Archive Route Development & Rumours

[RhysTheBeast]

When User001 left this forum he made a personal request that I did use his material from other forums - and that wish has been kept to.

There have however now been a number of posts elsewhere mentioning the possibility of Thai appearing as a new carrier (despite having been rumoured for more than a decade) from this winter. There is also a possibility of further routes being announced.

Let's hope that these potential new routes come to fruition. If and when I have further news I'll pass it on.

Suvarnabhumi (Suwannapoom) would be a fantastic addition to MAN's portfolio, with connections throughout SE Asia. Let's hope this comes to fruition. I, for one, would be using this route on a regular basis.

 

[Scottie Dog]

VLM to start Ostend and Antwerp in October.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2019964-vlm-launch-two-new-routes-manchester

 

[Silvercity]

VLM to start Ostend and Antwerp in October.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2019964-vlm-launch-two-new-routes-manchester

Antwerp is a very nice city to visit, not sure how popular Ostend will be.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Ostend has very nice beaches

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Oostende Airport serves the nearby city of Bruges / Brugge as well. A top short-break destination. And I can recommend the Belgian coastline in its own right. Great destination.

 

[Land23R]

Is it the same Ostend airport that Laker flew to on a Sat. morning in summer on a 1-11 decades ago. For those well read, or just long in the tooth like me!

 

[Silvercity]

Is it the same Ostend airport that Laker flew to on a Sat. morning in summer on a 1-11 decades ago. For those well read, or just long in the tooth like me!

Sabena used to fly a Beechcraft from there to Heathrow I went on it . Also Ryanair flew there for a period but it didn't prove popular, but I don't remember where from

 

[ethanegcc]

Antwerp is a very nice city to visit, not sure how popular Ostend will be.

Just been to Antwerp and I second that - brilliant city.

Bruges is also extremely popular and notoriously hard to get to by plane but marketing will be needed to raise awareness.

A great day for MAN; five new routes!

 

[EGCC_MAN]

That Ryanair service operated from Stansted - I believe it used the BAe 146's inherited from Buzz following the takeover. The route wasn't viable, as the SE is well-connected via the Channel Tunnel. Journey time from there to Oostende is short.

 

[Silvercity]

Just been to Antwerp and I second that - brilliant city.

Bruges is also extremely popular and notoriously hard to get to by plane but marketing will be needed to raise awareness.

A great day for MAN; five new routes!

Yes Bruges is nice too...in fact Belgium has a lot to offer for a small country. It does have an excellent rail network so getting to visit places is easy.

 

[Philbky]

For many years in the 1960s SABENA had a summer Sundays only service to Ostend. When they withdrew Britannia took over using Britannias and for one year, (1970 or 1971) operated B707s on the route.

 

[Silvercity]

For many years in the 1960s SABENA had a summer Sundays only service to Ostend. When they withdrew Britannia took over using Britannias and for one year, (1970 or 1971) operated B707s on the route.

I think the Belgium coast was quite a popular destination back then, I remember my boss in my first job when I was a travel agent saying the Belgium Coast was popular with no one really going to Spain etc in those days. There were quite a few cross channel flights to Ostend. Ironically Ostend Airport now is very involved with offering flights to the Med etc itself. Times change !

 

[Scottie Dog]

It's been a little quite in here for a while, however let's shout it out for new carrier ETHIOPIAN!!

Yes, it has been announced that ET are to commence a 4 times a week service to Addis Ababa commencing 1st December. The route will initially be routed via Brussels.

 

[David_itl]

Their website has been displaying MAN with no travel itinerary for about a week.... think it was the only city to not to have one.

 

[Borneobob]

The new service by Ethiopian is great news for a Monday morning. Would be nice to see Thai make a similar announcement.

 

[Coathanger16]

Could this be an option for MAN - TYO?

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...-airlines-confirms-launch-new-budget-airline/

Japan Airlines has confirmed plans to launch a new low-cost subsidiary serving medium- to long-haul international markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas starting in 2020.

 

[Land23R]

The new service by Ethiopian is great news for a Monday morning. Would be nice to see Thai make a similar announcement.

Agree about Ethiopian - good news indeed.

Thai would be nice but personally I would see an Indian route as a greater priority for MAN at this stage. From press comments, it's evidently high on their agenda.

 

[BlueManc]

Excellent news.

This was well kept under wraps, while we wait for the usual suspects i.e. Shanghai, Bangkok, Delhi and Mumbai.

 

[Coathanger16]

Could this spur Air China into finally launching Shanghai to MAN, or will it allow another airline such as Hainan to launch it?

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/china-to-ease-restrictions-on-long-haul-routes-448581/

 

[RhysTheBeast]

India and SE Asia access is key, the economic powerhouses of the future. The foundations are there with the direct flights to Singapore, Beijing, and Hong Kong. I would anticipate announcements of direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Shanghai. I will eat my hat if those do not materialise at some point. With new long-range aircraft coming onstream, the Emirates model becomes less attractive as passengers realise that they can fly directly to their destination.