Iberia Airlines Iberia Plus - Air Nostrum adds MAN-MAD on a daily service from October

from IBTN

Air Nostrum, Iberia’s regional franchise partner, is to launch daily flights between Madrid and Manchester.

Due to start on October 31, the new route will be in direct competion with Ryanair.

Air Nostrum recently announced a new twice-weekly route between Madrid and Glasgow, and will now also operate flights to Manchester from the Spanish capital.

Flights are now available for purchase online at iberia.com, with the Manchester bound leg departing Madrid at 1545 and arriving at 1705, and the return leg leaving Manchester at 1735 and landing back in Spain at 2055.

Ryanair currently offers a four-times weekly service between the two cities, departing Madrid at 1635 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving into Manchester at 1825, with the return leg leaving at 1850, arriving at 2240.

Air Nostrum, also known as Iberia Regional, is an independent airline operating as a franchisee of Iberia. The carrier operates mainly Bombardier CRJ aircraft.

not really any use for connections at Madrid going from Manchester though

not really any use for connections at Madrid going from Manchester though

I haven't checked, but it must be geared predominantly for late night Sth American connections, surely?

If it's trying to compete with easyjet and Ryanair, then it will fail.

One way fares start at £685 and £130 for a return. :rolleyes:

Good connection to ALC, but £187 return!


17:35 Manchester (MAN) 20:55 Madrid (MAD) IB8503
Operated by Air Nostrum

22:45 Madrid (MAD) 23:45 Alicante (ALC) 5h: 10m IB8072
Operated by Air Nostrum



13:30 Alicante (ALC) 14:35 Madrid (MAD) IB371
Operated by Iberia

15:45 Madrid (MAD) 17:05 Manchester (MAN) 4h: 35m IB8502
Operated by Air Nostrum

The timings are a bit awkward... I would have made the MAN and GLA flights arrive at MAD at around 10 am ish to feed the noon intercontinental departure rush hour since there are more South American flights available than at around midnight.

I would have also put the departures towards the UK in a different time slot say in the morning at around 8/9 am ish to make smooth arriving American connections possible. Is MAD as slot constricted as, say LHR?

I think its not meant to be a direct competitor with FR and U2, I believe it's supposed to capture more premium traffic from the UK but I still don't understand the timing.

IBERIA to Increase Manchester Service in S12
by JL

Update at 0920GMT 22MAR12

IBERIA between June and September 2012 is increasing service on its 4 weekly Madrid – Manchester service. Service increases from 4 to 5 weekly from 03JUN12; 6 weekly from 24JUN12 (daily flight from 24JUN12 to 06JUL12 only) till 02SEP12.

IBERIA Regional carrier Air Nostrum operates this route with CRJ900/1000 aircraft.

Schedule:

IB8502 MAD1540 – 1700MAN CR9 x6
IB8503 MAN1735 – 2055MAD CR9 x6

25MAR12 – 02JUN12 Day x367
03JUN12 – 22JUN12 Day x36
24JUN12 – 06JUL12 Daily
08JUL12 – 02SEP12 Day x6
03SEP12 – 27OCT12 Day x367

CRJ900 replaces CRJ1000 (CRK) from 22JUL12 to 02SEP12