LUTON -8
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Last October I can remember the airport making a statement that the worst was over regarding passenger issues when they traveled through Luton. This statement was based on the fact that the summer season was over and that a wave of building work will have been finished for the start of the new season so let's see where we are with the start of the schools Easter break, which actually starts this weekend two weeks before Easter.
It is clear that the new road network that was meant to be finished for Christmas won't be finished for the start of the Easter break either with the missing section still missing. This will be bad news for the airport as people head for the airport.
It must be around a year ago that a big chunk of the existing departure lounge was closed. 12 months later and it is still closed with the 2 largest new food and drinks outlets that will have most of the seating with seating that will overlook the main apron still not finished. At least one of the company's won't be opening until the summer.
The landside terminal is still the same from 12 months ago except I think more of it has been boarded up with nothing new being finished.
One improvement over last year is the car park situation. The short term does not seem as busy as last year with the new multi story now open. Temporary repairs have been carried out to the worst stretches of the short term car park but there is no sign that the car park will actually get its full makeover as it is still a bit of a state.
The covered walkway to the terminal still hasn't been put in and the terminal canopy still seems to be a long way off.
Finally the old bus station was handed over to the builders in December 2015, 15 months later and still around half the new terminal extension hasn't been started yet apart from work on its foundations. The signs are not looking good for the start of 2018 as clearly the terminal will be no bigger than it is now.
It is clear that the new road network that was meant to be finished for Christmas won't be finished for the start of the Easter break either with the missing section still missing. This will be bad news for the airport as people head for the airport.
It must be around a year ago that a big chunk of the existing departure lounge was closed. 12 months later and it is still closed with the 2 largest new food and drinks outlets that will have most of the seating with seating that will overlook the main apron still not finished. At least one of the company's won't be opening until the summer.
The landside terminal is still the same from 12 months ago except I think more of it has been boarded up with nothing new being finished.
One improvement over last year is the car park situation. The short term does not seem as busy as last year with the new multi story now open. Temporary repairs have been carried out to the worst stretches of the short term car park but there is no sign that the car park will actually get its full makeover as it is still a bit of a state.
The covered walkway to the terminal still hasn't been put in and the terminal canopy still seems to be a long way off.
Finally the old bus station was handed over to the builders in December 2015, 15 months later and still around half the new terminal extension hasn't been started yet apart from work on its foundations. The signs are not looking good for the start of 2018 as clearly the terminal will be no bigger than it is now.
Last edited by Spanish eyes; 30th Mar 2017 at 05:48.
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Just to update the departure lounge situation which is dire at the moment.
There will be 7 new food and drink retailers, Bella Italia should be opening in April and at 3,578sqm has the seconds largest space with views over the apron and will seat 140 diners.
The Smithfield will be a 7,000sqm pub that occupies most of the former duty free shop which will also serves meals and have views over the airport as a wall has been taken down. It is estimated they will serve 1 million passengers a year. The expected opening date was June but I don't know if this date has slipped.
Friska will also open in the summer with seating for 85 and occupies the site of an old restaurant that was closed down last year and a small strip of the former duty free shop. It will sit next to the new access for pier B.
Oh and a doughnut shop has reopened but this time in the center section of the terminal so if a passenger fancies spending £4.95 for 3 doughnuts or £5.45 for 3 premium doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, which is what I recently paid for a ticket for Copenhagen, they will help you lighten your wallet.
There will be 7 new food and drink retailers, Bella Italia should be opening in April and at 3,578sqm has the seconds largest space with views over the apron and will seat 140 diners.
The Smithfield will be a 7,000sqm pub that occupies most of the former duty free shop which will also serves meals and have views over the airport as a wall has been taken down. It is estimated they will serve 1 million passengers a year. The expected opening date was June but I don't know if this date has slipped.
Friska will also open in the summer with seating for 85 and occupies the site of an old restaurant that was closed down last year and a small strip of the former duty free shop. It will sit next to the new access for pier B.
Oh and a doughnut shop has reopened but this time in the center section of the terminal so if a passenger fancies spending £4.95 for 3 doughnuts or £5.45 for 3 premium doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, which is what I recently paid for a ticket for Copenhagen, they will help you lighten your wallet.
Last edited by LTNman; 30th Mar 2017 at 10:50.
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gilesdavies, not that airline, but with slots having such an incredible value, could there be others? The airline concerned has been in the aviation press very recently.
Only gone quiet as a this stage there is little more to add. I am not going to state their name, but if it does happen, it will surprise an awful lot of folk.
Only gone quiet as a this stage there is little more to add. I am not going to state their name, but if it does happen, it will surprise an awful lot of folk.
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Seating in the departure lounge...
So basically from what you are saying LTNMan there is going to be new outlets opening with seating if you are a paying customer, but the overall seating for just your average passenger who wants to just wait for there flight, will not be increasing?
I took the advise from someone on here to use the bar/cafe area in the old terminal area as you walk to gates 1-8(ish) and this was definitely quieter area to sit. But absolutely filthy, as the poor individual serving customers making coffees and warming food had no time to clear away the few tables there. They wanted £4.95 for a Ginsters pre-packed cheese and tomato sandwich!
My advise to people flying through Luton at the moment, is take advantage of the coffee shops and facilities in the arrivals areas before security and don't go through to departures until about 45 minutes before your flight, unless you want to shop in duty-free... Which while busy, is a far pleasanter experience.
The security area is a little dreary, but atleast they seem pretty quick and get through this area in about 10-15mins.
