LUTON - 3

[Minnie the Moocher]

Times is hard at LTN?

Just got back after few days out of the UK and I'm trying to catch up.

1) So Air Turquoise have suspended ops? Not really a shock, it just took a bit longer than I thought. I don't want to brag but Minnie was the prophetess of doom back on May 16th... "I noticed that the Air Turquoise flight to Reims didn't operate yesterday. I hear they have been getting some very bad load factors. So another 'Luton' airline about to go to the wall?".

2) Final Master Plan now delayed until late this year? - 'nuff said. Those plans to cash in on the Olympics must surely be abandoned now. Earlier speculative comments in this string regarding less ambitious plans for expansion have the ring of truth, and whatever happens the local 'anti' morons will make a PR meal out of the airport's discomfort.

3) Lastly, they must be really short of cash. I picked up a copy of the latest staff newletter off a public desk in the tinminal today, and it's awful compared to previous issues. Up until now I believe the airport have had it produced for them commercially, but the latest copy looks homemade and it has the feel of a bad parish newletter. mmmm...

[CAP493]

Also the latest rumour from the Council is that an extension to the concession will be announced, maybe 10 years...

This is now both LLAO's and LBC's preferred option (LBC has indicated that it would not support the 'new' airport as proposed under Project 2030), whereby the existing site would then be devloped although clearly not to cater for 30m annual pax. However...LBC's lawyers have indicated that if the Concession is to be 'extended' (which in reality means re-negotiated) then it must be opened up for competitive tender. ACDL/LLAO's view is that this could open the door to others e.g. Ferrovial, and so it's unwilling to take the risk.

Without the Concession being extended the cost of the investment required doesn't stack up from a business-plan perspective. So, both parties are now desperately trying to come up with a workable solution that will facilitate:

- taxiway extensions to the runway ends
- improvements to the existing taxiway/runway access points (the site isn't big enough to construct 'proper' rapid exit taxiways)
- a terminal extension
- additional apronage
- an additional taxiway parallel to Delta running as far north as Harrod's apron providing access to the East Apron and a new Southeast Apron
- further roadway improvements
- a relocated Airport Fire Station
- a multi-story car park.

Whether (i) the funding can be made available (the cash is there - it's simply a question of "...is it worth it?") (ii) planning permission can be obtained without a public inquiry and (iii) ACDL is prepared to continue working in a 'straightjacket' remains to be seen.

Remember that Frankfurt Airport Authority - one of the original Concession contenders - walked away saying that because of the run-down state of LTN at the time, and the amount of investment required to bring it up to an acceptable standard, a Concession length of 30 years wasn't viable.

Seems like FRA's judgement is turning out to be correct!

LBC strikes yet again...

[Daft bat]

From CAP 493

taxiway extensions to the runway ends
- improvements to the existing taxiway/runway access points (the site isn't big enough to construct 'proper' rapid exit taxiways)
- a terminal extension
- additional apronage
- an additional taxiway parallel to Delta running as far north as Harrod's apron providing access to the East Apron and a new Southeast Apron
- further roadway improvements
- a relocated Airport Fire Station
- a multi-story car park

Cap 493 the list you have quoted are all on the plans I saw called "option 3" however the plans do show rapid exit taxiways at both ends of the runway.They were positioned between what is the current Alpha and Bravo entrance's to the runway and what would be the new entrance's to the runway threshold taxiways.
Hope my explanation makes sence

[LTNman]

From day one of the concession it was obvious that heavy investment could only take place in the early years to allow a sufficient pay back period for the operator. No operating company is going to spend hundreds of millions of pounds only to hand it over to someone else as a free gift when the concession ran out. The concession should have been at least 50 years.

[Buster the Bear]

I totally agree LTNman, but LBC won't be able to understand this logic! To be honest though, I doubt if anyone actually thought Luton would be handling around 10 million passengers so soon into this concession period AND the current concession holders are not the ones who signed the original concession agreement. Either ACDL have gambled taking on TBI, or have bought blindly into this situation?

What is remarkable, is just how the airport is coping with such limited facilities shifting record numbers of planes and people, but there are limits! The laws of deminishing returns, more investment is needed to take Luton to the next level and beyond. No wonder an extension to the concession is being considered by ACDL. If a longer concession means putting the place out to tender, then kiss goodbye to interim development I would guess, unless LBC pays for it, but how can LBC, as they under strict budgetry control from Westminster?

[LTNman]

If an agreement can’t be reached then the future lies in expanding executive jet movements. The operating company will need to provide additional taxiways to increase movement rates but the FBO’s can pay for everything else including new aprons and exec terminals. I assume this is the case with the new Harrods apron which opened up opposite the eastern apron. This should be outside any concession agreement with the council. It might even be the case that the airport looks for a third FBO for Luton if Harrods and Signature don’t play ball.

[LTNman]

The case for a full parallel taxiway

Why a full-length parallel taxiway is needed now to increase the movement rate.

http://doug3658.fotopic.net/p31667530.html

[ebenezer]

]...the FBO’s can pay for everything else including new aprons and exec terminals.

Quite correct! And this is exactlywhat Signature Flight Support is intending with its proposed new three-story corporate aviation terminal building that will shortly be built adjacent to the Gulfstream hangar (planning permission has aleardy been received). It also appears that both Harrods and Signature are lobbying LLAO for additional apron space (easier to provide for Harrods than for Signature).

Either ACDL have gambled taking on TBI, or have bought blindly into this situation?

