Manchester-2

[Mister Geezer]

With Thomas Cook Sport being the travel agent/charter broker for Man City, the responsibility for planning the flight with all the various permissions and overflight clearances will usually rest with the operator, which is Aeronexus.

I suspect the error may actually rest with Aeronexus.

[Nostoodian]

With Thomas Cook Sport being the travel agent/charter broker for Man City, the responsibility for planning the flight with all the various permissions and overflight clearances will usually rest with the operator, which is Aeronexus.

I suspect the error may actually rest with Aeronexus.
Well the Aero Nexus 767 ZS-NEX only made it as far as Abu Dhabi yesterday. The team then picked up an Etihad jet to fly to Shanghai or Nanjing. The Nexus jet obviously failed to get clearance to fly through Chinese airspace. Man City are due to play in Nanjing on Wednesday evening.

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/etihad-puts-man-city-s-asia-tour-back-on-track-with-last-ditch-save-on-china-flight-1.886695

[Curious Pax]

Well the Aero Nexus 767 ZS-NEX only made it as far as Abu Dhabi yesterday. The team then picked up an Etihad jet to fly to Shanghai or Nanjing. The Nexus jet obviously failed to get clearance to fly through Chinese airspace. Man City are due to play in Nanjing on Wednesday evening.

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/etihad-puts-man-city-s-asia-tour-back-on-track-with-last-ditch-save-on-china-flight-1.886695

Etihad Dreamliner A6-BLH arrived at Shanghai Pudong around 6am UK time this morning on a charter flight number (EY8051). Probably not a coincidence.

[mufc4evr]

Anyone know where one of the TUI maxes has moved to? Sure I could only see 4

Thanks

[Scottie Dog]

Anyone know where one of the TUI maxes has moved to? Sure I could only see 4

Thanks
Apparently moved to a hangar.

[Curious Pax]

Apparently moved to a hangar.

Back with the rest now.

[Scottie Dog]

Update #99 courtesy of the MANTP Team

Part1

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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2


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[MANFOD]

Slot information for W19

Alitalia Daily LIN
SpiceJet BOM
Lauda Motion RIX
Anisec (Level) SZG
https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/MAN-W19-Initial-Coordination-Report.pdf

I understand the slots for AZ and Anisec have now been cancelled.

[Scottie Dog]

Since this is now in the public domain I thought I would post this which is taken from the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee meeting on 12th April 2019

Members had also expressed disappointment that no permanent fix was imminent for the leaking roof over the Skylink and that the walkways were difficult to repair as they were old and it was hard to obtain replacement parts.

Brad Miller explained that both of these issues had also been raised by airlines. The walkways were also of non standard design which meant parts were difficult to source. Both items would be part of a medium – long term review but there would be no immediate fix.

I had separately written to the Chief Operating Officer and the following is part of the response received:

"As you are aware, the majority of the travellators at Manchester Airport, are aging assets which, need maintaining on a more regular basis. We are currently revising the holding for long lead time items with a view to minimising asset downtime. This review extends beyond the Skylink and covers all lifts, escalator and travellator assets with any stock being held on site at Manchester.

The elevators closest to the GTI have been out of action due to exceptional circumstances. Both lifts in this area were out of service due to a local power station being flooded, which affected the power supply. Whilst one of the elevators was reinstated very quickly the other suffered a power board failure during the outage, and I am happy to report that this lift has now subsequently been returned to service."

Hopefully we will see improvements over the coming months - although this will not be a quick fix.


These out of service escalators and travellators require replacement of core drive components which have a long non-UK manufacture lead time.

These assets form part of a remediation plan that is now live and will span from June-October 2019. Our facilities management team are continually addressing the leak issue within the Skylink area however, until all leaks are identified, and the areas repaired, the capturing of water will remain in the interest of passenger and visitor safety. Whilst we appreciate the appearance may not be appealing on the eye it is only a temporary measure and is being constantly reviewed.

[techair]

Has there been some sort of issue with 23R as arrivals into MAN have been using 23L for the last half hour, makes for a noisy evening locally.

[buzz_hornet]

Has there been some sort of issue with 23R as arrivals into MAN have been using 23L for the last half hour, makes for a noisy evening locally.

FR with a burst tyre was circulating

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

Has there been some sort of issue with 23R as arrivals into MAN have been using 23L for the last half hour, makes for a noisy evening locally.

An emergency repair to 23R was required.

[Trav a la]

An emergency repair to 23R was required.

Hi JFP,

Not sure if you can answer this.

If MAN had been on easterlies, would T/O's be allowed on 05R?

[chaps1954]

Yes is the answer but at a reduced departure rate due backtracking involved, however at that time of day most were arrivals
All I can say thank god we have the second runway as it would have cause many diversions and huge delays

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

If MAN had been on easterlies, would T/O's be allowed on 05R?

Yes, done it myself a long time ago. It’s a pain in the bum though as flights have to backtrack the runway for departure, it therefore affects flow rates quite dramatically.

[Trav a la]

Yes, done it myself a long time ago. It’s a pain in the bum though as flights have to backtrack the runway for departure, it therefore affects flow rates quite dramatically.

Thanks guys,

I have landed on 23L as SLF but never seen an aircraft depart from 05R, hence the question.

[chaps1954]

They backtrack aircraft in groups of upto 3 aircraft at a time same as landings

[Scottie Dog]

This week's update courtesy of the MANTP Team

Part 1

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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

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[Scottie Dog]

Further images from the MANTP team for July 2019.

Part 1

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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

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[Scottie Dog]

Manchester Airport, in collaboration with Menzies Aviation, EasyJet and Jet2.com, will be trialling the concept of a remote de-icing pad for Winter 2019/2020. However, a pre-season test of the process will be undertaken at the end of July.

[rampman]

Manchester Airport, in collaboration with Menzies Aviation, EasyJet and Jet2.com, will be trialling the concept of a remote de-icing pad for Winter 2019/2020. However, a pre-season test of the process will be undertaken at the end of July.
will not be happening at the end of July as the decision on where the two deicing lads are going has not been made yet

[Curious Pax]

will not be happening at the end of July as the decision on where the two deicing lads are going has not been made yet

OAN 77-2019 REMOTE DE-ICING PAD OPERATION reproduced on another forum shows it between B4 and B5.

[rampman]

They have changed there mind as of Wednesday night

[Mr A Tis]

Since this is now in the public domain I thought I would post this which is taken from the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee meeting on 12th April 2019

Members had also expressed disappointment that no permanent fix was imminent for the leaking roof over the Skylink and that the walkways were difficult to repair as they were old and it was hard to obtain replacement parts.

Brad Miller explained that both of these issues had also been raised by airlines. The walkways were also of non standard design which meant parts were difficult to source. Both items would be part of a medium – long term review but there would be no immediate fix.

I had separately written to the Chief Operating Officer and the following is part of the response received:

"As you are aware, the majority of the travellators at Manchester Airport, are aging assets which, need maintaining on a more regular basis. We are currently revising the holding for long lead time items with a view to minimising asset downtime. This review extends beyond the Skylink and covers all lifts, escalator and travellator assets with any stock being held on site at Manchester.

The elevators closest to the GTI have been out of action due to exceptional circumstances. Both lifts in this area were out of service due to a local power station being flooded, which affected the power supply. Whilst one of the elevators was reinstated very quickly the other suffered a power board failure during the outage, and I am happy to report that this lift has now subsequently been returned to service."

Hopefully we will see improvements over the coming months - although this will not be a quick fix.


These out of service escalators and travellators require replacement of core drive components which have a long non-UK manufacture lead time.

These assets form part of a remediation plan that is now live and will span from June-October 2019. Our facilities management team are continually addressing the leak issue within the Skylink area however, until all leaks are identified, and the areas repaired, the capturing of water will remain in the interest of passenger and visitor safety. Whilst we appreciate the appearance may not be appealing on the eye it is only a temporary measure and is being constantly reviewed.

You wonder why they buy non standard equipment in the first place. Instead of these costly repairs in customer experience & money- why were they not replaced with modern, efficient standard models years ago?

[Rutan16]

​​​​Mr. A ‘Tis what you have here with the travalators is a direct result of competitive tendering and the specification procurement processes.

Someone out their got their product built into an NBS Standard with an architect and that practice along with quantity surveyors built it into the bills at pricing stage.

Little things like none stock sprockets, pinions, chain pitches , pulleys , motors gearboxes and indeed parts that are certified or hold any form of intellectual property rights are ubiquitous within manufacturing processes in an attempt to lock in future maintenance and repairs for the said business models.

As said sometime ago I know this process these machines and currently some parts are on a minimum 12 week lead time plus shipping from the date final manufacturing is approved.

When the tenders go out to price the works add another 2 months at the very least !

And as for storage some of these parts will need to be held on site in a hanger in dry and clean conditions because my warehouses and those of the competitors in Leicester Northampton and Telford ain’t got the space for long term storage.

Nor would we want to take the risk of damage and loss without a significant payment up front .

All these add to the cost and prices charged.

Some of the chains and pulley and cables might well look the same as parts available from Brammer off the shelf however the risk assessment time and certification processes on these machines will preclude them from use period.

Go have a look on YouTube at some of the botched repairs and DEATHS especially in China and South East Asia , it ain’t nice.

So cut the airport authorities a bit of slack on this matter at the moment , it’s a work in process .

It very costly and will take some time.

if they issue a tender to completely replace the machines we are talking at least a year in procurement , a month to install and several millions of pounds !

The three main assembly plants for these machines have order books and schedules for at least three years already.

So no quick solutions sorry.

[HKGBOY]

Parked today on the new pier- gate 104. Rouge late as usual but held off stand due no guidance docking switched on and also some FOD on the run in area.
it,s a heck of a walk to immigration & that’s from one of the nearest gates. Two paltry walkways that barely impact the trek.
Can’t help but feel underwhelmed by the new facility. Will there be more walkways?
On a positive note, no queues at immigration and bags arrived swiftly, which is very unusual for Swissport,

[Scottie Dog]

Sorry about the walk but, as has been said before, you are having to currently also cross the entire width of the new terminal extension before reaching the present immigration facility. Hopefully, once the extension opens next April it will not be such a hike.

[chaps1954]

Just to add to Scotties post one you get off the pier it is only tempory anyway so no walkways

[160to4DME]

This relentless want to complain about actually having to walk. :rolleyes:

It seems some people lose the use of their legs once they arrive at an airport.

I wonder how many have flown through LHR T3, HKG, et al for fair comparison. It can take over 20 minutes to walk from, say, Gate 71 to Immigration at HKG.

[Nostoodian]

This relentless want to complain about actually having to walk. :rolleyes:

It seems some people lose the use of their legs once they arrive at an airport.

I wonder how many have flown through LHR T3, HKG, et al for fair comparison. It can take over 20 minutes to walk from, say, Gate 71 to Immigration at HKG.
I just had a right good chuckle when I read your reply. PPrune's Manchester thread is infamous for whingers. You would think people would be delighted to have the opportunity to increase their daily step count, especially as everyone seems to be wearing exercise fitbits these days.

[SWBKCB]

This relentless want to complain about actually having to walk. :rolleyes:

It seems some people lose the use of their legs once they arrive at an airport.

I wonder how many have flown through LHR T3, HKG, et al for fair comparison. It can take over 20 minutes to walk from, say, Gate 71 to Immigration at HKG.

You might be right about the new T2, but when using the Skylink to get to the station, the state of the travelators and the extent of the works around them means that there is little room left and walking isn't a straight forward option!

[HKGBOY]

This relentless want to complain about actually having to walk. :rolleyes:

It seems some people lose the use of their legs once they arrive at an airport.

I wonder how many have flown through LHR T3, HKG, et al for fair comparison. It can take over 20 minutes to walk from, say, Gate 71 to Immigration at HKG.

I'm pretty familiar with HKG, you omit to mention the almost continuous walkways, escalators, lifts and shuttle train between gates along with golf cart buggies. These are rarely broken.
Many international long haul pax may have been travelling in excess of 20 hours, may have multiple kids, walking difficulties, along with their carry on etc.
The " hey up, oop north now, get walkin" view hardly reflects an international standard, merely suggests a lack of inspiration to be the best. It's grim up north seems to be the mantra.
Incidentally, I was not complaining but merely asking the question if more walkways were to be installed or was what provided "it" under the new refurb. Streuth so touchy you MAN fans that you can't even ask a question on here.

