NEWCASTLE - 6

[GrahamK]

MyTravel are currently operating a NCL-GLA-SFB series until the end of April using A330s.

[One Stop]

:confused: Has anyone heard what the latest news is about the Chief Executive ???

[ScouseGeordie]

NCL airport Managing Director? Good riddance to him I say- the airport's a mess:

Drop-off carpark split into 2,

BA's 757 can't use the domestic jetty,

Security's a nightmare:
The other day I came to the top of the escalator from the charter check-in to be confronted by a queue for security so long that I had difficulty stepping off the escalator - and there were people behind me! That sort of thing could cause someone a nasty injury.

[ncleflights]

ScouseGeordie

Lets not forget that before Mr Ps arrival the airport was a bigger mess it was inefficient and we did not have the likes of Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair. We also have to look forward to Emirates, and a new airport hotel and petrol station in the short term.

Without Mr P would the airport have expanded so quicky. Whatever he was supsended for lets not forget his achievements whilst at NCL.

On the SFB front Ive heard that Travel City are going to operate MME to SFB in 2008 perhaps this has put off potential operators from NCL.

[Ops Guy]

ScouseGeordie

SO, I take it your not a fan!!!!!:p

[Brad the Impaler]

Latest news on the (ex) CEO front:
It's funny how what goes round comes around. I've heard, from a very reliable journalistic source with an ear in local government, that the CEO's misdemeanours ARE the sort that lands one in jail. Playing fast and loose with PUBLIC money, yes that's right money that ultimately belongs to all of us tax payers. Conducting back of fag packet and brown envelope business deals from one of his favourite haunts, a lap dancing club in Newcastle. A claim of an affair outside of marriage with another man (nowt wrong with that if thats your thing). Noiseabatement was correct about the rumour of a move to BHX. He had chased after that before the unfortunate ex MD of BHX was even cold in his grave.
He was escorted from the premises and immediately the codes on all the doors were changed. His fall from grace was meticulously orchestrated by one of his closest chums who now runs the ship and clinically implemented by the head of another department as an act of vengeance for the way he had been treated which led him to have two nervous breakdowns. I might be speaking too soon but I don't think we'll be seeing him back. Of course stranger things have been known to happen.
And before you ask Ops Guy, No, I am not a fan and I don't expect that very many others are either. That doesn't mean I dont love the place where I work and hope for the best for it. I also want the best for my fellow Geordies and it rankles the way they have been robbed and betrayed by the devious coniving worm.
The oft quoted phrase springs to mind - Good riddance to bad rubbish! We should all celebrate. How about a night in the toon? :ok:

[nav3]

Sounds good to me.......what about going to that Lap dancing club?:ok: :ok: ;)

[andrewmcharlton]

You need to be careful heading to the lap dancing bar because if his influence has rubbed off (sorry terrible choice of words) then there may only be low cost dancers parked away from the table you are at with insufficient trays to bring the drinks !

[crewboi83]

:D Think i need to change my pants!!! that was sooo funny!

[Maude Charlee]

Well at least something happened that led to them changing the codes on the doors! Clearly the Taleban/Al Quaeda hath no fury like a scorned MD.

:rolleyes:

[Jamesair]

According to the Airports May, monthly timetable the Dubai service will reduce frequency from daily to M/Tu/W and Su from 28th October.

[andrewmcharlton]

I hope thats not a sign of poor take up of the service after waiting for so long to get a good longhaul service, plus I've got my hols booked in November on EK to Beijing !

Does anyone know what the situation is regarding booking numbers ?

[ncleflights]

EK Still timetabled as daily from September. Not sure how sales are doing now but they were initally very good, but then again the same was the case with AA to JFK.

[POL1W]

I know they are having serious crew shortages, getting and finding new crews, so this may be a reason why they are reducing the the service. Did it originally show daily all through winter?

[10 DME ARC]

Don’t panic…..this is the summer timetable which ends the week of the 28th(sun) the last day of the month being Wed! So last week of summer Sun/Mon/Tue/Wed!!!!
Still showing as daily on Emirates web site.
:)

[Travel Agent]

According to today's Travel Weekly, Thomson are to fly to Punta Cana, Cancun and Florida for Summer 2008.

[HH6702]

Travel agent.

do you know when thomson, mytravel and thomas cook will go on sale for summer 2008?

