episodes, They came in all smiles then walked out when they felt like it, And HUY said or did nothing.:*

A month's notice is no good to anyone.

Wheras on the other hand is LBIA who have traditionally been over keen on dictating to the Airlines.

Think the new owners need to play ball and have a hardsell no-nonsense approach.:D

And have an Airport MD who gets paid to look nice in the Airport magazine ie RG, Instead of bringing in pax.:ugh: