LUTON
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King Pong - Although Stand 60 isn't used by 'live' aircraft it is used by 'dead' ones i.e. not required immediately into service, and which therefore, are towed onto this stand.
Until the electronic docking and parking guidance is operational, it's unlikely to be used for 'live' aircraft.
One of the criticisms is that the angle at which aircraft park combined with the retaining wall built on the east side (owing to adverse topography) causes a visual perception problem when 'eyeballing' it onto the stand. In other words, the pilot's instinct is to hang further right with the result that the aircraft gets too close to Stand 9L. The 'Safedock' system should address this problem and give the necessary guidance and confidence to use the stand with the aircraft parked at the correct angle and up to the 'stop line' so that the service road is not infringed.
Can't comment on the programme featuring Luton Airport but my comments are based on facts from sources rather more expert and knowledgable than reality TV programme producers...
Until the electronic docking and parking guidance is operational, it's unlikely to be used for 'live' aircraft.
One of the criticisms is that the angle at which aircraft park combined with the retaining wall built on the east side (owing to adverse topography) causes a visual perception problem when 'eyeballing' it onto the stand. In other words, the pilot's instinct is to hang further right with the result that the aircraft gets too close to Stand 9L. The 'Safedock' system should address this problem and give the necessary guidance and confidence to use the stand with the aircraft parked at the correct angle and up to the 'stop line' so that the service road is not infringed.
Can't comment on the programme featuring Luton Airport but my comments are based on facts from sources rather more expert and knowledgable than reality TV programme producers...
Join Date: Jan 2003
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A snippet taken from ABTN.........
'EasyJet has left Luton (Town Football Club). For whatever reasons the Luton-based budget airline has abandoned its massive pitch side advertising at the League One winners and new Championship team. With the soccer club expecting far more TV exposure than ever, one would have expected the local airline to be even more supportive of its hometown club'. This is not so!
Crawley Town FC ?
'EasyJet has left Luton (Town Football Club). For whatever reasons the Luton-based budget airline has abandoned its massive pitch side advertising at the League One winners and new Championship team. With the soccer club expecting far more TV exposure than ever, one would have expected the local airline to be even more supportive of its hometown club'. This is not so!
Crawley Town FC ?
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Made a quick trip out of LTN yesterday and was interested to see whether the departure lounge had been finished. As I entered the lounge my eyes were immediately drawn to the ground as a sea of yellow and black duck tape as well as silver duck tape covered huge swathes of broken floor tiles. The tape is everywhere and makes the new lounge look like it is 20 years old and run down. Purely by chance I came across a guy who was carrying some tiles. He said that 1600 floor tiles had been broken but a team of workers will start to replace the lounge tiles at night starting next week. I guess the 1600 quoted broken tiles must cover all areas and includes those that have already been replaced.
The departure lounge was busy but seating was available but only in pairs. A larger group of people who wanted to be together were sitting on the floor.
Around a 100 passengers were gathered around the departure board by the entrance to the gates waiting for information to appear as to which gate to head for. Only one of the two boards were working. This was causing quite a bit of congestion as passengers with gates to go to had to squeeze past waiting passengers.
I had a quick look at the new pier which looked good but the escalator was not working. Walking in the other direction walls were still waiting to be painted in the new build. Also noticed that someone had kicked a hole in the new plasterboard wall.
One bit of information, according to the tiler who has to fix some tiles in the new arrivals waiting area the building will open next Monday but not the new shop which is still waiting to be built.
The departure lounge was busy but seating was available but only in pairs. A larger group of people who wanted to be together were sitting on the floor.
Around a 100 passengers were gathered around the departure board by the entrance to the gates waiting for information to appear as to which gate to head for. Only one of the two boards were working. This was causing quite a bit of congestion as passengers with gates to go to had to squeeze past waiting passengers.
I had a quick look at the new pier which looked good but the escalator was not working. Walking in the other direction walls were still waiting to be painted in the new build. Also noticed that someone had kicked a hole in the new plasterboard wall.
One bit of information, according to the tiler who has to fix some tiles in the new arrivals waiting area the building will open next Monday but not the new shop which is still waiting to be built.
Last edited by King Pong; 1st Aug 2005 at 18:17.
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A good up to date aerial photo of Luton Airport can be found at http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=506910
Interesting to see the land to the south of the runway which the airport authority would like to develop. It seems to be quite undulating.
Interesting to see the land to the south of the runway which the airport authority would like to develop. It seems to be quite undulating.
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As I have said before, the senior management were hell bent on opening the first floor of the tinminal, for whatever reason?
Did Mr Keyhole leave as a result of creating a blinkered blunder?
If the development was £35m+, it was a shocking waste of money having sampled the delights of the 'new facilities'.
I approve of the holding gate areas, Lo-Co's need them for rapid turn arounds. They are not pretty but serve a purpose.
I do not approve of removing the excellent departure lounge. It could have been refurbished. Anyway, part of it is still in use over by the low numbered gates. It even has the horrid blue carpet (and smells) laid during the last centuary!
The new departure lounge discourages dwelling. You cannot sit within the enclave as there are few seats. You pick up a quick snack and head for the gate. A concept proven by graphic displays by marketing guru, but hideous for the traveller!
Then if you have the unfortune of flying with a certain Lo-Co, you need Sherpa Tenzing to bring your supplies whilst you hike to the gate!
Congratulations TBI. By virtue of your quest to open the first floor of the tinminal you have spent £35m+ on exactly what additional passenger facilities apart from holding gates?
