LUTON - 6
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Signature will have the upper hand being closer to the runway with drop & dash.
As far as LGW, this was always going to happen, the new owners have pumped alot of £ improving things and will want ROI. LTN could gain alot in the next 12-24 months even without the 'big plan'. STN is still up in the air with a fight on with Southend. Don't tell anyone but I could see 11M+.
As far as LGW, this was always going to happen, the new owners have pumped alot of £ improving things and will want ROI. LTN could gain alot in the next 12-24 months even without the 'big plan'. STN is still up in the air with a fight on with Southend. Don't tell anyone but I could see 11M+.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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So who will fill the 'soon to be vacated' stands? I wonder with the increase in charges at Gatwick for smaller airliners (like Adria) will help?
Just me being a pessimist, but Adria is an airline on the brink.,. They are hemorrhaging money and are an airline without focus.
They chop and change routes like nobodies business, trying to make a quick buck and if it does not make money, they give it the axe without hesitation...
I am sure the London to Ljubljana route has been stopped and started atleast three times over the last five off years. Swapping between LHR and LGW, then now LTN!
So which airlines operate smaller airliners into Gatwick?
Al-Naser Airlines - Baghdad
Aurigny - Guernsey
Croatia Airlines - Zagreb, Split
Iceland Express - Reykjavik-Keflavķk
Macedonian - Tivat, Podgorica
SATA - Ponta Delgada-Joćo Paulo
TAP - Funchal, Lisbon, Porto
Tunisair - Djerba, Enfidha, Monastir
There is also a number of East European and former Soviet countries served by their national airlines to LGW.
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Wouldnt get too excited about new Airlines,think Mr O has passed a few comments recently about extra capacity being good at LTN.
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With the big plan yes, but an extra 10% from the 10M+ days could be done with better management of road layout (being addressed) security (short term fix being done).
The airlines which might consider moving from LGW could be accommodated now; I don't think any night stop currently.
The freeing of the 5/6 stands would increase capacity for N/S which would put more pressure on the 5-7AM checkin but doesn't any business maximise it resources, expect a few more short term changes to address this, from what I hear. Time will tell but expect continued upwards figures.
The airlines which might consider moving from LGW could be accommodated now; I don't think any night stop currently.
The freeing of the 5/6 stands would increase capacity for N/S which would put more pressure on the 5-7AM checkin but doesn't any business maximise it resources, expect a few more short term changes to address this, from what I hear. Time will tell but expect continued upwards figures.
Is there really any more capacity for additional passengers to checkin for the early morning wave of flights ? At least until the builders move in...
Spending 1 hour in May 2012 from joining the security queue to leaving the main security hall and being able to walk past WH Smith while all lanes are open and functioning normally seems excessive to me.
Spending 1 hour in May 2012 from joining the security queue to leaving the main security hall and being able to walk past WH Smith while all lanes are open and functioning normally seems excessive to me.
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Think the big plan will actually reduce the number of check-in desks as more and more people check-in on-line these days. Desks 201-210 were only every used for a short period when they were built and are now not used.
Yes the airport can cram more passengers through the front door first thing but the passenger experience is already poor for these passengers so why make it worse? There is already no room to process these passengers through security so some of them are being sent outside to use the old Silverjet terminal and then they have a long walk back to the retail area which is also full and has no spare seating.
Luton has plenty of spare capacity but this capacity is for aircraft not based at the airport that arrive after 9am so I would say that these soon to be vacated stands are not needed for a couple of years until the terminal is sorted.
Yes the airport can cram more passengers through the front door first thing but the passenger experience is already poor for these passengers so why make it worse? There is already no room to process these passengers through security so some of them are being sent outside to use the old Silverjet terminal and then they have a long walk back to the retail area which is also full and has no spare seating.
Luton has plenty of spare capacity but this capacity is for aircraft not based at the airport that arrive after 9am so I would say that these soon to be vacated stands are not needed for a couple of years until the terminal is sorted.
Last edited by LTNman; 19th Jun 2012 at 05:08.
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First experience of flying through LTN recently - observations are my own as are my opinions so please do not bash me down if you disagree.
Terminal very old and in need of updating, security queues excessively long at lunchtime (not busiest part of day, not helped by some very stupid passengers which seemed to dominate the terminal that day!) and its a pitty you have to pay for the coach transfer link between Luton Airport and Luton Airport Parkway station.
Not the airports fault, but the train station could do with more staff on duty to help passengers I saw no-one. Train cancellations and only announcements to go by.
However no queues at passport control on return, baggage delivered promptly which makes for a refreshing change.
