Amadeus Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 3 hours ago, Cinderella said: Key airport issues and challenges: 1. Technical/equipment - won’t pretend to understand the landing system issues,but the bottom line seems to be under investment over many years. As the islands only airport, this is dangerous and unacceptable 2. staffing and management: airport needs a leader whois NOT there simplyas a quick stepping stone. This is not an asset to be drowned in management plans and speak, with the author then doing a runner 3. Services - Manx people are pragmatic - they don’t expect the bells and whistles of a large airport. However, they do need reliable baggage services, modern security, adequate waiting areas in departure (current offering is simply awful) - especially as the island does get weather delays - and reasonable refreshment (egcoffee) 4. Auxilliary services are not rocket science - usable parking and bus services 5. Information- hiving the airport website off to an ad agency was simply stupid decision and means it fails basic flight info bar. (and have they made any money on it???) 6. Public ownership with governance accountability.even the whiff of privatisation should send shivers through residents. The airport is an essential service - that is what government and taxes are for. However you can already see the ‘softening up’ for hiving it off But are Manx residents willing to stand up and be counted on all of this? Good points. I think they didn’t under invest, they just invested wrong. Maybe because past leadership was more interested in boosting their CVs with loads of capex figures than actually knowing what they were doing. Radar, runway extension, etc, etc. I’m still amazed [you know who] lasted that long. The German airport [you know who] worked at before clicked quicker, a fact that strangely is missing from Google these days. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 2 minutes ago, CallMeCurious said: We need to compare like with like. Other island airports with a similar population and connections. Heathrow on Sea doesn’t even manage to put testing strips next to the perfume bottles. It’s clear nobody there cares how much the shop takes or it would look very different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amadeus Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 How a very basic airport shop can look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Onchan Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 29 minutes ago, Moghrey Mie said: Other comparable airports take much more in retail sales. Which airports with the same volume of passengers? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 "Provincial Airfield" is the correct expression. Although we must have the most expensive one in recent history... 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asitis Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 21 minutes ago, Amadeus said: Good points. I think they didn’t under invest, they just invested wrong. Maybe because past leadership was more interested in boosting their CVs with loads of capex figures than actually knowing what they were doing. Radar, runway extension, etc, etc. I’m still amazed [you know who] lasted that long. The German airport [you know who] worked at before clicked quicker, a fact that strangely is missing from Google these days. The German newspaper article slating Reynolds and rejoicing in her sacking has gone off the net too ! We employ these people, Spake just a Joke. Cobb redundant from Gatwick, HIAL- described as an unreliable witness in the enquiry into the wasting of a huge amount of public money on a remote tower scheme which was destined to fall from the outset ! We have never had a director who wants to listen to local people who have knowledge of the airport, reliance on outside consultancies is rife. They seem to end up here, whoever recruits these people needs looking at. COBBS achievements so far Managed to alienate most of the resident aircraft owners and business jet owners, together with small business owners at the airport. Breach of GDPR. Speaks with no understanding whatsoever of the technical problems we face at the moment. Failure to identify other people who are incompetent, and places reliances on them. Usual development freak. Stroppy when challenged over talking rubbish by people who do know what they are talking about. This guy is going to cost the island long millions and achieve zip. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringy Rose Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 14 hours ago, CallMeCurious said: It's chicken and egg. How do you develop non-aero income without extra revenue to build it? Maybe take a section of the disused car parks (turn left and not right at the first roundabout) and build a boutique hotel with a community hub for Ballasalla with a pub, shops, cafe etc. which would provide a year round revenue stream within walking distance of the terminal. Hell build a new GP surgery and community hall if you like. There's a hotel there already, why do we need another one? Likewise there's a petrol station there already, why would we need another? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringy Rose Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 38 minutes ago, Amadeus said: How a very basic airport shop can look. ...if you have the custom to justify it. Ronaldsway is a local airport. Who in their right mind is going to pay WH Smith prices for chocolate when they can just bring it from home? Same with perfume, etc, who's going to buy it there when you can just buy it in Boots? We don't get the duty free that helps Jersey develop its retail. We don't need "enhanced retail opportunities" at an airport where the average flight time is half an hour. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 (edited) What do you think needs to be done to make the airport more operationally resilient and user friendly ? My thoughts :- Departure lounge extension Approach lights on RW26 GPS Approach procedures ATCO recruitment. (not an easy task !) Of lesser importance:- Take back control of parking, don’t let Ringo take the cream of the income. Make the website more user friendly, don’t rely on third parties to update real-time flight information. Whilst the retail outlets can always be improved, there are only limited improvement opportunities available due to the route structure, passenger numbers and short dwell time at the airport. Edited March 17, 2023 by Cypman Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoTailT Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 I think they should look more to Belfast City than HIAL. BHD in my experiences is a lovely airport. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IOM Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 50 minutes ago, NoTailT said: I think they should look more to Belfast City than HIAL. BHD in my experiences is a lovely airport. Yes I like Belfast City airport too . However in 2022 it had 1.6m passengers compared to Ronaldsway at 562,000 so it can sustain better shops and services . And that’s not to say there is not an opportunity to improve Ronaldsway but the passenger numbers make it more difficult. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmanxpilot Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Cypman said: What do you think needs to be done to make the airport more operationally resilient and user friendly ? My thoughts :- Departure lounge extension Approach lights on RW26 GPS Approach procedures ATCO recruitment. (not an easy task !) Of lesser importance:- Take back control of parking, don’t let Ringo take the cream of the income. Make the website more user friendly, don’t rely on third parties to update real-time flight information. Whilst the retail outlets can always be improved, there are only limited improvement opportunities available due to the route structure, passenger numbers and short dwell time at the airport. That would be a good start - but the departure lounge extension should be near the bottom the list of immediate priorities. Sort the other things out and passengers will simply pass through the terminal rather than pool in there because of delays. Regarding GPS approaches, here is a nice explanatory document from another Island who seem to actually have their shit together. https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Travel and transport/JAC_125-15_91-12_PBN_Approvals _Issue1.pdf Had these procedures been designed and published here, EZY (and I assume Loganair) could be flying LPV approaches to 26 to the same minima as the ILS . Remember, there is no hardware involved, only administration on behalf of NATS, so the cost would be relatively small in the grand scheme of things. Edited March 17, 2023 by madmanxpilot 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoTailT Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 36 minutes ago, IOM said: Yes I like Belfast City airport too . However in 2022 it had 1.6m passengers compared to Ronaldsway at 562,000 so it can sustain better shops and services . And that’s not to say there is not an opportunity to improve Ronaldsway but the passenger numbers make it more difficult. If the goal is 1mln pax/year, then we need to prepare for it, not be reactionary as always. Look at BHD: Small WH Smiths, a bar that serves hot food, a cafe and a massive business lounds. We just need to look at that, trim it down slightly and adjust. We all know the big area before departures with the cafe and WH Smiths should be integrated in to the wider departures and create more seating. A remodel is needed. Somewhere serving proper food is needed too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 My list was not in priority order, I agree that the Operational issues should take priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 It is so frustrating that GPS procedures would appear to have been relatively easy to implement. Unless someone else knows otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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