[FFHKG]

During the 20 years I was travelling into and out of Hong Kong on a frequent basis, sometimes a couple of times a week, I never saw an escalator or a walkway out of service. Guess its down to the quality of what was installed in the first place and having an on-site service team as they must do with the number of escalators they operate. Incidentally, it was highly unusual to see an escalator out of service anywhere in Hong Kong whether it was in a mall or the kilometre long Central Escalator which goes uphill most of the day except for a short period during during morning rush hour when it reverses.

[FFMAN]

The " hey up, oop north now, get walkin" view hardly reflects an international standard, merely suggests a lack of inspiration to be the best. It's grim up north seems to be the mantra.
Incidentally, I was not complaining but merely asking the question if more walkways were to be installed or was what provided "it" under the new refurb. Streuth so touchy you MAN fans that you can't even ask a question on here.

I'm hardly a fan of MAN - in fact a regular critic but I think you answered your own point in the last sentence.
You probably don't walk around HK pulling your eyes to the side and saying 'ah so' in a funny accent. If you did you would probably get a well earned smack in the mouth - or worse. Why then do you think it's ok to post a set of offensive cultural (and inaccurate) stereotypes on the Manchester thread? What would you think if someone posted something offensive and inaccurate about whatever place you come from?
Grow up.

[pilot9250]

I'm hardly a fan of MAN - in fact a regular critic but I think you answered your own point in the last sentence.
You probably don't walk around HK pulling your eyes to the side and saying 'ah so' in a funny accent. If you did you would probably get a well earned smack in the mouth - or worse. Why then do you think it's ok to post a set of offensive cultural (and inaccurate) stereotypes on the Manchester thread? What would you think if someone posted something offensive and inaccurate about whatever place you come from?
Grow up.

The thrust of his point was that travellators and other similar facilities don't break down at HKG with anything like the monotony they do at MAN.

Having travelled extensively and repeatedly through both I can only agree.

The answer that it takes 3 months to order a custom four spoke sprocket is unappetizing.

These facilities aren't new.

Even assuming ongoing provision of parts somehow randomly wasn't included in the original contract to supply, they must be able to know by now the frequency with which four spoke sprockets break.

[FFMAN]

The point s/he is making is understood - it's just the offensive stereotyping that I am calling him/her out on. It is unacceptable on a public forum.

HKG's facilities are newer than MAN's and had the benefit of almost unlimited government financial support to turn it into the flagship facility that it is. Manchester on the other hand has no government support - it's on its own and has to make investments on a rate of return basis. You get what you pay for.
That is not to excuse it - but it explains it.

[Nostoodian]

The point s/he is making is understood - it's just the offensive stereotyping that I am calling him/her out on. It is unacceptable on a public forum.

HKG's facilities are newer than MAN's and had the benefit of almost unlimited government financial support to turn it into the flagship facility that it is. Manchester on the other hand has no government support - it's on its own and has to make investments on a rate of return basis. You get what you pay for.
That is not to excuse it - but it explains it.
According to the Guinness book of world records, Hong Kong's New Airport is the most expensive airport ever built costing $20 billion dollars. Comparing Manchester airport to Hong Kong's new airport is a little unfair in my opinion. Manchester Airport can never compete in terms of infrastructure and maintenance with rich state funded airport projects.

[Mr Mac]

I think the point is MAN has become a little more connected with tales of broken lifts and escalators then perhaps other airports as it is often mentioned on this site but not noticeably on others, unless I am missing something.

Regards
Mr Mac

[barry lloyd]

Broken lifts and escalators may be the least of their problems at the moment, with a taxiway and apron area flooded and aircraft diverting.

[lexoncd]

Today the easterly SID south seems to be different than usual. Looking at tracks instead of heading for Congleton aircraft have been continuing a clockwise south westerly turn to take them over towards Sandbach before an easterly turn back to Congleton,

temporary or permanent? Avoids Prestbury? Is Boris there perhaps?

[ZOOKER]

Could be avoiding Wx? Alternatively turning downwind to get above a/c coming off DAYNE. If the inbounds turn before DAYNE it makes sense to do that, saves the departures flogging across Cheshire at 5000' for 10-15nm. The DAYNE hold should ideally have been placed 5nm closer to the TNT VOR.

[Scottie Dog]

Manchester Statistics - June 2019

Introduction
Back in September 2015 I decided that I should start to correlate statistics for Manchester and use 2005 as a reference point for historical data. My file now consists of 14 years of monthly figures and 486 destinations that have been served from Manchester over that period.

Destinations that are either new (no passengers since my records started in January 2005), or have not been served for a number of years - if the latter then the month and year of the last service is shown.
Poitiers was a new destinations served in June 2019.

Million passenger routes (Rolling annual figures)
Amsterdam - 1,049,656 passengers

The following domestic statistics are missing from the CAA report for June.
Neither Belfast International nor Exeter have reported for this month
In June 2018 these accounted for 36,667 passengers.

Moving monthly and annual figures - based on CAA statistics/MAG statistics
Monthly passengers - 2,966,156 +3.70%
Annual Total - 8,001,639 +5.69%
Moving Annual Total - 29,088,586 +3.85%

Monthly Movements - 19,380 +1.53%
Annual Movements - 54,546 +1.83%
Moving Annual Movements - 202,662 +0.44%

Top 25 destinations - by passenger numbers
https://i.ibb.co/ZMNG3zH/Screenshot-755.png

Top destinations with highest percentage increase.
https://i.ibb.co/GCkZrLn/Screenshot-753.png

Figures for the European and long haul destinations that I consider to be the main points for our connecting traffic.
https://i.ibb.co/rf41vy3/Screenshot-757.png

Comparison of top 25 destinations - June 2009 versus June 2019
https://i.ibb.co/Ns826PY/Screenshot-761.png

Major changes to Domestic traffic
https://i.ibb.co/51Rnw6C/Screenshot-759.png

CAA statistics for June are provisional.

As a separate item I have now started to analyze June's statistics to obtain load factors on certain routes

https://i.ibb.co/vZSvh9q/Screenshot-760.png
Calculations are based of FlightRadar24 for days of flight operation, Planespotter.net for Seat Plans and CAA data for monthly figures.

[Scottie Dog]

MANTP Update #101 dated 26th July - courtesy of the MANTP Team, to whom full credit is given.

Part 1

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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

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[Scottie Dog]

MANTP Update #102 dated 2nd August from the MANTP Team - to who full credit is given:

Part 1
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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

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[160to4DME]

I really don't understand the rationale of BA and the LHR route. The decline is relentless, but I am not convinced it is down to lack of demand rather than a concerted effort on the part of BA to reduce capacity; but why ?

I fly the route twice weekly. Invariably, both ways, it is announced that the flight is full, be it an A319 or A321.

So why does BA not schedule an A321 on the 319 routes which are always full ?

I think the success of domestic Club Europe has caught them somewhat on the hop; many times on an A320, the curtain can be back at row 12.

One can only hope with forward planning, next year's schedule sees more A321s on the route.

The demand is there; BA just aren't meeting it right now.

[Rutan16]

160 to 4 and where do they draw down these additional 321s from.

Btw BA are restoring a few rotations each day from the start of the northern winter.

imho BA really aren’t that interested in bums on seats but rather yield achieved per ticket and let’s face it current ticket prices are for on the spot/ next day travel are ludicrous.

Remember many onboard are simply connecting beyond Heathrow and the booked domestic portion of their fare could well be well below the cost base .

With high levels of connectors its inevitable the on the spot fares are so high as these are necessary to create adequate revenue and was ever thus - other than the period up to the early 2000s when the real shuttle services operated.

Today it’s not a shuttle service in any name whatsoever.

Can you walk up go straight to the gate pay there and then and board a departure within a hour - Not on your nelly !

[160to4DME]

I'm fully aware of the scale on which operations plan ahead. That is why I said "One can only hope with forward planning, next year's schedule sees more A321s."

I may be giving them the benefit of doubt that domestic CE has caught them on the hop; but it is certainly working for them.

Whilst I still hold an element of grudge against them for the Terminal 3 debacle, I would still rather see whatever connectivity there is go via our national carrier than, say KLM...

[FFMAN]

Oh please, not that old BA and the regions chestnut again - they don't care and haven't done for years. Not much different to AF (Paris) and KLM (Amsterdam) and remind me again how many other UAE cities Emirates flies from.
It's a specific business model which kind of works for them and BA are and shouldn't be no different. It's not a charity and it's not (thank god) a state airline aka a politician's play thing.
And the name - well it's what they inherited from the state sell off....there's nothing stopping a Manchester based airline calling itself UK International or England Airways.
Just need to get over it - Manchester's doing just fine without it.

[eye2eye5]

I think you will find that if you divide the monthly CAA traffic figures for LHR by the number of seats for an A319 only, it only comes up with a load factor of circa 75%. That suggests that there are certain rotations which are very lightly loaded and some which, as reported, are full. The current operation is probably a compromise. Maybe a reduced number of rotations with larger aircraft would be more effective but at the expense of convenience.

[The96er]

I think you will find that if you divide the monthly CAA traffic figures for LHR by the number of seats for an A319 only, it only comes up with a load factor of circa 75%. That suggests that there are certain rotations which are very lightly loaded and some which, as reported, are full. The current operation is probably a compromise. Maybe a reduced number of rotations with larger aircraft would be more effective but at the expense of convenience.


You need to be careful when calculating the loadfactor on BA's these days as the total max config of 143 (For A319) is never used anymore due to the use of the club cabin which can vary quite a lot depending on the day. So effectivly, the loadfactor will be higher than 75% as the total available seats will be lower the more the Club cabin increases.

The LHR schedule for winter is now fixed at 7/day Mon-Fri which is a reduction of 2/day on previous years and there will be only x1 night stopping aircraft with none on Friday nights.

[pilot9250]

I would still rather see whatever connectivity there is go via our national carrier than, say KLM...

I'm not confident I understand this point of view.

What does 'national carrier' even mean?

Is IAG British or Spanish?

Who on earth are you including in 'our'?

Do KLM fly from 4-5 times as many British airports as BA?

As a practical matter, if I want to get to Tokyo from Manchester and must transfer, should I prefer 5 flights a day from LHR or 28 a day from HKG?

[FFMAN]

Quite right Turbine70 - In the UK there is thankfully no such thing as a 'national carrier'. Nor should there ever be; the concept is about as anachronistic as Dads Army.
BA in my view is a Spanish airline run by an Irishman with a rather jaundiced view of his home market - hence the OneWorld Dublin push.

I owe no loyalty to BA simply because it uses the word 'British' in its name. It doesn't need to have any 'loyalty' to Manchester or me as an airline user either - it's a commercial business and should be run as such. I rarely use BA but when I do it is a variable quality airline - sometimes very good sometimes not good - like many airlines including the Easyjets of this world.

[Mr A Tis]

If I need a one stop connection, the very last choice would be BA. The merest whiff of trouble anywhere and the domestic "shuttles" especially Manchester are cancelled. Leaving you scuppered for your onward. For HKG/China Finnair is my preference, anywhere else I'd take KLM or Lufthansa any day over BA.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Winter LHR-MAN/ABZ additions are slot sitters to protect the portfolio, they will revert to summer sun (yes, they do a LOT of that now) in the 2020 summer.
BA are a sideshow at MAN nowadays.

[UnderASouthernSky]

As a practical matter, if I want to get to Tokyo from Manchester and must transfer, should I prefer 5 flights a day from LHR or 28 a day from HKG?

and if the single daily service from MAN-HKG doesn't suit your schedule, or if it goes tech, then what?

[pilot9250]

and if the single daily service from MAN-HKG doesn't suit your schedule, or if it goes tech, then what?

I suppose I expected that part to be picked on.

Look there are about 70 daily one stop itineraries from Manchester to Tokyo in the GDS.

What I object to is being invited to prefer BA because it is 'our' 'national carrier'

I don't agree that it is any such thing for the reasons I gave.

If you prefer via LHR on BA then fill your boots.

There is no reason why that should be artificially encouraged over all the other routes.

[chaps1954]

The route you choose should be
1 it suites you route wise
2 the cost is OK
3 you are happy flying with the airline/s
What really used to annoy me when I worked in travel was the company did route deals
and they told you who your passengers had to fly with when you knew that they didn`t want to

[Rutan16]

and if the single daily service from MAN-HKG doesn't suit your schedule, or if it goes tech, then what?

