Short term solutions required for LTN
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Short term solutions required for LTN
So the clock is ticking for 10 million passengers using LTN. My guess is that it is still around 18 months to 2 years away before that total is reached but then what happens. LTN is developing plans for Project 2030 but that is many years away so what will happen in the next 5 years to allow further expansion. If nothing happens then the full signs will go up sooner than later.
The major issues as I see them that won’t go away are as follows:
1/ The drop off zone.
Here the airport has gone full circle, after moving the drop off zone to the short-term car park the idea was soon abandoned. The drop off zone was then moved back to its original location but this time without the entry control barriers. Joe Public took advantage of this and would park up while waiting for passengers so clogging the area up. The barriers have now been re-instated which used to lead to congestion on the approach roads, as the barrier could not cope with the traffic volumes, which was the reason why the drop off zone was moved to the car park.
2/ Aprons and car parks.
There is room at present for further aircraft to night stop but not many more. A new apron will be needed soon. The ideal place to put it is in the short term car park so a pier can be put in serving both the eastern apron where the easyjet tent is and the new apron. The problem then is where do you put the short term car park. A good place would be a multi story car park at the site of Britannia’s hangar thus freeing up land. The only alternate site for an apron would be on the western side of Taxiway Delta close to the Harrods hangars but then passengers will have to be bussed to the stands.
3/ Terminal.
TBI had put a capacity of 10 million on the terminal but with the current building work taking place I would hope that this would creep up a little to say 11-12 million but then that’s it. The terminal is modular so it could be easily expanded south but then this would have an impact on the central area regarding available land for roads and parking.
4/ Road access into the airport.
A new dual carriageway should have been started last year from the Ibis hotel roundabout to the existing end of the dual carriageway that leads to the M1. It was delayed to this year but it looks more like next year before it is started. There have been reports that government funding might be withdrawn from the project thus killing it off. The last thing I heard was that a public enquiry had started in April.
Anyone got any other issues or solutions to get Luton past 10 million in the short term?
The major issues as I see them that won’t go away are as follows:
1/ The drop off zone.
Here the airport has gone full circle, after moving the drop off zone to the short-term car park the idea was soon abandoned. The drop off zone was then moved back to its original location but this time without the entry control barriers. Joe Public took advantage of this and would park up while waiting for passengers so clogging the area up. The barriers have now been re-instated which used to lead to congestion on the approach roads, as the barrier could not cope with the traffic volumes, which was the reason why the drop off zone was moved to the car park.
2/ Aprons and car parks.
There is room at present for further aircraft to night stop but not many more. A new apron will be needed soon. The ideal place to put it is in the short term car park so a pier can be put in serving both the eastern apron where the easyjet tent is and the new apron. The problem then is where do you put the short term car park. A good place would be a multi story car park at the site of Britannia’s hangar thus freeing up land. The only alternate site for an apron would be on the western side of Taxiway Delta close to the Harrods hangars but then passengers will have to be bussed to the stands.
3/ Terminal.
TBI had put a capacity of 10 million on the terminal but with the current building work taking place I would hope that this would creep up a little to say 11-12 million but then that’s it. The terminal is modular so it could be easily expanded south but then this would have an impact on the central area regarding available land for roads and parking.
4/ Road access into the airport.
A new dual carriageway should have been started last year from the Ibis hotel roundabout to the existing end of the dual carriageway that leads to the M1. It was delayed to this year but it looks more like next year before it is started. There have been reports that government funding might be withdrawn from the project thus killing it off. The last thing I heard was that a public enquiry had started in April.
Anyone got any other issues or solutions to get Luton past 10 million in the short term?
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Expensive solution maybe, but for the drop off zone, why not go underground after leaving the tunnel with service roads linking EZY land, the BY hangar, tower etc.
As for parking, why do airports not build multi storey these days ??
As for parking, why do airports not build multi storey these days ??
Luton has been squeezing a quart into a pint pot for years. In 1973 a tent/marquee was erected to supplement the departure lounge. Hopefully we won't go back to that.
Aircraft parking could be improved by restricting the growing number of biz jets, or parking them in more remote areas if they are staying longer than a couple of hours.
A couple of years ago EZY were talking about relocating their offices off-airport. There is office accommodation at Wigmore, and potentially on the old Vauxhall site. If they weren't there, the potential for a major central area re-organization would be created.
I can't help thinking that the central area will soon be for short term parking only. Long term the area allowed for car parking between the South Stands and the East Apron will have to be re-allocated to aeroplanes.
Aircraft parking could be improved by restricting the growing number of biz jets, or parking them in more remote areas if they are staying longer than a couple of hours.
A couple of years ago EZY were talking about relocating their offices off-airport. There is office accommodation at Wigmore, and potentially on the old Vauxhall site. If they weren't there, the potential for a major central area re-organization would be created.
