LUTON -8
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Weekly redevelopment update
All of Signature's hangar 102 plus its brick ramp services building has gone. Work has just started to remove the internal dividing wall between that hangar and hangar 63
Saturday saw Priority Parking move to their temporary home at the modified former drop off zone. This was followed by the taxi rank on Monday.
Tuesday saw the first part of the new security hall open using a temporary entrance in the main terminal. Despite this first phase having no more lanes than the old first floor setup the airport claims that with its new technology queues should be reduced. Despite being a busy Friday afternoon no queuing were seen.
The former easyjet HQ/ spectators building site, which will be the partial site of a new multi story car park has gained an entry and exit lane including a new barrier. This will allow the site to be used as a temporary car park but for whom is a mystery at the moment.
The pedestrian walkway from the temporary drop off area that overlooks the eastern apron is being doubled in width. Again the curbing going in is temporary as the final width of this paved area will be a lot wider when the bus station is complete.
So far all the work that has taken place in the CTA over the last couple of months has been for temporary use to create space. With some of the drive in bus bays marked up with spray paint the first part of the CTA redevelopment is about to begin.
Saturday saw Priority Parking move to their temporary home at the modified former drop off zone. This was followed by the taxi rank on Monday.
Tuesday saw the first part of the new security hall open using a temporary entrance in the main terminal. Despite this first phase having no more lanes than the old first floor setup the airport claims that with its new technology queues should be reduced. Despite being a busy Friday afternoon no queuing were seen.
The former easyjet HQ/ spectators building site, which will be the partial site of a new multi story car park has gained an entry and exit lane including a new barrier. This will allow the site to be used as a temporary car park but for whom is a mystery at the moment.
The pedestrian walkway from the temporary drop off area that overlooks the eastern apron is being doubled in width. Again the curbing going in is temporary as the final width of this paved area will be a lot wider when the bus station is complete.
So far all the work that has taken place in the CTA over the last couple of months has been for temporary use to create space. With some of the drive in bus bays marked up with spray paint the first part of the CTA redevelopment is about to begin.
Last edited by LTNman; 11th Sep 2015 at 15:44.
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re: easyJet summer 2016
I've just done my usual analysis of the schedule and believe there will be at least 19 based easyJet aircraft at Luton next summer. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's +1 on the 18 based this summer.
Based on flights on Monday, 20th June 2016 the following 19 flights leave in the first wave, all departing before the first arrivals which come in between 08:10 and 08:15 (from Belfast, Glasgow, Edingburgh and Milan MXP):
Amsterdam 06:00
Berlin 06:00
Palma 06:00
Paris CdG 06:00
Alicante 06:10
Naples 06:10
Paphos 06:25
Faro 06:40
Lisbon 06:45
Barcelona 07:05
Belfast Intl 07:05
Tel Aviv 07:05
Copenhagen 07:10
Nice 07:10
Geneva 07:15
Hamburg 07:20
Dortmund 07:35
Reykjavik 07:35
Amsterdam 08:00
Based on flights on Monday, 20th June 2016 the following 19 flights leave in the first wave, all departing before the first arrivals which come in between 08:10 and 08:15 (from Belfast, Glasgow, Edingburgh and Milan MXP):
Amsterdam 06:00
Berlin 06:00
Palma 06:00
Paris CdG 06:00
Alicante 06:10
Naples 06:10
Paphos 06:25
Faro 06:40
Lisbon 06:45
Barcelona 07:05
Belfast Intl 07:05
Tel Aviv 07:05
Copenhagen 07:10
Nice 07:10
Geneva 07:15
Hamburg 07:20
Dortmund 07:35
Reykjavik 07:35
Amsterdam 08:00
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The flight coming in from Milan wasnt there this year. This means the aircraft can go somewhere else.