Terminal very old and in need of updating, security queues excessively long at lunchtime (not busiest part of day, not helped by some very stupid passengers which seemed to dominate the terminal that day!) and its a pitty you have to pay for the coach transfer link between Luton Airport and Luton Airport Parkway station.
Not the airports fault, but the train station could do with more staff on duty to help passengers I saw no-one. Train cancellations and only announcements to go by.
However no queues at passport control on return, baggage delivered promptly which makes for a refreshing change.
The terminal was only built in 1999 and extended in 2005? Not sure what you mean by refurbishment. Unless you're talking about the 1970s terminal (is the plan to demolish it?)
Security queues - its always been like that. I understand that they're almost always understaffed.
Check in - doesn't the masterplan say that they're keeping the same amount of desks but for double the passengers? How can this work? I rarely go into the airport at 6am, but I gather the orange desks are pretty much stacked as it is?
As for the bus to the station, yes its disappointing. Not sure if FCC control that or it comes under LLAOL jurisdiction? I think one of the recommendations that came out of the consultation was that staff especially wanted more free bussing during unsociable hours and more public transport options in general.
I do think Luton Airport Parkway needs a lick or two of paint anyway. The new entrance off Kimpton Road should be open soon enough.
Security queues - its always been like that. I understand that they're almost always understaffed.
Check in - doesn't the masterplan say that they're keeping the same amount of desks but for double the passengers? How can this work? I rarely go into the airport at 6am, but I gather the orange desks are pretty much stacked as it is?
As for the bus to the station, yes its disappointing. Not sure if FCC control that or it comes under LLAOL jurisdiction? I think one of the recommendations that came out of the consultation was that staff especially wanted more free bussing during unsociable hours and more public transport options in general.
I do think Luton Airport Parkway needs a lick or two of paint anyway. The new entrance off Kimpton Road should be open soon enough.
Paxing All Over The World
From a long time user of LTN to a newbie, Cloud1, you have correctly assessed the airport in one post! I use it whenever possible as it's the nearest to home NOT because it's a nice port to use.
But it used to be! The 1999 terminal was cr@p from day one. The whole design and layout of the place is cheap and shoddy. The place is understaffed.
But it used to be! The 1999 terminal was cr@p from day one. The whole design and layout of the place is cheap and shoddy. The place is understaffed.
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The whole design and layout of the place is cheap and shoddy.
Think about the poor staff. The route they have to take to get from landside to the retail units upstairs has to be seen to be believed.
First they enter the terminal and precede to the side of the easyjet help desks in the check-in area. They then follow various corridors and staircases and descend to the service road under the terminal. After following this road they pass through security and then again following various corridors and staircases to get to the departure lounge above the check-in area. These staircases are massive due to the height of the ceilings and are not to be tackled lightly if you have a heart condition.
The service road under the terminal that is used for dropping off goods cant handle articulated lorries as there is no turning circle.
Last edited by LTNman; 19th Jun 2012 at 17:45.
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Well the plans are now out for Signatures new hangar. Seems someone is trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. The cargo stands are being bought forward slightly to allow Signatures new hangar to butt up to the service road located next to the cargo centre. It looks like these 2 cargo stands will also double up as Signatures apron. So how many Biz jets can be parked when there are 2 big fat Airbuses in the way?
Seeing that stands 16 and 17 are crammed full of aircraft Signature seem to be down sizing in a big way due to a lack of space.
Remember these plans can't be seen overnight due to the council server being off line.
http://www.eplan.luton.gov.uk/planne...-20-1_SI_A.PDF
http://www.eplan.luton.gov.uk/planne...-23-1_SI_A.PDF
PlanNet - Luton Borough Council
Seeing that stands 16 and 17 are crammed full of aircraft Signature seem to be down sizing in a big way due to a lack of space.
Remember these plans can't be seen overnight due to the council server being off line.
http://www.eplan.luton.gov.uk/planne...-20-1_SI_A.PDF
http://www.eplan.luton.gov.uk/planne...-23-1_SI_A.PDF
PlanNet - Luton Borough Council
Last edited by LTNman; 20th Jun 2012 at 06:24.
Paxing All Over The World
Thanks LTNman, not surprised to hear that the staff have it bad too. The whole 1999 terminal was done on the cheap. Regulars know the shortcomings and I have not got the time to list them for the newbies!
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: London Whipsnade Wildlife Park
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Taken at Luton sometime between 1954 and 1958 at the Percival Rally Luton airport (whatever that was) with WV614 in the foreground and G-AGTC just visible behind. Luton relic might remember!
