LUTON -8

[robbie1973]

Originally Posted by LGS6753

If the aircraft are Birmingam-based on W flights, they are likely to be A321s

Certainly looks BHX based for the Corfu schedule on 07/04/17

07:20 BHX - 12:30 CFU
13:30 CFU - 14:45 LTN
16:00 LTN - 21:05 CFU
22:05 CFU - 23:35 BHX

Quick glance at the other routes also appears to be BHX based.

[FRatSTN]

Certainly looks BHX based for the Corfu schedule on 07/04/17

07:20 BHX - 12:30 CFU
13:30 CFU - 14:45 LTN
16:00 LTN - 21:05 CFU
22:05 CFU - 23:35 BHX

Quick glance at the other routes also appears to be BHX based.

From what I can gather they are all W's operated from Birmingham with an A320, which if I'm not mistaken is actually operated by Smartlynx.

[robbie1973]

Originally Posted by FRatSTN

From what I can gather they are all W's operated from Birmingham with an A320, which if I'm not mistaken is actually operated by Smartlynx.

Not according to the news article in routesonline !

[LTNman]

AAIB report

Summery
Before pushback, takeoff performance was calculated for a departure using the full length of Runway 08 at London Luton Airport. When the aircraft was at the holding point, prior to takeoff, it became apparent that an intersection departure may be required, due to an aircraft holding on the runway threshold. The performance was recalculated for this, with a change in flap setting. The aircraft then took off from Intersection Bravo with performance calculated assuming the full length of the runway was available.

Intersection departure for runway 08 1688m/5538ft, full length available with backtrack 2162m/7093ft.

Full report here
https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib...320-214-g-ezuh

[Boeing737-8]

This is from a report in the telegraph. Meanwhile, London Luton, which is controlled by Spanish airports operator Aena, posted a 24.4pc jump in traffic in March to 1.05m. In what Luton described as “a major coup”. Thomas Cook Airlines is to start operating from the airport from next year with the launch of four charter routes to Corfu, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca.

[gilesdavies]

This is from a report in the telegraph. Meanwhile, London Luton, which is controlled by Spanish airports operator Aena, posted a 24.4pc jump in traffic in March to 1.05m. In what Luton described as “a major coup”. Thomas Cook Airlines is to start operating from the airport from next year with the launch of four charter routes to Corfu, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca.

Here is the article concerned...
Heathrow and Gatwick push for new runways after record Easters

The 24.4% increase in traffic is a little misleading, as Easter last year was in April and March in general is quite flat as the summer season traffic has usually not started and schools have not slut for holidays.

I wonder how long it will be until the airport maintains a passenger figure of 1 million-plus passengers a month, every month of the year?

Thomas Cook Airlines is big news for the airport, regardless of it only being four flights a week. Especially when Charter traffic has continually declined for the last decade, from Luton. This will hopefully lead to more traffic and in coming years an aircraft or two based at the airport.

While on the subject of Thomas Cook, I was looking through previous comments and people stated that Thomas Cook offers very few destinations from the airport and this has prevented them booking holidays with them. This isn't really true, they have been using seats on Thomson flights for a number of years to multiple destinations, and this still seems to be continuing next year, when I did some dummy bookings on their website, (for example Faro). I also noticed they are using easyJet flights to some destinations across Europe.

To the average package holiday booker, they are aren't fussed what airline they fly with, so long as Thomas Cook offer a flight program from their local airport. They are offering 10+ destinations for 2017.

[Boeing737-8]

Thomas Cook is nothing special. 4 flights a week is nothing compared to what other airlines are adding to the airport. If there wanted to expand at the airport there would be daily flights by themselves and even a based plane.

[wallp]

Originally Posted by Boeing737-8

This is from a report in the telegraph. Meanwhile, London Luton, which is controlled by Spanish airports operator Aena, posted a 24.4pc jump in traffic in March to 1.05m. In what Luton described as “a major coup”. Thomas Cook Airlines is to start operating from the airport from next year with the launch of four charter routes to Corfu, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca.

I guess Thomas Cook Airlines will only prove to be a major coup if they expand further and set up a Luton base. At the moment they'll be one of Luton's smallest operators with so few flights each week - hardly a major coup yet

[wallp]

Originally Posted by gilesdavies

Here is the article concerned...
Heathrow and Gatwick push for new runways after record Easters

The 24.4% increase in traffic is a little misleading, as Easter last year was in April and March in general is quite flat as the summer season traffic has usually not started and schools have not slut for holidays.

I wonder how long it will be until the airport maintains a passenger figure of 1 million-plus passengers a month, every month of the year?

Thomas Cook Airlines is big news for the airport, regardless of it only being four flights a week. Especially when Charter traffic has continually declined for the last decade, from Luton. This will hopefully lead to more traffic and in coming years an aircraft or two based at the airport.

