Clive wrote: ↑Tue Mar 18, 2025 10:53 pm
As you’ve described, the only certainty is change. I do know for a fact that GLA were trying to get them to sign. Less factually but more anecdotally I think it was on the table when PIK won their 5 year deal. But that wasn’t a growth deal. There’s still hope for GLA because if we are correct, there is a market to be had here. If there isn’t we can forget everything
Let's say EDI has an FR deal until 2028/29 and PIK similar. When do you foresee FR opening a base here?
Whenever the new co secure their business. And we can be sure it’s a live conversation regardless of base numbers elsewhere. I’m sure you wouldn’t forgive the new bosses if they gave up on Ryanair until 2028/29, and rightly so.
You’d make a fabulous politician. Never a straight answer
How can FR have an exclusivity deal with EDI and/or PIK if they're starting GLA-MLA in a few weeks? And if it's easy to get airlines to sign such deals, why didn't GLA make the likes of EK and WJ sign one?
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:13 am
How can FR have an exclusivity deal with EDI and/or PIK if they're starting GLA-MLA in a few weeks? And if it's easy to get airlines to sign such deals, why didn't GLA make the likes of EK and WJ sign one?
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
None of us know if FR or any other airline has an ‘exclusivity’ deal with EDI or any other airport.
MLA is non based, they seem to add adhoc routes/frequencies with away based aircraft.
My point is, if there are exclusivity deals in place, FR may not be allowed to open a base at a competing airport if that’s what XYZ airport operator had negotiated with them.
Maybe GLA hasn’t had the foresight to tie EK down to such a clause in their contracts not to open up at neighbouring or competing airports.
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:13 am
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
The replacement for the bridge on 32 was always planned, however was constantly delayed due to ‘not enough money in the budget’ when other new and pointless projects where approved - same as replacement tyres for bridges 27-29 and the new canopies on central pier bridges. Hard to say for definite, however, it’s amazing how the space in the budget has been found since the new owners took over. The new bridge for 32 is currently sitting in a warehouse beside the firehouse. Also, money has been ‘found’ in the budget for creating pre boarding areas at gates on east pier [boarding pass scanned and in a segregated facility] to allow shorter boarding times for low cost carriers who, along with ground handlers, have been asking for this for years as due to the lack of preboard space a 25 minute turnaround on FR is near impossible, but enough preboard room is easily done.
The taxiways where meant to be resurfaced, widened and move a metre or two to increase wing tip clearance to make the airport fully compliant for a380 ops but the money also kept disappearing from the budget for that too. EK where keen on this as therefore when the second daily flight returns it could easily be upgraded to an A380 when loads allow.
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:13 am
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
The replacement for the bridge on 32 was always planned, however was constantly delayed due to ‘not enough money in the budget’ when other new and pointless projects where approved - same as replacement tyres for bridges 27-29 and the new canopies on central pier bridges. Hard to say for definite, however, it’s amazing how the space in the budget has been found since the new owners took over. The new bridge for 32 is currently sitting in a warehouse beside the firehouse. Also, money has been ‘found’ in the budget for creating pre boarding areas at gates on east pier [boarding pass scanned and in a segregated facility] to allow shorter boarding times for low cost carriers who, along with ground handlers, have been asking for this for years as due to the lack of preboard space a 25 minute turnaround on FR is near impossible, but enough preboard room is easily done.
The taxiways where meant to be resurfaced, widened and move a metre or two to increase wing tip clearance to make the airport fully compliant for a380 ops but the money also kept disappearing from the budget for that too. EK where keen on this as therefore when the second daily flight returns it could easily be upgraded to an A380 when loads allow.
Great info thanks. And sounding quite positive.
Ryanair will love the pre boarding area when they pitch up
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:13 am
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
The replacement for the bridge on 32 was always planned, however was constantly delayed due to ‘not enough money in the budget’ when other new and pointless projects where approved - same as replacement tyres for bridges 27-29 and the new canopies on central pier bridges. Hard to say for definite, however, it’s amazing how the space in the budget has been found since the new owners took over. The new bridge for 32 is currently sitting in a warehouse beside the firehouse. Also, money has been ‘found’ in the budget for creating pre boarding areas at gates on east pier [boarding pass scanned and in a segregated facility] to allow shorter boarding times for low cost carriers who, along with ground handlers, have been asking for this for years as due to the lack of preboard space a 25 minute turnaround on FR is near impossible, but enough preboard room is easily done.
The taxiways where meant to be resurfaced, widened and move a metre or two to increase wing tip clearance to make the airport fully compliant for a380 ops but the money also kept disappearing from the budget for that too. EK where keen on this as therefore when the second daily flight returns it could easily be upgraded to an A380 when loads allow.
Interesting to see that AviAlliance is in favour of pre-boarding areas as it is in stark contrast to VINCI who have instructed all airports owned by them to no longer develop pre-boarding facilities at their airports.
Hopefully the improvements in the boarding arangements are appreciated by loco carriers. Do all FR/EZY flights use the E pier - I think I've seen EZY ones on the Int/W pier?