Milan to Luton
Dep 07:20 - Arr 08:15
Dep 17:30 - Arr 18:25
Luton to Milan
Dep 08:45 - Arr 11:45
Dep 18:55 - Arr 21:55
This allows 2 more flights a day for easyjet. More expansion around the 6am to 8.30am mad rush.
Milan to Luton
Dep 07:20 - Arr 08:15
Dep 17:30 - Arr 18:25
Luton to Milan
Dep 08:45 - Arr 11:45
Dep 18:55 - Arr 21:55
This allows 2 more flights a day for easyjet. More expansion around the 6am to 8.30am mad rush.
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Isn't that also an extra peak time flight to Amsterdam with a departure at 8am? Looking at next summers schedule there'll be 3 morning flights to AMS at 6, 8 and 9.20 so very much easyJet's busiest route.
I see also later in the day that VIE is going to 4 x weekly which is good news.
Hopefully the opportunity for more new routes to be added?
I see also later in the day that VIE is going to 4 x weekly which is good news.
Hopefully the opportunity for more new routes to be added?
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I am probably the only supporter here that doesn't jump for joy at the thought of more flights operating out of Luton at the moment. While for much of the day Luton can be fine there are waves in the day, even now in September, when Luton goes beyond not coping well but grinds to a complete halt due to work in the CTA and the 50% reduction in the capacity of the drop off zone. Looking at Google live traffic now at 5.42 in the morning I can see once again jams extending all the way onto the A505 and back to Gypsy Lane.
On Friday I got stuck on a car park bus that took 30 minutes to travel half a mile because traffic could not get out of Percival Way because no one wanted to let traffic merge off the roundabout. The results of congestion is that shuttle buses to the station and car parks run at very irregular intervals and many passengers are left behind.
The following comment is from a passenger who at least was trying to get out of the airport and not a passenger that was trying to make a flight. OK she might have got her terminology wrong when talking about the runway but she was making a powerful point. I for one would be happy at a 20% reduction in flights over the next couple of years until the CTA is completely finished.
On Friday I got stuck on a car park bus that took 30 minutes to travel half a mile because traffic could not get out of Percival Way because no one wanted to let traffic merge off the roundabout. The results of congestion is that shuttle buses to the station and car parks run at very irregular intervals and many passengers are left behind.
The following comment is from a passenger who at least was trying to get out of the airport and not a passenger that was trying to make a flight. OK she might have got her terminology wrong when talking about the runway but she was making a powerful point. I for one would be happy at a 20% reduction in flights over the next couple of years until the CTA is completely finished.
Probably the worst airport I have ever been to in my life. Over 1 hour in passport control, queueing out on to the runway.. And now I've been waiting for a shuttle bus to long term for 1.5 hours. I hope you're ashamed of yourselves. Literally don't think I could be any angrier than I am right now. All of this on top of flight delays both ways.. Resulted in an expired car park ticket. Horrendous experience.
Last edited by LTNman; 14th Sep 2015 at 06:03.
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EasyJet planned 30 based a/c at Luton
@ClearLand08,
You are probably right as EasyJet are committing to base a further 12 a/c at Luton (bringing total to 30 a/c) over the next 10 years so 2016 has most probably gained one extra a/c at minimum?
You are probably right as EasyJet are committing to base a further 12 a/c at Luton (bringing total to 30 a/c) over the next 10 years so 2016 has most probably gained one extra a/c at minimum?
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EasyJet are committing to base a further 12 a/c at Luton (bringing total to 30 a/c) over the next 10 years
I would have expected some of the growth to come from increasing aircraft size - A319 - A320 - A320neo and an increase in aircraft visiting from other bases (e.g. MXP).
the 50% reduction in the capacity of the drop off zone
On the positive front getting through the new Security was a breeze - a huge improvement.
Last edited by Itchin McCrevis; 14th Sep 2015 at 17:55.
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The present drop off area is the overflow drop off area that was rarely used unless cars were directed into it because no one knew it was there. With the present arrangement cars have no choice but to follow the temporary fencing but as Itchin McCrevis states it is poorly designed.
