LUTON

[ezpz]

LTNman, the training academy isnt big enough for all the training easyjet have planned at the minute, let alone room for and HQ functions to move down the road.

easyLand is full to capacity at the minute, and there is no room for expansion, so a new HQ will have to be built soon. The HQ was due to move earlier this year to another site, but it was all cancelled because of the current financial climate, ie all our profits dissapearing into the rising oil price. Rumours also that the site they found had subsidance, even though they had already signed a lease.

The staff will all end up in car park B opposite cargo, and there maybe enough room to squeeze a multi storey short term car park into the central terminal area.

[Buster the Bear]

I understand that if easyJet post a massive lo$$, bigger than any previous during this quiet winter, there could well be plenty of room in easyLand shortly afterwards?

Expect the 'head count' slayers then to arrive on a mission from City investors!

Do Ryanair operate thier own academy, or do they contract it out?

Staff within easyLand will soon find that they have to park thier cars remote and bus it to work. With all the planned expansion, this looks likely. Sadly, staff will be ousted by expansion by airlines other than easyJet!

SUPERB, staff of the based airline will have to park thier car miles away and catch a bus, due to expansion of thier rivals and they will be able to sit and watch through thier 'shrink wrapped' window, whilst other expand thier business from Luton!

Poetic justice, not for me to say, but we await the resolution of the easyJet expansion that LTNman posted earlier!

[DeepC]

I would love to know how a building of this size got planning approval without the provision of adequate parking spaces

The way planning guidlines are currently structured the reverse is true. You cannot get planning consent on a building if it has sufficient car parking space for it's workers. This is meant to encourage transport modal shift (Buses, Trains, Cycles, Peds). What it actually does is shift parking into nearby residential streets, supermarket car parks, other business car park etc.

It is unbelieveable what the planning guidlines think is sufficient parking. I think they assume four up in a car and 25% modal shift or something drastic. In reality a modal shift of 4% is considered a stupendous achievement. To put it into focus. If a modal shift of 2% across the SE of england occurred onto trains, the rail infrastructure could not cope with the increased demand. The government's lack of investment in rail has been at odds with it's proffessed support of modal shift.

DeepC

[Buster the Bear]

I quote:

"You cannot get planning consent on a building if it has sufficient car parking space for it's workers. "

I am totally puzzled now!

[LTNman]

LTNman, the training academy isnt big enough for all the training easyjet have planned at the minute, let alone room for and HQ functions to move down the road.

Britannia’s HQ is much bigger than it looks from the outside, the only problem might be that it consists of three buildings opposite each other but it swamps the present easyland. This could be easyjet's only chance to stay actually inside the airport boundary.

[DeepC]

Buster,

I am totally puzzled now!

The planning guidelines are trying to reduce car dependency. For instance our building in Welwyn Garden City has in excess of 300 Workers but less than 100 spaces. The planning guidlines do not allow us to make room for more cars as it goes against the aim of less car dependency.

Understand?

DeepC

[Buster the Bear]

They way that I read it was that if you designed a new builing with sufficient space for all the workers cars, it would not get planning approval? So from what you are saying, it wouldn't, how bizarre?

I fully understand the need to get staff to get too and from work other than by car, but in the UK, you mostly have an inadequate public transport infrastructure, and where it is available, is rather expensive comapred to other nations with similar ambitions?

The roads soon will be so clogged in an around Luton airport with the new access road, the widening of the link from the M1, and of course the 10 year project to 4 lane the M1 from the M25 up to MK! Road works everywhere!

[LTNman]

The planning guidelines are trying to reduce car dependency.

Ah so by getting rid of the short term and staff car parks for more aircraft stands and reducing the size of the mid term car park so a full length parallel taxiway can be built means that planning permission is assured.

[Powerjet1]

Britannia’s HQ is much bigger than it looks from the outside, the only problem might be that it consists of three buildings opposite each other but it swamps the present easyland. This could be easyjet's only chance to stay actually inside the airport boundary

Would have thought this would have been a good option if the right deal could be struck. Didn't easy stay at LTN rather than move their HQ to STN due to the regeneration grants available?. Assume this would still apply.

With the current financial situation, rising oil prices etc, and the need to keep cost to a minimum, who knows. However, I would surmise that easyland, in its current location, it's days are numbered, as the land will be required for expansion.

[CAP670]

The planning guidelines are trying to reduce car dependency

This is just so much Government bull****! If we all stopped driving cars, Brown's budget would have an even bigger hole in it (reduced income from lower fuel sales, VAT, road fund licences, etc) and the local councils would be equally strapped for cash (reduced income from car parking charges, parking permits, etc).