Aircraft go tech , entire airline IT systems fail, weather cancels domestic connections and T5 continues to consume baggage

Oh and if the daily CX cancels depending on ticket type and status they may reroute you down to Heathrow for one of the three evening departures if capacity is available.

In the few years it’s been back as a passenger service the number of cancellations have been exceptionally low - Way below those of BA even if we include a few planned cancellations !

Cathay have served Manchester very well for both SLF and Boxes for many years.

Oh and this utter cr*p about frequency especially on long haul ( cepting the eastern seaboard) is exhausting .

Seriously a ten hour plus flight matters not a jot whether you arrive at 6.30 am or 9.00 pm the night before .

You aren’t missing a mid morning meeting either way are you

Either you pay x2 —x5 for a camp bed in a coffin and a quick taxi alternatively a nice nights sleep and preparation time in a quality hotel even possibly some hospitality with your client as well

Just about every customer/ client paying the bill won’t object to this in my experience!

BTW disruption is not unheard of at the Hong Kong end either .

Oh and those 77w frames used to Heathrow breakdown more often than the swanky new A350s

I live 8 miles north of 27L and my last Hong Kong flight was from Manchester along with colleagues from Telford and Woudenberg in Holland !

[zed3]

Mr A Tis, It's not only BA that cancel. KLM will cancel from most UK airports to the Amsterdam connection if there is trouble at Schiphol, heavy wind or other weather. Got the t-shirt for that one. It seems that there is no sure way of getting airborne these days and that's without strikes, power failures, etc.

[chaps1954]

Lufthansa do also infact ATC/Eurocontrol seem to ask them to cancel if the weather looks dodgy

[pilot9250]

Mr A Tis, It's not only BA that cancel. KLM will cancel from most UK airports to the Amsterdam connection if there is trouble at Schiphol, heavy wind or other weather. Got the t-shirt for that one. It seems that there is no sure way of getting airborne these days and that's without strikes, power failures, etc.

I hope we can agree that BA and KLM suffering these broadly similar constraints isn't a reason to prefer or advantage BA over KLM.

[zed3]

Yes Sir, we are KLM card holders, my having lived 42 years there, with plenty of friends and family, including a Dutch wife, we visit regularly. We now live on The Island and are also BA card holders, thus supporting both sides!

]

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Being rumoured on Twitter that Delta are replacing Virgin’s 3x weekly BOS with a daily B757. Any truth?

[chaps1954]

In answer Skip yes daily on Manchester and also Gatwick with a B757 from May

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Good to see Delta back in a place they should never have left IMHO.

[Scottie Dog]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/719x619/screenshot_803__b0bef775e71aed556fb8771292f573cf9bc5c5f0.png

[BAladdy]

Being rumoured on Twitter that Delta are replacing Virgin’s 3x weekly BOS with a daily B757. Any truth?

The rumour has his been confirmed DL will add a peak-summer service to BOS from 21MAY20, taking over the route from VS. Flights will increase from the current VS frequency of 3 x weekly to Daily

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/08/15/virgin-and-delta-boost-us-services-from-gatwick-heathrow-and-manchester/

[Scottie Dog]

From Business Traveller

Scandinavian Airlines is to launch a year-round service between Manchester and the Norwegian city of Stavanger later this year.

The twice weekly route will operate on Mondays and Fridays from November 8, using a B737 aircraft.

SAS already serves Oslo and Bergen from Manchester, and will offer a total of 49 flights per week from the English city this winter.

The carrier said that it has “steadily expanded its direct services to Manchester in line with the increase in demand for trips to the British Isles and the interest in English football in particular”, and cited the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, which it said had inspired “many Norwegians to travel to matches”.

Commenting on the news Torbjørn Wist, financial director at SAS said:

“There is tremendous interest in English football and now SAS is creating additional opportunities for even more Norwegians to be able travel to see their favourite teams in action in the famous stadiums, in a way that is fast and convenient. We are the airline with the most flight connections between Scandinavia and Manchester”.

Norwegian also plies the Manchester-Stavanger route with up to three flights per week.

Link: https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/08/15/sas-to-launch-manchester-stavanger-route/

[Scottie Dog]

MANTP Update #103 - (9th August-9th September 2019)

Courtesy of the MANTP team to whom full credit is given.

Part 1
https://i.ibb.co/Fz9WmXt/Screenshot-8.png

https://i.ibb.co/6D9VDp6/Screenshot-9.png

https://i.ibb.co/s3nPM8n/Screenshot-20.png

https://i.ibb.co/BZ9KZT7/Screenshot-26.png

https://i.ibb.co/HNFjm0S/Screenshot-31.png

https://i.ibb.co/F3b6fY6/Screenshot-32.png

https://i.ibb.co/Sxd2LtQ/Screenshot-34.png

https://i.ibb.co/8Ksk38s/Screenshot-60.png

[Scottie Dog]

Part 2
https://i.ibb.co/jT94BV2/Screenshot-88.png

https://i.ibb.co/8btzpFn/Screenshot-93.png

https://i.ibb.co/ZBxX5Mv/Screenshot-163.png

https://i.ibb.co/k50WcJ0/Screenshot-193.png

https://i.ibb.co/BPFCcV4/Screenshot-194.png

https://i.ibb.co/HPyHzgC/Screenshot-171.png

https://i.ibb.co/yS31gKX/Screenshot-195.png

https://i.ibb.co/SmX9pd9/Screenshot-196.png

https://i.ibb.co/dW3FPrr/Screenshot-197.png

[Scottie Dog]

MANTP Update #104 = (16th August-16th September 2019)

As always my thanks go to the MANTP Team for supplying these images and full credit is given to them.

I appreciate that certain images hardly seem to change over the week, at present, however that is the nature of the beast, and I have included them all for completeness.

Part 1

https://i.ibb.co/r5bHf8z/Screenshot-200.png

https://i.ibb.co/mvsrCwP/Screenshot-201.png

https://i.ibb.co/zFS72vR/Screenshot-202.png

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https://i.ibb.co/mzhQ51v/Screenshot-205.png

https://i.ibb.co/0f3QGZJ/Screenshot-206.png

[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

https://i.ibb.co/741533Y/Screenshot-207.png

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https://i.ibb.co/qmMK286/Screenshot-214.png

https://i.ibb.co/SQ1NR4b/Screenshot-215.png

[Manchester Exile]

A question on the T2 redevelopment project updates. What is IDLEX? I remember in the 80's there was an IDLEX project in T1, which was the International Departure Lounge Extension. Is this the same thing for the T2 redevelopment?

[Scottie Dog]

Your memory is very good. The old IDLEX (International Departure Lounge Extension) operations tower is being brought back into use for its original purpose. As part of the MANTP project the current "ops centre" on the west apron will be closed. I never did understand why they moved out of the IDLEX tower in the first place.

[CabinCrewe]

what 787 maintenance facilities are there at MAN? Saw a BA 789 diverted back, up beyond INV heading out over Atlantic with water issues, but went to MAN

[The96er]

what 787 maintenance facilities are there at MAN? Saw a BA 789 diverted back, up beyond INV heading out over Atlantic with water issues, but went to MAN

MAN still has a BA Line Engineers base at MAN who also do cover for the likes of AA, QR, LH, AF amongst others aswell as BA's own metal.

[Manchester Exile]

Thanks, Scottie. That makes sense - the photo in your update looked like an ops tower rather than an extension to a departure lounge! I remember the IDLEX tower going up, probably 35 years ago now.

[FFMAN]

the photo in your update looked like an ops tower rather than an extension to a departure lounge!

It was both - the extension to the concourse area is pretty much where Starbucks currently is. That was in the days when MAN only had 1 terminal (and 1 runway) so 'International Departure Lounge' only referred to the original T1 before it was even called T1. How times have moved on!
In reality it's time that T1 'moved on' - well past its sell by date but no doubt the decision will be dodged and they'll still be doing temporary fixes to holes in the roof in 10 years time.

[BA318]

Apparently AirLivery are leaving MAN. I've heard that their rent has been increased by 400%. Could this be to make way for another operator? Flybe/VS perhaps (with the closure of Exeter)?

[The96er]

Apparently AirLivery are leaving MAN. I've heard that their rent has been increased by 400%. Could this be to make way for another operator? Flybe/VS perhaps (with the closure of Exeter)?

I'm hearing all sorts of rumors from cargo storage to another carpark, either way, it's a shame that an Aviation buisness is being forced out with the resultant loss of employment.

[PDXCWL45]

I'm hearing all sorts of rumors from cargo storage to another carpark, either way, it's a shame that an Aviation buisness is being forced out with the resultant loss of employment.
Any idea where they are going?

[Planespeaking]

Any idea where they are going?
There is a large new hanger under construction at SEN able to take A321 sized aircraft. Rumours abound!!

[Scottie Dog]

Since they are not a UK owned company I suppose the work will be taken on by their various European facilities.

[FFMAN]

I've heard that their rent has been increased by 400%.

Disgraceful if that's true. MAN management have already expelled most of the pure freighter business. light aviation etc.
Is this a further step in the apparent corporate goal to move out of aviation completely and consolidate on car parking, real estate development and retail?

[chaps1954]

I wonder if it will be pulled down to give a lot of extra parking space for aicraft.

[CabinCrewe]

they should move to PIK! perhaps one day the non-pax future aviation 'hub' ;)

[ZOOKER]

CabinCrewe, I would love to see Prestwick utilised for this kind of stuff, crew-traning, freight, maintenace etc. It has a good road conection to Glasgow and The Midland Valley, and relatively good Wx too.

[Manchester Exile]

Yes, FFMAN, I remember the extension to the lounge and the ops tower being built. Probably around 1984. I was confused by the photo in Scottie Dog’s T2 update. I was trying to figure out what part of T2 the photo was showing, and thought that it looked awfully small for a lounge. When he explained it was the recommissioning of the old ops tower, it made perfect sense.

I think that there was a proposal a few years ago to reopen the ops tower as a restaurant. Or was that the old control tower?

Not having been to MAN for years, is the old fish tank still on pier B? If so, I guess it’s disused?

[The96er]

Not having been to MAN for years, is the old fish tank still on pier B? If so, I guess it’s disused?

The 'Fishtank' is still there, alas it can no longer be used as it does not meet the latest fires/safety escape criteria. A shame really as it would make a great Handling agent Operations office.

[Matty Rich 83]

Where and what is the “fishtank”?

[Rutan16]

Old ground movement tower at the top of pier B
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/615x410/img_0083_01b1a7e9d2d1f8fbe2369d38c1c72501013e66d6.jpeg
Old tower in red circle

[Scottie Dog]

Good post Rutan16 but, if I may be pedantic, it was actually more the operations room for stand allocation rather than Ground Movement as we know it today. I'm happy to be corrected.

[FFMAN]

I have a question for those who have inside knowledge of the T2 rebuild.
I've already used the new Pier 1 and got a sense of the scale of the new construction - the extension itself seems bigger than a good number of entire airport terminals around the UK. Someone told me that the finished T2 will be 150% bigger than it was previously.
What is not obvious to me is how the existing security screening area will accomodate the vastly increased passenger flows. It struggles now at times and the closed in area is seemingly unable to take any further expansion.
The question therefore is: what will the screening capacity be and where will it be located? I honestly can't imagine the current area being able to cope beyond the short-term.
As a supplementary question - will T2 be the first terminal to get the new 3D scanners that will remove the need for the laptops and liquids fiasco?

[Matty Rich 83]

Hi FFMAN, i’m not really in the know but from what I do know and from other comments on various forums, the new security area in T2X will open next summer, along with the extension and bussing lounge Pier 2 phase 1, whilst the existing T2 closes for refurbishment, so the current T2 security area will not get any busier than it does today...unless i’m missing something?! I’m sure the new security area will be much bigger than the current setup. And eventually there will be one massive check in hall with 2 large security areas behind the hall.

I flew from T2 in may for the first time in about 8 years and was surprised how small it was, even more so with the low ceilings. I thought T2 was initially built for international flights so also imagined a large security area, unless it has been modified since 8 years ago or the original opening in 1993?
Anyway...looking forward to next summer (without wanting to wish my life away)!