I am not sure the final solution is much better as the yet to be built new drop off zone consists of a single long lane that does a 180 and runs back where it came from. It will just take one car to double park to drop someone off to bring the whole drop off zone to a standstill.
The tender for the multi story car park mentioned a start date of October for a completion of July next year. Well the planning application will not go through until November but also as the car park can't be started until the exit route to the tunnel is moved through the middle of the short term car park, that multi story car park won't get started until next year.
The whole of the CTA project is like a Rubik's Cube with everything being moved around to create areas for the construction teams to work. As I stated on Friday nothing has been started yet that will remain untouched when the CTA is finished.
I am not sure the final solution is much better as the yet to be built new drop off zone consists of a single long lane that does a 180 and runs back where it came from. It will just take one car to double park to drop someone off to bring the whole drop off zone to a standstill.
The tender for the multi story car park mentioned a start date of October for a completion of July next year. Well the planning application will not go through until November but also as the car park can't be started until the exit route to the tunnel is moved through the middle of the short term car park, that multi story car park won't get started until next year.
The whole of the CTA project is like a Rubik's Cube with everything being moved around to create areas for the construction teams to work. As I stated on Friday nothing has been started yet that will remain untouched when the CTA is finished.
Last edited by LTNman; 15th Sep 2015 at 04:11.
Paxing All Over The World
LTNman as a close (and probably weary!) observer identifies the pinch point:
I am repeating myself but the decision to save money 15+ years ago and NOT put a proper through road tunnel - has bitten them at every turn. [pun intended]
When they built the new terminal, they could have constructed a cut-and-cover road tunnel first and made the whole place one-way. They would have gained flexibility and double lane capacity but, like everything else, the cheapest possible was chosen.
I sit to be corrected.
It will just take one car to double park to drop someone off to bring the whole drop off zone to a standstill.
When they built the new terminal, they could have constructed a cut-and-cover road tunnel first and made the whole place one-way. They would have gained flexibility and double lane capacity but, like everything else, the cheapest possible was chosen.
I sit to be corrected.
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I stand to be corrected but I think PAXboy is talking about an exit route under the terminal but I can't see what that would achieve and if it had been put in where would it exit apart from onto the original approach road that went through the back streets of Luton. Also the CTA would still be the same size and that is the core of the problem.
The final boundary of the CTA was set when the cargo terminal was built and a taxiway was put in to serve it in I think the late 70's/ early 80's. The taxiway avoided the unstable council tip which I think in those days might have been outside the airfield. Today that land is the long term car park. Back then no one would have looked 30 years into the future but if that taxiway had been put in further out so it crossed the tip it would have transformed the size of the CTA but I can see why that would not have been considered.
I would hope that someone is now looking at capacity beyond 18 million as any work would be at least 10 years away and no doubt be south of the runway.
The final boundary of the CTA was set when the cargo terminal was built and a taxiway was put in to serve it in I think the late 70's/ early 80's. The taxiway avoided the unstable council tip which I think in those days might have been outside the airfield. Today that land is the long term car park. Back then no one would have looked 30 years into the future but if that taxiway had been put in further out so it crossed the tip it would have transformed the size of the CTA but I can see why that would not have been considered.
I would hope that someone is now looking at capacity beyond 18 million as any work would be at least 10 years away and no doubt be south of the runway.
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From a passengers perspective, having waited a ridiculous amount of time for my bags to arrive, if I then couldn't leave because of flooding I would be close to suicidal. Whilst I have no doubt locals are very fond and proud of Luton Airport there are so many dificiencies which all need addressing. The arrivals part can be the most painful depending on what time you land. If you land with another flight or two baggage reclaim takes far too long.
Now I know some will say it's up to the airlines and handling agents but the reality is the handling agents will also have a contract with the airport. It should be up to both the airline and airport to work with the handling agents and ensure passengers have a good experience.
