LUTON -8
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So Ryanair announce 13% growth for next summer to 123 flights. This means they must operated 107 per week now so the increase is 16 flights a week or 1 additional return per day for 6 days per week and a second additional return for the remaining day.
I think the more interesting time will be 2017 when there will be a big increase in Luton's capacity and how the airlines react to it. Luton will actually only gain 5 extra stands that will be walkable from the terminal, all the others will have to be bused after the idea of extending the pier to the south stands was rejected. Low cost airlines prefer not to use buses as it can delay boarding so will there be a rush to base more aircraft at Luton and if there is from which airline?
I think the more interesting time will be 2017 when there will be a big increase in Luton's capacity and how the airlines react to it. Luton will actually only gain 5 extra stands that will be walkable from the terminal, all the others will have to be bused after the idea of extending the pier to the south stands was rejected. Low cost airlines prefer not to use buses as it can delay boarding so will there be a rush to base more aircraft at Luton and if there is from which airline?
Last edited by LTNman; 4th Sep 2015 at 05:53.
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Redevelopment update
I will try to do this every Friday or Saturday.
The security hall still hasn't opened. Missed opening dates include July and August.
The first of Signature's old twin hangars is still being demolished.
The old drop off area looks close to reopening for its temporary use. As suspected the priority parking area will be in lane one as their portocabin has been relocated there. The taxi rank looks like it will occupy the second and third lanes. Once they have both moved work can start on the relocation of the bus station. Eventually the old drop off zone will be crossed by a new road from the tunnel.
Tuesday saw the start of work to extend the mid term car park close to the 08 turning circle. This is because part of the existing mid term car park will be lost when the taxiway at the 08 end is extended.
In the true traditions of the airport this will be a cheap bodge job of just scraping away the top layer of soil and covering it in cinders. As can be seen in the photo bodge jobs can be completed quickly. I think it will take them longer to erect the fence.
The security hall still hasn't opened. Missed opening dates include July and August.
The first of Signature's old twin hangars is still being demolished.
The old drop off area looks close to reopening for its temporary use. As suspected the priority parking area will be in lane one as their portocabin has been relocated there. The taxi rank looks like it will occupy the second and third lanes. Once they have both moved work can start on the relocation of the bus station. Eventually the old drop off zone will be crossed by a new road from the tunnel.
Tuesday saw the start of work to extend the mid term car park close to the 08 turning circle. This is because part of the existing mid term car park will be lost when the taxiway at the 08 end is extended.
In the true traditions of the airport this will be a cheap bodge job of just scraping away the top layer of soil and covering it in cinders. As can be seen in the photo bodge jobs can be completed quickly. I think it will take them longer to erect the fence.
Paxing All Over The World
In the true traditions of the airport this will be a cheap bodge job...
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Expansion and any new routes
Wizz don't mind bus stands but will only have them at a much lower cost than normal. Wizz always choose the cheaper option so there won't mind. In the morning 8 planes already have to go on a bus to get to the plane so I wouldn't think airlines mind that much.
With both Atlantic airlines and Firnas Airways needed a London base could it be LTN. Who else could LTN maybe attract. Maybe see if Sun Express and Air Nostrum will be back next year as both had 95% load factor.
With both Atlantic airlines and Firnas Airways needed a London base could it be LTN. Who else could LTN maybe attract. Maybe see if Sun Express and Air Nostrum will be back next year as both had 95% load factor.
B737-8,
Atlantic Star seem to be flirting with Stansted, according to recent leaks.
As to Firnas Airways, I will believe it when I see it - and their route structure and preferred type (767) may suit somewhere with a longer runway.
On a separate topic, the passenger numbers using La Compagnie are not appearing in the CAA detailed stats, at least in July.
Atlantic Star seem to be flirting with Stansted, according to recent leaks.
As to Firnas Airways, I will believe it when I see it - and their route structure and preferred type (767) may suit somewhere with a longer runway.
On a separate topic, the passenger numbers using La Compagnie are not appearing in the CAA detailed stats, at least in July.
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Why would using a 767 mean Firnas not using Luton with the routes they have planned?
Don't they intend to fly to
Sylhet, Islamabad, Jeddah and possibly New York, all of which doable from Luton on a 767?
As for Atlantic Star, well we shall see.
What would be good is if Luton could woo Thomson to switch their long haul flights now planned from STN to their home base, perhaps once more terminal work is completed?
Don't they intend to fly to
Sylhet, Islamabad, Jeddah and possibly New York, all of which doable from Luton on a 767?
As for Atlantic Star, well we shall see.
What would be good is if Luton could woo Thomson to switch their long haul flights now planned from STN to their home base, perhaps once more terminal work is completed?
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wallp
I admire your aspiration but you do seem to get very carried away sometimes with your favoritism towards LTN.
TOM will not be switching their long-haul network from STN to LTN anytime soon. What commercial basis would there be to do that? The fact that LTN is their home base is almost entirely irrelevant. STN's got a longer runway and the newly re-furbished area in Sat 1 (and air-bridges, but doubt that has much consideration).