[heslop2006]

Didn't I say that SFB would get new flights? :)

[Jamesair]

I think I might have caused unnecessary panic about Dubai. Looking at timetable again there are several routes showing that odd four day frequency from 28th Oct. As 10 DME ARC says, its a quirk more to do with the 28th October date of the timetable. The June issue will no doubt be a better guide to winter timetables.:uhoh:

[HH6702]

monarch still operating pop for summer 2008

wounder if these new flights with thomson have been chartered out to monarch?

[Travel Agent]

Not had dates for Thomson or Mytravel, but Cooks went on sale yesterday. Just looked at Airtours system they are sharing SFB & POP MON flights too.

Here is article from Travel Weekly too.

Thomsonfly has launched new regional long-haul flights from Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester for summer 2008.

The new routes from Birmingham to Jamaica and Punta Cana and Newcastle to Florida, Punta Cana and Cancun as well as additional flights from Manchester and Gatwick do not compete with potential merger partner First Choice's routes.

However, Thomson long-haul planning general manager Alex Loftus denied the move was intended to complement First Choice's programme, saying it was planned long before the merger announcement.

He said: "It has been business as usual here because the merger hasn't gone through."

Loftus added as well as increased frequencies from Manchester and Gatwick, both airports would benefit from new fortnightly flights to Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico and Puerto Vallarta as well as an additional flight each to Cancun.

He said this was part of a strategy of long-haul growth by the operator.

[heslop2006]

Wow!! This is great news.

[nclpilot]

I have been operating out of other UK bases over the last few weeks and have seen the Emirates operations in action. Just wondered if we knew if they are planning on having a full ground operations team at NCL?
From what I have seen, it looks a very good operation at its current bases!

[aeulad]

Monarch SFB still operating in S08 with Airtours as the main tour operator. In at 0345am and out again at 0800am.

Regards

Mike

[ncleflights]

Is it correct that both Monarch and Thomsonfly will be operating to SFB. Does anyone know which days they will be operating on?

Thanks

[10 DME ARC]

Oh how things have changed …. March passenger stats set a new record for the month of March (most months do!) with over 400,000 pax’s! This is busier than any summer month prior to 2001!!:)

[Jamesair]

Issue 5 of the Summer Charter Timetable dated 24/04/07 is now on the airport website.

[Jamesair]

I have checked out the new Timetable and the only change is that the BRESCIA flight series has now been cancelled.

[HH6702]

Not suprised it has been canx dont think anybody knew about these flights.
i wish the airport would advertise these new flights on there website then least they will have a chance. I bet have the travel agents didn't know either that brescia had been added to ncl.


Anyway mytravel summer 2008 is now on sale. the only difference is a new flight to Naples on fridays in 15.00 out 15.55 airline is Spanair!!
Gerona has been dropped also. XLA being used instead of FJE unless codes in brochure are to been changed at a later date.

Eastern airways are to add 6 extra flights to isle of man on saturdays during the TT this was in the paper the other night

[Jamesair]

Eastern...a bit confusing that. It's actual 3 flights out and 3 flights back.

[Marra123]

Servisair have the FlyGlobespan contract for the Toronto (Hamilton) flights.
Operates from 6th may through to October.

Aircraft being used is 757 and i have also been informed that it is operated by Iclandair. I think GSM have a leased 757 from Iclandair in GSM colours correct me if im wrong though. Flight operates outbound and inbound via Stansted which is abit odd.

[MUFC_fan]

When the route starts, the 752's tail will have the LPL logo on it, which will probably not go down well at MAN!:}

This a/c is then expected to move to LPL for the JFK route which starts next month.

I think 2 more 752s are on the way for the S07.

[skyman771]

Servisair have the FlyGlobespan contract for the Toronto (Hamilton) flights.
Flight operates outbound and inbound via Stansted which is abit odd.
I thought this flight was originally planned STN-'X'-YHM-'X'-STN. Where 'X' is a destination dependent upon the day of the week ie NCL, EDI, CWL, LPL or where ever.
So what you are saying is that the routing is YHM-STN-'X'-STN-YHM i.e. the GSM 757 is YHM based ? :confused:

[crewboi83]

Correct the 757 will start and finish the rotations in STN
So from NCL it will be non stop there and back, its the STN pax that have to transit stop EVERY day of the week

[SWBKCB]

Newcastle Airport being quoted on BBC Radio Newcastle news as being confident of a US link in the next 2 years. Nothing new I know, but curious as to what prompted the statement?

[skyman771]

Sounds to me to be a standard marketing 'catch all' statement. Promotes the airports ambitions, but in reality there is not necessarily 'anything in the cupboard'. :(

[ncleflights]

US link was also mentioned on the BBC TV this morning as well as local radio. Would have thought that it was a bit of PR to let us know the airport has not stopped looking.

