Don’t you dare patronise me!!! 😡

I’m not quite sure what that means mate, I’m not trying to patronise you. I work in the industry, and deal with airports and airlines. It is simply the case that airlines don’t always operate what are or have previously been profitable routes.

If the profit is there to be made, then someone will exploit it.

Basic Economics.

Yes, you’re right…basic economics. My degree dissertation was an economics topic on contestable markets! BUT this isn’t the case, airlines don’t necessarily work in this way, I’m sorry Grey Area, but it is the real world of airlines we’re talking about here, not textbook economics. As I have pointed out if an airline can use its resources to make more profit elsewhere then they will, they are numerous reasons why airlines don’t take on routes.

All of this is 100% true but so long as there is money to be earned on long-haul from MAN, someone will step in to fill the vacuum.

That’s the way the market works.

That unfortunately is not the way the market works…..many routes which could sustain a good load factor, and reasonable profits are not served because of a number of reasons, such as the routes not fitting their business case, better use of aircraft resources elsewhere (ie where a more profitable route can be operated, normally where yields are generally higher).

I deal with route forecasting and unfortunately I know plenty or routes that an airline won’t start.

Who knows what the future holds but I doubt this is the case. BMI have done more for long-haul at Manchester than anyone else in recent years, and what’s more, they’ve done it successfully. I don’t see any evidence that the sucess won’t continue.

I think it is fairly safe to assume bmi will drop most (if not all) US routes from MAN should they receive rights to fly from LHR. The A330s were originally ordered in the hope that they may eventually be redeployed to LHR. I expect bmi will be as happy as BA to feed transatlantic traffic in from MAN rather than offer it direct!

Who knows what the future holds but I doubt this is the case. BMI have done more for long-haul at Manchester than anyone else in recent years, and what’s more, they’ve done it successfully. I don’t see any evidence that the sucess won’t continue.

PIA have been a major force in long haul for MAN as well, and are considered a VERY important customer of the airport!

:EDIT: The aircraft will operate in a two-class configuration of business (10) and economy (167).

Isn’t that what I said in my post??? (Albeit it in my rush to type I spelt business wrong)