LUTON -8
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Good report Whitelighter. As you have found out by missing the first wave of departures gave you a better experience but you got caught up in a busy period on your return.
I don't know why you would be bused to a stand for a 11.05 departure as there should have been plenty of walk on stands available unless the aircraft had been there all night. Even if it had been in for maintenance the hangar is right by the walk on stands.
I wonder what your opinion will be if you return in 2 years time after phase one is complete?
On the positive side the security hall will be another 50% wider with 18 lanes instead of 12.
You will have a longer walk to most of the gates, as new shops will be built when the terminal infill opens that can't be avoided although the new pier will result in less busing.
There will still be a chronic shortage of seating as far as I can tell as shops earn money while seating seems to be viewed as lost potential income. The airport upgrade is more about increasing capacity then increasing passenger comfort that is for sure.
On your return the immigration hall should physically be larger but if the government employ no more staff if just means you will spend more time waiting in a hall rather than in a corridor.
The baggage hall will see a big transformation with extra belts being installed in a much larger space but again staff are needed to feed the belts.
I don't know why you would be bused to a stand for a 11.05 departure as there should have been plenty of walk on stands available unless the aircraft had been there all night. Even if it had been in for maintenance the hangar is right by the walk on stands.
I wonder what your opinion will be if you return in 2 years time after phase one is complete?
On the positive side the security hall will be another 50% wider with 18 lanes instead of 12.
You will have a longer walk to most of the gates, as new shops will be built when the terminal infill opens that can't be avoided although the new pier will result in less busing.
There will still be a chronic shortage of seating as far as I can tell as shops earn money while seating seems to be viewed as lost potential income. The airport upgrade is more about increasing capacity then increasing passenger comfort that is for sure.
On your return the immigration hall should physically be larger but if the government employ no more staff if just means you will spend more time waiting in a hall rather than in a corridor.
The baggage hall will see a big transformation with extra belts being installed in a much larger space but again staff are needed to feed the belts.
Last edited by LTNman; 20th Jun 2016 at 07:35.
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Compare them to Wizz who have built up frequencies of 3, 4 or 5 daily on their core routes
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Just an idea and would be interested in people's thoughts..
Luton is rather constrained for a long list of reasons - this includes thing like number of overnight stands, and availability of slots in the first wave of departures form 0600 to about 0900. It does however have plenty of capacity to service departures late at night.
Easyjet has a base at Luton and as such is limited by the airport's constraints.
Easyjet fly London to Tel Aviv flies 14 times per week, taking about 5 hours, or arrives 7 hours after departure from London when you take into account the time zone. Ryanair and Wizz sometimes play the time zone game - what would stop Easyjet operating a departure about 11 pm form Luton to Tel Aviv (arriving 6 am local time) and returning at 7 am to arrive at Luton about 10 am local time ? Yes - I have checked that there are plenty of flights on other airlines from western Europe to Tel Aviv following a similiar schedule so there is presumably demand for flights 'overnight'.
Would have the advantage of avoiding the need for an overnight stand and could keep an aircraft busy overnight. Anyone care to comment ?
Luton is rather constrained for a long list of reasons - this includes thing like number of overnight stands, and availability of slots in the first wave of departures form 0600 to about 0900. It does however have plenty of capacity to service departures late at night.
Easyjet has a base at Luton and as such is limited by the airport's constraints.
Easyjet fly London to Tel Aviv flies 14 times per week, taking about 5 hours, or arrives 7 hours after departure from London when you take into account the time zone. Ryanair and Wizz sometimes play the time zone game - what would stop Easyjet operating a departure about 11 pm form Luton to Tel Aviv (arriving 6 am local time) and returning at 7 am to arrive at Luton about 10 am local time ? Yes - I have checked that there are plenty of flights on other airlines from western Europe to Tel Aviv following a similiar schedule so there is presumably demand for flights 'overnight'.
Would have the advantage of avoiding the need for an overnight stand and could keep an aircraft busy overnight. Anyone care to comment ?
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Delayed flights just means that the departure lounge is even more crowed if that is possible. For those that know seating is always available by the mini lounge at the end of the long walk to stands 1-9 before the staircase is descended. Also a snack bar is available at the same location. 
It is worth the walk back just to get away from the mayhem.
It is worth the walk back just to get away from the mayhem.
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Delayed flights just means that the departure lounge is even more crowed if that is possible. For those that know seating is always available by the mini lounge at the end of the long walk to stands 1-9 before the staircase is descended. Also a snack bar is available at the same location. It is worth the walk back just to get away from the mayhem.
It is worth the walk back just to get away from the mayhem.
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The old octagonal building used to be the duty free shop and the area leading to it was the old departure lounge in the 1980's. It used to be a really nice location to relax but the LIA logo carpets were replaced with maintenance free flooring and the seating was all but removed leaving an unfriendly cold looking location when the departure lounge moved to the new terminal.
Under the redevelopment plan there is nothing going to happen here but a bit of carpet and some seating would transform the downstairs area into a pleasant pre-boarding area rather than somewhere just to queue up.
