Manchester - Bangkok Direct?

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The word at Manchester airport at the moment is that a direct charter to Bangkok will start operations on 4 Mar 2004 - probably AV8Air, a Manchester-based charter company.

 

There have also been several Taiwanese doing the rounds at MAplc (China Airlines already has cargo flights into the airport) and rumours are rife about another scheduled far-east service coming on-line in the first half of 2004.  Fingers crossed it will have a stop in BKK since KL and Singapore are already served by their national carriers.

 

Qatar airlines will also be going head-to-head with Emirates by introducing daily flights via Doha from 5 April - hopefully the extra capacity will drive prices down for a couple of months.

 

I'll post any more info as it comes online.

 

Tom

[Crackpot 2]

The word at Manchester airport at the moment is that a direct charter to Bangkok will start operations on 4 Mar 2004 - probably AV8Air, a Manchester-based charter company.

 

Tom

 

I wish I had a pound for every story I heard about a Charter flight from the UK to BKK. None of them ever got off the ground.

 

Even in the busiest time for BKK in the 80's none of the 3 Charter proposals I heard of ever made it to the runway.

And starting operations in March ? low season ??

, I dont thinks so.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I wish I had a pound for every story I heard about a Charter flight from the UK to BKK. None of them ever got off the ground.

 

Even in the busiest time for BKK in the 80's none of the 3 Charter proposals I heard of ever made it to the runway.

And starting operations in March ? low season ??

, I dont thinks so.

 

Crackpot,

 

For Christ's sake, you do know how to put people off posting any info on the board! >

 

Rather than just cast doubt on the validity of the info, would you like to put your money where your mouth is?  There have been several charter operations from both Manchester and Gatwick to Bangkok over the last 10 years and we're talking about 2004, not the 80s - totally different aircraft and a totally different market.  The only thing they have in common is that you'll probably still find Abba songs on the in-flight entertainment programme. 8)

 

For somebody supposedly "in the business" I can't find one post where you've shared your trade knowledge with the rest of the board. ???

 

If you are ever up Manchester way give me a call and I'll buy you a drink.  You do drink Lipo, don't you? ;D

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[Crackpot 2]

Crackpot,

 

For Christ's sake, you do know how to put people off posting any info on the board! >

 

Rather than just cast doubt on the validity of the info, would you like to put your money where your mouth is?  There have been several charter operations from both Manchester and Gatwick to Bangkok over the last 10 years and we're talking about 2004, not the 80s - totally different aircraft and a totally different market.  The only thing they have in common is that you'll probably still find Abba songs on the in-flight entertainment programme. 8)

 

For somebody supposedly "in the business" I can't find one post where you've shared your trade knowledge with the rest of the board. ???

 

If you are ever up Manchester way give me a call and I'll buy you a drink.  You do drink Lipo, don't you? ;D

 

Regards,

 

Tom

Where have I put anyone off posting on the board ?

You post something, I question it. Or would you perfer everything to be moderated ?

 

You name me any Charter flight operator that has been operating 'Regular' charter flights for any length of time.

Yep some have come and gone, but there is no 'dependable' chart operator running 'regular' BKK flights.

A very good friend of mine lost a whole lot of money several years ago investing in a supposed UK-BKK charter. After sinking in a lot of money, both he and the other investors got shafted because they simply couldnt get any traffic rights from UK to BKK

So you pardon my scepticism about any UK BKK charters.

If BKK was such a good prospect, dont you think Mr Branson would be looking at it seriously ?

 

The market simply isnt there for a one-to-one destination like UK-BKK

Yep, lots of flights leave the UK full but many of those people are using BKK as a stopover to other destinations.

 

I dont like giving out piles of info here publicly so do it via PM as many know.

 

As for the drink, No thanks. I didnt like Manchester when I lived in Saddleworth and have no intention of returning, though thanks for the offer

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Crackpot,

 

Both Airtours and Britannia flew charters from MAN/LGW to HKT/BKK in the 90s, so that is two that "got off the runway" - you didn't mention anything about "regular services for any length of time" so please don't go changing the goalposts.

 

The market certainly exists from the North of England to BKK and elsewhere in the far east - just ask Emirates, Qatar, Malaysian, Singapore etc.   Even Thai is on the record as earmarking Manchester as part of its route expansion.

 

As for Mr Branson - I think he should stick to making his pickle - in any case, he has got his hands full to the far east at the moment with his newly found HKG - Australia rights and his curent codeshare with Malaysian into KL.

 

You really should give Manchester another try - it's full of culture up here now and is home to the best airport (as well as the best footie team) in the UK.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[Crackpot 2]

Crackpot,

 

Both Airtours and Britannia flew charters from MAN/LGW to HKT/BKK in the 90s, so that is two that "got off the runway" - you didn't mention anything about "regular services for any length of time" so please don't go changing the goalposts.