Do we know if the new changes to arrivals will mean more belts and a more efficient process?
The temp one is far too small....
Now I know some will say it's up to the airlines and handling agents but the reality is the handling agents will also have a contract with the airport. It should be up to both the airline and airport to work with the handling agents and ensure passengers have a good experience.
Do we know if the new changes to arrivals will mean more belts and a more efficient process?
The temp one is far too small....
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The terminal will end up with a total of 8 belts including one segregated domestic belt. The plans last year showed 9 belts but one was quite small so one of the proposed new belts will be bigger. Due to the random shape of the baggage area there will be no uniformity in the size of the belts or the positioning of the belts with the existing belts remaining but with new ones added to a larger hall.
Again due to the Rubik cube effect the baggage reclaim area can't be expanded until the temporary arrivals area is closed. The temporary arrivals area can't be closed until the terminal extension is built. The terminal extension can't be built until the bus station is moved and up until now the bus station could not be moved until priority parking and the taxis rank were moved. They in turn could not be moved until the drop off zone moved. Well I think that covers it but as can be seen the expansion of the baggage area will be one of the lasts jobs to be started.
The other big issue is passport control but that is a function of UKBF. The problem there it seems is with the e-passport readers as too many of the lanes there seem to be permanently closed but with long queues the government is showing that it takes border security seriously unless you happen to jump out of a lorry at Toddington service station.
Again due to the Rubik cube effect the baggage reclaim area can't be expanded until the temporary arrivals area is closed. The temporary arrivals area can't be closed until the terminal extension is built. The terminal extension can't be built until the bus station is moved and up until now the bus station could not be moved until priority parking and the taxis rank were moved. They in turn could not be moved until the drop off zone moved. Well I think that covers it but as can be seen the expansion of the baggage area will be one of the lasts jobs to be started.
The other big issue is passport control but that is a function of UKBF. The problem there it seems is with the e-passport readers as too many of the lanes there seem to be permanently closed but with long queues the government is showing that it takes border security seriously unless you happen to jump out of a lorry at Toddington service station.
Last edited by LTNman; 15th Sep 2015 at 07:54.
LTNman - with the greatest respect, I think you're description of Luton suffering from a Rubik cube effect is incorrect. It sounds far more that the airport is simply suffering from being too small an area of land.
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Yes I agree with you completely. Trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot comes to mind. I wonder how much of the £100 million will be spent on temporary 12 month solutions to allow all the work to take place, as there is no spare land in the CTA, which means creating a working space for work to be carried out which is challenging to say the least.
Last edited by LTNman; 15th Sep 2015 at 11:30.
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Oh you poor thing Cloud1 suicidal because of a wait for bags and flooding problems so it took you a far longer time than you expected. That is the problem with people in the UK today everybody thinks it will all work just like that 24 hours a day seven days a week and nothing can possibly go wrong like the car not starting one morning - what shall I do! Think yourself lucky how about the BA passengers leaving Heathrow for Europe last week and finding no luggage on arrival at their destination.
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Today an El Al/Sun d'Or B738 flew in to LTN presumably empty from Vienna on an Arkia flight number and flew out again en-route to TLV.
It wasn't on the departure board so what was it doing?
It wasn't on the departure board so what was it doing?
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Possible. I didn't think of that.
Could be his entourage flying home. I think it's unlikely that the Prime Minister himself would fly on the all-Y configuration 4X-EKI, nor would he fly an Arkia-chartered leg either: it would be like David Cameron making an official visit on Easyjet.
Could be his entourage flying home. I think it's unlikely that the Prime Minister himself would fly on the all-Y configuration 4X-EKI, nor would he fly an Arkia-chartered leg either: it would be like David Cameron making an official visit on Easyjet.
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Oh you poor thing Cloud1 suicidal because of a wait for bags and flooding problems