LUTON -8
runway08.......Criticising the airport management and the way that the current re-development has been handled may seem churlish. However, the impact of this affects much more than airport passengers with the local roads and community being badly impacted and many airport businesses also paying a price. Raising the drop-off charge to £3 in the middle of all this was an appalling move! There is also the reality of passengers staying away due to the current chaos...indeed its something I hear now everyday!
Of course its a case of "no pain, no gain" but at present there's too much pain and not enough potential gain!
Of course its a case of "no pain, no gain" but at present there's too much pain and not enough potential gain!
Last edited by boeing_eng; 31st Jul 2016 at 07:46.
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"What I did notice on my midweek visit was that the contractor is actually cracking on with getting the old drop off area back into use so it could be the case that by next week it is brought back into service so doubling its size so maybe that is point number 6."
I had a look at the old set down area today and there is no way that will be finished for a few weeks I would say.
What I also noticed was the fenced off section just before the pedestrian crossing is no longer there so it is two lanes now from around around 100m before the crossing, not that it was making a great deal of difference due to the queue to get into the drop off area. Just the odd car was keeping right so benefitting from the two lanes as the right hand lane is for the short term car park.
Paxing All Over The World
If corporations and governments do not get criticised - in public - they think they are doing everything very well. Eventhough, by the time the Board of Directors hears the story, it will have been watered down, they can find the truth if they look. Mostly, they don't want to.
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cs100 at luton 15th july
Hi all I was lucky to film the swiss cs100 take off on the 15th july 2016, im not to sure if it was been in many times here is the link.
https://youtu.be/AXIQB78Ujm4
Richard.
https://youtu.be/AXIQB78Ujm4
Richard.
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Just to counter balance some of the negative impressions I had on departure, my arrival back at the airport this evening was a very positive experience.
Landed 1818 (after a go around!). Delay on taxiway to let outbound aircraft pass. On stand 1826. Down the steps at 1830. Breezed straight through immigration ( no queues). In baggage reclaim area 1837. My bag arrived at 1845. Was planning to walk to Parkway station, but a shuttle bus arrived just as I reached the stop. Departed 1850. Arrived Parkway 1857 and made my 1903 train even though I had to collect a prepaid ticket from a machine.
So 33 minutes after leaving the aircraft I was on a train.
I guess early evening on a Sunday isn't the busiest of times for arrivals, but impressed with how smoothly it went.
Now if they could only get the departure bit working like that...;-)
Landed 1818 (after a go around!). Delay on taxiway to let outbound aircraft pass. On stand 1826. Down the steps at 1830. Breezed straight through immigration ( no queues). In baggage reclaim area 1837. My bag arrived at 1845. Was planning to walk to Parkway station, but a shuttle bus arrived just as I reached the stop. Departed 1850. Arrived Parkway 1857 and made my 1903 train even though I had to collect a prepaid ticket from a machine.
So 33 minutes after leaving the aircraft I was on a train.
I guess early evening on a Sunday isn't the busiest of times for arrivals, but impressed with how smoothly it went.
Now if they could only get the departure bit working like that...;-)
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I feel sorry for those that work in and around the airport, along with the bus drivers. The average passenger may experience the disruption a couple of times but those commuting to work get it every single day. Any route in is a nightmare from 07:30 till gone 09:00 as staff are trying to fight through the queues
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Putting the airport running at capacity aside, what are your thoughts about Volotea operating to/from Luton. They could operate some monopoly routes from their based in Nantes, Palermo, Verona & Asturias. They could also if they are feeling really enthusiastic offer a Bordeaux service which would compete with easyJet.
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I had a look at the old set down area today and there is no way that will be finished for a few weeks I would say.
What I also noticed was the fenced off section just before the pedestrian crossing is no longer there so it is two lanes now from around around 100m before the crossing, not that it was making a great deal of difference due to the queue to get into the drop off area. Just the odd car was keeping right so benefitting from the two lanes as the right hand lane is for the short term car park.
What I also noticed was the fenced off section just before the pedestrian crossing is no longer there so it is two lanes now from around around 100m before the crossing, not that it was making a great deal of difference due to the queue to get into the drop off area. Just the odd car was keeping right so benefitting from the two lanes as the right hand lane is for the short term car park.
