First Luton post here for 2 weeks which must be a record. Just goes to show how little is going on.
Monarch Airlines' managing director Tim Jeans has condemned Luton airport for charging high aircraft parking fees, but failing to develop its potential.
Monarch’s managing director said the airline was charged £7,000 a day for every aircraft parked at the airport for more than 48 hours, compared with £1,000 at Manchester.
He added that money was not being invested into developing the airport by its owner, Luton Borough Council. The airport is managed and operated for the council by a private consortium.
Jeans claimed the terms of the agreement between the council and operator meant there was no incentive to develop its infrastructure.
“The lack of vision on the part of the council is a crying shame,” he said. “The terms of the franchise make it more advantageous for it to sweat the assets than to invest in the airport.
“The council should recognise its position as part of the London airport system and stop looking at creaming off £2 per plane that takes off.”
Jeans said Monarch was looking at other airports to use as a fifth base when it takes delivery of another Airbus A321 in August.
An airport spokeswoman said parking charges had been set to discourage airlines keeping aircraft at the airport because it was congested at peak times.