New Terminal at Newcastle?

[JKP505]

I was just wondering at what stage of progression the new terminal at NCL is, I don't know a lot about it, and it seems there is very light information on it. I have been informed that besides the new terminal (which I think will be situated where the kerosine tanks are), the older part of the current terminal will be drastically renovated to keep more in line with the current 'charter terminal', as the airport has been heavily criticised for the current layout.

It is all well and good banging up new terminals, but where the hell are the aircraft going to park?

Anyway, MyTravel will only be operating one a/c, an A321, and Excel Airways will take over most of the remainder of their 2004 program.

[10 DME ARC]

JKP505
I don’t think if you look at the airports master plan that a new terminal is planned at this stage. An extension from the existing one to a new pier may be.

As for criticising the old part of the terminal, well the only people who seem to do that are the spotters!

The people who travel through it don’t seem to mind. Once you’ve checked in these days it’s off through to the massively enlarged and very nice departure lounge!:)

[JKP505]

I disagree with you totally, I travel through the airport quite frequently, and I find it a bit of a jumbled mess. It's not all the time that people want to go through the airport security as soon as they have checked in, and the scheduled check-in area is an extremely miserable place to spend more than 30 seconds, granted the airport after security is very nice, but the security area itself does not look up to scratch, having travelled through the airport a few times recently, it looks rather temporary. The sooner it is rectified the better.

Thanks for the info on the new terminal.

[johnwalton]

There are currently no plans to develop another terminal. There are, however, plans to develop a new pier and new stands.

The stands are currently being reviewed, and as I understand it will be created in blocks of 4 or 5 on the land between the existing remote stands and the fire station.

The new pier will more than likely be built where the fuel farm are currently, meaning the fuel farm will be moved probably to a site north of the fire station. This will probably not happen until 2006 at the earliest though, as the plans were only published in the Masterplan for 2006-2016 this year (as 10 DME ARC says) and planning applications etc will need to be submitted.
the airport has been heavily criticised for the current layout I don't really see your point about the layout, after all, most people don't want to hang about at check-in, and for those that do, there are 2 cafés, one in either check-in hall, with WH Smiths, Greggs and the entrance to the departure lounge between the two.

The security area is no different to that which is found at other airports, a queueing system followed by the usual scanners, what more do you want?

[10 DME ARC]

Sorry boys but if you travelled as oftern as you say, you might have noticed the new fuel farm is already built! On the land that used to be the hover square north of stand 19.
Opens just before Xmas!
:)

I agree with John, I both work and travel a fare bit through the airport and find the old part of the terminal alright, plenty to do if you don't want to go airside that quickly and then great once you do go airside. ( now the signs have been added );)

[johnwalton]

Well I haven't been through since early September, don't remember seeing it there then, when did they put it up? I'll be flying out in the first week of December though so i'll look out for it then! :)

[Topjet]

It been under construction for at least the past month or two.

now the signs have been added

Its beginning to look like an international airport with the signs!

The new pier will be needed when its eventually underway/completed, as this summer, all it took was 1 aircraft to be running a bit behind and it messed up the whole stand allocations, mostly aircraft getting bumped off pier, like its been happening lately with the WIP, stands 7,8 and 9 all now closed.

Nice to See even mr JP's flight was delayed due to the lack of domestic stands available a few days ago.

[exrotarybooty]

I flew into Newcastle International from Southampton a couple of weeks ago with flybe, (£3 + tax return), and was really impressed with the facilities compared to what we have at Southampton and Bournemouth.

The 'pick-up' car parking was very convenient, the check-in facilities were adequate, and the departure area was stunning!

Is this the same airport that was called Newcastle Wolsington in the days of my 1950s childhood?

[The SSK]

s this the same airport that was called Newcastle Wolsington in the days of my 1950s childhood?

Woolsington with two O's - the first village on the road into town.

The old terminal (called 'Passenger Reception' in those days) was opposite the present one, on the other side of the runway.

[FinalsToLand]

The new fuel farm is almost complete and will be operated by Swissport.

