Graham reports back from Friends of Scholes Park meeting
Cheadle and Gatley Liberal Democrats
Demand more Learn more
Graham reports back from Friends of Scholes Park meeting
Gatley's Lucy Boxes
Sign up for weekly emails
Drop-off charges planned and other Manchester Airport news
by Lib Dem team on 7 March, 2018
Stockport councillors, including Keith Holloway and myself, met with Manchester Airport this morning. This is a regular meeting held every few months as part of the airport’s community relations.
Here’s the news:
- Manchester Airport plans to join many other major airports and introduce a charge for drop off/pick up at the terminal building. The details are still being worked out. A free drop off/pick up alternative will be offered on a surface car park (with regular shuttle bus) so no-one will have to pay anything if they don’t want to. This is to tackle congestion on and around the airport site.
- Under 20% of people coming to the airport use public transport. That compares to 50% at Stansted. Some of the money from the drop off/pick up charges will go into a fund to help improve public transport. We are asking for more work to be done to understand why so few people are using tram, train and bus to get to the airport.
- There are a number of roadworks around the airport that have been causing issues. These should be finished by the end of March.
- New planes have advanced features that allow them to make better use of airspace, but the UK rules date back to the 1960s and mean all the new tech can’t really be used. That can now change, but to do it the airport needs to conduct a two-year community consultation on any new proposals. Among the changes are allowing planes to travel on narrower paths, fly closer together and use more curved routes. The experts say that, unless this is done, we’ll see more flight delays before long.
- Runway 2 will operate extended hours, but that will affect the Cheshire end and probably won’t be an issue for the Stockport end.
- A new noise reduction strategy is in the pipeline, and noise levels have fallen in recent years. There’s no difference in flight paths depending on whether it’s day or night (a query someone had).
- A new pedestrian/cycle bridge is proposed from the offices at Airport city across to the railway station. The planning application is aimed to go in during April.
- The biggest employer on the airport is a company called SSP. You’ve probably not heard of it but most of the people who work in the restaurants and shops actually work for SSP. SSP is building strong links with local colleges and took on more than 80 apprentices last year.
- 2017 saw the lowest level of community complaints to the airport since 2001 (when Runway 2 opened). In 2001 there were 9,557 complaints. In 2017 there were 622. This does not include complaints from people using the airport -that’s a different area.
- The airport’s community relations team hold regular events where people can find out more about what the airport is doing and raise concerns. The next Cheadle event is at Cheadle library, 2-6.30pm on 24th April 2018.
- 2018 is Manchester Airport’s 80th birthday (1938-2018) so expect to see some celebrations.
- The £1 billion investment project in the airport is underway. It should complete in 2024 when Terminal 1 will be closed and the new and enlarged Terminal 2 will be fully open. More information here.
- The Global Logistics Hub (to the south off the airport – Amazon is part of it) continues to expand. Airport City (the area between the airport and Wythenshawe) has new hotels and offices planned.
- Before the meeting I invited local residents to let me know about questions to ask. Most of the questions I have been able to get answers to. Some related to the “customer experience” of people using the airport. That team weren’t at today’s meeting, but should be along next time.
Surely the reason that fewer than 20% of airport users travel by public transport is no mystery: these are not convenient methods of transporting the majority of users, with family members, and luggage, unless they happen to live on a direct route. A significant proportion of airport users do not live close to the airport; in such cases the public transport option is exceptionally inconvenient and, In many cases, probably expensive.
I am a weekly business user of the airport, and live close by, but have no option but to use taxis to travel to and from the airport; there is no practical public transport provision that fits with my required travel schedule.
Sadly, I fear that the drop-off charge proposal will be viewed only as a further rip-off move by the airport by a significant proportion of users.
I live very close to the airport but there is no public transport that does not involve a trek so of course would use the car. Local residents will now not only have to put up with the extra noise from increased air traffic following expansion but now will have the inconvenience of getting dropped off even further away then they live to get a shuttle bus unless they pay.
Public transport is not exactly a suitable way to travel when you are a family of 4 with children. Public transport is not feasible and services are infrequent. I do not think an hourly or twice service is an adequate provision if you want people to use public transport.