[pholling]

I have a question for those who have inside knowledge of the T2 rebuild.
I've already used the new Pier 1 and got a sense of the scale of the new construction - the extension itself seems bigger than a good number of entire airport terminals around the UK. Someone told me that the finished T2 will be 150% bigger than it was previously.
What is not obvious to me is how the existing security screening area will accomodate the vastly increased passenger flows. It struggles now at times and the closed in area is seemingly unable to take any further expansion.
The question therefore is: what will the screening capacity be and where will it be located? I honestly can't imagine the current area being able to cope beyond the short-term.
As a supplementary question - will T2 be the first terminal to get the new 3D scanners that will remove the need for the laptops and liquids fiasco?

The new T2X, and the refurbed T2 will have a new security area on Level 2 behind the check-in desks. The plan is for each of these areas to be significantly larger than the current security area which is on level 3. Level 3 will then be given over, in its entirety to shops and restaurants. I cannot speculate on which terminal will get the new 3D scanners first.

[FFMAN]

Thanks for the responses.
So two separate new security areas both at the check in level 2 - that's re-assuring.
IIRC the original T2 security area was on Level 2 before it had its last major make-over and moved upstairs.
Fingers crossed for those 3D scanners. It would barely make sense to install 2D only to have to retrofit 3D soon afterwards. For anyone that's already used them it's like a breath of fresh air and such a far cry (pun intended) from all the shouting and intimidation that goes on at most airports (not just MAN)

[pholling]

Thanks for the responses.
So two separate new security areas both at the check in level 2 - that's re-assuring.
IIRC the original T2 security area was on Level 2 before it had its last major make-over and moved upstairs.
Fingers crossed for those 3D scanners. It would barely make sense to install 2D only to have to retrofit 3D soon afterwards. For anyone that's already used them it's like a breath of fresh air and such a far cry (pun intended) from all the shouting and intimidation that goes on at most airports (not just MAN)

Just a quick clarification on my comment. I don't know if they will be physically separated once behind the wall, e.g. Security A & B in T1 today, or if it will just be two entrances to a much larger security area. The nice thing about the new T2 is that it is being designed with the space requirements of the modern security theatre in mind. No more kludging a solution into the existing space. As for the scanners, I agree that ideally you would not want to install new 2D equipment and then quickly replace it. However, it might not be possible to source sufficient 3D capacity in the 2020-2021 timeframe to only have 3D equipment installed. I would imagine that the airport will try and install as much 3D capacity as possible from day-one, but the whole outfit might not be practical. Of course a mix of 3D and 2D equipment poses operational issues. Not that these would be insurmountable.

[FFMAN]

If they can't source enough 3D scanners (an issue I guess for most airports) perhaps they can put them in the Fast Lane first and give those of us who grind our way through for our livelihoods a bit of a leg up:} It would likely boost business travellers if they get them in quick and publicize well.

[PDXCWL45]

If they can't source enough 3D scanners (an issue I guess for most airports) perhaps they can put them in the Fast Lane first and give those of us who grind our way through for our livelihoods a bit of a leg up:} It would likely boost business travellers if they get them in quick and publicize well.
They'll probably put them is an extra fast lane and charge extra to use it!

[Scottie Dog]

Manchester Statistics - July 2019

Introduction

Destinations that are either new (no passengers since my records started in January 2005), or have not been served for a number of years - if the latter then the month and year of the last service is shown.

Tokyo and South Bend were new destinations served in July 2019 - the first I believe to be football related, I'm unsure as to South Bend (Indiana).

Million passenger routes (Rolling annual figures)

Amsterdam - 1,052,632 passengers

The following domestic statistics are missing from the CAA report for July.

Aberdeen, Glasgow and London City have not reported for this month
In July 2018 these accounted for 28,059 passengers.

Moving monthly and annual figures - based on CAA statistics/MAG statistics

Monthly passengers - 3,185,465 +4.32%
Annual Total - 11,187,074 +5.30%
Moving Annual Total - 29,220,467 +4.26%
Monthly Movements - 20,354 +2.25%
Annual Movements - 74,900 +1.95%
Moving Annual Movements - 203,110 +0.90%

Manchester Airport's July statistics
https://forums4airports.com/attachments/14361/?hash=d8349ee79b3a3502574f002a141c024a


Top 25 destinations - by passenger numbers
https://forums4airports.com/attachments/14362/?hash=d8349ee79b3a3502574f002a141c024a

Top destinations with highest percentage increase.
https://forums4airports.com/attachments/14363/?hash=d8349ee79b3a3502574f002a141c024a

Figures for the European and long haul destinations that I consider to be the main points for our connecting traffic.
https://forums4airports.com/attachments/14364/?hash=d8349ee79b3a3502574f002a141c024a
Istanbul figures are affected by the start of the Pegasus service to Sabiha Gokcen airport. This new service carried 7,599 passengers in July.

Comparison of top 25 destinations - July 2009 versus July 2019
https://forums4airports.com/attachments/14365/?hash=d8349ee79b3a3502574f002a141c024a

Major changes to Domestic traffic
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/339x438/screenshot_230__bab0b3574406f207046fb2ef90cf0e20fe12f618.png
CAA statistics for July are provisional.

Load factors analysis on certain routes
https://forums4airports.com/attachments/14367/?hash=d8349ee79b3a3502574f002a141c024a
Calculations are based of FlightRadar24 for days of flight operation, Planespotter.net for Seat Plans and CAA data for monthly figures.

[Scottie Dog]

I was about to post the MANTP update #105 but, when I looked at the photos, I do believe that not a single one had changed. As a result I'll just record the existence of the update on here and move on to the August photo update (separate from the weekly updates) and which contains items of more interest.

Part 1 of 3
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1301x740/screenshot_256__3be317eee3ce97493fb8bda1a44b405f64015ffa.png

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1303x735/screenshot_258__ad95f77a9a1a8662d752e9dd715f5f1c356f27fc.png

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1313x727/screenshot_259__d71fe8dc6fafe23776c2c8454b204df0ca937001.png

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1302x731/screenshot_260__8a1fec8fefcd823f7e7ec2b202f6e65a4bcc6fec.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1303x741/screenshot_261__e5ceda09354e854d8470993164f9aba302747e06.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1312x734/screenshot_262__164c9959b6e5264433b6a5fe697b8096a842172f.png

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1311x744/screenshot_263__df9eb1f1f1b65cf3c93ae3a0be72b314db67ad1a.png

[Scottie Dog]

Part 2 of 3
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1308x735/screenshot_264__2b11fc98cb15dde12c79e912cc36de08e181ee0c.png
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1307x738/screenshot_265__9a4737150d308da40c04238f6512be8fab96a0e6.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1301x737/screenshot_266__8415c715c17d1ed3c7d9f86eed9e982ebc790744.png
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1307x731/screenshot_267__ec6eeeb0def2991c4220ec39437c2fbd9506546e.png
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1312x726/screenshot_268__608bc707f42b46048c88c4670a537a7709d350f4.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1304x737/screenshot_269__4316ebb8cd6fb7db591bf247192823a4d739d0fe.png

[The96er]

The placement of the air-con ducting at such a prominant location at the front of the terminal looks like an afterthought. Opting to use panals instead of glass over the entrance doors which breaks up the seemless flow of glass looks cheap, and the bussing lounge - well, the less said about that the better.

The whole development is looking worse by every passing day. Sure, it may be funtional, but boy does it look cheap.

[Seljuk22]

EY to switch the 2nd daily flight from B789 to B781 eff 21st December. Both flights to be operated by B781.

[Scottie Dog]

This week's MANTP Update #106 is now available courtesy of the MANTP Project Team.

I have omitted a few slides that relate to a lane closure on Palma Avenue as a result of High Voltage work being undertaken by Laing O'Rourke.

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[GrahamK]

Looks like the weekly Adria service to Ljubljana switches to Liverpool for 2020 and increases to 2 x weekly

[FFMAN]

If so, it's a great opportunity for EZY to jump on to the route as they already have a small operation out of LJU

[SWBKCB]

One of the new stands?

MEN - Plane delayed at Manchester Airport after passenger claims the wing 'clipped a fence' (https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/plane-delayed-manchester-airport-after-16881266)

[Robin757]

Forgive me if I have not taken notice of previous posts but what are the plans and timescales for T1? I am a regular user of the “cupboard” that exists for Swiss behind the main check in desks. You go right when you descend down the short escalator to the check in area then go round the back of the last check in desk!! Despite all the criticisms of this airport only exactly a week ago I landed at 1800 from Zurich and even after having to wait for my bag was on the station platform at 1835!!

[Scottie Dog]

Forgive me if I have not taken notice of previous posts but what are the plans and timescales for T1? I am a regular user of the “cupboard” that exists for Swiss behind the main check in desks. You go right when you descend down the short escalator to the check in area then go round the back of the last check in desk!! Despite all the criticisms of this airport only exactly a week ago I landed at 1800 from Zurich and even after having to wait for my bag was on the station platform at 1835!!

I'm glad to hear another voice, other than Shed-on-a-pole, saying that they have managed to get through UK Border Force in an acceptable length of time!
I assume you are referring to coming down the escalator from the Skylink? If memory serves me correctly you should be able to cut through to the Swiss check-in desks by going to the immediate left of the right-hand bank of main check-in desks, rather than - as you state - going to the far end.

Anyway, happy travels.

[Matty Rich 83]

I'm glad to hear another voice, other than Shed-on-a-pole, saying that they have managed to get through UK Border Force in an acceptable length of time!
I assume you are referring to coming down the escalator from the Skylink? If memory serves me correctly you should be able to cut through to the Swiss check-in desks by going to the immediate left of the right-hand bank of main check-in desks, rather than - as you state - going to the far end.

Anyway, happy travels.

Scottie Dog I use T1 about once a month and I may be wrong, but I thought to access the LH/LX etc check in desks, you can only do this by walking through the main check in hall, coming from the skylink, down the escalator and then through the main check in hall, which can be a nightmare to navigate when it’s busy!
That “cupboard” isn’t nice, feel for the staff working there, no windows at all! Hope the new T2 check in and security has at least some natural light?!

Robin757 timescale for T1 as far as I am aware is after 2024, although it’s fate is yet to be decided. My wishful thought is complete demolition and of the piers, were in 2019, how much longer can a 1960’s pier B go on for?! It embarrasses me when I see the A380 at the end!

[Scottie Dog]

Oh well my age must be catching up with me, and my memory going (more than my good lady tells me nearly every day!!).

[Adola69]

Oh deary deary me ! The latest Which report based on passenger survey responses, shows a DISMAL performance by Manchester yet again, to which Management

appear to totally ignore year after year! Here is the table, and low and behold we are in it three times along with another MA success - Stansted.

Large airports - Ten million or more passengers per year.
Airport Queues for bag drop.
Queues at security.
Queues at passport control.
Baggage reclaim.
Seating.
Toilets.
Customer score
66% London Heathrow T5 (655)
65% Birmingham (342)
64% London Heathrow T2 (274)
61% Edinburgh (213)
59% London Gatwick North (655)
59% London Gatwick South (565)
59% London Heathrow T3 (437)
57% London Heathrow T4 (154)
52% Manchester T2 (229)
50% Manchester T1 (278)
49% London Stansted (381)
47% Manchester T3 (168)
43% London Luton (273) 43%

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/airports/article/uk-airports/best-and-worst-large-uk-airports - Which?

Having used Terminal 3 just the other day myself, I wouldn't even give it 47%. I had the unfortunate need to use the "Mens room " ! Boy what a horrible Stench greated me, of stale urine! In an area that gets more than its fair share of rain, it appears that there is a Water shortage in the Toilet blocks, - absolutely dreadful.

A race to the BOTTOM well and truly being won, hands down by MA Plc. To be custodians of four of the bottom 5 places, they must be the worst group of Airport Management ever !


