major growth at ncl

[richardhall99]

I have just been reading that there will be major growth up at newcastle with the introducion of 5th ezy aircraft at the airport.
There will also be an additional £7 million spent on the terminal.
Hopes are high that additional frequency can be secured on the dus route as well as more from Ryanair.icnewcastle (http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/eveningchronicle/eveningchronicle/page.cfm?objectid=13564949&method=full&siteid=50081&page=1)

[johnwalton]

All looks good.

"By the end of 2003 the airport will have handled 3.8 million passengers but this will soar by more than 30 per cent to around five million by December 2004."

"On the charter front, Thomson will offer 14,000 more holidays next year with Fuerteventura, Madeira and Naples making their debut.

Thomas Cook has also committed a second aircraft to Newcastle International doubling the number of flights next summer.

Specialist operator to Greece, Kosmar, will operate its own aircraft into Newcastle for the first time next summer.

Libra Holidays is also growing its programme with new services to Paphos. Another specialist, Ametheus will also add new routes to Corfu, Kefalonia and Zante.

British Airways will step up its Heathrow service from six to seven flights a day as of this week."


The "new" terminal building is only designed to hold 6 million, at growth of 30% per year, its not going to be long before that figure is surpassed, even if the growth slows over 2004/5/6.
I take it the 14,000 extra Thomson holidays are going to be a result of a 767 based throughout the summer? or will there be an extra aircraft over the peak months? I assume that the Libra and Kosmar expansions are via the based Excel Airways unit that is planned for the summer?

[transwede]

Among the things the airport have mentioned are:

* Extra frequency to DUS with LH
* Extra charters to PFO, FNC and EFL
* New routes to Chania, Volos, Kavala and Durban
* Oslo, Bergen and other European scheduled routes mentioned
* Easyjet to base aircraft 5 to operate to MAD, PMI, MUC and FAO?
* The airport are also in talks with Ryan to operate extra frequency to DUB and into Europe.

Excel will base a 737-800 to operate for various operators.

Lets hope there is enough parking spaces for all these extra aircraft and the handling agents will certainly need extra tugs/steps etc as they seem to be struggling now!

It is all excellent news for the north east economy, giving a greater choice of destinations and flights.

However, one point to consider it is airlines who decide on new routes and when to announce, not the airport. Nothing is confirmed in this industry until schedules are released.

We shall have to wait and see!!!!!:eek:

[transwede]

More airline/route news for NCL

European will use 747 aircraft for flights to San Juan this winter and Air Miles/Islandflug will base a 737-400 for a tour operator next summer! That makes 8 based charter units.

Its also a shame that easy don't know anything about their news routes to MAD, PMI, FAO and MUC, as was stated in local press!! :uhoh:

Also travel agents were told of new routes to Port Elizabeth, Dubai, Durban and Delhi - all to be operated by AV8air (if they survive)!!! :eek:

[Flightrider]

Are Excel still going to base their 738 @ NCL given that one of their biggest tour operator supporters from NCL has pulled its support from Excel to go it alone?

[GrahamK]

The 2 European 747 flights to San Juan will operate via LGW and carry cruise passengers from the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL - Ironic) firm.

Believe XLA will still base 738.

[transwede]

Flightrider what do you mean when you say,

given that one of their biggest tour operator supporters from NCL has pulled its support from Excel to go it alone ?

Scandic have ended their contract with XLA at NCL, therefore XLA basing their own aircraft and they still have a large programme on behalf of various tour operators! :ok:

[redfield]

Anybody know any further info. on the proposed third handling agent at NCL by the end of March? I've heard some rumours about all sorts of things...

[JKP505]

Does anyone know about the Air Wales PLH-CWL-NCL-GLA service? It is posted on the BAA Glasgow website, but that's it? Apparently it will start on Dec. 1st.

I assume Cimber Air won't be operating to CPH now EZY have moved on the route?

What about EZY does anyone really think MAD, MUC, PMI and FAO, especially with the SXF service. I have my doubts about MAD and FAO. MUC is understandable due to some big business links in the city, plus it has a good market as an alcohol shuttle! If I picked another route out of NCL, I would go for ATH. Axon seriously considered a thrice weekly service, but went bust.

Thanks to Kosmar going alone, we can look forward to low-quality charter airlines for another year, wonder who it'll be? XLA will be at the airport next year, but I take it SCY won't be, unless Kosmar go it alone with SCY?

T3 fancy the OSL route as well.

[transwede]

Nothing has appeared on the NCL website about the new Air Wales 'bus' service to CWL/PLH/GLA, so I'm thinking it won't have a great beginning if there is no advertising.

I'm a little sceptical about the new easy route to SXF. Why don't they stick to routes which will definately work and prove popular, like PMI, FAO, an Italian route and what about AMS? Have also heard ATH, MAD, FCO, NCE, GVA and MUC mentioned. Easy are set to have 6 aircraft based at EGNT by May 2004, a mix of 737-300 and 700. JKP505 you maybe right about an ATH service, I too remember Axon, but will easy's less powerful 73's make it with a full load to ATH off NCL's runway?

As for Kosmar going it alone, it is all good news for the airport and local people. I know NCL have had some 'dodgy' charters in the past (Seven Air, Hola, Transwede...) but various airlines have been muted to base next summer for Kosmar, such as Hola, Islandflug and EAC but Excel will undertake most of the Greek work for Kosmar/Libra and Goldensun.

