I think many airport threads on PRUNE are inhabited by dreamers and fantasists. Nothing wrong in that as we can all hope for ever more passengers but the key point is that infrastructure is key. It needs to be well planned and executed in a timely manner that matches demand. This is something that Luton has lacked for a generation which hasn't been helped by the constraints of the CTA and the inability to look 20 or 30 years ahead. The latest example is not earmarking the local park, which is next to the airport, as a site for future expansion. Instead it will become a business park owned by the airport. I just can't see the logic of that decision.
Luton's capacity will always be set by its weakest link. Forget the runway, forget the stands, at the moment it is the terminal which is being worked on, parking, which is about to be reduced and the road network that spending £14 million hasn't fixed. If you can't get the passengers to the front door then there is no point in spending money on other projects beyond the roads capacity.
The council has seen the writing on the wall regarding the road situation and is pushing to get a rail link to the station started and the desire for a 4 train an hour non stop service to London. A mass increase in passengers arriving by train will relieve pressure on the road network but will then put more pressure on the terminal.
No one in authority has come up with a post 18 million terminal for Luton and has already been mentioned a 3% growth rate gives Luton 6 years to build something except Luton's terminal capacity won't really be 18 million passengers based on a good experience.
Last edited by LTNman; 25th Jul 2017 at 07:03.