Michael O'Leary: what will happen when Ryanair take over Stansted

The Idyll Race

"Blowing up the train" is one of the bould Micko's priorities at Stansted. Not the railway connection to Liverpool Street, yet, but the transit that links two parts of the terminal.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/04/stansted-next-runway-ryanair-boss?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=feed

Davidth88

I remember STN when it had a huge runway , a terminal about the same size as Kerry's and the only passenger flights were the Danish/Swedish shopping charters on a Sunday , along with some weird African Flights where the check in would make your hair rise ( car tyres , washing machines etc being checked in ).

The expansion caused war in the local area , the local residents will NEVER EVER allow a second runway , although IMO it makes sense ! It's a wealthy area , the political lobby there would be pretty powerful.

If FR take over STN then it's operations at LTN will cease for sure , and what about the FR operations at LGW ?

I can see MOL's mgmt style going down through the terminal operations , parking would be cheap , unless you wanted the shuttle bus , then you would be charged an arm/leg , cup of coffee , yes sir , sugar/milk , that's extra 2 pounds please etc etc

It sort of highlights the lack of capacity in the South East of England.

I sort of agree with MOL about Boris's pie in the sky idea , I also remember the ideas of Maplin sands being built on. I truly can't see this happening , although it would make some sense .

It's a shame they decided to build a terminal at LGW ( North ) where the obvious next runway would be placed ( it was empty land at the time ), I think they said that part of the planning agreement was no second runway there ever because of the North Terminal ( the emergency runway does not count before people point out that LGW has two ).

The third runway at LHR is frankly daft, there is space over the Sipson area , but , I truly think a greenfield site would be a better idea , but the NIMBY's will be out where ever you try.

The Southend development/expansion is interesting , I used to fly into there ( when I was doing my PPL ) .

BTW , I think calling your customer's idiots is frankly horrible , but of course I imagine bookings will be up AGAIN .

The Idyll Race

Davidth88 wrote: »

I remember STN when it had a huge runway , a terminal about the same size as Kerry's and the only passenger flights were the Danish/Swedish shopping charters on a Sunday , along with some weird African Flights where the check in would make your hair rise ( car tyres , washing machines etc being checked in ).

The expansion caused war in the local area , the local residents will NEVER EVER allow a second runway , although IMO it makes sense ! It's a wealthy area , the political lobby there would be pretty powerful.

If FR take over STN then it's operations at LTN will cease for sure , and what about the FR operations at LGW ?

I can see MOL's mgmt style going down through the terminal operations , parking would be cheap , unless you wanted the shuttle bus , then you would be charged an arm/leg , cup of coffee , yes sir , sugar/milk , that's extra 2 pounds please etc etc

It sort of highlights the lack of capacity in the South East of England.

I sort of agree with MOL about Boris's pie in the sky idea , I also remember the ideas of Maplin sands being built on. I truly can't see this happening , although it would make some sense .

It's a shame they decided to build a terminal at LGW ( North ) where the obvious next runway would be placed ( it was empty land at the time ), I think they said that part of the planning agreement was no second runway there ever because of the North Terminal ( the emergency runway does not count before people point out that LGW has two ).

The third runway at LHR is frankly daft, there is space over the Sipson area , but , I truly think a greenfield site would be a better idea , but the NIMBY's will be out where ever you try.

The Southend development/expansion is interesting , I used to fly into there ( when I was doing my PPL ) .

BTW , I think calling your customer's idiots is frankly horrible , but of course I imagine bookings will be up AGAIN .

Excellent post! I remember how elegant and *empty* STN was when I started using in when I lived in Tottenham in 1990. Of course Micko wants to rip out the transit, kill the train seems to be tattooed on the ass of the prilvileged classes in Ireland. It's alot more chaotic now, and remembering the views of a former boss of mine who lived in Elsenham, the burghers of that particularly leafy and wealthy part of Essex would take pickaxe handles to any expansion of STN.

I had my fill of Ryanair when I was regularly travelling over and back between Bristol and Dublin and only if I was desparate would I ever use them again.

Victor

Davidth88 wrote: »

If FR take over STN then it's operations at LTN will cease for sure , and what about the FR operations at LGW ?

Strategically, I think it would be imprudent - crossing London and wandering into the countryside would be a strong barrier for South London / Surrey / Sussex / Kent, etc.

Transport-wise Luton might be the best bet if going for one airport.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/static/pdf/network_route_map.pdf

Davidth88

Victor wrote: »

Strategically, I think it would be imprudent - crossing London and wandering into the countryside would be a strong barrier for South London / Surrey / Sussex / Kent, etc.

Transport-wise Luton might be the best bet if going for one airport.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/static/pdf/network_route_map.pdf

Since when has onward connections either by land/sea/air ever bothered FR ?

All their care about is bottom line ....... that's it.

Victor

Sure, but why put a barrier between you and your passengers.

In any case, the continent is closer to Gatwick and hopefully the fuel bills would be lower.

Davidth88

If that was the case then why doesn't FR fly from any Paris airport ( it currently flies only to Beauvais whiich only FR would describe as Paris ) , or Frankfurt ( Hahn is NOT Frankfurt )

I think both these airports also have no rail connections to anywhere either.

The difference flying from STN to Spain or LGW to Spain is virtually nil fuel wise , and I imagine the delays ( holding etc ) which burn up fuel are much higher at LGW.

But TBH , it's the Luton flights I would chop first if I was MOL and owned STN. However we don't know they may be tied into a 10 year deal or something there.

dowlingm

Does FR still sell Stansted Express tickets on board? Maybe Mick should build a pedestrian walkway with a cobbled or otherwise annoying surface and turn the internal train into a for-pay service! Treble shareholder profits all round :rolleyes:

The Idyll Race

Davidth88 wrote: »

Since when has onward connections either by land/sea/air ever bothered FR ?

All their care about is bottom line ....... that's it.

Wise is he who says that Victor... MOL and FR *really* don't give a XXXX about connectivity, as long as they are getting a cut. Recent shenanigans in DUB re the Stansted Express bear this out.

Marcusm

Victor wrote: »

Strategically, I think it would be imprudent - crossing London and wandering into the countryside would be a strong barrier for South London / Surrey / Sussex / Kent, etc.

Transport-wise Luton might be the best bet if going for one airport.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/static/pdf/network_route_map.pdf

Using the bus for the last couple of miles means it's not truly integrated, though.

Jamie2k9

If FR take over STN then it's operations at LTN will cease for sure , and what about the FR operations at LGW ?

All LGW flights apart from Irish ones cease from October. DUB, ORK, SNN will never stop as if FR let them go now they may never get the slots at LGW again as EZY, EI, BA would be delighted to take them up and yield from LGW to Ireland is much higher than other London airports.

LTN base is does well and FR will never close it but IMO they just want to keep a presence in more than one airport as in time they may need to play them off against one another.

TBH FR won't buy into it as I can't see anybody who would be willing to go into business with FR particually when it comes to running an airport. Its like EI FR won't get there hands on that or STN.

Marcusm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

TBH FR won't buy into it as I can't see anybody who would be willing to go into business with FR particually when it comes to running an airport. Its like EI FR won't get there hands on that or STN.

Whoever buys STN will be in business with FR as it accounts for 75% of the traffic/passengers at the airport. Any business with a single large customer is in effect in partnership with that business or else is ruled by it. Any ownership by FR would be limited (25% in MO'L's mind according to reports) but would be useful to tie them to the long term future of the airport. All of the carriers at STN are in effect low cost operators so, in terms f objectives, there shouldn't be too much conflict (but of course there will be).