:mad:

[Ringwayman]

No surprise that the usual suspect chimes up when MAN pops up in a discredited, hatchet job on airports but somehow FAILED to find this:

" This is the First Annual Edition of the European Consumer Airport Index, seeking to rank Europe’s most passenger-friendly airports. We reached out to all of Europe’s Top 30 airports and asked for relevant data, but also found data in annual reports, online statistics, and conducted our own research to collect all necessary information. "OVERALL SCORE: TOP 10 AIRPORTS FOR PASSENGER-FRIENDLINESS IN EUROPE: Rank Airport

Brussels Airport
Zurich Airport
Düsseldorf Airport
Madrid–Barajas Airport
Manchester Airport

"Starting a journey at one of the Top 10 airports promises more convenient travel to the airport and a good to great passenger experience at the airport. "

Europe's top 10 airports (https://consumerchoicecenter.org/europes-top-10-airports/)

[AndrewH52]

No surprise that the usual suspect chimes up when MAN pops up in a discredited, hatchet job on airports but somehow FAILED to find this:

" This is the First Annual Edition of the European Consumer Airport Index, seeking to rank Europe’s most passenger-friendly airports. We reached out to all of Europe’s Top 30 airports and asked for relevant data, but also found data in annual reports, online statistics, and conducted our own research to collect all necessary information. "OVERALL SCORE: TOP 10 AIRPORTS FOR PASSENGER-FRIENDLINESS IN EUROPE: Rank Airport

Brussels Airport
Zurich Airport
Düsseldorf Airport
Madrid–Barajas Airport
Manchester Airport

"Starting a journey at one of the Top 10 airports promises more convenient travel to the airport and a good to great passenger experience at the airport. "

Europe's top 10 airports (https://consumerchoicecenter.org/europes-top-10-airports/)

While it’s good to see some of Manchester’s plus points recognised, non of the indicators measured in this report actually cover the quality of the passenger experience. It basically says Manchester has good transport links, a wide choice of flights and lots of shops.

[MANFOD]

While it’s good to see some of Manchester’s plus points recognised, non of the indicators measured in this report actually cover the quality of the passenger experience. It basically says Manchester has good transport links, a wide choice of flights and lots of shops.

And there was I thinking that "friendliness" was very much part of the passenger experience!
The introduction includes this: -
" and ranked them in terms of passenger experience, ranked according to a mix of factors ranging from location and transportation options to in-airport experience and flight network access.

[AndrewH52]

MANFOD, I suggest you read on to see what they mean by that - basically how many lounges are available and how many shops / restaurants per million passengers. There is no indication that they are measuring the experience of transitioning from check in through security and onto departures / boarding, or the arrivals ‘experience’.

[BACsuperVC10]

No surprise that the usual suspect chimes up when MAN pops up in a discredited, hatchet job on airports but somehow FAILED to find this:

" This is the First Annual Edition of the European Consumer Airport Index, seeking to rank Europe’s most passenger-friendly airports. We reached out to all of Europe’s Top 30 airports and asked for relevant data, but also found data in annual reports, online statistics, and conducted our own research to collect all necessary information. "OVERALL SCORE: TOP 10 AIRPORTS FOR PASSENGER-FRIENDLINESS IN EUROPE: Rank Airport

Brussels Airport
Zurich Airport
Düsseldorf Airport
Madrid–Barajas Airport
Manchester Airport

"Starting a journey at one of the Top 10 airports promises more convenient travel to the airport and a good to great passenger experience at the airport. "

Europe's top 10 airports (https://consumerchoicecenter.org/europes-top-10-airports/)

Friendly it is not, certainly not security at term 1....very rude from my experience.

[Adola69]

[QUOTE][No surprise that the usual suspect chimes up when MAN pops up in a discredited, hatchet job on airports/QUOTE]

Hey RINGWAYMAN. I suggest that you take off those rose coloured spectacles for just one moment and WAKE-UP.

Get on a Flybe aeromathingy and have a day out to visit Dusseldorf airport (And take some of MA Plc management with you) !

You'll find that this is an airport that has very similar numbers of passengers, with both Long Haul, Inclusive Tour Holiday, and low cost airlines, all using its single facilities.

Compared to Manchester it is simply light years ahead in the Passenger experience department in all aspects. I could list them but of course you'd find fault with that so I won't bother.

Manchester used to be like that some thirty years ago, it was a super airport to use and was my favourite, but alas it has been ruined by a shambolic management regime that has allowed the infrastructure of the terminals to deteriorate to an almost irrecoverable level and their development to be a series of ramshackled add-on afterthoughts. The new "terminal 4" down by the AVP is just another tin-pot idea done on the cheap, instead of incorporating it into the proper terminals, but that would require planning and a bit of thought?

I await your lamblastment but you can't get away from the truth that, leaking roofs with B&Q buckets to catch the water, travelators that don't work, escalators that don't work, having to descend into the bowels of the terminal to go through security and then resurface again, rusting staircases inside piers that haven't seen paint in years, toilets that STINK - yes a really fabulous experience.

I am glad you appear to like it anyway, ENJOY.

Adola.

[Rutan16]

How many more time the parts for the travelators are on a minimum 12 week delivery.
Oh for some that say the don’t break down anywhere else do they

Perspective right now there are two near new machines at London Bridge out of service for several weeks now and not expected back before November and a further machine running like a dog.

[cockyp]

Add to that when using Terminal 2 Heathrow at mid August 2 of the 3 walkways going to Pier 2B were out of service and one on the way back to the Terminal. Also in Toronto Pearson 2 of 3 were again out of service. Perhaps they won't be as long in being out of service, but they were.

[FFHKG]

The point about this is that the travelators and escalators at Manchester seem to out of service more frequently than those in other airports, stations, shopping centres, etc, and not that this does not happen elsewhere. Having lived in HKG, where there are escalators everywhere, other than for planned maintenance, it was rare to see one out of action for more than 24 hours, and not weeks as at MAN.

I cannot recall a single occasion in recent years when all the travelators from T1 to T2 have been working when I have passed through the airport, and more often that not at least one has been out of use. Maybe, I am unlucky and don't travel through MAN frequently enough to see them all working, but from the comments of others, I suspect my observations are correct.

[ETOPS]

in recent years when all the travelators from T1 to T2 have been working

It goes back further than that. The "blue tube" walkway opened in the '90s at the same time I got my B732 command at MAN. Staff parking was next to the 4M building so I used those travelators many times a week.

They didn't work then.................

[Rutan16]

That’s because they haven’t all worked and KONE can’t get the parts !

At Hong Kong they DO break down I can assure you, yet having the factory just up the road and onsite KONE engineers 24/7 at a PRICE reaction is quicker for sure .

[SWBKCB]

The issue is that the problems have been going on for not just years, but decades - either sort it or rip them out.

Certainly on my last visit, not only were they not working but the gubbins in place for the maintenance workers made it difficult to even walk along the walkway - adding insult to injury!

[Nostoodian]

If Thomas Cook goes the way of Monarch what would be the consequences at Manchester? Surely this would be a devastating blow. Although, after Monarch went bump the Airport recovered very quickly with existing carriers filling in on lost routes.

If Thomas Cook goes under surely other airlines will be licking their lips, and will be quick to profit from the demise of Thomas Cook. I can see some new & existing long haul airlines entering the fray at Manchester. Opportunities for Level, Norwegian, American, Virgin etc to mop up the mess.

The problem is in the short term these Airlines would find it difficult to find the necessary frames to fill in the gaps.

What's the procedure if Thomas Cook goes into administration? Would they they look for a new buyer? What happens to the massive debt? Will the administrator pay off some of the existing debts through asset sales? Do Thomas Cook own many of their own aircraft? How many aircraft do they own and how many are leased? Is Thomas Cook divided into separate companies? Is the Airline business separate from the Travel Agent? It's all a bit confusing.

The Thomas Cook situation seems a bit like the Jet Airways fiasco. Both Airlines groups buried under massive debts.

Wasn't their talk before of selling their airline businesses to pay of the debt of the group just leaving the Travel Agent?

[toledoashley]

If Thomas Cook goes the way of Monarch what would be the consequences at Manchester? Surely this would be a devastating blow. Although, after Monarch went bump the Airport recovered very quickly with existing carriers filling in on lost routes.

If Thomas Cook goes under surely other airlines will be licking their lips, and will be quick to profit from the demise of Thomas Cook. I can see some new & existing long haul airlines entering the fray at Manchester. Opportunities for Level, Norwegian, American, Virgin etc to mop up the mess.

The problem is in the short term these Airlines would find it difficult to find the necessary frames to fill in the gaps.

What's the procedure if Thomas Cook goes into administration? Would they they look for a new buyer? What happens to the massive debt? Will the administrator pay off some of the existing debts through asset sales? Do Thomas Cook own many of their own aircraft? How many aircraft do they own and how many are leased? Is Thomas Cook divided into separate companies? Is the Airline business separate from the Travel Agent? It's all a bit confusing.

The Thomas Cook situation seems a bit like the Jet Airways fiasco. Both Airlines groups buried under massive debts.

Wasn't their talk before of selling their airline businesses to pay of the debt of the group just leaving the Travel Agent?

Thomas Cook isn’t a travel agent, they are a tour operator with retail shops. At the moment everything is owned by the group ‘Thomas Cook’. The Fosun takeover would be a little more complex due to the ownership rules of an airline - so the tour operation majority owned by Fosun, and the airline majority owned by the banks (the debt) to satisfy that. Regarding buyers - we have already gone down this path. Thomas Cook asked if anyone was willing to purchase the airline, but they wanted £800/900m for it (which is essentially what the current deal is on the table for the whole business) - so in the event of a fire sale breakup it would be just that - parts seem to be more valuable as a whole, just as Monarch was. Fosun, along with a Turkish Operator who took a small interest in the tour operation part would likely look at some of those assets.

We are now down to a similar position we had with Monarch, whether their ATOL would be renewed for another year and if they can satisfy the CAA that there is funding to see them through.

[TURIN]

Strong rumours of return for BIMAN next year. B787. We'll see.

[Suzeman]

Strong rumours of return for BIMAN next year. B787. We'll see.

Who (if any) will be first - Biman or Thai if some other rumours are to be believed? Or will HS 2 reach the airport first? Or all travelators on the Skylink be working at the same time?

Re-arrange the following words into a well-known phrase or saying - "my not breath holding". You have ten seconds to beat the clock.

[Betablockeruk]

Strong rumours of return for BIMAN next year. B787. We'll see.

I didn't think they actually left, just running extremely late, as usual

[VickersVicount]

I didn't think they actually left, just running extremely late, as usual
and overloaded with pax luggage

[pholling]

Thomas Cook isn’t a travel agent, they are a tour operator with retail shops. At the moment everything is owned by the group ‘Thomas Cook’. The Fosun takeover would be a little more complex due to the ownership rules of an airline - so the tour operation majority owned by Fosun, and the airline majority owned by the banks (the debt) to satisfy that. Regarding buyers - we have already gone down this path. Thomas Cook asked if anyone was willing to purchase the airline, but they wanted £800/900m for it (which is essentially what the current deal is on the table for the whole business) - so in the event of a fire sale breakup it would be just that - parts seem to be more valuable as a whole, just as Monarch was. Fosun, along with a Turkish Operator who took a small interest in the tour operation part would likely look at some of those assets.

We are now down to a similar position we had with Monarch, whether their ATOL would be renewed for another year and if they can satisfy the CAA that there is funding to see them through.

Other than the leases on the airframes the rest of TCX and Condor have little value to any non EU operator. They would loose the right to serve the US and much of the EU traffic. In reality of things are looking really bad for the overall group you could see someone jumping in and purchasing routes, crew, and a/c leases off of TC, provided they already operated type and the like. The key would be their willingness to take over current commitments. I have a sneaking suspicion that there are some groups that would love a bit of the action, but not at £800 million and not with long-term provision commitments.

[Doc Q]

Thomas cook are going nowhere it’s all panic mongering

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Thomas Cook, like Monarch before them, have no USP and offer nothing that wouldn't be scooped up quickly by others. easyJet and Ryanair tend to beat them on price and frequency and Jet2 have come from relatively nowhere to dominate at former Northern strongholds.
We're closer to the next economic crash than we were when Monarch went to the wall a and no one in their right mind would buy this debt laden business. In terms of long haul, Virgin may well have their eye on some A332s with qualified UK based crews but that's likely the limit of it. You do not need to take on any of the liabilities to take their business if you're ready and waiting the day the business closes.

God that's harsh.......look at Dan Air and BCAL, at least they were folded into a survivor.

[Doc Q]

Rubbish , It’s folks such as you who cause panic mongering ,Tommy cooks are to big to fail .

The Chinese deal will go through without doubt ,,The vultures can then move on....

[Nostoodian]

Rubbish , It’s folks such as you who cause panic mongering ,Tommy cooks are to big to fail .

The Chinese deal will go through without doubt ,,The vultures can then move on....
Care to add any logic to your prophecy? We're Jet Airways to big to fail? Both companies in similar amounts of debt. Jet Airways owed around $1.2 billion. They had a fleet of 124 aircraft & 224 aircraft on order.

