Is Luton interested in new airlines?

[LGS6753]

In recent days, reports have indicated over 50 executive jets on the ground at Luton at any one time. Whilst this is undoubtedly a busy time of year, the trend has been increasing recently, especially since the demise of Concorde.
Is TBI interested in attracting new airlines to Luton when its corporate customers form such a major part of its business?
Discuss.

[Buster the Bear]

Traditionally Luton has made a fortune from Business Jets. You do not need tinminals, car parks, huge access roads etc to provide a gateway for the elite, but the money is there for the taking. Luton is the only major Biz Jet airport within the London area that is H24 and has available capacity.

TBI must know what profits they can make from new airline routes, but these carry a passenger surcharge/concession fee made payable to Luton Borough Council, whereas landing fees and parking charges to the best of my knowledge do not.

Passengers do not always make money for airports, retail and car parking do.

Now, what would you be doing if you were TBI? Courting Ryanair, who seem to want everything for nothing........If Ryanair expand, it is because Ryanair need Luton, TBI may not need Ryanair.

The elite need somewhere discrete with easy motorway access and facilities to look after their multi million dollar planes. A Gulfstream service centre recently expanded only enhances Luton's position

Other UK airport operators (Not BAA) must be green with envy!
http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[LTNman]

65 exec jets were counted this morning with them now parked all the way along the Britannia and Monarch hangar lines from stand 10-15 as well as there normal parking places. Harrods new apron due at the end of the year can’t come soon enough.

[Powerjet1]

So is this where we are heading, Europe's biggest executive jet park. At this rate, there will not be room for anything else, lo cost or otherwise. With easy, carefully considering their route structure from winter onwards(apparently some german routes might disappear) as mentioned in several of today's newspapers, who knows ?

[uy707]

It is interesting to see how smooth the conversion from two opposed worlds is being made. The worlds of Joe Anoraks flying BY and OM charters and Happy Few. Let's think sooner or later LTN will ask old and institutional residents such as Britannia and Monarch to vacate the place ! :suspect:
Alain

[Buster the Bear]

60 odd Biz Jets at one time, now that must make TBI a few bob and with very little effort.

A new Teterboro or Westchester/White Plains in the making eh?

Mr 1 BRAVO will need a new note book and pencil!
http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[vintage ATCO]

Hey, Buster. . . . Define 'fortune' ? ;)

[aviaraptor]

The fortune is in the capital value of the aircraft. 65 BBJs/GVs/Falcons/Global Expresses and Challengers probably works out at about US$1bn on the apron. The average landing and navigation charge at LTN is probably between £200-500??, then the income would be between £13,000 to £30,000 - small potatoes really.

Still if they've got the slots which LHR hasn't then that's where the posh brigade will go.

A

[Buster the Bear]

That is £1 million per year, not bad eh? Add to this parking charges. When Luton was much quieter with Biz Jets back in the early 1990's the airport made a profit out of executive aircraft alone of £1.75 million per year, so TBI must be really pleased BA/AF retired Concorde.

Hello Mr Vintage, a fortune is something you need to spend to entice and then keep a certain low cost airline.
http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[OLNEY 1 BRAVO]

Buster - absolutely ... a new notebook and pen to log all the new Gulfstream's!!! Find you the "small Hungarian" is back from his holidays so all the aircraft will doubtless now leave

LTNman - given that the vast majority of the aircraft have been handled by Signature, I'm not sure that the new Harrods apron will help much.

Incidentally, at EBACE at the end of last month, Harrods were claiming to handle 40% of the biz movements at Luton. I think they need to throw away their abacus and get a calculator!!!

[bmibaby.com]

Airports are always interested in new airlines, and I think that TBI's support of the proposed "Now" airline only showed that the airport would do well with a second based airline to complement the big orange (no relation of course to Braniff!)

As we've seen in the past at Luton, there can be a market for two airlines. Debonair & EasyJet were able to operate side-by-side at peace, and Ryanair & EasyJet are doing the same now at Stansted (despite the Ryanair.com banner of "80% cheaper than Easy"). Whether we will see a second based carrier, depends on someone really having the guts to try & fly under Easy's radar.

[Alloy]

bmibaby.com, Monarch Scheduled are another major LTN based scheduled carrier and have been there for many years before easyjet ever arrived.

[Buster the Bear]

http://www.seriousaboutnews.com/luton/page.html?pageID=26&storyID=27284

[LTNman]

TBI says it aims to raise £ 20 million, which doesn’t buy much these days as the new 4 stand north apron and taxiway link cost £7 million. They also say capacity is 8 million at the moment and they want to increase it to 12 million.

So what will TBI do with this money that is just small change for the likes of BAA? Plans include building a new 6 stand apron either to the side of Harrods hangar or in the short car park. Extending the taxiway to the ends of the runway. Opening up the first floor above the existing check-in desks. Building a new pier to the north apron and one side of the east apron and finally a new customs call. Any spare change will be used on replace the plastic floor tiles that are held down by yellow and black duck tape in parts of the baggage reclaim area. Not sure if £20 million is enough to pay for all these things but they are all on the TBI wish list.


The customs hall and pier were meant to have been built last year but the work was stopped at the last minute when TBI got cold feet. The only thing that requires planning permission is the new apron and taxiway.

[Powerjet1]

Apparently LTN had it busiest day ever in terms of aircraft movements on Friday 25 June with a total of 343.

[LTNman]

The airport has been knocking out over 30 movements an hour at peak times, which isn’t bad seeing that aircraft still have to backtrack. Must be all those pesky exec jets as they seem to be parked everywhere these days.

[runawayedge]

I know for a fact that LTN are as agressive as any other airport when it comes to promotion and development, both in terms of growing existing and seeking new business. I am confident they have a good business model. From a pax viewpoint (anorak) or otherwise it is still very convenient for access to central London.