Jet2

[baldyman26]

You have hit the nail on the head Danairamb, I have said countless times before, LPL management seem happy with what they have, and are in no hurry, if any to encourage new airlines to our airport. And besides I don't think the current arrivals hall can cope anyway with any additional traffic, but we are in the hands of our big 2 who can call all the shots and get what they want. LPL will suffer if something isn't done, this bubble will burst one day.

[charlie]

I agree baldyman26 LPL will suffer if we accept that everything is ok lets not rock the boat is i feel what the management team seems to be saying.They need to be out there bringing airlines into LPL,the more the better,competition can only be better if only to kick the big two,if we dont act then i believe MAN will cream off most of what we have with inducements to go there

[vanguard]

I also agree with baldyman26 just having two airlines based here doing a lot of routes is not a good thing,the people at the top of V A S must do more to attract more airlines with more destinations,you only have to look how many (LJLA) has to Germany, count on one hand comes to mind. It only takes someone to say the wrong thing for what ever reason and you (LJLA) could loose 50% of its business, more airlines the better and safer it would be for all.

Vanguard.

[steh]

I visited the Daily Post website yesterday and there was a huge banner for Jet 2 at the top advertising 30 routes from Manchester, also a plane flying across the screen that stopped you reading the news so drawing attention further. Wouldn't surprise me if Manchester Airport are subsidising these ads, saddening as well is that one of our two local newspapers takes the ads for a rival airport.

[maverick]

CEO, Mr Richmond, said recently at a FOLA meeting that he was more interested in making the airport profitable rather than just growing it.

[delta154]

May 27, 2011 8:56:14 GMT 1 steh said:

Wouldn't surprise me if Manchester Airport are subsidising these ads, saddening as well is that one of our two local newspapers takes the ads for a rival airport.

Unfortunatly, this is the way business works. MAN will be paying for the jet2 adverts to gain extra business, then, the local papers will be happy to take a chunk of money for an advert, as it helps fund them.
Also, it has worked the other way in the past, Ive remembered ryanair and easyjet ads in Manchester years ago advertising Liverpool services, long before MAN was an easyjet base and back when Ryanair just operated MAN-DUB.
Also, easyjet ran a bus service from MAN-LPL to gain the Manc passengers, so, its not all one sided.

[paravion]

Ryanair advertise in the Manchester Evening news most nights , but when you read the smallprint flights are from Liverpool..

Brian...

[Biggles]

Not sure how an airport can become "Profitable" if it does not grow, other than by taking more money from its current main users (RYR-EZY-WIZ). Increasing for Ryr would be tantamount to suicide with MOL I suspect as he would just probably pull out unless his needs where met. I said long ago putting all the eggs in one basket was not a good idea, that as usual when a slight hint of criticism gets directed towards LPJL management results in some members having a verbal hissy fit. Seems now a few more think the same as me.

[LPL]

So then whats the solution?

[delta154]

Well, LPL growing the way it has means its now stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Yes, the growth is good while the operators are kept sweet, but if they are not, then its good night Vienna.
Thing is, having airlines like Ryanair means low fees, raise them and they pull out. If they pull out, its bad news, but, low fees also mean bad news too as little to claw back profit.

Bring in another airline, then the exsisting carriers increase competition and make routes unviable (Take MAN-MAD as an example. There was IB, then BA wanted a piece of the pie, then WW, then Jet2, then Monarch, and then the route became too low yielding, routes were pulled and its taken the best part of 5-6 years to get it back).

So, there is no easy solution, and it begs a question how long this can go on?

[ezs942]

Myself, I like having Low cost airlines at Liverpool... easyJet - Ryanair.. i use them a lot, hopefully for many years to come. It would be nice to get BMI Baby, Jet 2, and any other UK or foreign Low Cost airline in. As i think this is the future for LJLA...

It would be nice to have the 'Big boys' using LPL But in my opinion, unless LJLA increase the runway length to accomodate larger Aircraft, and improve the terminal / apron to accomodate larger aircraft / passenger numbers, do away with the Porta cabins, improve the shabby immigration and baggage reclaim area, and may be put in a proper rail link to the actual building, the Big boys wont play game.