[Doc Q]

There is a deal going through which is going to secure the companies future it’s simply a matter of rubber stamping the boxes next week , It’s a done deal, why there is all this panic i don’t know

[Brigantee]

I see Gowair are now operating out of MAN for TUI , Have Olympus finished the summer programme ?

[Mr A Tis]

Tommy cooks are to big to fail

Hmmm Laker, Court Line, XL, Monarch, Jet Airways, Pan Am, TWA, Eastern, Braniff - none of them were particularly small.
No such thing as too big to fail.
In respect of TCX, obviously we all hope you are correct Doc Q.

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

Hmmm Laker, Court Line, XL, Monarch, Jet Airways, Pan Am, TWA, Eastern, Braniff - none of them were particularly small.

Add in to that the ILG group which was the country’s 2nd largest tour operator and their airline Air Europe. No company is too big to fail, let’s hope that TC manage to sort themselves out.

[SWBKCB]

Fosun aren't Greybull

[The96er]

Fosun aren't Greybull

Fosun aren't the issue, it's the Bond holders that are holding out.

[Scottie Dog]

MANTP Update #107 dated 6th September 2019-courtesy of the MANTP Team

Part 1

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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

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[Scottie Dog]

MANTP update #108 courtesy of the MANTP Team

Part 1
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[Scottie Dog]

Part 2
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[Nostoodian]

Following Thomas Cook going into administration this morning, how many based aircraft do they have based in Manchester, and of what type?

Obviously all their aircraft will be impounded and put on remote stands.
​
Also, how many passengers do Thomas Cook fly from Manchester every year?

Is it correct to say that other employees not working for Thomas Cook could lose their jobs i.e. ground handling, catering, engineering etc.

My condolences to all those effected. A sad day for the Holiday & Airline Industry.

[chaps1954]

Yes there will be knock on with many companies i:e handling, catering, company transport.
Aircraft parking in the next few days will be a problem however I would expect the leasing companies coming in and
collecting their planes and flying them to some out of the way places.
I do wonder if any bits of the company will be picked up by other operators and of course there is one very large hangar.
One or two airlines may be rubbing their hands at the opportunity with the size of the building
My main worry is all the great guys/gals who are going to lose their jobs Good luck

[Scottie Dog]

Very bad news and thoughts are with all TCX staff.

Planned movements for Summer 2019 and Winter 2019 were 13,737 and passengers 3,346,694. These are based on available ACL reports and yusi g planned aircraft.

S19 is nearly over - the end of October and so we will probably be at least 1m pax down by next Summer.

[chaps1954]

I suppose people will change to other companies but that maybe difficult or expensive

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

controlled explosion carried out

​​​​​​​ (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/manchester-airport-evacuation-bomb-squad-suspicious-package-latest-a9116321.html)Fun and games at MAN this morning.

[Scottie Dog]

Definitely - taken 4 h8urs to get here from Warrington. Train/tram/walk/bus. No help from staff at Piccadilly. Feel sorry for passengers looking lost at the station.

[pabely]

I do wonder if any bits of the company will be picked up by other operators and of course there is one very large hangar.

From what I'm hearing, the maintence hangar, this has been proposed to be offloaded for a while now but no-one was intetested. Might be different now that the assets strippers are in.

[mufc4evr]

Hi Guys

sorry to change the subject, but has there been any further developments on Juneayo & Spicejet

cheers

[redED]

From what I'm hearing, the maintence hangar, this has been proposed to be offloaded for a while now but no-one was intetested. Might be different now that the assets strippers are in.

Never understood why they spent £40k painting it a matter of months ago

[Betablockeruk]

So, STN gets a 3 weekly Amritsar service from November 2019 by Air India and MAN's Mumbai service remains dormant?

Sometimes I think my impression that routes do really well, i.e. Jet Airway's Mumbai, is well off!

btw BHX keeps their Amritsar service so not just a transfer.

[FFHKG]

No doubt, there has been considerable analysis of the market by AI which indicates that there are insufficient passengers likely to use a service from MAN and that their main customer base is in the Midlands and SE. No airline is going to launch a route without some certainty that it will be profitable in the mid-term. MAN is well served by the ME big three and I suspect that it is one of the reasons there is a reluctance to launch a number of East-bound routes from MAN. Guess Thai could be a case in point as many leisure travellers are quite happy to get off, stretch their legs, and do some duty-free shopping in Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi.

[Mr A Tis]

Just to add to the above, when I’ve travelled on the evening Finnair(enroute to HKG) it is full of people heading to BKK.

[Nostoodian]

No doubt, there has been considerable analysis of the market by AI which indicates that there are insufficient passengers likely to use a service from MAN and that their main customer base is in the Midlands and SE. No airline is going to launch a route without some certainty that it will be profitable in the mid-term. MAN is well served by the ME big three and I suspect that it is one of the reasons there is a reluctance to launch a number of East-bound routes from MAN. Guess Thai could be a case in point as many leisure travellers are quite happy to get off, stretch their legs, and do some duty-free shopping in Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi.

You can Turkish Airlines & Oman Airlines to that list to.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

No doubt, there has been considerable analysis of the market by AI which indicates that there are insufficient passengers likely to use a service from MAN and that their main customer base is in the Midlands and SE. No airline is going to launch a route without some certainty that it will be profitable in the mid-term
Air India undertaking considerable analysis of market conditions before launching a route on a commercially sound footing.? OK hang on, are there two Air Indias? Can't be the one I was thinking of, not even close. That one uses the "airliners.net Patented Magic Dartboard of Route Planning", on a good day, on a bad day it's not even close to that well planned.....

[FFMAN]

Amritsar has a very specific demographic - namely the Sikh community.
It is well known that it is mainly based in London and the Midlands, particularly the M1 corridor.
Stansted would seem eminently placed to serve both markets to be honest.

[Plane.Silly]

Amritsar has a very specific demographic - namely the Sikh community.
It is well known that it is mainly based in London and the Midlands, particularly the M1 corridor.
Stansted would seem eminently placed to serve both markets to be honest.

Agree with the first part, based on the demographic. Surely with an airport the size of MAN, it's worth trialling something like 2pw to get the interest going.

Being picky, but to serve London, the Midlands and the M1 corridor, wouldn't Luton have been a better option?

[Betablockeruk]

I appreciate the demographics with reference to Amritsar, but by all accounts Mumbai was doing well from MAN and I'm surprised no one has stepped in to fill the void.

[chaps1954]

Not easy to just step in, aircraft crews need to be added can take months if not more to set up

[Una Due Tfc]

Air India undertaking considerable analysis of market conditions before launching a route on a commercially sound footing.? OK hang on, are there two Air Indias? Can't be the one I was thinking of, not even close. That one uses the "airliners.net Patented Magic Dartboard of Route Planning", on a good day, on a bad day it's not even close to that well planned.....

Indeed. It always amuses me when people credit Air India or Thai with any kind of structured analysis. I know both carriers have been heavily linked with launching/relaunching MAN routes in the last couple of years, but seeing as they’re both constantly stumbling from one crisis to the next I’d be skeptical..

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

Being picky, but to serve London, the Midlands and the M1 corridor, wouldn't Luton have been a better option?

I doubt the runway is long enough to be able to fill the jet and make it to India, whereas Stansted is blessed with a nice long runway where such issues won’t be a factor.

[Nostoodian]

Some big news just in. This could be a big game changer at Manchester.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-09-26/virgin-atlantic-targets-manchester-growth-with-thomas-cook-slots

[Plane.Silly]

Some big news just in. This could be a big game changer at Manchester.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-09-26/virgin-atlantic-targets-manchester-growth-with-thomas-cook-slots

Would be nice to see a bit more long haul at MAN, but i wouldn't be surprised if the likes of Ryanair, Easylet and Jet2 were sniffing round them as well, all 3 probably looking to expand as well

[MANFOD]

Some big news just in. This could be a big game changer at Manchester.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-09-26/virgin-atlantic-targets-manchester-growth-with-thomas-cook-slots

This is indeed big news and has been followed up by Virgin stating that extra capacity will be provided from MAN this winter to JFK (B747 instead of A332), BGI (3 weekly flights rather than 2) and MCO (details to follow). There is also a reference to an announcement shortly about new flights and routes in 2020 and confirmation of the Virgin Clubhouse.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/09/27/virgin-atlantic-to-open-clubhouse-at-manchester-airport/

[spacedog]

Great news if it all comes off. I am not sure Virgin have the airframes avaiable for such a quick expansion. Maybe with the help of DL they might be able to utilise 6 pair of slots each day. I do hope so it is a big void to fill. Apparently there are up to 24 slot pairs up for grabs. As far MAG it means they will be standing still re pax numbers at best, most likely a reduction. I hope that all the available slots are snapped and utilised properly.. again I go back to the airlines not so sure how many have the airframes available to take advantage of this situation. Another option is to move airframes from another airport, however that would. Depend on which airport would. Give the bigger yield.

[TURIN]

I am confused. Since when has MAN been slot restricted? Surely, if Virgin want to start new services they just apply for the slots. I can't believe MAN is anywhere near capacity.
Or it could just be that I have no clue. Which is more likely if I'm honest.

[back to Boeing]

Quick question. I know that obviously with TCX going quite a few “slots” have become available. But is MAN slot constrained like say LHR or LGW. Were all available slots actually in use?

Honest curiosity.

[Scottie Dog]

Whilst Manchester is not totally slot restricted it is, at peak times, hard to get the times that the airline initially wants. In S19 93% of first time requests were met, however that does mean that 7% of applications had to be offered alternative times - varying between 5 minutes and an hour from the original request.
Remember that if Manchester can not offer a slot then the airline may also have to try to get an alternative slot at the overseas airport.

[eye2eye5]

Is stand space not the issue rather than slots?

[eggc]

Only overnight, but VS a/c would be out until first wave departs. Even overnight should ease now when the TCX fleet leave.

[Scottie Dog]

Is stand space not the issue rather than slots?
Stand availability and terminal capacity, as well as runway capacity, needs to be taken into account.

[Scottie Dog]

Just to add to my comment above you have to also remember that the collapse of Thomas Cook has freed up terminal capacity in T1 but Virgin use T2 which is still quite heavily used.

Maybe Jet2 could be persuaded to move back to T1?

[Nostoodian]

Just to add to my comment above you have to also remember that the collapse of Thomas Cook has freed up terminal capacity in T1 but Virgin use T2 which is still quite heavily used.

Maybe Jet2 could be persuaded to move back to T1?

Terminal 2X is opening in April next year anyway so shouldn't be to much of a problem going forward. Is it the terminal capacity you were alluding to or the number of available free stands?

[Scottie Dog]

It is the terminal capacity that I'm referring to. Yes, T2X opens in April , assuming all goes to plan, and whilst that is larger than T2 itself don't forget that T2 itself closes for 2 years for renovation.
I'm sure something will be worked out but it take time before it all falls into place.

[zfw]

Terminal 2 may have outside capacity but internally there are no new inbound carousels or baggage chutes which are up to 18 months away. Logic would suggest if Virgin do take the long haul that Jet2 take up the empty space back at T1.

[zfw]

Latest ACl showing Jet2 putting on 33000 seats from OCT some using an A330 300. And Bangladesh Biman starting from 4th Jan with B787 8 DAC via ZYL.

[FFMAN]

Been sat in one of the T1 lounges for the last hour and have seen 3 TCX movements - 2 landings and 1 departure.
Have I missed something?

[fjencl]

Been sat in one of the T1 lounges for the last hour and have seen 3 TCX movements - 2 landings and 1 departure.
Have I missed something?

Its probably the Smartlynx or avion express aircraft who's aircraft operate with TCX Livery flying the return passengers back.........isn't it ??????

[Mr A Tis]

Yup the leased Avion & Smartlynx aircraft are still in TCX colours, but now operating under Titan callsigns for repatriation flights. I think they were damp leased, so not sure where the cabin crew are coming from, possibly TCX crew on a short term contract with Titan?

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

Have I missed something?

Yes, their registration numbers, none are Thomas Cook’s own aeroplanes.

[eggc]

Looks like VS is picking up MBJ

[avicon13]

I doubt the runway is long enough to be able to fill the jet and make it to India, whereas Stansted is blessed with a nice long runway where such issues won’t be a factor. I've checked LTN runway length not so long ago and you should be able to get a 788 to BOM ok.

[azz767]

An interesting movement over the weekend as Ryanairs corporate jet EI-SEV operated the repatriation flight from JTR-MAN on Saturday night.