The taxiways sound like a big job, I'm not sure the previous £8m of improvements for the EK A380 have necessarily paid off how we might have hoped, so it'll be interesting to see how that progresses.
It's good to hear things seem to be moving on the infrastructure front since the takeover, hopefully things are also moving forward wrt things like route development and transport connections.
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:13 am
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
The replacement for the bridge on 32 was always planned, however was constantly delayed due to ‘not enough money in the budget’ when other new and pointless projects where approved - same as replacement tyres for bridges 27-29 and the new canopies on central pier bridges. Hard to say for definite, however, it’s amazing how the space in the budget has been found since the new owners took over. The new bridge for 32 is currently sitting in a warehouse beside the firehouse. Also, money has been ‘found’ in the budget for creating pre boarding areas at gates on east pier [boarding pass scanned and in a segregated facility] to allow shorter boarding times for low cost carriers who, along with ground handlers, have been asking for this for years as due to the lack of preboard space a 25 minute turnaround on FR is near impossible, but enough preboard room is easily done.
The taxiways where meant to be resurfaced, widened and move a metre or two to increase wing tip clearance to make the airport fully compliant for a380 ops but the money also kept disappearing from the budget for that too. EK where keen on this as therefore when the second daily flight returns it could easily be upgraded to an A380 when loads allow.
Great info thanks. And sounding quite positive.
Ryanair will love the pre boarding area when they pitch up
Not just Ryanair. easyJet for the same reasons as Ryanair but also for the first wave performance - first pax on aircraft at STD-30 and gate closure at STD-20 giving only 10 minutes to get around 180 pax through a gate with no preboard space is impossible. KLM are prone to overselling especially during the summer. Often find that you get the aircraft boarded and loaded within turnaround times however end up running over as the gate then need to seat stand by passengers
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:41 pm
Hopefully the improvements in the boarding arangements are appreciated by loco carriers. Do all FR/EZY flights use the E pier - I think I've seen EZY ones on the Int/W pier?
The taxiways sound like a big job, I'm not sure the previous £8m of improvements for the EK A380 have necessarily paid off how we might have hoped, so it'll be interesting to see how that progresses.
It's good to hear things seem to be moving on the infrastructure front since the takeover, hopefully things are also moving forward wrt things like route development and transport connections.
Both easyJet and Ryanair will operate will all three piers. The FR Dub is almost always stand 9 or 5, if not it’s 6, 7 or 8. If they’re occupied then it’s any other stand in the airport. Stand 36 is the preferred stand on the international pier as inbound and outbound pax don’t cross paths so preboard is an option.
easyJet just the same will operate from anywhere. Typically all domestic arrivals come on east pier and all internationals are on intl, however international arrivals will go to east pier with pax bussed to arrivals if no space on the pier. easyJet will often send requests for hot spins - if they do its best to try get the aircraft on stands 3, 26 or 30L as they offer the most preboard space across the airport and preboarding can still start as inbound pax are disembarking regardless of activity on other stands.
As for the improvements that where put in place for EK, the airport did enough to be allowed the A380, but not enough to be fully licensed something that has caused a bit of a rift between GLA and EK which is slowly but surely going away. The second daily flight is something EK have always wanted to return as the A380 often has its hold space maxed out and cargo is lost to the likes of LH and BA, but, are only going to bring it back when the airport holds up its end of the bargain
Iain wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:13 am
It's good to hear that the airbridges are being fixed. I wonder if this is because of the new owners or if the work was alway going to be carried out on this schedule.
The replacement for the bridge on 32 was always planned, however was constantly delayed due to ‘not enough money in the budget’ when other new and pointless projects where approved - same as replacement tyres for bridges 27-29 and the new canopies on central pier bridges. Hard to say for definite, however, it’s amazing how the space in the budget has been found since the new owners took over. The new bridge for 32 is currently sitting in a warehouse beside the firehouse. Also, money has been ‘found’ in the budget for creating pre boarding areas at gates on east pier [boarding pass scanned and in a segregated facility] to allow shorter boarding times for low cost carriers who, along with ground handlers, have been asking for this for years as due to the lack of preboard space a 25 minute turnaround on FR is near impossible, but enough preboard room is easily done.
The taxiways where meant to be resurfaced, widened and move a metre or two to increase wing tip clearance to make the airport fully compliant for a380 ops but the money also kept disappearing from the budget for that too. EK where keen on this as therefore when the second daily flight returns it could easily be upgraded to an A380 when loads allow.
Interesting to see that AviAlliance is in favour of pre-boarding areas as it is in stark contrast to VINCI who have instructed all airports owned by them to no longer develop pre-boarding facilities at their airports.
That’s interesting. Without going into too much detail so I don’t name my employer, however probably easy to figure out. Pre-boarding areas where trialled a few weeks back on east pier in the gate 7 and 12 area and turnaround times where reduced by a bit more than 2-3, would have been closer to 8-9 minutes per turn, but then again that 2-3 minutes is an average and the improvement depends on the amount of space available to preboard before these areas where developed
won their 5 year deal. But that wasn’t a growth deal. There’s still hope for GLA because if we are correct, there is a market to be had here. If there isn’t we can forget everything