MUC-MAN to be replaced by MUC-EZE?

[kt74]

For flights to S.E. Asia, SQ non-stop was a real winner over the sand pits as you were not stopping half way there for two or three hours.

A real passenger winner it may have been, but not enough passengers or yield to make MAN-SIN, MAN-KUL or MAN-HKG sustainably profitable in the face of a choice of 3 (bargain) one-stop flights a day via DXB though?

[FlyingDobber]

A real passenger winner it may have been, but not enough passengers or yield to make MAN-SIN, MAN-KUL or MAN-HKG sustainably profitable in the face of a choice of 3 (bargain) one-stop flights a day via DXB though?

I think that MH & CX stopped direct routes due to the (at the time) aggressive EK pricing...I for one flew on them (EK) enough time to reach Gold but it was a pain landing in DXB after only 7 hours.

Switched to SQ from MAN or if I have to LON, FRA or ZRH. Not really looked back since.

[kt74]

I think that MH & CX stopped direct routes due to the (at the time) aggressive EK pricing...I for one flew on them (EK) enough time to reach Gold but it was a pain landing in DXB after only 7 hours.

Switched to SQ from MAN or if I have to LON, FRA or ZRH. Not really looked back since.

Don't you think it's a pain landing in SIN after only 7 hours from SYD?

Look, I am no EK fan, but the painful reality is that their cost base and favourable geography means that they can fly more people more frequently can from MAN to SYD (and DEL and HKG and PEK) for less money than SQ. Heck, EK has more flights more often to KUL than SQ does

I'm just surprised that MUC-MAN has lasted so long...

[MAN Flyer]

A real passenger winner it may have been, but not enough passengers or yield to make MAN-SIN, MAN-KUL or MAN-HKG sustainably profitable in the face of a choice of 3 (bargain) one-stop flights a day via DXB though?

I am not sure if by MAN-KUL and MAN-HKG you are referring to the dropped MH and CX flights. If so then they went long before EK went to triple daily and the fat plane. MH baffled me as they continued with a three class 744 with F when SQ was having a ball with two class 777's.

I am afraid EK are causing a lot of legacy carriers grief all over the world. Look at the trouble they have had in Canada and the problems getting additional slots in Germany at the moment. They have a lot of large aircraft on order and need to fly them somewhere.

Don't you think it's a pain landing in SIN after only 7 hours from SYD?

Look, I am no EK fan, but the painful reality is that their cost base and favourable geography means that they can fly more people more frequently can from MAN to SYD (and DEL and HKG and PEK) for less money than SQ. Heck, EK has more flights more often to KUL than SQ does

I'm just surprised that MUC-MAN has lasted so long...

How is 7 hours SYD-SIN any different to the 7 hours MAN-DXB and vv ?. Either way, from MAN-SYD or vv you have one long hop and one short one. Previously when EK used to fly DXB-SIN-XYZ then SQ's nonstop from MAN to SIN was a winner for Australia as well as for S.E. Asia, as the results at the time proved. Now EK go nonstop from DXB and MAN-SIN stops in MUC, and the oil price is a lot higher than it was then....

[kt74]

How is 7 hours SYD-SIN any different to the 7 hours MAN-DXB and vv ?. Either way, from MAN-SYD or vv you have one long hop and one short one. Previously when EK used to fly DXB-SIN-XYZ then SQ's nonstop from MAN to SIN was a winner for Australia as well as for S.E. Asia, as the results at the time proved. Now EK go nonstop from DXB and MAN-SIN stops in MUC, and the oil price is a lot higher than it was then....

Agree. I was just pointing out that FlyingDobber did not like EK because of the short hop - which seems odd, because SQ has a short hop too

Personally, if I was MAN-based, I'd definitely choose EK to Oz (or QR or EY) for convenience and price, until SQ can offer double daily nonstops to SIN (which obviously it can't/won't)

[FN-GM]

Agree. I was just pointing out that FlyingDobber did not like EK because of the short hop - which seems odd, because SQ has a short hop too

Personally, if I was MAN-based, I'd definitely choose EK to Oz (or QR or EY) for convenience and price, until SQ can offer double daily nonstops to SIN (which obviously it can't/won't)

I fly between AU and MAN a couple time a year. I go with SQ every time, the price has always been better (in Y) also time timing is better. I must admit the stop in MUC is a pain.

[eriond]

I fly between AU and MAN a couple time a year. I go with SQ every time, the price has always been better (in Y) also time timing is better. I must admit the stop in MUC is a pain.

The departure time of SQ327 from MAN is really inconvenient if you are not based in immediate vicinity of the airport/Manchester Piccadilly.

[FN-GM]

Based 30 mins out

[FlyingDobber]

Based 30 mins out

Holmfirth for me...just jet blast over the hill. Timings are never a problem me. You can even watch their arrival...there is a FIX near me...mornings are usually VS, EK then PIA. Thats when you can see, its always raining at the moment!!!

[SimonSYD]

I choose SQ to MAN over EK any day even with the MUC stop which is a PITA!
I like to arrive into SYD in the evening so SQ timings are ideal out of MAN, until recently EK did not have an evening arrival into SYD.
I would like to see a return of the non stop, I remember full cabins until the GFC then they were down to 3 per week even then the loads on my flights did not look too healthy.

[MAN Flyer]

Personally, if I was MAN-based, I'd definitely choose EK to Oz (or QR or EY) for convenience and price, until SQ can offer double daily nonstops to SIN (which obviously it can't/won't)

Personally I'd rather walk than fly EK. I am not a fan of the airline, DXB or Dubai, but like everything else it's a personal decision. I don't mind QR, and used to occassionally fly them to/from SGN before it started stopping in BKK, but won't fly them again until the new airport opens as DOH is currently a joke. Haven't flown EY but had flown in and out of AUH, which was enough...

A further indication of what SQ and other airlines are up against with EK was starkly shown when I checked into my room at the Novotel at AKL earlier this week. I saw SQ's 777 leave as an EK 777 arrived, then another EK 777 arived and before that had got to its gate an EK Fat Ugly arrived as well.

The departure time of SQ327 from MAN is really inconvenient if you are not based in immediate vicinity of the airport/Manchester Piccadilly.

While I agree the early departure is not great (I seem to struggle sleeping on it much these days for some reason...) but it's very easy to get to as MAN is linked to millions of people withing an hours drive such are the excellent motorway links to it, as well as all the trains.

[wlgspotter]

A further indication of what SQ and other airlines are up against with EK was starkly shown when I checked into my room at the Novotel at AKL earlier this week. I saw SQ's 777 leave as an EK 777 arrived, then another EK 777 arived and before that had got to its gate an EK Fat Ugly arrived as well.

That is very true - EK now flies DXB to NZ 4 times daily, 1x 380 and 3x 777, apparently one of he 777 will be upg to 380 later this year. Of the 4x daily flight, 3 goes to AKL - 1x each via SYD (380), MEL (777 upg to 380 later this year) and BNE, and 1x daily to CHC (777) via SYD and BKK. And to think of not too long ago SQ was literally the largest international carrier to New Zealand other than QF...