[techair]

Bills at MAN must’ve been paid, there’s an exodus of Airbuses going west this evening. Farewell Tommy Cook.

[ETOPS]

Looks like VS is picking up MBJ

Any reference for that?

[MDS]

Arrived into the new T2 pier extension on Friday from DUS.

Fresh and clean but certainly a long walk to passport control.

That being said, I was from the plane to the train station in about ~25 minutes. No complaints overall.

[azz767]

Arrived into the new T2 pier extension on Friday from DUS.

Fresh and clean but certainly a long walk to passport control.

That being said, I was from the plane to the train station in about ~25 minutes. No complaints overall.

I also arrived in July and agree it is a long walk, but this will be reduced when T2X opens next year so it’s only a temporary thing

[Scottie Dog]

Better late than never - here is MANTP Update 109 dated 20th September courtesy as always of the MANTP Team

https://i.ibb.co/25DnGDF/Screenshot-347.png

https://i.ibb.co/16t1Np0/Screenshot-348.png

https://i.ibb.co/7SWnLZC/Screenshot-349.png

https://i.ibb.co/cyPLVjJ/Screenshot-351.png

https://i.ibb.co/LNzkH3n/Screenshot-352.png

https://i.ibb.co/BGhg1b9/Screenshot-353.png

https://i.ibb.co/9bcyrf3/Screenshot-355.png

[Scottie Dog]

Part 2


https://i.ibb.co/XZGsKmZ/Screenshot-356.png

https://i.ibb.co/SfW7xtK/Screenshot-357.png

https://i.ibb.co/SKf5S4w/Screenshot-358.png

https://i.ibb.co/tsnjsQc/Screenshot-359.png

https://i.ibb.co/xh6BH8t/Screenshot-360.png

https://i.ibb.co/6s8ZwTW/Screenshot-361.png

https://i.ibb.co/FHhNRkp/Screenshot-362.png

The taxiway Juliet referred to below will be the taxiway between Piers 2 & 3
https://i.ibb.co/ChcTkW2/Screenshot-363.png

[Scottie Dog]

MANTP Update #110 dated 27th September, courtesy of the MANTPTeam

Part 1

https://i.ibb.co/2v5tPGG/Screenshot-364.png

https://i.ibb.co/k0JB3MX/Screenshot-365.png

https://i.ibb.co/ZHN8QS6/Screenshot-366.png

https://i.ibb.co/Qf9RQbG/Screenshot-367.png

https://i.ibb.co/1vqc85n/Screenshot-368.png

https://i.ibb.co/NThYVMV/Screenshot-369.png

https://i.ibb.co/Bydvd9Q/Screenshot-370.png

[Scottie Dog]

Part 2

https://i.ibb.co/7XxLmMS/Screenshot-371.png

https://i.ibb.co/DgMFBzC/Screenshot-372.png

https://i.ibb.co/0XnL26b/Screenshot-373.png

https://i.ibb.co/C0WzpLf/Screenshot-374.png

https://i.ibb.co/nzT5pLP/Screenshot-375.png

https://i.ibb.co/f40gnSP/Screenshot-376.png

https://i.ibb.co/3fcQcrc/Screenshot-377.png

https://i.ibb.co/60B2ggB/Screenshot-378.png

[spacedog]

New routes for Ryanair
PSA new 2 x weekly
PRG 9 x weekly summer only
MXP 5 x weekly summer only
KTW 3 x weekly summer only

[zfw]

Well after spending 2 days looking for next years hols, i can see Manchesters figures going down drasticlly the prices from Virgin and Jet 2 are eye wateringly staggering, these are dates that are not even in schooltime..

Was flying Barbados premium on TCX for the 2 of us £1100 in Premium. Virgin £3600 in economy and the plane is only half full, cannot see anyone falling for this one. Same with Jet 2 £500 each in June to Dalaman.

Looks like its Rhyl next year.

[spacedog]

Not being funny but that could have been one of the factors that put TCX in the position it has found itself in.
Too cheap not enough profit margin.

[TURIN]

Anyone know what is happening with the area between Sunbank Lane and Avro Way? IE Romper to 'Little' West Gate.
I've heard a rumour that the current bus parking area is to be flattened and turned into a car park for the VIP Terminal.
I was just wondering if access from west gate to the Romper/staff south car park will be lost.

Thanks.

[FFMAN]

That may be the case Spacedog but it doesn't get away from the point zfw is making - namely those people who went on Thomas Cook holidays and flights are not necessarily going to pay more for the trip with someone else. TC were very good at getting people to travel at a certain price point. Therefore passengers numbers at all TC airports are likely to suffer for some time. People used to paying say £200 for a flight to the Med are not suddenly going to be willing to pay £400. Jet2 and EasyJet used to be known as 'low-cost airlines' in reality they aren't - those days are gone. It's often cheaper to fly one stop through a European hub with a legacy carrier these days.

Also the prospects of getting to the Caribbean from somewhere not called Gatwick are pretty much screwed for the foreseeable future. The Manchester offering which was pretty good, has been decimated. The options going West through the US gateways don't work due to the fact most US carriers head to the Caribbean in the morning - before the inbound MAN flights arrive, meaning you have to overnight at the airport with all the hassle and expense involved. Certainly my holiday plans will not include the Caribbean for quite some time after this setback even though I like it out there.

[zfw]

Very true FFMAN my travel agaent i.e wife, is absolutely besides herself cannot believe how much Manchester carriers are jacking up the prices, i know there is supply and demand and then theres absolute greed. Two weeks ago on Skyscanner you could get £275 to NYC on United, priced the same dates up in late Feb 2 days ago and it was £774 each. Our travelling partners to BGI this New year are flying on the B.A Beach fleet now at christmas for £770 each, which is considerably less than VS offer from Man on the same dates, but its that hellish trek back from LGW when you have just survived a 9 hour flight.
On the morning of TCXs demise we shot out of bed to book for next years May Florida trip where we have already booked accomadation, managed to get Econ out and Prem back for £1500, still £400 over TCXs Prem both ways, but at least we are defo going now. Later in the day Econ only was £2660.
It may be a blip because of the immediate shortfall of flights, some more may come along, but at what price?.
Friends and family have already remarked that at these prices there will be no takers including themselves.

[116d]

The prices are what they are due to the algorithms concerning supply and demand, even though some of the claims about profiteering are valid.

Once things have settled down, I suspect what we'll see is prices stabilising and coming down, but overall average prices increasing. I suspect some markets had a surplus of capacity, so now there's been a big drop in available capacity the market will readjust itself and price accordingly. All that said, there will still be demand and I expect some of that lost capacity to be plugged by others, just like what we're seeing the likes of Jet2 and Virgin doing this month and for the rest of the year.

zfw mentioned Florida. We're going next September having booked a flight/accommodation package through Virgin Holidays early last month, however on our previous trips we've always booked flights and accommodation separately. I will do some price checking towards the end of the year when VS open for bookings through their website, however my gut feeling is that even before I consider USD currency fluctuations for the accommodation it will be more expensive to book separately had I left it. Either way, I'm glad we got our trip sorted when we did.

[Nostoodian]

How can you know if an aircraft is half full or not, months before flying? You cannot tell just by looking at the 'choose your seat' section'. The only way you could find out this information out is by asking an airline booking representative, and it's not certain that they would divulge this information in the first place. Many customers don't choose their seats until the 48 hour check in before the flight. A high proportion of customers don't use 48 hour check-in and are allocated their seats when checking in at the airport.

[zfw]

Well as there were no more Economy light bookings available and you are allowed to choose your seat for free at the time of booking i would guess this is pretty much an indication as to what is left, cannot see people not choosing their seats whilst booking.

[Scottie Dog]

Manchester Statistics - August 2019

Destinations that are either new (no passengers since my records started in January 2005), or have not been served for a number of years - if the latter then the month and year of the last service is shown.

No new routes

Million passenger routes (Rolling annual figures)
Amsterdam - 1,055,088 passengers

The following domestic statistics are missing from the CAA report for August.
Belfast City & London City have not reported for this month
In August 2018 these accounted for 27,904 passengers.

Moving monthly and annual figures - based on CAA statistics/MAG statistics
Monthly passengers - 3,336,826 + 5.79%
Annual Total – 14,523,228 + 5.41%
Moving Annual Total - 29,402,454 + 4.99%

Monthly Movements - 20,791 + 3.07%
Annual Movements – 95,690 +2.19%
Moving Annual Movements - 203,729 + 1.44%

Manchester Airport's August statistics

Top destinations with highest percentage increase.
https://i.ibb.co/4ThZj4c/Screenshot-381.png
Top 25 destinations - by passenger numbers
https://i.ibb.co/WD5YMDK/Screenshot-380.png

Figures for the European and long-haul destinations that I consider to be the main points for our connecting traffic.
https://i.ibb.co/v1WmVQp/Screenshot-382.png
Istanbul figures are affected by the start of the Pegasus service to Sabiha Gokcen airport which I now show separately.

Comparison of top 25 destinations - August 2009 versus August 2019
https://i.ibb.co/5KxBmp2/Screenshot-383.png

Major changes to Domestic traffic
https://i.ibb.co/cLwqdgQ/Screenshot-384.png
CAA statistics for August are provisional.

[DUB19]

Manchester Statistics - August 2019

Destinations that are either new (no passengers since my records started in January 2005), or have not been served for a number of years - if the latter then the month and year of the last service is shown.

No new routes

Million passenger routes (Rolling annual figures)
Amsterdam - 1,055,088 passengers

The following domestic statistics are missing from the CAA report for August.
Belfast City & London City have not reported for this month
In August 2018 these accounted for 27,904 passengers.

Moving monthly and annual figures - based on CAA statistics/MAG statistics
Monthly passengers - 3,336,826 + 5.79%
Annual Total – 14,523,228 + 5.41%
Moving Annual Total - 29,402,454 + 4.99%

Monthly Movements - 20,791 + 3.07%
Annual Movements – 95,690 +2.19%
Moving Annual Movements - 203,729 + 1.44%

Manchester Airport's August statistics

Top destinations with highest percentage increase.
https://i.ibb.co/4ThZj4c/Screenshot-381.png
Top 25 destinations - by passenger numbers
https://i.ibb.co/WD5YMDK/Screenshot-380.png

Figures for the European and long-haul destinations that I consider to be the main points for our connecting traffic.
https://i.ibb.co/v1WmVQp/Screenshot-382.png
Istanbul figures are affected by the start of the Pegasus service to Sabiha Gokcen airport which I now show separately.

Comparison of top 25 destinations - August 2009 versus August 2019
https://i.ibb.co/5KxBmp2/Screenshot-383.png

Major changes to Domestic traffic
https://i.ibb.co/cLwqdgQ/Screenshot-384.png
CAA statistics for August are provisional.

Load factors analysis on certain routes
https://i.ibb.co/v3mxTY7/Screenshot-385.png
Calculations are based of FlightRadar24 for days of flight operation, Planespotter.net for Seat Plans and CAA data for monthly figures.
some of the LFs aren’t great, such as Singapore Airlines and Saudia,Unless the yields are strong

[CabinCrewe]

some of the LFs aren’t great, such as Singapore Airlines and Saudia,Unless the yields are strong
Oooft! not great. IAH, Iraq, Ethiopian, Saudia all pretty dire. They surely can't be sustainable. Doubt anyone believes they're being bolstered by yields.

[eggc]

MAN doesnt get 100% of the a/c to IAH, SIN or ADD, all are shared with SIN, IAH or BRU. Fares to Iraq are sky high and SV will be probably mostly be used by business, so I'd suggest yeilds aint that bad.

[Scottie Dog]

Oooft! not great. IAH, Iraq, Ethiopian, Saudia all pretty dire. They surely can't be sustainable. Doubt anyone believes they're being bolstered by yields.

You have to remember that both IAH & ADD are split loads. What I don't know is what the split is for Manchester? Does MAN have 50pc, 30pc of the seats allocated to them - I don't know. Remember the flown seats are presumably the uplift at MAN and therefore the load-factor might need adjusting accordingly.
With regards to BGW & JED yes, i would agree but I understand that IA are able to charge high fares which should, if true, give a reasonable yield on a lowish load. What freight does SV carry - a good cargo figure could offset a lower passenger number.
These are only my thoughts as a non-airport person.