While on the subject of Thomas Cook, I was looking through previous comments and people stated that Thomas Cook offers very few destinations from the airport and this has prevented them booking holidays with them. This isn't really true, they have been using seats on Thomson flights for a number of years to multiple destinations, and this still seems to be continuing next year, when I did some dummy bookings on their website, (for example Faro). I also noticed they are using easyJet flights to some destinations across Europe.

To the average package holiday booker, they are aren't fussed what airline they fly with, so long as Thomas Cook offer a flight program from their local airport. They are offering 10+ destinations for 2017.

If Thomas Cook have been using seats on Thomson flights at Luton, does this reduce the latters operation in 2017?

[Buster the Bear]

Wizz Air (W6, Budapest) has announced it will open its seventh base in Romania in Sibiu later this summer. Effective August 19, the Hungarian LCC will base one A320-200 out of the Transylvanian town with plans to open up new routes to Nuremberg, Memmingen, Milan Orio al Serio and Madrid Barajas. Existing services to London Luton will also be increased from the currently 5x weekly, to daily.

[LTNman]

This news doesn't surprise me as more and more Roma come to live in the UK now that all restrictions have been removed.

[robbie1973]

Originally Posted by LTNman

This news doesn't surprise me as more and more Roma come to live in the UK now that all restrictions have been removed.

Outbound traffic must also be good otherwise these routes would not survive and Wizz is certainly surviving ! I recently travelled with Wizz to Romania and the flight was 90% full on a Wednesday morning.

[Lee Baker Street]

@gilesdavies

"I wonder how long it will be until the airport maintains a passenger figure of 1 million-plus passengers a month, every month of the year"?

I would say within the next 18months!

@wallp,

Just one diversion flight to Luton is fantastic so 8 movements a week by Thomas Cook is equally fantastic!

[Lee Baker Street]

However irrelevant of any of the above comments, this weekend just gone there were many cancellations to train services to Luton caused by 'no driver available' this is becoming a major problem with the Thameslink operator namely Govia and needs or requires the intervention of the airport management with a matter of urgency!

If things continue the way it has done with Govia then the airport management need to impress on the rail minister / transport minister that Govia needs it's franchise agreement to be revoked!

[LTNman]

The Ponderosa that will be reverting back to the airport from Signature has been renumbered and now consists of stands 16, 17, 18 and 19. Stand 16L has now been removed.

[LTNman]

However irrelevant of any of the above comments, this weekend just gone there were many cancellations to train services to Luton caused by 'no driver available' this is becoming a major problem with the Thameslink operator namely Govia and needs or requires the intervention of the airport management with a matter of urgency!

One of the reasons for cancellations is that it is very expensive to train a driver so companies like Govia rely on train drivers willing to work overtime. When they don't there is no slack in the system for them to be replaced.

Cancellations seem random in nature. On some nights every overnight train runs yet on other nights many of them are cancelled and replaced by buses. If I was a passenger traveling to the airport for an early departure I would not be trusting the train service that's for sure.

Govia who have held the franchise for I guess under a year and promised the earth have failed to deliver and have taken the rail service to a new low. Fines need to be levied for cancelled trains to focus the minds at those running the company.

[LTNman]

I was going to wait until Friday but I thought I would claim the world exclusive before the airport publish their photo.
The heavens opened just after this photo was taken with the rain traveling horizontal. The new walkway/ bus shelter offers no protection in such conditions so I evacuated the airport in a rather wet condition before the final positioning.

[Lee Baker Street]

@LTNman,

"Govia who have held the franchise for I guess under a year and promised the earth have failed to deliver and have taken the rail service to a new low. Fines need to be levied for cancelled trains to focus the minds at those running the company".

You are incorrect as Govia took over the franchise in September 2014 meaning it has held the franchise for 19 months!

It has no excuse today to quote no driver available!

When I see frustrated / very concerned passengers waiting for trains it infuriates me that cancellation after cancellation occurs.

As an example:

Saturday 9th April-

One service that I waited for at 05.42am and the next at 06.12 was cancelled! Then the next due in scheduled for 06.42 was further delayed and arrived at 07.10!

The airport needs answers and I hope they will challenge this disgusting operation because it is nothing less than that!

In turn passengers need to be pre-warned not to rely on the trains when using Luton Airport Parkway!

In addition many cancelled services occurred throughout the day on April 9th!

[LTNman]

I share your frustration about the cancelled trains plus the substitution of some of the bendy buses with low capacity buses on the shuttle bus link to the station. I even made a written complaint to Govia about the shuttle bus service they run and got a reply about a bus replacement service due to engineering work!!!

It was obvious that the person reading the letter only speed read it and missed the fact that they even run a bus service between the station and the airport.

[Falcon666]

Blue Air W16/17

Blue Air winter 16/17 schedule showing Larnaca and Turin continuing year round.
There is a difference between the Web flight schedule and what is bookable at the moment but it looks like.
Larnaca 2 X wkly 3,7
Bacau. 5x wkly.
Bucharest 9x wkly (2x 5,7)
Iasi 3x wkly
Turin 4 x wkly