No doubt some of that improvement along New Airport Way is caused by the locals picking different routes to get past the airport. Come late September the traffic situation will start to ease as the passenger numbers start to reduce but it is going to be a long summer for the airport.
Last edited by LTNman; 1st Aug 2016 at 17:04.
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Hmm, it really is a nightmare at the moment. The traffic is regularly tailed back to the Harpendon turn off the A1081. Have been given feedback that the fare-paying public are pretty peeved with the delays....
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Hi all I was lucky to film the swiss cs100 take off on the 15th july 2016, im not to sure if it was been in many times here is the link.
https://youtu.be/AXIQB78Ujm4
Richard.
https://youtu.be/AXIQB78Ujm4
Richard.
Putting the airport running at capacity aside, what are your thoughts about Volotea operating to/from Luton. They could operate some monopoly routes from their based in Nantes, Palermo, Verona & Asturias. They could also if they are feeling really enthusiastic offer a Bordeaux service which would compete with easyJet.
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Just an observation and question. With the crossing still holding up traffic but making no difference to the queue of traffic trying to enter the drop off zone, what is going to change when the zone is enlarged regarding long queues?
Drivers will still be inclined to drop off on the entry route and their first choice will be the left hand side as that is the side with the front passenger door. That means all those passengers will still cross a pedestrian crossing twice but will have a choice of two sets of crossing points rather than the one set now.
The passengers using the inbound and outbound island will have a choice of two crossings to use.
From the airports point of view it would be better if passengers used the left hand side on the return leg as that would not interfere with traffic but that side is not that popular. So will a longer drop off area actually fix the problem of traffic jams when the bridge is open or will those pedestrian crossings in the drop off zone still cause major problems?
Drivers will still be inclined to drop off on the entry route and their first choice will be the left hand side as that is the side with the front passenger door. That means all those passengers will still cross a pedestrian crossing twice but will have a choice of two sets of crossing points rather than the one set now.
The passengers using the inbound and outbound island will have a choice of two crossings to use.
From the airports point of view it would be better if passengers used the left hand side on the return leg as that would not interfere with traffic but that side is not that popular. So will a longer drop off area actually fix the problem of traffic jams when the bridge is open or will those pedestrian crossings in the drop off zone still cause major problems?
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Maybe if they had used the mid-term car park as a drop off area and use buses to ferry folk in and out during the 'works', the traffic would be much better? Mind you they probably would still charge for the service!
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Does anyone know how these routes have been performing in terms of passenger numbers to/from Luton?
Paris-Orly (Transavia)
Barcelona (Vueling)
Amsterdam (Vueling)
Vienna (easyJet)
Jersey (easyJet)
Dubrovnik (easyJet)
Paris-Orly (Transavia)
Barcelona (Vueling)
Amsterdam (Vueling)
Vienna (easyJet)
Jersey (easyJet)
Dubrovnik (easyJet)
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Last time I flew from Luton we were dropped off in the mid-term and took the bus to the tinminal. All very civilised, but not generating any cash for Aena! With the current chaos, I remain convinced that the mid-term whilst losing car park spaces would massively reduce the traffic carnage. I note that the 14 point plan still generates lots of cash, which after all, is the only factor influencing any decision! The central area should only be accessed by those pre-booking the multi-storey, taxis, buses and coaches.
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London Luton Airport extends free WiFi - London Luton Airport
There must be going good as there still going. Vuelings service to Zurich has now started yesterday and will be going at 6 weekly with no Saturday service.
There must be going good as there still going. Vuelings service to Zurich has now started yesterday and will be going at 6 weekly with no Saturday service.
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Just an observation and question. With the crossing still holding up traffic but making no difference to the queue of traffic trying to enter the drop off zone, what is going to change when the zone is enlarged regarding long queues?
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London Luton Airport extends free WiFi - London Luton Airport
There must be going good as there still going. Vuelings service to Zurich has now started yesterday and will be going at 6 weekly with no Saturday service.
There must be going good as there still going. Vuelings service to Zurich has now started yesterday and will be going at 6 weekly with no Saturday service.
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Passengers traveling via St Pancras will probably find that it takes longer to travel the last mile from Parkway than the flight actually takes to get to Paris making the train option from St Pancras somewhat more appealing.
We will have to see whether the flights have a long term future depending on whether some passengers have been put off by the Luton experience.
We will have to see whether the flights have a long term future depending on whether some passengers have been put off by the Luton experience.