I wish them luck it can't be easy given the high profile pull out by AA.

On another point noticed the Emirates jobs at Ncle were advertised for the first time yesterday.

[NCL1]

where where these advertised? can't find anything on the EK website

[Ph1l1pncl]

They were posted in last nights Evening Chronicle. They want Customer Service Agents, Ticket Desk, Agents, Airport Duty Manager, and Cargo people and a few more if i remember correctly.

[transwede]

On the subject of Summer 2008, it is very early stages and many tour operators will not even contracted airlines to operate their programmes, and consequently airlines will not have applied for slots. XLA could very well change to FJE (if Flyjet continue operation) and other airlines may step in/change etc.
Having a little browse through Thomson's website indicates that not all of their flights/holidays have been released for Summer 2008 as not flights to AGP, ALC, IBZ, PMI etc are showing as yet, which is a whole aircrafts worth of flying, so unless a dramatic cutback in flights from NCL is planned, there is more to come!

Mytravels website still showing flights on FJE, basically all their flights for summer 08 are the same as this year, also indicating some changes are bound to occur.

[crewboi83]

RE the link to the USA
My money is on Jet2 actually! or it cud be pure chance that airport is hinting at US services, and Jet2 are sorting out ETOPS for all 757s as we speak!
hhhhmmmm!

[noiseabatement]

Crewboi83
Chatting with a Jet2 757 driver who also suggests transatlantic services with the 752.
New York (Newark) & Orlando Sanford. :D

[NCL-06]

Not sure if this is right or not... but is it true that NCL will be getting a runway extension at the 25 end?

[Ops Guy]

Yes it's Right!!

[HH6702]

Thomson has canx luxor for summer 2008 and replaced it with paphos!

Talk of JET2.com going to the US has been posted on the LBA forum to.

[NCL-06]

do you know how much it's being extended by approx?

[SWBKCB]

I know it was mentioned in the Masterplan, but as far as I am aware it is a longer-term aspiration and there are no imminent plans??

[ncleflights]

crewboi83 is this Jet2 inside information or speculation, the info the airport put out recently which is I think what the BBC picked up on is that they are in discussions with 2 US carriers (I would suspect Delta and Continental) and are confident of a service commencing 2009.

This was a couple of weeks old so has Jet2 entered the race recently.

Thanks

[skyman771]

Runway Extension The only current references that I am aware that have been published were in the 2004 master plan that covered the 12 year period up to 2016 which referred to an extension at the east end of '25' of 360 meters and subsequent need to re-route the Dinnington road. It is some time since I read the plan but I recall that my impression was that it was mentioned more in the spirit of retaining an ongoing option rather than to record the provision of imminent & necessary works.
In the annals of the history of NCL there has been talk of an extension for some 30 years, but for my 'six pennyworth' it seems that a comfort zone has been reached with the pressure on such a project being eased by improvements in aircraft operating performances. I'm sure that the airlines would appreciate the increased performance margins such an extension would offer, but doubt whether they would be prepared to pay. Incidentally also from memory, I recall when the project was first discussed all those years ago the cost was mooted at £6 Million, but there were also problems with land acquisition from a local farmer. What an investment that would have been, & was clearly one project Jimmy didn't succeed in achieving :{
Now if any one has anything to add to suggest that the project may be advanced or indeed as to how it would be financed, presume cost is now more akin to £50 Million I'd be very interested to hear.

[crewboi83]

I wouldnt say its not inside info! something is going on at Jet2, maybe not EWR/JFK but deffo crossin the pond soon. BUT the rumour i heard was EWR SFB and YYZ.... also a few more medium haul like PFO LPA and SSH
But its just a case of watch this space as usual with Jet2 cos things have a habbit of changing last minute.

[transwede]

As flight only companies like XL and freedom flights are curtailing their operations at NCL for next winter and possibly even next summer there is certainly a gap in the market, where Jet2 could pick up so the possibility of LS 757's operating to LPA, PFO and SSH is quite likely. Freedom/XL have had a fairly substantial winter programme this current winter season, using FJE to LPA, TFS, ACE, PFO, SSH and adhoc's to FUE for the holiday seasons. Indeed extra flights were added during busy periods, but obviously it was not profitable for these companies, hence they are not operating next winter, therefore it leaves potential for Jet2.