Eastern to Oslo? With what? I expect Wideroe!

The airport claims new airlines, new routes on their new TV advert, but no mention has been made of anything!

Finally AV8air, is it going to happen or is the NCL programme going down the pan? :\

[JKP505]

Just checked the scheduled timetable, the Air Wales flights are now up operating 12345-7 service departing for GLA at 09:40, departing for CWL and PLH 17:40. If you read the post about 6G at GLA, the a/c must be operating Glasgow Galway in between the starting journey from PLH and its return.

Also AF are operating less capacity to CDG using the 145, although it appears to be a night-stopper. The new CPH and AGP routes are now up as is the additional freq. to BRS.

AV8air seems to have gone up the spout.

Just a comment in general, doesn't it seem that every airport that BA has abandoned has gone on to better things, including LBA, CWL, even LGW and BHX to an extent. BA is a pitiful example of a European flag carrier, with comparison to LH, AF, SK and even IB. When you consider BA only have a substantial international service from LHR, LGW, MAN, BHX and BRS to some end.

[Flightrider]

transwede

"Excel will undertake most of the Greek work for Kosmar/Libra and Goldensun".

You're about four weeks out of date. And I said that one of the major tour operators had pulled its support from Excel. Last time I looked, Air Scandic was an airline, not a tour operator.

Cheers
Flightrider

[10 DME ARC]

JKP505

AV8 you will find are ‘to be’ a charter airline which you’ll find the airport haven’t put out yet, lots of changes and a good increase in flights next year…………

As I have said before you should visit the airport more as you'll find Air France have been operating the jungle jet since the end of the summer program, with the odd FK100 and BAe146 thrown in at weekends when the loads are any where up to 100 pax’s.

Things are looking good for a very busy 2004!

[transwede]

This is all EXCELLENT, BRILLIANT, FANTASTIC, EXCITING for Newcastle:D considering a few years ago, there wasn't much sign of any major growth.

Now a new terminal is being constructed, with major re-developement of retail and departures area, which with all these extra flights is majorly needed. Just pop in on a saturday during the summer and its a mad house!

Lets hope AV8 don't go belly-up. A based 767 operating 2 long haul routes and to ACE/TFS/ALC/AGP is a major coup for NCL. Air Wales is great news and Wideroe are shortly to announce new services to OSL and BGO, and increase capacity on SVG. And Ryanair are VERY close to finalising a deal for flights to european destinations next summer, so I hear??!! easy watch out?:eek: Already AF are talking of upgrading the CDG permanantly to FK100 a/c.

JKP505 you have hit the nail on the head, the airport has only got better since BA regional uped and left, and now they don't seem to get any kind of preferncial treatment!

Flightrider check your postings, they don't make a lot of sense, contradicting yourself, but for the record Excel decided to base their own aircraft and end the agreement with Air Scandic!

Islandsflug will also base 737-400 next summer! :suspect:

[johnwalton]

I don't think there's any 'new' terminal building being introduced, rather, they are reorganising the existing space. The landside restaurant, bar and creche are being removed and converted (along with the old domestic and international departures) into one, larger departure lounge which will span the length of the terminal building on the first floor. This includes creating a new, larger security check point to allow more passengers to pass through at once. Having said that, a whole new terminal would be nice, and I did hear a rumour about the possibility of a new pier (?) but that never seemed to materialise.

[redfield]

The rumours about the new pier were around some time ago: the idea was to move the fuel farm away from its' present location and build the second pier outwards from there so that the present stands 13-14-15-16 etc would become pier stands. I think the airport owns the adjoining land that they need, but there was some difficulty with the timing around moving the fuel farm....I could be wrong though!

[transwede]

I know a few airline/airport bosses are alot happier since the last phase of developement to the existing pier, now that all gates can be used for both domestic and international flights! A few more airbridges would be nice to go with all the new flights and airlines! :O

[johnwalton]

The airport has just produced a new draft master plan covering up to 2016: http://www.newcastleairport.com/docs/MASTERPLAN.pdf

"Taking account of these factors, developments mainly to the
north and south of the existing terminal are possible during
the Masterplan period. The most significant of these could
be an expansion to the north of the terminal, adjacent to
the existing Module One extension. This could accommodate
additional departure concourse and check-in, together with
more space for baggage handling and reclaim.

Expansion to the north could also provide the opportunity
to connect to a second pier or covered walkway leading to
a satellite lounge facility. The location, size and alignment
of a second pier remains undecided. Other options, including
the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing pier, will also
be considered, further improvements to the terminal road
system will also be required.

The proposals shown on the Key Diagrams for terminal
and pier are intended as a guide, within which further
capacity studies will set more detailed parameters. The
capital investment requirements associated with terminal
and pier will be reviewed on an annual basis as part of the
business planning process."

[Stud3]

Again fantastic news for Newcastle.
I remember the days when i was younger and i'd go to the airport on a saturday and there was about 15 flights in total :rolleyes:
Its a shame BA have cut their routes but i guess its the fat cat bosses that are losing out. I heard Easy's flights are mostly 75-80% full if not more.

Bring back Gill i say!

JohnWalton - you dont by any chance live in cramlington? i think i may know your sister. :}