[chaps1954]

I was told that ETH only allocated 30% of seats to Manchester but has a good uplift of cargo, there are due to be quite a few B772 this winter so guess all OK ( ps someone I know said loads out of Brussels are very high)

[Mr Good Cat]

Quick question:

The terminal extension was planned to be open by summer next year but now hearing from MAN-based colleagues that it has been delayed until autumn as it’s six months behind schedule.

Is this official? Not seen anything in the aviation press but maybe it’s appeared in the local papers?

[Rutan16]

You have to remember that both IAH & ADD are split loads. What I don't know is what the split is for Manchester? Does MAN have 50pc, 30pc of the seats allocated to them - I don't know. Remember the flown seats are presumably the uplift at MAN and therefore the load-factor might need adjusting accordingly.
With regards to BGW & JED yes, i would agree but I understand that IA are able to charge high fares which should, if true, give a reasonable yield on a lowish load. What freight does SV carry - a good cargo figure could offset a lower passenger number.
These are only my thoughts as a non-airport person.

Both the Iraqi and Saudia flight have huge subsidies (block booking and guaranteed revenue) from BAe Systems and certain other government and private security agencies that shall remain nameless (quite number coming from places rather close to Telford, in North Wales and around Warrington). And some pilgrim traffic to boot - Yes even the Iraqi flight carries a number of Shia pilgrims going to Najaf.
Singapore ship a magnitude of boxes both west and east ! and the available seats available for Manchester varies. Revenue targets and yield more than adequate one would have thought

Ethiopian only one of any concern , however again loads of boxes going in the belly and some home office support in bolstering the cabin from time to time , along with NGOs . They need to address the backfill through with those paying customers with their African connection advantages .
If they cant do that it tells us all how weak sub Saharan traffic demand from the North of England is in reality.

[Betablockeruk]

Biman now bookable on website. 3 weekly with 788 from 4th Jan

[Matty Rich 83]

Quick question:

The terminal extension was planned to be open by summer next year but now hearing from MAN-based colleagues that it has been delayed until autumn as it’s six months behind schedule.

Is this official? Not seen anything in the aviation press but maybe it’s appeared in the local papers?

Not heard anything myself but from what I have seen via the many photos it looks on schedule. Summer 2020 is the opening which I suppose could be anytime until September next year

[Scottie Dog]

I had it in my mind that April had been quoted previously.

[eggc]

It was April, but it wont be April.

[Ex Cargo Clown]

SQ an ET are distorted as we've already established.

SV is a strange route as it's sort of seasonable with the Hadj.

Sep/Oct figures will just look very weird with TCX etc.

[Nostoodian]

SQ an ET are distorted as we've already established.

SV is a strange route as it's sort of seasonable with the Hadj.

Sep/Oct figures will just look very weird with TCX etc.
In the next couple of years as Saudi Arabia relaxes its visa regulations and opens up to mass tourism, the Saudi route may well see an increase in loads.

[back to Boeing]

It was April, but it wont be April.

Depends which April!!

[CabinCrewe]

In the next couple of years as Saudi Arabia relaxes its visa regulations and opens up to mass tourism, the Saudi route may well see an increase in loads.
That route cant last til' then surely with those loads?

[Nostoodian]

That route cant last til' then surely with those loads?

The loads have been worse than this in the past and the route is still going. Heavily subsided by the Saudi Government and plenty of cargo in the belly obviously making it a viable route.

[Rutan16]

That route cant last til' then surely with those loads?






Why again it’s massively subsided by BAE Systems both mid cabin and in the belly .Yield is adequate.

Tickets at the back are cream but ain’t cheap most of the time

Please stop applying pure capitalist profit loss and bums on seats methods- they are irrelevant here and In the case of the weekly Iraqi service

[CabinCrewe]

Why again it’s massively subsided by BAE Systems both mid cabin and in the belly .Yield is adequate.

Tickets at the back are cream but ain’t cheap most of the time

Please stop applying pure capitalist profit loss and bums on seats methods- they are irrelevant here and In the case of the weekly Iraqi service
Experience suggests otherwise. There is a sweetspot and this aint it. We'll see what remains in a year or two...
Meanwhile, BE MAN-GLA gone.

[Rutan16]

You don’t know what that sweet spot is or indeed the depth of the BAE Systems contract I have an idea on the boxes alone !

There Heathrow flights rarerly touch much over 60% cabin loads either.

Saudia go where the family and BIG business want them to and let me the you BAE Systems are HUGELY important to the Saudi’s . That freight is their very life line I can tell you. Oh and yes they’re projecting the Saudi Whiabi ”message” at the same time

These flights are part of the reason you no longer see to many 4 and 12th squadron Hercs these days!

[Rutan16]

Yes another for Loganair to pick up I suppose !
Running away from the TPE upgrades .

The remodelling of Flybe is taking shape rather quickly .

Also note they have /are suspending Flights from Heathrow to the Isle of Man as well.

Lots from Birmingham some slated for return in spring but we will see as well as the various peripheral stations .

Gotta get down to that 60 frame figure somehow pay the bills and turn the corner for the new investors
( THOSE NONE AIRLINE GUYS AT CYRUS WILL WANT THEIR CASH BACK WITH INTEREST RATHER QUICKLY )

Certainly not in it for the longer term if you ask me .

[MANFOD]

Rutan16, you sound quite informed about the Saudi flights which have been going for several years now at MAN.
I think you'll find CabinCrewe prefers to post negative comments about MAN, rather than any good news about new routes or decent load factors.

What struck me about Scottie's excellent stats were the exceptional loads experienced by the likes of United on their B764, and, despite the current troubles in Hong Kong, 88% achieved by CX. Yes, we don't have specific data about revenue and yields, and there will be seasonal variations, but it never looks to me as if fares are particularly cheap, and if seat plans are anything to go by the premium sections are often well patronised. The high loads on SFO and LAX suggest there is scope for VS to reintroduce SFO and expand their services at least on a seasonal basis.

As for flybe, I did notice that from November, flights to Glasgow are shown as 1 stop via Southampton, which is rather absurd. We wait to see how the flybe / Virgin / Connect operation develops.

[Rutan16]

Mafold yes cabin crew is pretty consistent . A chap/chap’es of the cup /glass half empty persuasion and not just on the Manchester thread .Try the Edinburgh threads as well.

Still it’s worth it to me to a least here a differing none toading opinion from time to time.

Saudi - Very close relative with connections !

My own business is more in the elevator travelator industries actually.

[Scottie Dog]

It would seem that my well intentioned attempt at providing a synopsis of load factors has created quite a discussion on the pros and cons of the viability of certain routes.

The majority of these comments have been rather negative and, in all honesty, seem to be made by forum members who only look at the basic numbers. They appear to have no knowledge what so ever of the routes being debated - such as Houston being shared with Singapore origination traffic and Addis Ababa being split with Brussels. The base figures for both Baghdad and Jeddah appear low but again, with the exception of a couple of sensible posts, no thought has been given to fares changed - these are not low cost carrier routes.

I have decided that in future when posting my monthly analysis, which I do hope you find to be of interest, I will exclude my attempt at checking load factors. If anyone is really interest I'm more than happy to supply them "off forum" so please send me a PM.

Scottie Dog

[OltonPete]

Yes another for Loganair to pick up I suppose !
Running away from the TPE upgrades .

The remodelling of Flybe is taking shape rather quickly .

Also note they have /are suspending Flights from Heathrow to the Isle of Man as well.

Lots from Birmingham some slated for return in spring but we will see as well as the various peripheral stations .

Gotta get down to that 60 frame figure somehow pay the bills and turn the corner for the new investors
( THOSE NONE AIRLINE GUYS AT CYRUS WILL WANT THEIR CASH BACK WITH INTEREST RATHER QUICKLY )

Certainly not in it for the longer term if you ask me .

Flybe

This probably should be on the Flybe thread but the route structure of the "old" Flybe is already below 60 frames and could it be some early termination of leases otherwise a lot of aircraft sitting around.

I make it 55 departures on Monday morning and for winter after this latest cut, the requirement is for around 46 aircraft based on their own website and it will be 44 by the time the Isle of Man base reverts to the ATR. I might have missed one or two but as you say it is now happening fast.

Here ay BHX we are not holding our breath for the return of Milan, Lyon and Berlin in late February/early March although TUI are still selling Flybe Milan Wednesday and Saturday in summer.

Pete

[4runner]

What’s wrong with this airport and Brits? I just did a Thomas Cooke rescue flight, to repatriate Brits. We were at a gate for 4 hours and weren’t allowed into the terminal. We didn’t have “prior permission” from the “authorities”. We can land a wide body, but can’t come into the terminal? Ridiculous. Sorry state of affairs.

[VickersVicount]

What’s wrong with this airport and Brits? I just did a Thomas Cooke rescue flight, to repatriate Brits. We were at a gate for 4 hours and weren’t allowed into the terminal. We didn’t have “prior permission” from the “authorities”. We can land a wide body, but can’t come into the terminal? Ridiculous. Sorry state of affairs.
And did your airline have the correct 'prior permission' from the 'authorities' ?

[Albert Hall]

By virtue of the operation itself being conducted on behalf of the Government, you’d think so.

[The96er]

What’s wrong with this airport and Brits? I just did a Thomas Cooke rescue flight, to repatriate Brits. We were at a gate for 4 hours and weren’t allowed into the terminal. We didn’t have “prior permission” from the “authorities”. We can land a wide body, but can’t come into the terminal? Ridiculous. Sorry state of affairs.

I'm afraid it's the way MAN interpret the rulings on Security in that if you haven't been screened to U.K standards, then you will not be allowed to mix with outbound passengers. MAN extends this ruling to include Flight crew too and make no exceptions.

[Albert Hall]

...which just highlights yet more Man-only silly rules. You can land as a crew member from outside the U.K. and fly the same aircraft back out again over U.K. cities and through U.K. airspace without a security check. Want to go to WH Smith to buy a Toblerone on the turnaround in MAN as a crew member and you’re instantly a high security risk.

It really is about time someone got a grip on this lunacy. It seems to be only MAG who have the problem, although even EMA was a lot better when I last used it.

[4runner]

And did your airline have the correct 'prior permission' from the 'authorities' ?

nope. Showed up with a N registered 767 and just smiled with cowboy boots on. I said “ya’ll” and even got to use this weird radio that sounded like static all the way across “the pond”. Spoke to some nice Irish lady too. I asked for her Facebook details and she told me to “bugger off” before I turned off the scratchy radio. Imagine, all I wanted was Manchester United Jersey, signed by the whole team from the gift store and something they call beef Wellington from the airport cafe. Oh well, maybe next time they let me out of american airspace...

[skerry]

Certainly not just MAN, LGW is the same, and I assume that the same rules apply across the whole of the UK. If you arrive on an international flight then if you disembark you must clear immigration and customs, unless you were operating crew and did not embark or disembark abroad.
​​​​​​

[Curious Pax]

They probably didn’t want you falling asleep on a bench in the terminal! Long old duty overnight Orlando to MAN, 4 hours on the deck, then over to Baltimore!

[4runner]

With a new crew that couldn’t get through security because their badge wasn’t on the master list. I was horizontal in the bunk at that point. Keep the mashed peas for the next guy.

[irishlad06]

A lot of the repat flights are positioning out today along with GTCDL TCX A321 to Zagreb and GCHTZ A332 to NQY




https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/920x2000/c22ffa0b_250f_480f_89f9_53e6337ca041_13304e98a7712a09452e40e 7c5a5813325f39ffa.png

[Betablockeruk]

That's a lot of pax for Newquay?

[Scottie Dog]

That's a lot of pax for Newquay?

The airport App does have glitches like this!! Certainly makes for interesting statistics if you believed it every time 😏

[Seljuk22]

CH Aviation reporting Bangladesh Biman are to receive four 788's and Manchester will start later in the year.

Is this a credible report?

No doubt there is a market for such a route.
Here we go in 2020:
Dhaka – Manchester – Sylhet – Dhaka eff 04JAN20 3 weekly 787-8. Manchester last served until October 2012
BG007 DAC1230 – 1800MAN 267
BG208 MAN2000 – 1200+1ZYL1300+1 – 1340+1DAC 788 267
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/286708/biman-bangladesh-adds-madinah-manchester-service-in-w19/

[VickersVicount]

Not a service I'd particularly like to frequent, but exotic none the less. 3x weekly 787 prob about right. Surprised was last serviced in 2012.

[750XL]

The fallout from Thomas Cook continues.

Ground handling agents Aviator are to close the MAN station on 22nd October.