I agree other countries have a higher rate of people using public transport but i think that it is becaise their provision is far more superior than Manchester’s as much as i hate to say it.
Eg:Walking to the train station from any of the terminals probably takes 10 min. Then you have to wait for a train to Gatley which is twice hourly. Then you still have to be picked up anyway unless you walk home with two tired children and 4-6 suitcases after a long flight. Not convenient or practical in my opinion.
I have sent in a very strong set of complaints about Manchester Airport and it’s total lack of customer service, and atrocious customer experience. We travel regularly, and it is an appalling airport now. It isn’t just us who find that it is a very unpleasant experience from start (drop off) to finish (pick up). I am in discussion with Mary Robinson, who has replied, and Andy Burnham, who has totally ignored my letter. I will send you a copy Iain.
I have canvassed opinion from many travelers. They all say the same thing – they will not use the Airport again, if they can help it.
My viewpoint is that, if we want a Northern Powerhouse, then Manchester Airport must be the international hub of this. They cannot be when they are the most unfriendly, unhelpful, rip-off business in existence. They are becoming a laughing stock, they are so bad.
Why such surprise?…
Mancy (airport AND city) has long had a reputation for its antisocial behaviour.
Over the years, on several different flights (locations and airlines) passengers have been ‘warned’ by airline announcers to be careful when asking for help at the airport, and, more particularly – when hailing a taxi (arrogant and uncooperative drivers who are not interested in local trips).
Such surliness comes as second nature to Southerners, but, it has long been the second nature of Mancys also. ?
I always use a taxi to/from the airport – actually the company that is the “official” one with a desk/office at each terminal. Ultra reliable – there are always bang on to the booked time to go to the airport (something you can’t always rely on with other local taxi firms) – and you can book them online, including for the return trip and pay by card.
I totally agree with many of the comments regarding transport to Manchester airport.
Local transport to and from the airport isn’t that good and awful if you’re not on a local transport route.
The airport station is badly situated. Why didn’t the planners look at most major European airports, where stations are directly below the airport terminals, making transfers easy for people. (e.g Cologne, Amsterdam, etc)
I do feel the airport business focus if far greater and more important to them than the customers they serve.
People should vote with their feet !
There are lots of early morning flights but only two possible trains, getting in at 0542 or 0639. Great timing.
Why so many Piccadilly to Airport non-stop trains?
The Airport station always seems full of trains. Maybe it’s a good job there aren’t more passengers, the system would never cope.
I’d love to be able to get a tram from Cheadle to the airport.
If I try to take the bus now, the TFGM solution takes 43 minutes, which includes: 11 bus 11:32 arrives 11:56 (24 minutes),
and then WALK 1.5km for 19 minutes: 11:56 – 12:15
I am in full agreement with Karen Sandler and have voiced my opinions in similar directions with no response to observations and suggestions.
There needs to be plans on how to make it easier to drop off and pick up and not to simply suggesting the airport users use impractical public transport.
Like other contributors I am of the same opinion on “ripe off” charges.
The staff who interact with customers are sometimes really off and think they are doing you a favour. They need to go on customer facing skills courses – we do have a choice – eg John Lennon for some holiday flights.
Also the toilets are shall we say whiffy to say the least.
Fully agree with the comments re public transport to the airport – hopeless for many of us and charges just make the airport even less appealing.
Iain – could you pass these points on when you next have a meeting with MAG management – they need to take notice.
I’m concerned about the ‘new technology’ meaning planes can fly closer together which will obviously mean we will get little or no respite from the noisy planes coming over our houses. I’ve already noticed in the last couple of years that as soon as the noise of one aircraft has disappeared another one is there straight away, this never used to happen. It’s not great for the residents.
Agree totally that the station is not convenient for getting to the Terminal you are flying from. Wheeling suitcases with children in tow or with an elderly or infirm passenger is really difficult as moving walkways are never working and crossing that bridge is a long way.
Agree also about whiffy toilets and taxi drivers who are surly about short journeys.
Manchester Airport is not up to standard as an International Airport and is a nightmare obstacle to starting and ending any journey.