Its unfortunate that Manchester is so close, and so easy to get to from a Merseyside / Northwest point of view, and is so well established with the major airlines of the world.

I guess in the eyes of the Major Airlines, the 30 mile gap between Manchester and Liverpool (5 minute flight time) - Its not worth the effort of moving any aircraft and related services to little old Liverpool, Unless there is a major re vamp.. i.e the 'masterplan' of which i am begining to think that it is just fantasy island.

i dont think LJLA stands a chance of getting anything more than Low Cost airlines. We will do well to keep the KLM link. Lets make the most of what we have and keep them happy. Use it or lose it..!

I await the firing squad.

[delta154]

It would be nice to have the 'Big boys' using LPL But in my opinion, unless LJLA increase the runway length to accomodate larger Aircraft, and improve the terminal / apron to accomodate larger aircraft / passenger numbers, do away with the Porta cabins, improve the shabby immigration and baggage reclaim area, and may be put in a proper rail link to the actual building, the Big boys wont play game

The problem with that idea too, is that the 'big boys' are entrenched at MAN, some with lounges, some with dedicated gates, some with maintence facilities and so on, so, unless LPL offered £0 landing fees to everybody, or, even more, pay for airlines to use LPL even with the infrastructure improvements means a move is unlikely, there is just no major incentive. Then, by offering £0 fees or paid for fees, thats no way to run a business and youll be to the wall quicker than you can say 'boo', and hey presto everything will be back at MAN anywyay.

It would be nice to get BMI Baby, Jet 2, and any other UK or foreign Low Cost airline in

bmi baby have just announced a retrenchement to the midlands/Belfast, so thats unlikely. With jet2, the MAN base is a major obstacle, which is still expanding. The only hope for them would be a closure of the BLK base, with a move of those resources to LPL.
Vueling is part owned by Iberia, so, with that in mind any north west flights by them may well end up being MAN with the other oneworld carriers. Germanwings is owned by Lufthansa, who are huge at MAN, and also with a cologne route from MAN, Germanwings are likely to expand there. Air Berlin is the same as Germanwings, in being its a oneworld carrier with a presence at MAN already.

Im sure Wizz could expand further from LPL. They have done well at fellow VAS airport Doncaster, and KLM will continue on the connections. Other than that, the future is orang, blue and purple!

[Biggles]

942, I probably agree with nearly all of your points, since the time has now passed for any major or foreign airline to get a foot-hold at LPJL, mainly due to the lethargy of management over the past years and them allowing the place to look run down. Just because the place is a LC centre why can`t it still retain some eye appeal to its users, congestion, delays, dirt and temporary buildings are not appealing to anyone especially foreign visitors. Remembering that Liverpool City and its attractions still get thousands visiting, and if as is envisaged the Cruise Terminal gets going properly LPJL will need to look far better than it does now.
It would be nice to think that the young spotters today will not end up like me and many other elders who have seen LPJL talk and promise extensions and bog plans for many, many decades only to arrive at what we have today a low cost centre which is not up 21c expectations of travellers. I will now stand alongside 942 without a blindfold.

[charlie]

Make do and mend seems to be the philosophy of those who operate LPL instead of having THE best of THE best in regional airports we seem to want to drag feet,dirt,rubbish,porta cabins not a recommendation to visitors to these shores,why do we find ourselves in this position,i cannot see other airlines coming here while these problems exist,LPL needs to take some pride in itself and management needs to ensure that contracts are being honoured,that cleaning is being done properly and not haphazard,that building works are not left in squalor,until the basics are corrected then we will always be the nearly men of airports

[cessfly]

As bad as it may seem I just dont see LPL growing to be much more.

By most accounts Jet2 aren't interested in LPL and EZY and FR have done an amazing job of getting local peole to use the airport with KLM getting the business passengers.
I would like to know where people think extra growth will come from. Whoever thought extra profit comes from more airlines is sadly misguided.