Manchester calls for lower taxes for regions

Post by ***@hotmail.com
Source: http://www.travelmole.com
Manchester Airport has launched a new campaign to persuade the
government to introduce lower air taxes for flights from regional
airports than from London.
Full Story
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1148041.php

I'll support that. :-)

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

ukoap@hotmail.com

2011-06-14 11:55:03 UTC

Post by ***@hotmail.com
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1148041.php

I'll support that. :-)

I don't think many would oppose it. :-)

William Black

2011-06-14 12:03:39 UTC

Post by ***@hotmail.com

Post by ***@hotmail.com
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1148041.php

I'll support that. :-)

I don't think many would oppose it. :-)

The people who fly from the London airports would, because their taxes
will undoubtedly go up.

That no UK major airline flies any long haul direct flights from any
English provincial airport really is a national scandal.

They could certainly fill an aircraft from Leeds/Bradford or Birmingham
or even Manchester to Pakistan and/or India every day.

You've only got to get on the shuttle flights to Heathrow to see that.

They just choose not to for reasons unknown...

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-14 12:30:29 UTC

Post by William Black
That no UK major airline flies any long haul direct flights from any
English provincial airport really is a national scandal.

How many major UK airlines are there??

Post by William Black
They could certainly fill an aircraft from Leeds/Bradford or Birmingham
or even Manchester to Pakistan and/or India every day.

A market for Pakistan/Indian based airlines then. There's quite a big
flow from regional airports like Birmingham to that area via Dubai
(which is also not much of a diversion).

Post by William Black
You've only got to get on the shuttle flights to Heathrow to see that.
They just choose not to for reasons unknown...

Because operating an additional hub for a handful of flights is very
expensive.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-14 12:52:51 UTC

Post by William Black
That no UK major airline flies any long haul direct flights from any
English provincial airport really is a national scandal.

How many major UK airlines are there??

Post by William Black
They could certainly fill an aircraft from Leeds/Bradford or
Birmingham or even Manchester to Pakistan and/or India every day.

A market for Pakistan/Indian based airlines then. There's quite a big
flow from regional airports like Birmingham to that area via Dubai
(which is also not much of a diversion).

It is if you've got a six hour stopover there.

I've spent enough time in Middle Eastern airports to know I don't really
want to do so again...

Post by William Black
You've only got to get on the shuttle flights to Heathrow to see that.
They just choose not to for reasons unknown...

Because operating an additional hub for a handful of flights is very
expensive.

They all already operate from most provincial airports already.

They just don't operate long haul flights from them.

What's the problem?

These places all operate the big wide-body jets for holiday charters so
the support infrastructure is in place.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-14 13:19:21 UTC

Post by William Black
That no UK major airline flies any long haul direct flights from any
English provincial airport really is a national scandal.

How many major UK airlines are there??

Post by William Black
They could certainly fill an aircraft from Leeds/Bradford or
Birmingham or even Manchester to Pakistan and/or India every day.

A market for Pakistan/Indian based airlines then. There's quite a big
flow from regional airports like Birmingham to that area via Dubai
(which is also not much of a diversion).

It is if you've got a six hour stopover there.

Balance that against the number of destinations available on the
sub-continent. But yes, the flights from UK tend to arrive "just too
late" to connect to their early morning outbound rush, but are you the
target market here?

Post by William Black
I've spent enough time in Middle Eastern airports to know I don't
really want to do so again...

Post by William Black
You've only got to get on the shuttle flights to Heathrow to see that.
They just choose not to for reasons unknown...

Because operating an additional hub for a handful of flights is very
expensive.

They all already operate from most provincial airports already.
They just don't operate long haul flights from them.
What's the problem?
These places all operate the big wide-body jets for holiday charters so
the support infrastructure is in place.

I'm not sure which airlines you are referring to. FlyBe long haul would
be quite a new business.

Yes, there are holiday charters (maybe one day per week) to many places,
but people subconsciously plan their holidays around that.

--
Roland Perry

tim....

2011-06-14 17:22:25 UTC

Post by William Black
That no UK major airline flies any long haul direct flights from any
English provincial airport really is a national scandal.

How many major UK airlines are there??

Post by William Black
They could certainly fill an aircraft from Leeds/Bradford or Birmingham or
even Manchester to Pakistan and/or India every day.

A market for Pakistan/Indian based airlines then. There's quite a big flow
from regional airports like Birmingham to that area via Dubai (which is
also not much of a diversion).

Post by William Black
You've only got to get on the shuttle flights to Heathrow to see that.
They just choose not to for reasons unknown...

Because operating an additional hub for a handful of flights is very
expensive.

If it was "foreign" operated it wouldn't be a hub, just a destination. Many
airlines have zero facilities at their destinations, they just sub contract
someone to provide the necessary services for a few hours

Roland Perry

2011-06-14 20:47:57 UTC

Post by William Black
That no UK major airline flies any long haul direct flights from any
English provincial airport really is a national scandal.