I can't help thinking that the central area will soon be for short term parking only. Long term the area allowed for car parking between the South Stands and the East Apron will have to be re-allocated to aeroplanes.
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There have been reports that government funding might be withdrawn from the project thus killing it off
No doubt Abertis could easily construct the necessary infrastructure but it would as in Spain, be run as a toll road.
The roads are IMHO, the single biggest problem for any significant expansion at Luton. This includes the approach road and the drop-off area. The traffic chaos that arises at peak times just has to be seen to be believed.
Apron space is also at a premium although three existing stands will come back into use by the end of May when easyTech/FLS vacate their temporary hangar and move into (currently Britannia's) Hangar 89, and the airport's airside coaching vehicles are moved to a new location north of Taxiway Echo.
Any apron construction that will facilitate in excess of 10m annual passengers will require planning persmission and so is not even a medium-term likelihood.
Terminal space is probably the least critical because once the current terminal development/expansion has been completed there will be adequate capacity and excellent facilities.
But getting into and out of the Airport will continue to be the major headache.
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The 'local' London airspace and Luton's route interaction with other routes principally out of City and Northolt will also be a major constraint on any expansion above the current declared runway hourly movement rate (32).
Although NATS has done some really sterling work in producing proposals, these will necessitate additional controlled airspace for which the consultative process required is hopelessly long and involved. The fact that the Government now has a much reduced majority means that many of its 'lefties' on the back benches will have a far greater impact on policy decisions and so any chances of the Minister and thus, the Dept for Transport (which directs the CAA) agreeing to the process being streamlined have receded far into the distance. If anything, it'll get worse and so notwithstanding the fine efforts of Luton's management to increase its business, and NATS air traffic controllers to accommodate it, traffic congestion in the air - not only on the ground - will probably act as a 'brake' in 18 to 24 months time.
Alas, a typically British muddled situation...
Although NATS has done some really sterling work in producing proposals, these will necessitate additional controlled airspace for which the consultative process required is hopelessly long and involved. The fact that the Government now has a much reduced majority means that many of its 'lefties' on the back benches will have a far greater impact on policy decisions and so any chances of the Minister and thus, the Dept for Transport (which directs the CAA) agreeing to the process being streamlined have receded far into the distance. If anything, it'll get worse and so notwithstanding the fine efforts of Luton's management to increase its business, and NATS air traffic controllers to accommodate it, traffic congestion in the air - not only on the ground - will probably act as a 'brake' in 18 to 24 months time.
Alas, a typically British muddled situation...
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The entry barrier was out of service today and I had the misfortune to drive into the central area this afternoon. The tailback extended through the tunnel towards the Holiday Inn. The chaos was caused by just 35 parked cars in the drop off zone whose ignorant drivers were waiting for inbound passengers. No one else could get to the kerb so passenger drop off and pick up was done in the middle of the road resulting in massive queues. I am no lover of traffic wardens but the drop off area is crying out for them to keep the traffic moving.
Last edited by LTNman; 7th May 2005 at 23:12.
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I would go with easyprison . As I said in another thread many moons ago, LTN has been a building site with a runway virtually since the Court Line days. How long is that some may ask? Too long some would reply - 30 years too long !!
Is any of the land on the South side of the RWY in any development plans or is it limited to the land currently being "developed" (I use that word loosely).
Is any of the land on the South side of the RWY in any development plans or is it limited to the land currently being "developed" (I use that word loosely).
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Jordon D - having bulldozed Luton, exactly where do you anticipate its 8m to 9m annual passengers and 96,000 annual movements should go?
Such statements whilst perhaps amusing to the less educated, are not exactly constructive or well thought through - unless you count yourself amongst the NIMBYs of this locaility...
Viking9 - the area to the south of the existing runway is indeed, included in Luton's expansion plans - called "Project 2030" - as it's recognised that the current site is reaching its maximum capacity.
LTNman - this is surely a problem caused by idiots masquerading as drivers and as you say, others who are simply inconsiderate drivers (there are plenty around, not just at Luton!) the solution for which is that the Airport fields more security staff to move them on, or that the local town council provides more traffic wardens to issue parking tickets.
Such statements whilst perhaps amusing to the less educated, are not exactly constructive or well thought through - unless you count yourself amongst the NIMBYs of this locaility...
Viking9 - the area to the south of the existing runway is indeed, included in Luton's expansion plans - called "Project 2030" - as it's recognised that the current site is reaching its maximum capacity.
The chaos was caused by just 35 parked cars in the drop off zone whose ignorant drivers were waiting for inbound passengers.
Thread Starter
LTNman - this is surely a problem caused by idiots masquerading as drivers and as you say, others who are simply inconsiderate drivers (there are plenty around, not just at Luton!) the solution for which is that the Airport fields more security staff to move them on, or that the local town council provides more traffic wardens to issue parking tickets.