Plus more importantly it covers a much greater un-served area of their network. LTN overlaps with the Midlands. Additionally I dare say TCX is another reason why they chose STN. Not to mention also they probably got a very good deal with MAG.
In all seriousness and your love for LTN aside; what commercial benefits do you think TOM would genuinely see by moving their long-haul from STN to LTN?
I admire your aspiration but you do seem to get very carried away sometimes with your favoritism towards LTN.
TOM will not be switching their long-haul network from STN to LTN anytime soon. What commercial basis would there be to do that? The fact that LTN is their home base is almost entirely irrelevant. STN's got a longer runway and the newly re-furbished area in Sat 1 (and air-bridges, but doubt that has much consideration).
Plus more importantly it covers a much greater un-served area of their network. LTN overlaps with the Midlands. Additionally I dare say TCX is another reason why they chose STN. Not to mention also they probably got a very good deal with MAG.
In all seriousness and your love for LTN aside; what commercial benefits do you think TOM would genuinely see by moving their long-haul from STN to LTN?
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I haven't been to the airport in a good few weeks, It is going to be weird going past and not seeing the signature hangars. I remember being a kid when they were magec aviation and a bunch of RAF? (Military camo) 125's were sitting around.
The reason why both TCX and Thomson would move their longhaul to Luton is simply that its catchment area is so much greater than that of STN. The only reason both have chosen STN is its runway. Luton,s 7000ft is insufficient for regular full-load transatlantic ops. The likes of Silverjet and La Compagnie are flying to the closest destinations with less than full loads.
Firnas too would struggle to reach their intended destinations from LTN's runway as no doubt they would be carrying fuller loads - unless they choose to refuel at a closer point (such as Istanbul).
Firnas too would struggle to reach their intended destinations from LTN's runway as no doubt they would be carrying fuller loads - unless they choose to refuel at a closer point (such as Istanbul).
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For Firnas, a refuelling stop would put a damper on what appears to be one of their main usp's, direct flights from the UK to un/under served destinations. TOM could probably do LTN-SFB or LTN-BGI for cruise charters with a good load off its current runway, but I would think the likes of CUN would have too many restrictions in place in order to fly direct. Given that CUN is TOM's most served long haul destination this could have been an influential factor in choosing STN over LTN for long haul.
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Thompson is just a shadow of its former self from years gone by as far as Luton is concerned. Just compare their present Gatwick operation to their Luton programme. Is it really that demand has plummeted from its Bedforshire base? Well they can't blame the likes of Easyjet who are big at Gatwick so there must be another reason. I think the business is there but Thomson are pushing passengers to Gatwick from the London area.
As for long haul from Stanted? There is hardly a passenger flight that needs the extra runway length that Stansted can offer over Luton so in that sense it is a failed airport as most of the long haul business uses Heathrow or Gatwick.
As for long haul from Stanted? There is hardly a passenger flight that needs the extra runway length that Stansted can offer over Luton so in that sense it is a failed airport as most of the long haul business uses Heathrow or Gatwick.
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I admire your aspiration but you do seem to get very carried away sometimes with your favoritism towards LTN
its catchment area is so much greater than that of STN
the only reason both have chosen STN is its runway
"Furnace Air - the flights from Hell" I can see it now, who do I send the PR consultation invoice to?
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I do have aspirations for Luton and am not sure they are entirely misplaced given how successfully the airport has grown in recent years.
I don't see why Luton shouldn't target more long haul. I thought one of the advantages of the 787 is that it can operate with bigger payloads from shorter runways?
If Monarch managed to get an A330 in and out of Luton to Florida why not a 787 on a similar route?
Maybe Thomson won't be persuaded to bring he Dreamliner to Luton one day but hopefully Luton can attract some more long haul in the years to come.
I don't see why Luton shouldn't target more long haul. I thought one of the advantages of the 787 is that it can operate with bigger payloads from shorter runways?
If Monarch managed to get an A330 in and out of Luton to Florida why not a 787 on a similar route?
Maybe Thomson won't be persuaded to bring he Dreamliner to Luton one day but hopefully Luton can attract some more long haul in the years to come.
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The truth is that Luton doesn't need long haul to remain maxed out either now or in the future. With a long haul based aircraft you are lucky to see it once a day. With sort haul the aircraft could be seen 3 or 4 times a day. No prizes for guessing what Luton really wants.
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A modified version of this http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/..._m290113_2.jpg
and this http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/..._m290113_3.jpg plus this
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/..._m290113_1.jpg
Their replacement hangar was built fronting the cargo apron.
and this http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/..._m290113_3.jpg plus this
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/..._m290113_1.jpg
Their replacement hangar was built fronting the cargo apron.
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You are dead right. Someone brings up the subject and we go around in circles again. I think I will delete my earlier post that just encourages the debate.
All that we need to know is that both airports come bottom in customers experiences so they are the same.
All that we need to know is that both airports come bottom in customers experiences so they are the same.