F.T.L

[johnwalton]

So will the old fuel farm be closing as soon as the new one opens?


Meanwhile, Ryanair has announced (http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0500business/0100local/tm_objectid=14914670&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=budget-airline-puts-future-flights-on-hold-name_page.html) that they will not be operating any more routes from Newcastle until 2006 (other than Milan) with Barcelona and Stockholm being favoured destinations for a 2006 start, depending on how successful the Milan route is.

[TOPJET973K]

TJ!

Is that you SK?

TJ

[CentreFix25]

Think whats been mentioned above is generally correct. I was under the impression the new fuel farm would be online by 1st January, didn't know about Swissport operating it (but i can believe it). This will create space for the terminal to expand in that direction, bringing with it another pier and stands (but not in the near future).

btw The current fuel farm operators have had the airport to court objecting to being booted out, not sure of the outcome (They were told to be out by the last day of December.)

[FinalsToLand]

I believe they are in court towards the end of december about it, apparently BP wudnt give the airport the % per litre of fuel that they wanted (double what the presently get)

F.T.L

[Jamesair]

JohnWalton

RYANAIR I would add that Mr. O'Leary did say that he hoped that Milan would become twice daily as soon as possible.

Even if Ryanair went up against Easyjet on Barcelona, it would be Girona or Reus which I think still gives Easy the edge if you are planning a weekend in the city.

[347.5]

As long as they get rid of that bloody stupid revolving door in international arrivals. At least with the winter schedule there are less flights going through at any one time.

It's a nightmare in the summer months with maybe 5 flights getting in at the same time and all pax going through the one revolving door.

it would make a difference if passengers listened to us crews when we tell them only 2 trolleys at a time, but oh no, they know better, that 3rd one always has to make a dash for it and guess what it stops again.

[bowserman]

New fuel farm operational 14th March, operated by Swissport, unfortunately.
BP to quit site by 28th March.
Conoco site now empty and dismantling begins Feb.
Old fuel site is to become car hire return, real reason for airport building their own farm is to shift the profits to them. Currently, BP pay 0.66 ppl and in the new farm the levy is going to be
1.5 ppl.
Current staff TUPE over to Swissport.

[witchdoctor]

Should be interesting times ahead. Wonder how the resources will be allocated when it comes to a choice of servicing a Swissport a/c or a Servisair a/c and one has to get priority? Can't see Easyjet taking any crap, and the airport can't afford to lose that contract.

For what it's worth, I think you guys have been shafted well and truly. Hope the next thing works out a little better for you all.

[CentreFix25]

The airport have also acquired 'Park and Fly' in the last couple of days, heading towards monopoly on car parking too.

[johnwalton]

The airport have also acquired 'Park and Fly' in the last couple of days, heading towards monopoly on car parking too.
There's still the two car parks at Callerton though.

[CentreFix25]

agreed John, Bellair car port is huge - thats why i said 'heading towards'.

[crewboi83]

RE the Airport Layout!
You ask any memeber of staff who works at NCL airport their opinion?
BA currently use 757 a/c on the LHR shuttle, unfortunatly a 757 is to big to fit on the domestic peir..... so! we have to walk our 180 passengers from the international peir, through 1 small dorr about the same size as your front door... into a packed corridor of easyjet passengers about 3ft wide.... bearing in mind all the "Arriving passengers" signs point the wrong way (from the old days when we cud mix inbound and outbound passengers)
ITS A JOKE!!! COME ON!!! its supposed to be an international airport for god sake! we get loads of complaints about this, passengers end up all over the airport if they miss this TINY door! we dont have enough gates for out flights, soe gates hold 2 full flights as the a/c share the gate.... Eg.... gate 15 shares stands 6 and 7.... so you can have a packed KLM and an Easyjet flight with a total of 250 pax in a gate that holds about 150!
If anyone from NCL airport is reading this GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!! ITS A MESS..... trying asking the staff who work on the gates what they think... instead of just doin it and telling us this is how it is! How i long to work in a proper airport!

