View Full Version : Pre-announcement of punctual flights
My last two easyJet flights have been punctual, and I received a message in each case 24 hours before departure saying they would be punctual.
When I worked at Heathrow years ago, we were just introducing a system called something like A-CDM which was mandated by the EU and was (IIRC) meant to consider every possible factor that might delay an aircraft and make a Europe-wide plan for every plane - and probably every airport worker and every ground vehicle - comfortably in advance. Is that what enables easyJet to know there will be no forseeable delays?
It's incredibly impressive.
DaveReidUK
1st Aug 2022, 15:14
Any airline that contacts passengers 24 hours in advance, to say that the flight will be departing on time, is asking for trouble. :O
My sentiments entirely, so it must be based on some pretty sound evidence.
blame my memory, or being at the far end of the communication chain (I'm happy to have got its name right).
Any airline that contacts passengers 24 hours in advance, to say that the flight will be departing on time, is asking for trouble. :O
Agreed, given anything from a last minute wheel change upwards could change timings this sounds like a marketing whizz.
SWBKCB
2nd Aug 2022, 07:23
Airport CDM (A-CDM) aims to improve the efficiency and resilience of airport operations by optimising the use of resources and improving the predictability of air traffic. It achieves this by encouraging the airport partners (airport operators, aircraft operators, ground handlers and ATC) and the Network Manager to work more transparently and collaboratively, exchanging relevant accurate and timely information. It focuses especially on aircraft turn-round and pre-departure processes.
It also allows the exchange of more accurate departure information, particularly target take-off times, with the European ATFCM network, leading to improved en-route and sectoral planning. For smaller airports, we also provide a more accessible alternative caller Advanced ATC tower concept.
https://www.eurocontrol.int/concept/airport-collaborative-decision-making
NineEighteen
2nd Aug 2022, 07:32
Marketing/customer relations based on statistical probability?
i.e. They know they have an abundance of aircraft and crew available so what can go wrong!? 😅
Agree that it’s asking for trouble! 😁
dixi188
2nd Aug 2022, 10:51
I wonder if it is because they have been cancelling a lot of flights. By telling pax the flight will be on time, they mean it is still in the schedule and not cancelled.
Dave Gittins
2nd Aug 2022, 12:37
They are not telling you it will be on time, they are saying they are PLANNING for it to be on time and at the second they wrote the message did not know of anything to delay it. The reality is that about 1001 things can change.
BTW what do you consider as being "on time", pushing back ? getting airborne ? or being within 30 minutes of one of those ?
Musket90
2nd Aug 2022, 19:29
They are not telling you it will be on time, they are saying they are PLANNING for it to be on time and at the second they wrote the message did not know of anything to delay it. The reality is that about 1001 things can change.
BTW what do you consider as being "on time", pushing back ? getting airborne ? or being within 30 minutes of one of those ?
The published scheduled times are pushback from stand and arrival on stand. It does not include taxi times and holding in a queue for take-off which at busier airports during peak times can be anything up to 20 or 30 minutes. Some airlines deliberately publish scheduled times for departure and arrivals well in excess of the flying and taxi times it actually takes in practice which I suppose improves their punctuality statistics !
DaveReidUK
2nd Aug 2022, 20:18
The published scheduled times are pushback from stand and arrival on stand. It does not include taxi times and holding in a queue for take-off which at busier airports during peak times can be anything up to 20 or 30 minutes. Some airlines deliberately publish scheduled times for departure and arrivals well in excess of the flying and taxi times it actually takes in practice which I suppose improves their punctuality statistics !
And, depending on the airline, a departure within 15 minutes, or sometimes even 30, of STD may still be classed as "on time".
longer ron
2nd Aug 2022, 21:45
The other thing with Easy is that they usually would close the gate at the scheduled time - I used to fly out of brizzle regularly with Ezyjet and sometimes the gate would be closed and we are all waiting in the comfy stand up 'Lounge' but the Aircraft hasn't arrived yet :)
Woe betide anybody checking in late LOL - ''The gate is closed sir'' - 'but it hasn't arrived yet !' - ''the gate is closed sir ! ''