I am suprised that with the amount of destinations Manchester Airport serves as a 'regional' airport, that it doesn't serve Moscow. It isn't even a long-haul destination, so it wouldn't need a large aircraft.

Perhaps 5 x weekly A320 with Aeroflot Russian?

Cathay very nearly did this last year, as part of a new Manchester - Hong Kong service, but the Russians killed it at the last minute, due to a dispute over the MAN-MOW service.

It would appear to be a route that could do well and it seems strange that they would kill the prospect of the CX route if no one else was actually operating it.

Quoting 8herveg (Thread starter): Perhaps 5 x weekly A320 with Aeroflot Russian?

That would be too much capacity.

A maximum of 3 weekly with capacity restricted to around 140-150 seats each service may be optimum; ideally 2 weekly to begin with.

Therefore, this should rule in SU, UN and CX (as I belive CX is more interesting in SVO-MAN rather than MAN-HKG!)

Quoting David_itl (Reply 2): A maximum of 3 weekly with capacity restricted to around 140-150 seats each service may be optimum

Wasn't CX's plan a 3x weekly? I thought it was funny how the Airport made a big deal out of Cathay returning in the press, and it never happened, but when Etihad started, not the same coveridge

Mark

Quoting Jetset7E7 (Reply 3): Wasn't CX's plan a 3x weekly?

Indeed it was. But they appear not to have learnt that the more successful MAN long-haul routes are non-stop (2 weekly A343 to begin with, then a 3rd service if all is well after a couple of years).

Anyway, some can remember the shock of seeing SU launch a weekly Tu154 service back in 1987 (SU249) operating on a Sunday. It went notionally to 2 weekly (Friday service) with the extra service, more often that not, not operating. Can't remember when they pulled out though (mid 1990s?)

UN were also all set to operate a twice weekly service last year, indeed they operated in one I think and then it sank.

I wouldn't discount SU in the longer term, 3-5 years. Maybe Moscow - Manchester - Dublin would work?

The added expense of radiation detection equipment at man would be prohibative... it's bad enough at the moment. no flames please!!  

Transaero operated Edinburgh - Moscow the last few years, but the route has now been dropped. The service operated once every two weeks, and loads were rather poor. I believe the service was used fairly frequently by the owners wife, who enjoyed coming to Edinburgh for shopping.

Transaero also announced manchester at the same time, but it never happened, neither did their plans to eventually increase EDI to 2x weekly to allow for long weekend breaks.

The need for a visa was a big put-off for many.

Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 7): The need for a visa was a big put-off for many.

The fact there was NO market between EDI and DME also helped  

Quoting Kaitak (Reply 1): Cathay very nearly did this last year, as part of a new Manchester - Hong Kong service, but the Russians killed it at the last minute, due to a dispute over the MAN-MOW service.

Such a shame, as MAN-MOW-HKG-AKL would have been a fantastic way to get to NZ on oneworld with airmiles!

Is this maybe a route for BD? If they codeshare like they are doing at LHR it could work. Put a A319 on the route and then at weekends or off peak times would an ERJ be able to do it?

well the airline transaero want to fly to manchester from moscow. All will be revealed in 2007



http://www.transaero.ru/en/index.html