[PapaRomeo]

your just sick of holding that door open kev! lol. your right like it is a mess, we'll have to get JH on to them, im sure she can sort it out!

[nclairportfan]

I have nearly missed flights on several occasions thinking I have been sent to the wrong gate because several flights were sent there.

[bowserman]

Swissport already advertising for 'Stand in Fuellers' internally amongst its apron staff, to cover holidays and sickness.
The writings on the wall there.
Interesting one about servicing Servisair or Swissport planes too.
4 oil companies looking to supply, Conocophillips, BP,(as now), Texaco and Q8.

[MerchantVenturer]

As a stranger to NCL (been there only once before) I have to say that I found the experience simplicity itself this week when I travelled on an easyJet day trip from Bristol.

On the return in the evening the easyJet check-in was effortless before I walked upstairs to the new (?) airside lounge, which I thought quite spacious with a decent set of refreshment areas.

When my flight was due I walked down some stairs and along a fairly long corridor that had individual gate lounges off it along its length. Mine was almost at the end.

When the flight was boarded we walked down some external stairs and out to the aircraft, parked nearby. It was raining but fortunately had eased a bit by then.

I can only speak as I find.

[PapaRomeo]

bowserman, how come u think the writings on the wall just because their advertising internally?

[bowserman]

What I mean is, as far as the salaries for the TUPE'd staff are concerned.
If I was going down there, and staff were becoming available that can do the job for half of what I was paid, I would be worried.
TUPE is supposed to be indefinate, but if you can show an economical technical or organisational reason, then salaries can change.
I believe they only agreed to TUPE (which was at the eleventh hour anyway) because they need the expertise to get the new project up and running as smooth as possible. its their first UK fuelling operation so they need it done right.

[fox_trot_oscar]

The reason for the daily debacle with the BA 757 services through NCL whereby pax need to be transferred through a tiny door from the international to domestic section of the pier is that BA advised NCL there would be no more 757 services a while ago. Stand 3 was remarked for A320 max, then BA changed their mind...!

The 757 always used to park on stand 3 with no problems - there's even a picture of it up on the wall in gate 4.

:D

[PapaRomeo]

The reason stand 3 was made smaller was so that stands 4,5 and 6 could be increased in size to accomodate easyjet 737's. 757's did used to fit on stand 3 prior to this, however the picture your refering to i think is actually in gate 8 and shows the 757 on the airbridge on stand 10!

[urdy gurdy]

the picture is actually the old stand 7

stand 3 takes up to 321 which is slightly smaller than a 757
spotter!!!

[nclairportfan]

Are more stands to be built at the airport?

[PapaRomeo]

the picture is actually the old stand 7

which now happens to be stand 10

[witchdoctor]

crewboi,

no wonder you're having problems with gate 15 if you're trying to board at stand 7 - you should be in gate 19!;) Gate 15 is for stands 6 and 8, but I'm sure that is what you meant. Haven't seen the Cloggies down that end of the pier that often either.

agreed that domestic pax arriving/departing via stands 9 and 10 is a less than ideal situation, and the decision to allow it is made all the more bizarre by the restriction placed on no international arrivals allowed through the terminal from stand 5. Wierd! :confused:

if easy are bringing more aircraft this summer as rumoured, then i reckon all hell will let loose at some point. there certainly won't be enough pier stands to go around. the airport simply won't supply the manpower at the psu to drive more than 2 coaches and 1 ambulift at a time, yet they must have at least 7 coaches and 3 ambulifts. why? can airside ops be relied upon to make sensible stand allocations when pressured? not much sign of it at the moment.

from a pax point of view, it can be a doddle, when it all goes right, or it can be a confusing and illogical nightmare. pax in gates 17/19/11 that should be in 15 because the signage is so poor; domestic pax in the international corridor (a good 6-7 feet wide rather than the 3 suggested), or vice versa; flights not put on the gates until std -30 because the airport want pax to stay in the departure lounge for as long as poss, so pax miss or delay flights.

a summer of joy i am sure. :D