I took the advise from someone on here to use the bar/cafe area in the old terminal area as you walk to gates 1-8(ish) and this was definitely quieter area to sit. But absolutely filthy, as the poor individual serving customers making coffees and warming food had no time to clear away the few tables there. They wanted £4.95 for a Ginsters pre-packed cheese and tomato sandwich!
My advise to people flying through Luton at the moment, is take advantage of the coffee shops and facilities in the arrivals areas before security and don't go through to departures until about 45 minutes before your flight, unless you want to shop in duty-free... Which while busy, is a far pleasanter experience.
The security area is a little dreary, but atleast they seem pretty quick and get through this area in about 10-15mins.
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So basically from what you are saying LTNMan there is going to be new outlets opening with seating if you are a paying customer, but the overall seating for just your average passenger who wants to just wait for there flight, will not be increasing?
So to answer your question it looks to be very similar to what was available last year but it does appear that the existing airside bar opposite Boots will disappear and become the only additional seating area but we will have to wait and see if that really happens. Also the existing seating that is just inside the departure lounge entrance is set to go when the departure lounge extension is eventually opened.
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PowdAir is an airline offering skiing flight to Sion, Switzerland. Seems to offer Luton in the drop down to request as a airport to fly from. Not sure how much to believe into this though.
Spanish eyes the roads are getting there. Possibly could be opened this weekend by what I have seen and now on the Instagram account. https://www.instagram.com/p/BSOiOx9g964/
Spanish eyes the roads are getting there. Possibly could be opened this weekend by what I have seen and now on the Instagram account. https://www.instagram.com/p/BSOiOx9g964/
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They were about to start putting the second layer of tarmac in today but then the builders need to dig some holes to fit the raised drainage covers and then a final third layer of tarmac.
Street lighting, signage, road markings and filling in what will be the grass verges also needs to be completed but at some point soon a single lane will be opened. I guess it all depends on how much of the finishing works they want to do first before the road is opened but I am thinking it is still at least a week away.
The latest section completed, that is parallel to the drop off area, opened maybe just over a week ago and looked like this when it opened. It was basically finished but with no road markings, which are still missing today, but as can be seen the railings were up to stop people avoiding the drop off zone.
Street lighting, signage, road markings and filling in what will be the grass verges also needs to be completed but at some point soon a single lane will be opened. I guess it all depends on how much of the finishing works they want to do first before the road is opened but I am thinking it is still at least a week away.
The latest section completed, that is parallel to the drop off area, opened maybe just over a week ago and looked like this when it opened. It was basically finished but with no road markings, which are still missing today, but as can be seen the railings were up to stop people avoiding the drop off zone.
Last edited by LTNman; 31st Mar 2017 at 05:03.
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The downgrade of the ILS to CAT 3A has been extended again but this time by only another month. Before the notam would be valid for several months.
It must be at least a year since the ILS was downgraded, which first happened when the multi-storey car park was under construction and building work was heading for the south stands.
The fact that the downgrade has not been made permanent hopefully means there is a plan but seeing nothing has happened to stealth the car park it remains to be seen what the airport has up its sleeve.
It must be at least a year since the ILS was downgraded, which first happened when the multi-storey car park was under construction and building work was heading for the south stands.
The fact that the downgrade has not been made permanent hopefully means there is a plan but seeing nothing has happened to stealth the car park it remains to be seen what the airport has up its sleeve.
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Just imagine if the multi storey is indeed the cause of the downgrade of the ILS, one has to wonder therefore, if anyone thought of consulting the 'Tels' folk for their advice prior to commissioning the build?
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Just imagine if the multi storey is indeed the cause of the downgrade of the ILS
As for naming the airport after a footballer someone is having a laugh. Much better to call the place Eric Morecambe Airport as the airport has been viewed by many as a joke for years.
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Rather sad that the airport is now seen as a joke. When employees were valued and they felt part of a friendly team, many went that 'extra mile' to ensure that passengers were well looked after and from the operational aspect, that it was a safe place to travel from. I am not saying that those key elements do not occur today, but as with any business, customer satisfaction comes well down the list of priorities. Number 1 is profit for shareholders.
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The exit route through the tunnel to the Holiday Inn has been white lined today even though a section by the Holiday Inn does not have its top surface of tarmac yet so this section could open this weekend.
The missing section by the multi-storey has had its second layer of tarmac laid and the posts have gone in for the signage. Maybe next week it will open but as I said before it will be restricted to a single lane. When fully open I expect the issue with the drop off zone will start again as at the moment there is a pinch point by the bus station that is restricting capacity. When the traffic becomes free flowing I expect traffic will queue again to enter the drop off zone.
The missing section by the multi-storey has had its second layer of tarmac laid and the posts have gone in for the signage. Maybe next week it will open but as I said before it will be restricted to a single lane. When fully open I expect the issue with the drop off zone will start again as at the moment there is a pinch point by the bus station that is restricting capacity. When the traffic becomes free flowing I expect traffic will queue again to enter the drop off zone.
Last edited by LTNman; 31st Mar 2017 at 22:17.
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YL-LCN will be the aircraft that will be in and around LTN till October. Started it's first flights yesterday.
I Google'd it and noticed its an A320 operated by Smart Lynx. They usually do charter work for tour operators like Olympic Holidays or lease extra capacity to airlines like Monarch.
Which is it and will it be based here all summer?
If it is operating for the likes of Monarch is it true extra capacity, or just replacing one of their birds that would usually be flying from LTN?