Rant over. You pay peanuts, you get 'New Luton Airport', I prefer the old!
Has the single lift failed yet from adjacent to the escalator, to the new security check in yet? What fun when it does!
1600 tiles being replaced over a month since opening. JOKE!
Did Mr Keyhole leave as a result of creating a blinkered blunder?
If the development was £35m+, it was a shocking waste of money having sampled the delights of the 'new facilities'.
I approve of the holding gate areas, Lo-Co's need them for rapid turn arounds. They are not pretty but serve a purpose.
I do not approve of removing the excellent departure lounge. It could have been refurbished. Anyway, part of it is still in use over by the low numbered gates. It even has the horrid blue carpet (and smells) laid during the last centuary!
The new departure lounge discourages dwelling. You cannot sit within the enclave as there are few seats. You pick up a quick snack and head for the gate. A concept proven by graphic displays by marketing guru, but hideous for the traveller!
Then if you have the unfortune of flying with a certain Lo-Co, you need Sherpa Tenzing to bring your supplies whilst you hike to the gate!
Congratulations TBI. By virtue of your quest to open the first floor of the tinminal you have spent £35m+ on exactly what additional passenger facilities apart from holding gates?
Rant over. You pay peanuts, you get 'New Luton Airport', I prefer the old!
Has the single lift failed yet from adjacent to the escalator, to the new security check in yet? What fun when it does!
1600 tiles being replaced over a month since opening. JOKE!
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I did notice on my visit that passengers were being called to the gates with only minutes left before the scheduled departure time. This resulted in a rather full departure lounge with passengers waiting to be called to the gates with the old departure lounge that contains 11 gates being left empty despite having twice as many seats as the new lounge.
I also had a look at the eastern apron as I passed by. A walkway made out of portable control barriers now snakes its way from stands 47 and 48 which borders the short term car park around the rear of the temporary builders compound and ends up close to the exit of the staircase that descends from the new lounge. The staircase is still land side as a fence needs to be moved so is not in use yet. I wouldn’t like to walk to these stands if it was raining as it is quite a walk in the open.
I try to be pro Luton but sometimes it is hard. First impressions for many passengers is the bombsite which is called the short term car park. This car park is in an appalling state of repair. Next comes the check –in area. A good 25%-30% of the ceiling lights were broken when I passed through. Even when they all work the area is semi-dark but with this many lights busted I thought there had been a power cut.
I also had a look at the eastern apron as I passed by. A walkway made out of portable control barriers now snakes its way from stands 47 and 48 which borders the short term car park around the rear of the temporary builders compound and ends up close to the exit of the staircase that descends from the new lounge. The staircase is still land side as a fence needs to be moved so is not in use yet. I wouldn’t like to walk to these stands if it was raining as it is quite a walk in the open.
I try to be pro Luton but sometimes it is hard. First impressions for many passengers is the bombsite which is called the short term car park. This car park is in an appalling state of repair. Next comes the check –in area. A good 25%-30% of the ceiling lights were broken when I passed through. Even when they all work the area is semi-dark but with this many lights busted I thought there had been a power cut.
Last edited by King Pong; 1st Aug 2005 at 22:36.
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The new, big, powerful spanish owners(as we are led to believe) who took over TBI in January, and who might offer some real competition to BAA, seem to be very quiet. Nothing new, in any shape or form has happened so far. Let's hope things improve. They could at least try and expedite correction of some the current probs within the airport facility.
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The master plan will be revealed before Christmas. By then the drop off area should have received another design change.
I see the entry barriers to the service road have been re-instated. This road is now much busier than it used to be due to the shops in the new departure lounge. The problem is if two lorries arrive at the same time the entrance and exit to the drop off area is completely blocked.
I see the entry barriers to the service road have been re-instated. This road is now much busier than it used to be due to the shops in the new departure lounge. The problem is if two lorries arrive at the same time the entrance and exit to the drop off area is completely blocked.
Last edited by LTNman; 2nd Aug 2005 at 06:56.
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Anyone know if Thomas Cook airlines are doing their 4/5 week stint at LTN this month, like last year. If my memory serves me correctly, it was a 757 operating Ws from GLA. Or was that a one-off?.
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More Helvetic
Looking at the Helvitec booking engine the increase appears to be double daily weekdays plus a Sun Eve rotation.
Link on London-Luton web site news section
Link on London-Luton web site news section
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Bremen- is that the best, new german route easy can come up with?. Hardly a destination that instantly springs to mind in connection with all things german. However, if ryan can fill their planes to the most obscure places, i'm sure it will do very well.
Bremen, on the contrary, seems a wise choice.
Bremen, alongside Hamburg, is one of Germany's major port cities, and in terms of market size could be compared with Nürnberg, which Air Berlin serves successfully to Stansted.
Add to that that the only other UK connection is from LGW by BACX, and EZY would seem to have an excellent chance to make a go of the route.
Bremen, alongside Hamburg, is one of Germany's major port cities, and in terms of market size could be compared with Nürnberg, which Air Berlin serves successfully to Stansted.
Add to that that the only other UK connection is from LGW by BACX, and EZY would seem to have an excellent chance to make a go of the route.
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Add to that that the only other UK connection is from LGW by BACX, and EZY would seem to have an excellent chance to make a go of the route.
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I suspect that a return to flying Geneva - Luton with GVA based or indeed LTN - Basle with Basle based aircraft will free up enough capacity to operate the Bremen without requiring an additional aircraft.