I also believe that YYZ is a possibility, the GSM service this summer is not exactly ideal, operating via MAN some weeks and direct others. YYZ could be served by a 757 a couple of days per week, though are Jet2's 757 a/c suitable for such long flights, in range yes, but what about pax comfort? I think the likes of NYC would be better served by a so called 'legacy' carrier with the option of upgraded service and connections throughout the US.

[crewboi83]

I think that the new jet2holidays will help fill flights to places that might not be able to be filled with flights only such as LPA, SSH and Cyprus!
Altho jet2's 757s are not the best for comfort for transatlantic... are Globespans? or Thomas Cooks? who are all crossing the atlantic this summer from NCL with the 757.
I know for transatlantic the pax figure would have to be capped at about 200, but I doubt seats will be removed from the aircraft, but you never know the 757s could be fitted with extra legroom seats in the first 5 rows or so.. :)

[MUFC_fan]

NCL needs a legacy carrier with business class seats. CO would be perfect for NCL.

They use their 752s on many of their UK destinations. BFS, BHX, MAN, LGW, BRS, GLA and EDI. NCL is a perfect name to add to that list!

[transwede]

Emirates has set a prescedence for long haul operations at NCL, if the service is a success. A worldwide recognised carrier beginning flights to a hub network, like DXB is a great start for the airport in attracting other 'legacy' carriers offering the same type of service/flights. Sure, NCL may not sustain first class operations, hence the use of A330 Business/Economy a/c by EK. I am sure that a CO NYC service, with a small capacity airliner like the 757 would work from NCL, indeed flights from other regional UK and European airports seem to perform well, like BFS, BRS etc.

Wether Jet2 will start long haul ops using their 757 will remain to be seen, however for such a service I think a carrier like CO would be better suited. Yes lowcost airlines have a very important role to play in the developement of NCL, especially given the increase in flights generated at NCL by these airlines, however long haul is a slightly different ball game compared with european loco services.

On the charter front, when mergers of the big four are complete, there will be little need for ad-hoc units, such as FJE to be based at NCL. Comparing the charter network with the likes of MAN, NCL is fairly small and operators tend to keep flying 'in-house'. XL seem to be concentrating their programme, taking all flight in house and smaller niche operators tend to just buy block seats from the big 4, soon to be big 2. Only the likes of Olympic Holidays, who are not directly involved with an airline have a sizeable presence at NCL, and they seem to use quite alot of XL amd MYT flights.

I also, come the merger, highly doubt that FCA will reopen a base, especially when TOM have a 3 aircraft base at NCL. First Choice holidays, I presume will just have their pax travelling on TOM flights.

It will be nice to see more longhaul aircraft and destinations at NCL, Summer 08 will see an increased long haul presence from:

Thomsonfly 767 - PUJ, CUN, SFB.
Monarch A330 - POP, SFB.
Emirates A330 - DXB.
Globespan 757 - Toronto (presuming it will still continue next year).
TCX 757 - YYZ.

A NYC flight would make a nice addition to that list.

[noiseabatement]

Should the "Masterplan" be the way forward, and the 360 metre extension mentioned by Skyman 771, that would make the extended rwy 25 2689 metres in length.

With Manchester's 2nd runway being 3012 metres, we will fall behind. What will a fully fuelled/loaded 747 need on a hot day to get off and clear Darras Hall - a bit more than 2689 metres I bet!

It's nearly 250 metres (or slightly more?) from the threshold of 25 to the eastern boundry fence, so the Dinnington/Brunton Lane road would be only slightly diverted - I assume/understand the airport may now own the field where the approach lights are situated, and not the constantly complaining farmer - if so then get on with the job! :D

[Get me some traffic]

Why not extend MME to 3500m? Save lots of money and provide the North East with a much needed LONG runway?

[TOPPROP]

Why not extend MME to 3500m? Save lots of money
Sorry you've lost me, what it's cheaper to extend the RWY at MME than at NCL? I don't understand you shall have to explain yourself. I'd of thought the cost would be the same, but NCL would be able to put together a better business case and have a far better chance of seeing an eventual return on their investment.

[ncleflights]

Get me some traffic: like TOPPROP your reply does not make sense. Why would it be cheaper to extend the runway at MME than NCL. More importantly who is going to use it. The traffic is simply not at MME, Flyglobespan can't even carry on their two aircraft base through the winter for shorthaul so who is going to operate long haul from MME?