As regards Luton, easyJet has apparently been given notice that its staff car park will have to be given up, presumably because of the plans to build six stands to the south of the existing East Apron area. It's probable that there will be left a small area for 'executive' parking and for hire cars. However, the focus of car parking is eventually planned to move to the south side of the 'bridge' - but heaven knows where! LLAO's ultimate aim is to have only disabled persons' private cars driving up to the terminals, and to have either a 'people mover' or coaches transporting passengers to/from the terminal(s) from/to remote car parks.

The Thameslink 2000 Project envisioned direct trains linking Guildford with Cambridge via St Pancras Thameslink and Hitchin (ultimately, being extended to Kings Lynn) interchanging with the current Thameslink Bedford/Brighton service at the new St Pancras Thameslink station. This may still happen after 2007 but will require some further work south of Snow Hill tunnel to add track capacity.

LLAO's Project 2030 did at one stage envisage a rail link from the Midland Main Line north of Harpenden via the new South Terminal (associated with a new runway) to the East Cost Main Line south of Hitchin.

If the Government really does want to reduce car dependancy, it ought to put its money where John Prescott's mouth is, and look at part-funding this sort of development.

Pigs of course, might fly!

[DeepC]

They way that I read it was that if you designed a new builing with sufficient space for all the workers cars, it would not get planning approval? So from what you are saying, it wouldn't, how bizarre?

Correct.

DeepC

[Buster the Bear]

BLIMEY, this thread is considered only suitable for spotters corner. Has the moderator who moved it been smoking the potted plants in his lounge?

Buster, Luton most wanted bear spotter (NOT)!

[OLNEY 1 BRAVO]

Back to the right forum please!

Buster - I entirely agree. The vast majority of the discussion on this thread does not concern spotting issues (not that there is anything wrong with that) but about the day to day operation of the airport, and more importantly the almost certain expansion of the airport now that it is under new management. The issues being reported and debated are sensible and serious.

Maybe the Mod that moved the thread is a BAA mole????

[pabely]

'Happenings'

Bournemouth & Manchester appear to have moved as well. Both non BAA airports, you could be right?

See already being discussed on another thread!

[Buster the Bear]

I am going to add more fuel to the Air Berlin fire.

According to my mate Luton Wrelic who now lives in Espania, has told me that Luton will be linked to Palma and Malaga and possibly other destinations from Summer 2006 by Air Berlin.

This has been reported in the Spanish media!

So by posting this rumour, I am now officially a plane spotter. I must change my title!

I must get a note book, pencil and a ruler to underline my rumour. Now where can I buy a copy of Ian Allan Civil Aircraft Rumours 2005?

Buster, the Spotter!

I am off to smoke my potted cactus, like the moderators on here!

I HATE MOLES, they dig up my bear pit!

[LTNman]

According to my mate Luton Wrelic who now lives in Espania, has told me that Luton will be linked to Palma and Malaga and possibly other destinations from Summer 2006 by Air Berlin.

I am sorry Buster but your post is inappropriate to this forum as it clearly covers 1/ airlines, 2/ airports and 3/ routes so should be posted to the airlines, airports and routes forum.

I think it is now time to close this thread as I can't be asked to check out two forums for Luton news

[CAP670]

I thought that it might be helpful to repeat in the 'proper' Forum, (Airlines, etc) the last few posts from the previous thread, just so that those of us who are trying to have an adult discussion on an important issue such as airport expansion (routes and concrete) aren't all forced to keep going to this Spotters' Corner (cozy as it undoubtedly is!).

You can therefore, revert to the previous location.

Of course, the Thought Police might decide to move us again. If so, perhaps the Moderator(s) might like to create a new forum entitled "Room 101".

Big Brother is definitely watching you...

[LTNman]

Thank you Mr Moderator for reviewing your decision.

[Buster the Bear]

I realise that we should all pay homage to the moderators for the gift that is this site, but when you invest some of you hard earned income in supporting PPRuNe like I did last week, to find my posts side lined within a plane spotters section was absurd and very annoying.

Anyway, I spelt Wrelic wrong in my post above!

Luton Relic has no internet access, but told me 'off the cuff' that Air Berlin were to link Luton with Palma and Malaga next summer. Reported in the media within the area he lives in Spain, so I am hardly invading corporate secrecy by posting this rumour here?

Anyway, nice to see sense prevail and I promise not to wind LTNman up too much, but he seems a nice guy and a Luton airport fan?

[LTNman]

Luton Relic has no internet access, but told me 'off the cuff' that Air Berlin were to link Luton with Palma and Malaga next summer. Reported in the media within the area he lives in Spain, so I am hardly invading corporate secrecy by posting this rumour here?

It was Relic who told me that the runway was going to be resurfaced last winter which never happened. Hope his info is a bit more accurate this time. I then read it on a notice board that it was going to happen this winter but I see that it has been delayed for another year.

Anyway, nice to see sense prevail and I promise not to wind LTNman up too much?

I will just turn my back on you and show you my bear behind