How many major UK airlines are there??

Post by William Black
They could certainly fill an aircraft from Leeds/Bradford or Birmingham or
even Manchester to Pakistan and/or India every day.

A market for Pakistan/Indian based airlines then. There's quite a big flow
from regional airports like Birmingham to that area via Dubai (which is
also not much of a diversion).

Post by William Black
You've only got to get on the shuttle flights to Heathrow to see that.
They just choose not to for reasons unknown...

Because operating an additional hub for a handful of flights is very
expensive.

That's right - and why I suggested a foreign airline was the solution
here.

--
Roland Perry

ukoap@hotmail.com

2011-06-14 21:46:29 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
How many major UK airlines are there??
A market for Pakistan/Indian based airlines then. There's quite a big
flow from regional airports like Birmingham to that area via Dubai
(which is also not much of a diversion).

UK airlines complain about Emirates but I don't see them competing
against them from UK regional s.

Roland Perry

2011-06-15 06:30:09 UTC

In message

Post by ***@hotmail.com

UK airlines complain about Emirates but I don't see them competing
against them from UK regional s.

What's there to complain about? The fact that Dubai is geographically a
better world-hub then Heathrow"! Sacrilege, but true. As I think every
Emirates route from the UK goes via Dubai, the "UK airlines" whoever
they are, can happily do direct long haul flights from Heathrow for the
masochists who appear to demand this. Emirates doesn't do short-haul, so
are no threat to the FlyBe's and low-costs.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-15 11:50:06 UTC

On 15/06/11 07:30, Roland Perry wrote:

the "UK airlines" whoever

Post by Roland Perry
they are, can happily do direct long haul flights from Heathrow for the
masochists who appear to demand this.

You enjoy hanging about in Dubai airport for six hours?

I don't.

The last time I was there you couldn't even get a seat it was so crammed
with people.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-15 13:25:44 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
the "UK airlines" whoever

Post by Roland Perry
they are, can happily do direct long haul flights from Heathrow for the
masochists who appear to demand this.

You enjoy hanging about in Dubai airport for six hours?

It's as good a place as anywhere. I'd only be hanging around the rest of
the day in a hotel at the far end. And the airport has better food (free
if business class or "Silver" status).

Post by Roland Perry
I don't.

We've established you probably aren't an expat on a journey home where
the odd hour or two doesn't make any difference, especially if it means
you can use airports hearer home (at both ends).

Post by Roland Perry
The last time I was there you couldn't even get a seat it was so
crammed with people.

I've seen it busy with lots of people sleeping on the floor. But never
so busy there were no seats (that's for economy class of course). The
new terminal (opened while I was on a week-long trip to Dubai in October
2008) is vast. Actually, I see from Wikipedia that it's the world's
largest building by square feet, at a shade under 13 million sq ft.
That's three times the size of both concourses at LHR T5 combined.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-15 21:13:43 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
We've established you probably aren't an expat on a journey home where
the odd hour or two doesn't make any difference, especially if it means
you can use airports hearer home (at both ends).

Actually you've established nothing.

Post by William Black
The last time I was there you couldn't even get a seat it was so
crammed with people.

I was last there in early 2009, it was packed, nowhere to sit,
dreadful coffee, rude staff, long queues in all the shops.

It is, as you say, better than Heathrow, but so's Kings Cross station...

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-16 07:23:08 UTC

Actually you've established nothing.

Sorry if you are an expat wanting to holiday back home, but your tone
(and previous postings) are much more indicative of a businessman.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-16 11:37:26 UTC

Actually you've established nothing.

Sorry if you are an expat wanting to holiday back home, but your tone
(and previous postings) are much more indicative of a businessman.

I'm neither.

I'm retired, live in the UK and spend a lot of time in India.

I spend far too much time at airports.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-16 12:03:20 UTC

Post by William Black
I'm retired, live in the UK and spend a lot of time in India.

Which route do you find best meets your requirements?

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-16 13:50:39 UTC

I'm retired, live in the UK and spend a lot of time in India.

Which route do you find best meets your requirements?

At the moment?

Manchester to Mumbai via Paris with Air France

I've tried Emirates, BMI, BA, Gulf and Virgin.

BMI stopped flying to Mumbai. They were the best I ever used and I
could fly from Leeds which is closer to where I live than Manchester or
Newcastle.

Virgin doesn't connect with any of the four provincial airports I can
get to easily. BA treated me as if I was some sort of pauper and a
possible criminal. The Middle Eastern airlines tended to drop me in
places I just didn't want to be for six to eight hours at a stretch and
wouldn't underwrite and expenses I might have incurred if I'd got caught
up in the volcano thing last year and got stuck at their hub.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-16 14:19:21 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Which route do you find best meets your requirements?