On the subject of the legacy - lowcost airline transatlantic debate I would hazard a guess that it will to some extent depend on how Flyglobespan do out of Liverpool to Newark, if it does well and bookings must as they are continuing daily into the Winter then I suspect other low cost operators will follow. Jet2 is ideally placed to get in on the act before many of the others. I am sure they would do well operating NCL to EWR with regard to the legacy carriers they have not been too interested at NCL before as both CO and Delta could have stepped in by now to pick up the fiasco created by the AA pullout.

Thanks

[skyman771]

- a bit more than 2689 metres I bet! I suspect that a longer extension may also have an impact on 'noise envelope' along the approach. The last thing that NCL would wish to attract are further environmental issues. I also don't believe that the NCL planners could really demonstrate a cost benefit given the potential demand (not !) ex NCL for fully loaded West Coast bound 747's !:sad:
As for any potential Loco service NCL- NYC, then for me I need serious convincing as to such viability on a daily basis. A key issue is the ease of onward connections, else one may just as easily route through a European hub. Additionally there is also need to address differing levels of service which would require specifically fitted out 757's dedicated for such an operation. Good luck to GSM's effort from LPL, though for me I don't see that reviewing their future winter service offerings on their internet site says anything at all as to it's potential success... the jury remains out:uhoh:

[SWBKCB]

Spokesman on BBC Radio Newcastle this morning - very pleased with advance bookings, '5000 already for the first four months'.

[BahrainLad]

The problem at NCL is not "fully laden 747s on a hot day" (get real please) but in fact heavy single aisles such as the A321 in particular when they are trying to get out to Greece, Turkey etc. during summer. The takeoff perf gets very marginal at the 25 end (mainly due to the hill and the line of trees on top of it), sometimes resulting in refuelling stops at MME.

But it would be a very expensive project when perhaps 3-4 movements would actually NEED it per year.

[lplsprog]

NCLFLIGHTS
LPL flights are to JFK not Newark and are selling well.

[skyman771]

Spokesman on BBC Radio Newcastle this morning - very pleased with advance bookings, '5000 already for the first four months'.
I presume that what you mean is 'in the first four months' else one would not be too pleased with load factors to date of c.15% :confused:

[noiseabatement]

True, how many movements would really need such an extension? I mentioned the fully fuelled 747's as that was what was discussed many years ago when this project first raised it's head.

Just as a point of interest, I remember watching a Spanair MD83 doing her best, screaming her way down rwy 25 on a very hot day last July - V1 must have been called passing the "Foxtrot" turn off - now that is NO margin for error and right on perf limits that particular day.

The rwy extension, well - watch this space I guess! ;)

[GrahamK]

The only 747s that NCL could possibly see on a regular basis would be the Excel/Travel City Direct 743s if they were to start flying to Sanford.
Even then, that would only be once a week/fortnight at most anyway.

[skyman771]

The rwy extension, well - watch this space I guess! Waited 30 years now & it's still about as probable as NUFC winning any silverware !:{

[onion]

Boys and Girls I think Get Me Some Traffic is pulling your leg and you fell for it hook line and sinker, lol.
On a serious note can NCL extend the runway much more without inccuring unreasonable costs? I'm sure I ve heard that there are mine workings under one end and that has caused subsidence in the past, maybe wrong. Also like others have said is a small extension going to benifical?
On the other hand Get ME Some Traffic could have a point about an extension at MME seeing as they are handling widebodies on an almost daily basis to the middle east and central asia.
Ncleflights Flyglobespan have only been here a short time and are slowly increasing their flights all the time.

[GrahamK]

Waited 30 years now & it's still about as probable as NUFC winning any silverware !

That's something else that needs a change in management :E

[crewboi83]

XL have leased a AY 757 again so my money is on it coming to NCL, its the aircrafts 2nd home these days.... since the Scandic days!

[transwede]

Excel will lease Finnair 757, not sure what reg this year, in addition to a Sunwing Airlines 738. The Flyjet 757 also operates flights on behalf of XL. Excel do tend to use alot of aircraft, not from their own fleet for flights during the summer. EMA, BHX and BRS all have aircraft from foreign carriers operating, maybe it is more financially viable to do this than having a fleet of aircraft which operates fully in summer, but not so much work to do in winter.

Interesting piece of news on BBC Look North about expansion of airport etc.

[EGNT]

Cheers mate! :-)

[noiseabatement]

Watched the Finnair 757 touch down around 7pm. I think the 757 looks asthetically stunning with the old winglets - first time I have seen a so-fitted 757. :D





Continued in: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3264686#post3264686 (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3264686#post3264686)