 

The market certainly exists from the North of England to BKK and elsewhere in the far east - just ask Emirates, Qatar, Malaysian, Singapore etc.   Even Thai is on the record as earmarking Manchester as part of its route expansion.

 

As for Mr Branson - I think he should stick to making his pickle - in any case, he has got his hands full to the far east at the moment with his newly found HKG - Australia rights and his curent codeshare with Malaysian into KL.

 

You really should give Manchester another try - it's full of culture up here now and is home to the best airport (as well as the best footie team) in the UK.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

I wasnt changing the goalposts at all, Brittania and airtours bunging  on a few flights for their own customers isnt classed as a charter,sorry. AFAIK there were a few seats sold on the open market but they were rare and again AFAIK they only bunged on a few flights then found out, like everyone else has that a one-stop destination like BKK, wont bring sufficielt returns.

 

There is sufficient demand for Far east flights from the North of England but not specifically to Bangkok alone.

 

If Branson thought that there was sufficient passenger numbers into BKK he would be in there like a flash, Malaysian will codeshare and jump into bed with anyone to try and drum up any Tourism

 

Manchester simply doesnt have the 'best airport in the UK" either.  Stansted would qualify for that, closely followed by Gatwick and when Stansted gets its next runway it will be even better

 

And again, sorry but the words Manchester and Culture in the same sentence simply make me scream with laughter. IMHO Edinburgh qualifies as the best, for me.

 

As for Football, Ive never been to a football match in my life, I cant see myself every going to one either.

Passing Old Trafford once and seeing the mutants who were going in and having a similar experience at Chelsea was enough to put anyone off for life.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I wasnt changing the goalposts at all, Brittania and airtours bunging  on a few flights for their own customers isnt classed as a charter,sorry.

 

Crackpot,

 

???

 

You're becoming an embarrassment now. :-[

 

Tom

[Crackpot 2]

Crackpot,

 

???

 

You're becoming an embarrassment now. :-[

Tom

Ahh right. I justify what I said and now I'm an embarrassment ?

 

This from someone who says 'Manchester is full of culture'?

 

Are they playing Berlioz in the 'chippies now ? or have they pedestrianised Deansgate ?

[Ste 0]

I remember someone telling me a story about Essex -girls and shopping trollies,but I can't remember it!

[Gus 97]

Last winter Scairtours flew Uk- Phuket mainly with cruise passengers for the Seawing.

Unfortunately they are not doing it this winter, because it could have been a cheap way to fly to LOS.

I believe they were selling flights plus 7 day cruise for about £400 last year, probably why they are so many million in the red.

[Crackpot 2]

I remember someone telling me a story about Essex -girls and shopping trollies,but I can't remember it!

Its ok old people get fading memories

 

Sorry ..... what was I saying ;D ;D

[besty 0]

well I for one would be very interested about china airlines doing a non stopper from manchester-bkk.

 

much as I enjoy my stopovers in amsterdam, the hotels cost a bloody packet.

 

thanks for the info cheshire tom and if you hear any more then please keep us informed.

[Crackpot 2]

well I for one would be very interested about china airlines doing a non stopper from manchester-bkk.

 

much as I enjoy my stopovers in amsterdam, the hotels cost a bloody packet.

 

thanks for the info cheshire tom and if you hear any more then please keep us informed.

 

I just cant see it personally. Maybe if it ran via Amsterdam,or Paris or somewhere else to pick up but the traffic just isnt there for a dedicated non stop service, which is why the charter people couldnt make it work on a long term basis, even out of Stansted, as that was even considered

Thai tried out Manchester and eventually dropped it.

 

I could see the possiblity of one of the Gulf operators running it successfully as there is still a (limited) demand for seats to the Gulf and they could then join it up with any of their onwards flights via BKK

 

I suspect that if there is any news on it, it will be mentioned first in the TTG, the Travel Trade newspaper and I havent seen any mention of it.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Crackpot,

 

Sorry if I confused you; I referred to a direct service, not a dedicated, non-stop service.  As you know, there is a world of difference between the two.  I also stated that Qatar are starting daily flights from April so the midddle-east carriers have already done their sums on the route.  Emirates will also formalise upgrading one of their daily flights (lunchtime) to 777 rather than the current 330.  

 

There has been speculation in the local press up here that the next middle-east operator at MAN will be Saudia (therefore, holds little interest for me) but that seems to be a bit speculative at the moment.  Thai had offices in MAN for some time and even had provisional slots at one time but regime change in BKK seems to mean a reassessment of Thai's strategy everytime the new cronies take over.  Most people up here though are looking at Thai commencing services from 2005.  

 

Tom