At the moment?
Manchester to Mumbai via Paris with Air France

Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-16 18:26:55 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Which route do you find best meets your requirements?

At the moment?
Manchester to Mumbai via Paris with Air France

Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.

I did look but nobody is offering them.

The only person who I know who got on that one was a lady who booked her
flight through a travel agent and flew from Humberside.

Now that really would suit me as it's less than 50 miles from where I live.

The Delta flight you connect to is actually on a refuelling stop.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-16 18:52:33 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.
I did look but nobody is offering them.

klm.com does, but the availability does seem less than via Paris and is
very sensitive from day to day.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-16 20:47:21 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.
I did look but nobody is offering them.

klm.com does, but the availability does seem less than via Paris and is
very sensitive from day to day.

As I said, it's an odd one, but as you can get a connection via
Humberside Airport I am interested in it, but haven't yet managed to get
a seat quote at any sort of reasonable price.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

tim....

2011-06-17 15:14:34 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Which route do you find best meets your requirements?

At the moment?
Manchester to Mumbai via Paris with Air France

Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.
I did look but nobody is offering them.
The only person who I know who got on that one was a lady who booked her
flight through a travel agent and flew from Humberside.
Now that really would suit me as it's less than 50 miles from where I live.
The Delta flight you connect to is actually on a refuelling stop.

One would hope that it's actually a "normal" stop, as in order for it to
allow pax to get on it at this point it must also have allowed some pax to
get off (as it certainly isn't going to fly half empty across the Atlantic
to pick them up!)

tim

William Black

2011-06-17 18:29:11 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Which route do you find best meets your requirements?

At the moment?
Manchester to Mumbai via Paris with Air France

Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.
I did look but nobody is offering them.
The only person who I know who got on that one was a lady who booked her
flight through a travel agent and flew from Humberside.
Now that really would suit me as it's less than 50 miles from where I live.
The Delta flight you connect to is actually on a refuelling stop.

Quite probably.

But you'd think Delta could sell enough tickets to both destinations to
fly separate aircraft to them both.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-17 18:43:17 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.
I did look but nobody is offering them.
The only person who I know who got on that one was a lady who booked her
flight through a travel agent and flew from Humberside.
Now that really would suit me as it's less than 50 miles from where I live.
The Delta flight you connect to is actually on a refuelling stop.

Quite probably.
But you'd think Delta could sell enough tickets to both destinations to
fly separate aircraft to them both.

A direct flight from USA to India would go over the Pacific, you'd have
thought, but Delta (and some others) send people on a 28hr trip via
Europe. American flies direct from Chicago in 14hrs.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-17 20:09:37 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
Have you considered KLM via Amsterdam? Although they say the longhaul
leg is flown by Delta, which is a bit odd.

Can't seem to get a seat on that.
I did look but nobody is offering them.
The only person who I know who got on that one was a lady who booked her
flight through a travel agent and flew from Humberside.
Now that really would suit me as it's less than 50 miles from where I live.
The Delta flight you connect to is actually on a refuelling stop.

Quite probably.
But you'd think Delta could sell enough tickets to both destinations
to fly separate aircraft to them both.

A direct flight from USA to India would go over the Pacific, you'd have
thought, but Delta (and some others) send people on a 28hr trip via
Europe. American flies direct from Chicago in 14hrs.

Air India flies via Paris.

I have no idea why.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-18 07:39:36 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
A direct flight from USA to India would go over the Pacific, you'd have
thought, but Delta (and some others) send people on a 28hr trip via
Europe. American flies direct from Chicago in 14hrs.

Air India flies via Paris.

CDG doesn't have any Air India flights at the moment.

Currently they have AI191 BOM-EWR (15h 50m) and direct flights to New
York & Chicago from Delhi. But the great circle route is via Scandinavia
and Greenland, not the Pacific as I first thought.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-18 10:58:11 UTC

Air India flies via Paris.

CDG doesn't have any Air India flights at the moment.

Ah, they did the last time a friend flew from New York to Mumbai with
them, which was about a year ago.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Roland Perry

2011-06-18 11:17:46 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
CDG doesn't have any Air India flights at the moment.

Ah, they did the last time a friend flew from New York to Mumbai with
them, which was about a year ago.

They don't seem to be flying that route at all. The current non-stop
flights are 15+hrs over Greenland using 777's. I wonder if these replace
earlier flights which had a refuelling stop halfway.

--
Roland Perry

William Black

2011-06-18 12:02:53 UTC

Post by Roland Perry
CDG doesn't have any Air India flights at the moment.

Ah, they did the last time a friend flew from New York to Mumbai with
them, which was about a year ago.

They don't seem to be flying that route at all. The current non-stop
flights are 15+hrs over Greenland using 777's. I wonder if these replace
earlier flights which had a refuelling stop halfway.

Almost certainly.

The halt in Paris was only a couple of hours.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

tim....

2011-06-14 17:19:34 UTC

Post by ***@hotmail.com