I have put photo of how it was on this link http://www.pprune.org/9414248-post1540.html
Under the redevelopment plan there is nothing going to happen here but a bit of carpet and some seating would transform the downstairs area into a pleasant pre-boarding area rather than somewhere just to queue up.
I have put photo of how it was on this link http://www.pprune.org/9414248-post1540.html
Last edited by LTNman; 20th Jun 2016 at 18:41.
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EasyJet fleet
@Gilesdavies,
I think a few months ago we concluded EasyJet has 19 based aircraft.
Two more coming makes 21.
Expect another 6 to come over the next few years.
LGW is at saturation point!
STN is doing well but not yet reached it's record figures from back in 2007!
LTN is on the up maybe because it is so easily accessible from London?
I think a few months ago we concluded EasyJet has 19 based aircraft.
Two more coming makes 21.
Expect another 6 to come over the next few years.
LGW is at saturation point!
STN is doing well but not yet reached it's record figures from back in 2007!
LTN is on the up maybe because it is so easily accessible from London?
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LTN is on the up maybe because it is so easily accessible from London?
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French ATC like to go on strike every few days over recent weeks and months, Seems to be a cultural thing with the French. The Italians also went on strike last week.
Last edited by LTNman; 21st Jun 2016 at 05:38.
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Yesterday's EJ delays according to their web site were due to a range of things including crew changes( probably due to late arrivals the previous night),
ground servicing equipment not being available and simply operational reasons.
Hasn't been just LTN as previously stated !
EDIT today's SXF flight has same reason for canx , operational due to crewing, wonder if it's flight crew or cabin?
ground servicing equipment not being available and simply operational reasons.
Hasn't been just LTN as previously stated !
EDIT today's SXF flight has same reason for canx , operational due to crewing, wonder if it's flight crew or cabin?
Last edited by Falcon666; 21st Jun 2016 at 07:55.
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There was long queues this morning on 26 for takeoff extending both to the south stands and with a couple of aircraft queuing down Taxiway Delta at the same time.
With no inbounds the problem was somewhere on route and with a Wizz entering the runway at Charlie to get past the queue this seemed to confirm the issue was not airfield related.
With no inbounds the problem was somewhere on route and with a Wizz entering the runway at Charlie to get past the queue this seemed to confirm the issue was not airfield related.
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Yep, sounds like it could have been a Northolt Henton departure. My uncle recently went spotting there and logged over 40 executive jets over a 2 hour period. I didn't think the civil apron was large enough, but they managed to pack them all in.
Anecdotally, airlines generally are suffering from a lack of flight deck crew following periods of expansion. No idea if this is having an effect with the based airlines at Luton though?
Anecdotally, airlines generally are suffering from a lack of flight deck crew following periods of expansion. No idea if this is having an effect with the based airlines at Luton though?
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You wait until the summer holidays! I really hope that this drive to minimise costs does not compromise safety and this comment is no way reflecting on anything going on at Luton or at any other airport, just a concern that I have generally.
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I know the professionals always say intersection takeoffs don't affect safety but if I was sitting on an aircraft and it had to abandon its takeoff I would always like as much tarmac as possible in front of me.
Intersection takeoffs from 26 used to be rare now the majority of takeoffs are from the intersection. When they were starting to pick up in popularity, next to nothing took off from the 08 intersection but now again although not in the same numbers the numbers are increasing.
Runway 08 TORA 2162m 7093ft ASDA 2162m 7093ft
From Brava TORA 1688m 5538ft ASDA 1688m 5538ft
BUT most carriers use "balanced field" V speeds. Meaning that as long as you have enough runway for your takeoff weight, the V1 will be the same, even if the runway is longer than required.
Many years ago I was always happy to see the aircraft I was a passenger in lift off by the time it got level with the fire station. Now I am not happy to still have all 3 sets of wheels still planted firmly on the ground as the aircraft rushes past the 08 intersection as it prepares for its aircraft carrier style launch.
Just a personal viewpoint based on no logic apart from fear.
Worth a read when things went wrong at Luton https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib...320-214-g-ezuh
Intersection takeoffs from 26 used to be rare now the majority of takeoffs are from the intersection. When they were starting to pick up in popularity, next to nothing took off from the 08 intersection but now again although not in the same numbers the numbers are increasing.
Runway 08 TORA 2162m 7093ft ASDA 2162m 7093ft
From Brava TORA 1688m 5538ft ASDA 1688m 5538ft
BUT most carriers use "balanced field" V speeds. Meaning that as long as you have enough runway for your takeoff weight, the V1 will be the same, even if the runway is longer than required.
Many years ago I was always happy to see the aircraft I was a passenger in lift off by the time it got level with the fire station. Now I am not happy to still have all 3 sets of wheels still planted firmly on the ground as the aircraft rushes past the 08 intersection as it prepares for its aircraft carrier style launch.
Just a personal viewpoint based on no logic apart from fear.
Worth a read when things went wrong at Luton https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib...320-214-g-ezuh
Last edited by LTNman; 22nd Jun 2016 at 04:53.