AIR 8-9 16/6/09 16:58 Page 46
knowledge air
ttglive.com
Airport round-up
Manchester Emirates lounge
Manchester airport is to gain a new Emirates
Business Class lounge this summer, making
it the first non-UK airline with its own lounge
at this airport.
■ manchesterairport.co.uk
Blackpool rated UK’s best
Cardiff airport suffered last year following the collapse of Zoom Airlines and Travel City Direct, which both used the airport Which? Holiday magazine rated Blackpool
airport as the best in the UK, followed by
Cardiff However, Emirates offers Australia connec- London City, with customer satisfaction
Passenger numbers were down 14% at the tions via Dubai. scores of 80% and 78% respectively.
end of April 2009 compared with the same Other airlines have increased capacity. Heathrow Terminal 1 was last, with 31%.
period in 2008. It followed a full-year fall of EasyJet added a third aircraft, Ryanair added ■ blackpoolinternational.com
6% to 1.9 million in 2008. routes, Delta added larger aircraft, and Viking
Last year the airport suffered from the Airlines has started flying to Egypt and Greece. BMI adds premium check-in
collapse of Zoom, which flew to Toronto and Manchester distributes an email newsletter
Vancouver, and XL Leisure Group, whose and regularly visits agents in the region. It of-
subsidiary Travel City Direct flew to Orlando. fers incentives targeting specific destinations
Cardiff is fighting back by promoting its and uses incentives such as a day at Ascot.
connections with KLM to Amsterdam and It says an £80 million redevelopment of its
Flybe to Paris as an alternative to the four-hour terminals has “virtually eliminated” queues.
journey to London for long-haul passengers. BMI has created a premium check-in area
It persuaded Loganair to start a six-times Norwich at Heathrow Terminal 1. The airline allows
weekly Aberdeen service after surveying local The airport had a difficult 2008 after Flybe business and premium economy passengers
businesses and finding it was top of the list. cancelled its leisure routes and the airline to check in just 30 minutes before departure.
The airport sends agents monthly newslet- found to fill the gap, Lte, folded, leading to a ■ heathrowairport.com
ters with information on routes and features big drop in passenger numbers , which had
on airlines and operators. It offers incentives peaked at 800,000. East Midlands adds routes
such as Take That hospitality tickets for agents Passenger numbers for 2009 are forecast to East Midlands airport gained eight new
who sell the most holidays from the airport. be 549,000, down from 556,000 last year. destinations this year, and tour operator
It will also develop the terminal building The airport blames that on airlines pulling Real Ireland is also new to the airport.
and improve public transport to the airport. out rather than any lack of demand, and ■ eastmidlandsaiport.com
predicted many more routes would be avail-
Manchester able next summer. Win Jacko Wembley tickets
Manchester’s passenger numbers were down Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife, and Ibiza have Manchester Airports Group and Balkan
18% in March compared with 2008, but 5% been identified as top of customers’ lists Holidays are offering tickets for Michael
down in April. The airport has suffered from following a survey sent out earlier this year. Jackson in February at Wembley. Agents
BMI pulling long-haul routes from Manches- Norwich has worked closely with the trade must make bookings which depart from
ter but says the destinations affected, except and held an event for travel agents last month, Manchester, East Midlands or Humberside
Antigua, are served by other airlines. outlining plans to increase passenger numbers airports by September 30 to qualify.
Singapore Airlines has cut capacity, hitting to one million within five years. It regularly ■ eastmidlandsairport.com/agents
its ability to provide connections to Australia. emails local agents with special offers.
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