Low-fare summer, low-fare Ferihegy

Well, we are over one more summer. The sinking of Ferihegy took a new turn when after about ten years of operation, Terminal 1 once more closed its gates. Since traffic at Terminal 2 dropped precipitously following the sad demise of Malev earlier this year, this was an unavoidable step. Low-fare airlines were moved to Terminal 2, alongside Ryanair, who have been operating from there for some time already. There was some grumbling among the low-fare guys but in the end they made the move and have been using T2 ever since.

This has changed our work also, I could even say it was made easier with the runway usage becoming simpler. Almost everyone was landing on one runway and taking off from the other. The banking of the traffic also changed, the early morning incoming peak was replaced by an outgoing one, as practically all the low-cost flights departed between six and half seven in the morning. Mixed in with them were the few odd one outs who spent the night at Ferihegy, still operating to us in the old order. One thing is sure, the night shift did not have an opportunity to be bored during the last hour of their duty. They cleared out the airport for the incoming crew who, in the old times, would have started the day with the first departure peak. So, day shifts were off to an easy start and this provided an excellent opportunity to review the various work orders, which was there in abundance (but this is another story).

Later in the day traffic picked up of course when the low-cost guys came back at almost the same time. Still before noon they flew out again to return in the early afternoon hours but a little more scattered in time. Then there was one more outgoing bank with the last member of the fleet returning just after midnight. A short rest and everything started again the next morning.

 This went on like this the whole summer. We were not bored, between the low-cost peaks the traditional airlines kept us welcome company while they tried to keep the experience of flying at the nice old levels we all remembered so fondly. This was in stark contrast with out new “favorites” who degraded flying to the level of railroad cattle transport. I keep hearing complaints about how passengers are herded to the aircraft of the low-fare companies yet every flight is full. So, what is the problem? What is more, the operators of Ferihegy Airport liked this kind of passenger handling so much that they started to repaint the signs on apron 2 in September so that even more stands are created where passengers can walk to their aircraft.

We will be quite a sight soon, that is for sure. There will be new cordons though a bit more civilized, a roofing will protect people from the vigor’s of the Ferihegy weather. We will see… Ferihegy will soon become a fully low-fare airport.
From the air traffic control point of view, it is immaterial how aircraft are handled by the airport, the important thing is that there is traffic. There is no choice but to bow our heads to the trend where quality is replaced by quantity.
What bothers me though is how familiar from history this really is…