LUTON - 6

[LTNman]

1992, those were the days

[compton3bravo]

Thanks for the great memories LTNMan. Was parked in the road to the crash gate on the south side most of the day and have never seen so many step ladders in one place in my life! One wag said he could not remember a fence getting so many coats of paint!

[jpthomas72]

Morning queues at border control

Was just wondering if there is any hope of improvements on the morning UK Border control situation at LTN. Had first-hand experience today flying in from VNO, first they've let us stuck inside the plane for some 15min, then massive queues and a 50min wait to have the passport checked. Some people were too late for their pre-booked trains. I know, Wizzair throws some 7 plane-loads of people at the UK border agents, including many from non-EU cities (BEG etc), which take longer to process. But just 5 passport desks were manned, out of which 2 were for Non-EU. 3 EU-desks unmanned, and the automatic gates as usual out of service (seems normal, we also never have them switched-on at BHX - why even advertise those ?). I hope this can be improved, as Wizzair do a nice job with the VNO flights. They compete with FR's STN-VNO, which has somewhat better flight times, and the enlarged passport check facilities at STN don't clog-up easily.

[ericlday]

Typical 07.00 - 07.30 has 11 wizzair arrivals.

[VICKERS VC10]

Air Bucharest

The Air Bucharest website has London Luton on their origin/destination drop down list with 'online booking is not yet active' as response if you try. Does anyone know more?

VICKERS VC10

[LGS6753]

With Wizz flying to Bucharest 14x weekly and Blue Air 5x, I can't see there's room for another carrier on this route.
Air Bucharest's website says 'online booking not yet active' to others of their 40 destinations too. Currently they have one aircraft (and presumably big plans!)

[Mr Optimistic]

What's all this about birds in the Bedfordshire press ? Usual/unusual ?

Bedfordshire Local News, Local News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Birds cause delays at Luton airport

[compton3bravo]

Probably a Monarch Airbus had a bird strike on take-off and had to return to the airfield. Usual over the top reporting from Bedfordshire on Sunday! Maybe colleagues closer to the airport than I am may be able to give a more thorough explanation.

[ericlday]

Delays a plenty on some Monarch flights today, is this the result of the 'Birds'

[Smithm]

Re Birds at Luton

Re the 'over the top reporting' of Beds on Sunday I was on the easyJet flight yesterday and it was EXACTLY as reported in the press. The EJ Capt said at Nice that the outward flight had been delayed due to a Monarch plane having to make an emergency return due to birds and that the airport had been closed for 30 mins.

Then on landing at Luton - when we did appear to be coming in very fast we hit the deck and then went straight up again for a go around again the reason was given as 'birds'!!!!

[LemonLyman]

Smithm

The aiport did not close at anytime due to the birdstrike. A monarch a321 departed and came straight back, whole thing took less than 10 minutes and neither runway or airport closed.

Then on landing at Luton - when we did appear to be coming in very fast we hit the deck and then went straight up again for a go around again the reason was given as 'birds'!!!!

The reason for that go around was not birds.

[Smithm]

Re birds at Luton

Thanks for that info. Makes it even more interesting as to 1. Why the pilot told us categorically that the airport had been closed for 30 mins and 2. Why he said that his go around was due to birds. Is it usual to lie to your pax?

If he misjudged his approach then surely we as the people who pay their wages deserve an honest explanation. On landing there was no further apology or explanation but at least several of the passengers had managed to stop crying.

Are Airline pilots like Doctors, beyond question or reproach? there certainly seems to be a certain arrogance against having any criticism e.g a perfectly accurate press report dismissed as 'over the top'. Maybe as 'non professionals' our fears and concerns are unfounded but as fare paying passengers we deserve honesty, reassurance and respect!

[easyflyer83]

As cabin crew I naturally work with a lot of pilots as you can imagine. I have to say that I don't think I have ever come across one who has lied to passengers. Of course you have the odd white lie like saying theres a little bit of turbulence predicted when you were thrown about a fair bit on the way there but that is more reassurance to nervous pax. There are ego-istic pilots out there but very few seem to mind admitting the real reason for a particular event.

As for birds....wouldn't it have been safer to have continued the landing if the main gear had already touched down?

[Buster the Bear]

Post local elections in May, the long-term future of the airport might well be decided. I am hearing lots of positive information and possible huge investment!

Maybe at last be able to directly compete on a level playing field with the BAA's finest - Satansted!

[ericlday]

LADACAN will be rounding up their troops to oppose anything that can be slightly worded as expansion !!!

[herochecker]

your post is very good

[herochecker]

your post is very good

[LGS6753]

What political complexion does Buster expect in the Town Hall that will suddenly waken the dinosaur?

[LTNman]

Labour has 25 seats, Liberal Democrat 17 seats, Tories 5 seats. I think we can expect no change in power.

[gilesdavies]

Two Lufthansa Flight into Luton Today

Anyone know why there are two Lufthansa flights due into Luton today?

LH3581 from Hanover 1220 est 1202
LH3580 from Munich 1300 est 1300

Seems like the Hanover flight is being flown by an A320 - D-AIQW.