MAN targets 8+ long-haul routes

I believe they also used to operate MAN-LAX and dropped the route due to poor loads.

The loads were decent enough (some 110,000 pax over the 18 months or so it operated), but the front-end of the plane may not have been overly-subscribed. But throw into the ring “the BA shuttle service” and the “hidden” encouragement by BA for the premium pax to go via LHR and you can see why it wasn’t destined to last; I believe the BHX-JFK was similarly handicapped when they changed it from 767s to 757s which probably affected cargo carrying capability which might be able to mitigate the lack of premium payers.

I can’t see BA starting any new long-haul services from MAN; they’re clearly London-biased. I believe they also used to operate MAN-LAX and dropped the route due to poor loads. Most likely US service imo would be United/BMI to SFO; some demand for point-to-point and UA hub offers good connections for Western USA ie. SEA/SAN/LAX/HNL etc.

It would be great to see SAA somewhere else here!

Well they had sucsess with it back in the 80s/90’s with their 747’s

Come on SAA, launch Manchester-Johannesburg it would be a great success! 😀

Flex 35

Indian Airlines is mainly a domestic carrier – they do have some international routes, mainly to South East Asia and the Middle East. They have no plans outside of that area.

I’m sure they applied to serve both BHX and MAN from December – I’ll see if I can find the relevant link. Wouldn’t be the 1st time Indian Airlines have been at MAN though, as those with “long memories” will remember!
_____

What I neglected to post last night was that the airport has quoted the annual number of passengers that reputed to be in MAN’s catchment area going to Bangkok and China on other airlines…they are are 100,000 and 35,000 respetively. Perhaps we could see a 3 weekly 744 from Thai and a weekly 744 from Air China?

David

8+ is quite optimistic when they dont even know who would be operating 3 of them. It would make perfect sence for bmi to start more long haul routes from MAN and increase there European/domestic flights to feed them but since when does the word sense and the name bmi come into the same sentence???

T
Air India/Air Sahara/Jet Airways to India (what happened to Indian Airlines and their plans?)
.

Indian Airlines is mainly a domestic carrier – they do have some international routes, mainly to South East Asia and the Middle East. They have no plans outside of that area.

The other Indian domestic carriers, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, and I think even Air Deccan and planning routes to North America and Europe.

I do hope you’ve not been at the sherry too, Elgan! 😮

Tehehe!
I think it was a mix of Corrie reappearing on ITV, and one weak cup of tea which did it!
Oh and a dodgy cordless keyboard 😀

I do hope you’ve not been at the sherry too, Elgan! 😮

All we can hope is this will happen, but as GRey say’s it might be just wishful thinking my the fat cats at MAPLC

Well, GA, we all know these are the “usual” suspects but Thai have previoulsy indicated their willingness to come to MAN from 2008 in one of the PR pieces a year or 2 back when outlining their expansion plans and SA are airline that did have MAN back in their plans a couple of years ago for a mid-to-long-term return; unfortunately, they keep managing to buy or negotiate extra slots at LHR and are a little bit reluctant to begin here.

VS is mentioned in dispatches (seeking futher Caribbean and US destinations with Las Vegas specifically named) and they also put the Barbados route in a press release recently; there is a suggestion that the Orlando run may be 10 weekly next summer and the Barbados service will run in the summer. However, they do blot their copybook by having their station manager quote the following about the Orlando service: “We have seen it grow from a summer season-only operation to seven days a week, year-round.”

Can anyone (apart from GA) spot what is wrong with that statement?

Tom I took your hat along time ago. If BA open those routes Ill eat it for you.

I’ll eat my hat if BA open any more long-haul routes outside of LHR/LGW! 😀

You’d have to imagine those new US routes would be operated by an already established at MAN, American operator? Not unless London Airways seeks a policy change.

Perhaps Virgin might look into them ?

I think you’ll agree that we’ve seen and heard most of these before, David.

Is there any reason to believe this is more than just wishful thinking on the part of “MAN Plc” this time around?

WOW! impresive.