There must surely be an element of unawareness on the part of TBI itself, if one looks at the expenditure already undertaken and that's still needed:-

1. Recent complete runway resurfacing (at least five years overdue)
2. Various taxiway surface repairs
3. Various stand re-surfacing programmes
4. Replacement surface movement radar (current system works but is v. old technology)
5. ILS replacement (current system also works but is v.old technology)
6. Car park refurbishment
7. Major internal roads revamp
8. Major revamp of 'old' terminal
9. Construction of 'new' terminal
10. Full-length parallel taxiway construction
11. Runway lighting rennovation
12. Surface drain replacement

If TBI had been able to carry-out a 'schedule of dilapidation' back in 2000, one wonders if it too, would have shared the view taken by Frankfurt Airport (and others) and simply walked away.

Rumour has it that the 'deal' being discussed might well see LBC's holding company (London Luton Airport Limited) funding a significant proportion of the further development costs needed, on the grounds that it's this Company that continues to own the Airport and this would be seen as an investment in its own real estate thereby creating more local jobs, etc., in an area that has in relative terms, a high unemployment index and continuing 'urban deprivation' areas and which therefore, is eligible for regional grant aid.

[LTNman]

Quite correct! And this is exactlywhat Signature Flight Support is intending with its proposed new three-story corporate aviation terminal building that will shortly be built adjacent to the Gulfstream hangar (planning permission has aleardy been received).

Are you sure about the planning permission? A look at http://www.luton.gov.uk/Media%20Libr...6%20months.pdf shows no planning applications for this when a seach on the words Airport or Percival is carried out. I have been checking out this site for years and have never seen anything relating to this development.

[ebenezer]

Are you sure about the planning permission?

I certainly am! Confirmed in the notes of a recent (July) Airport/Council meeting. The Council has taken the view that there's neither a change of use nor an increase in terminal capacity arising from this development. Must be one of the very few occasions that an intelligent and objective decision emanated from Luton's Town Hall!!

[Buster the Bear]

I am told that LBC stands to earn between £14 and £16 million from its concession arrangement during this financial year.

I have just discovered this:

http://www.jobsatluton.co.uk/pdf/PFC1652.pdf

[Powerjet1]

From 30 Oct, Aer Arran's LTN-IOM change, with the flight starting in LTN, with a 15.05 dep and arrival back in LTN at 18.10 Mon - Fri. Weekend flights originate in IOM as do all current daily LTN-IOM flights. Newquay & Lorient finish for the winter and Galway & Waterford both continue twice daily using a GWY bases aircraft. If the IOM flights are to be operated by a LTN based aircraft, could Liege and other routes be announced shortly?

[CAP493]

I am told that LBC stands to earn between £14 and £16 million from its concession arrangement during this financial year.

Good grief! And what exactly does LBC do with all this cash, where does it all go??? Put another way, how much more 'deprived' would Luton be if this income dried up...??

[Buster the Bear]

CAP493, you really should go and visit Acacia Avenue, or is it called Bury Park High Street, I really cannot remember? Lots of money has been spent there and also in St Georges Sq by the Arndale. LBC provided a top quality outdoor shelter for all the resident wino's!

[Powerjet1]

LTN-SNN not bookable after 28 Oct. Is this another route being given up by ryan along with VST. Three based aircraft, down from four, looking even more likely, unless a whole set of new routes in the pipeline to replace those given up.

[Buster the Bear]

Ryanair downsizing at Luton? Well that would be a media coup for easyJet, the timing of which will also coincide with their move from the shrink wrapped huts into the hangar!

[Buster the Bear]

Shannon, could be a route for Arann if Ryanair pull the route?

[Charlie Roy]

Originally Posted by Powerjet1

LTN-SNN not bookable after 28 Oct. Is this another route being given up by ryan along with VST. Three based aircraft, down from four, looking even more likely, unless a whole set of new routes in the pipeline to replace those given up.

That is indeed very strange that Luton to Shannon is suddenly no bookable (Maybe the schedule is just being revised)

I would be surprised to see it cancelled, especially now since Easyjet are pulling out of Shannon, and Ryanair have less competition on the Shannon - London routes. Or maybe that's exactly why they would be cancelling it, having previously supplied capacity way above market demand in an attempt to force Easyjet out, and now that they are gone, reduce their Shannon - London services.

However Aircraft 4 currently flies:
Luton - Vasteras
Luton - Dublin (1-3-5-7) / Brest (-2-4-6-)
Luton - Shannon
Luton - Vasteras

For winter Dublin/Brest are still bookable but at later times (departing Luton at 1620 instead of 1140). Aircrafts 1, 2, 3 are operating practically the same schedules as summer, so have no room to do the Dublin/Brest flights.
Thus, Aircraft 4 will still need to be in Luton for the winter to do the 1620 flights to Dublin/Brest.
We know Vasteras is gone, and if Shannon is also gone, then the possibility for new routes using Aircraft 4 is immense!


PS: Even if Ryanair do cancel Shannon - Luton, I will never expect Aer Arann to take over the route. Shannon already has 2 huge players on the Shannon - London routes (Aerlingus and Ryanair), and Aer Arann won't dare go up against them. If that was the case, Aer Arann would have introduced Cork - Luton ages ago.

[King Pong]

I see that yesterday the first easyJet flight from and to Edinburgh was cancelled and today the same is happening with the Glasgow rotation. Seeing that these first flights of the day are very popular with the business community I am somewhat surprised that easyjet cancelled them.

I was going to take the family up to Glasgow for a long weekend to visit relatives but I can’t take the chance that easyjet won't cancel one of the legs so that’s another 4 passengers they have lost.

[Charlie Roy]

4th aircraft going nowhere

Well, to be more precise, it's going to be going to FEZ and Marrekech in the Winter. Check out Ryanair's route map!