LUTON -8
Join Date: Dec 2015
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Can't help but feel next year is going to be rather a struggle for the airport as a whole but in particular for Monarch. Every route they serve (save for Eilat) is served by other carriers, and with Thomas Cook arriving, easyJet expanding down to the canaries and Thomson increasing on some of their routes, Monarch will have to compete just about everywhere they fly. Also interesting to note that they're ending Rome as Vueling are rumoured to be starting and Lanzarote just as easyJet are commencing services.
I can't think of anywhere they could expand to from Luton without harsh competition. They could maybe try Madrid, like they have at Birmingham, and offer better timings to outdo easyJet?
Also does anyone know how their Tel Aviv and Eilat services are doing?
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Didn't' realise about Lanzarote or Rome, that really is tough. With EZY expanding its not a surprise.
I think Madeira would work, maybe try decent times for IBZ as well (for summer).
I think Madeira would work, maybe try decent times for IBZ as well (for summer).
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Wizzair
Noticed that Wizz are to base one a/c at LTN over W16/17 operating early morning departures to Constanta and Varna during the week.
First time we have had a overnighting a/c all year round.
Noticed that Wizz are to base one a/c at LTN over W16/17 operating early morning departures to Constanta and Varna during the week.
First time we have had a overnighting a/c all year round.
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Monarch and Airport
Monarch have managed over the last couple of years to get costs down so are possibly on a par with the rest of the LCC so I do not think there is any real threat to their position at LTN or at any other UK base.
With regards to LTN's 'future' I always stated that the east side of the airfield was it's growth potential and in the last few weeks that has been substantiated in this forum.
What LTN has to concentrate on is the building of more stands and whilst there are current bottlenecks with infrastructure in terms of car traffic to and from the terminal I am sure that once they build the extension of a dual carriageway under the eastern aprons and build a new terminal / satellite building and stands to accommodate one low cost carrier's needs then the airport will grow to be on par with STN and MAN so who knows what the future holds?
Eighteen or twenty four extra stands are possible but of course only with real investment.
The airport is craving 'BIG' investment!
With regards to LTN's 'future' I always stated that the east side of the airfield was it's growth potential and in the last few weeks that has been substantiated in this forum.
What LTN has to concentrate on is the building of more stands and whilst there are current bottlenecks with infrastructure in terms of car traffic to and from the terminal I am sure that once they build the extension of a dual carriageway under the eastern aprons and build a new terminal / satellite building and stands to accommodate one low cost carrier's needs then the airport will grow to be on par with STN and MAN so who knows what the future holds?
Eighteen or twenty four extra stands are possible but of course only with real investment.
The airport is craving 'BIG' investment!
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Wizzair
Noticed that Wizz are to base one a/c at LTN over W16/17 operating early morning departures to Constanta and Varna during the week.
First time we have had a overnighting a/c all year round.
Noticed that Wizz are to base one a/c at LTN over W16/17 operating early morning departures to Constanta and Varna during the week.
First time we have had a overnighting a/c all year round.
User it or loose it!
With the airport literally running at maximum capacity for stands and aircraft night stopping, maybe if they had little choice... They either night stop during the winter months or loose the stand to another airline and there may not be the space for them otherwise next summer.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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LTNman,
New video on the airports website shows how they connected all the pieces of the footbridge together, should answer your questions.
Giles
Don't think it was a case of use it or lose it as they have had two nightstoppers this summer.
S17 at the moment still has
Monarch 4 based , Thomson 3 based, Ryanair 5 based.
The unknown at the moment is Easyjet currently 19 a/c based but we will have to wait a while until the schedules are out.
New video on the airports website shows how they connected all the pieces of the footbridge together, should answer your questions.
Giles
Don't think it was a case of use it or lose it as they have had two nightstoppers this summer.
S17 at the moment still has
Monarch 4 based , Thomson 3 based, Ryanair 5 based.
The unknown at the moment is Easyjet currently 19 a/c based but we will have to wait a while until the schedules are out.
Join Date: Jul 2016
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The drop off zone and why it is going to be a failure
As can be seen in the photo the inbound lane is at a standstill due to passengers crossing to the centre Island at the far end.
Forget the temporary pedestrian crossing to the short term car park, it’s a side issue, as during peak periods the traffic is still queuing from the entrance of the drop off zone and down the hill towards the station. The temporary crossing just divides the queue into two halves as it backs up to the crossing and then beyond it.
So what is the solution? Actually it is simple, put barriers up around the island so it can’t be used. This would allow the crossings to be removed so no one needs to cross the road.
With the island closed remove the drop off markings and replace them with a second lane. This would allow cars to get past those drivers that insist on using the middle of the road to pick up passengers and their luggage despite all the spare bays available on the return leg. You have to see it to believe it but what is happening is that because the traffic queues to get past the first crossing drivers see this as an opportunity to pick up or drop off in the middle of the road. The trouble is the traffic has moved on before they have finished so they then become the issue.
So the downside is that 50% of the kerbsides will be taken out of service but cars should not need more than a couple of minutes to pick up and drop off which is all you get at Heathow. At Heathrow anyone stopping for more than a minute or so is pounced on. At the moment despite the queues there is plenty of kerbsides available despite all the parked up cars and remember the drop off zone still has not reached its full length yet which will compensate for the Island if it is taken out of use.
Oh, if anyone want to know how long it takes to walk from the first part of the drop off zone to the terminal, I have timed it at three and a half minutes. It seems like ten when it is raining though.
Last edited by Spanish eyes; 2nd Sep 2016 at 20:03.
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Scheduling does not usually work like that, historic rights in each season (summer and winter) are held independently so you can't lose your rights to summer by not operating in winter.
Thomson growing at Luton? - that would be a rarity, one day they will wake up and realise opportunity has passed them by.
Thomson growing at Luton? - that would be a rarity, one day they will wake up and realise opportunity has passed them by.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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It's not that Luton needs a "big investment" so much as like EDI, to make it work properly you would need to knock it down and rebuild. The private sector does a lot of things well, transport infrastructure is not one of them. LTN is now being used for volumes it was never designed or intended for and the only way for any ROI is for piecemeal add ons, however well intended or expensive, which only compound the original error.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Construction update
It is becoming clear that the £110 million being spent on Luton's upgrade is about purely increasing capacity at a minimum cost while not putting much effort into improving the passenger experience.
While many airports invest in infrastructure like airbridges and try to improve the passengers experience Luton is building very basic minimal facilities. This is well demonstrated by gate 16, which is about to open. Gate 16 holding area is very similar to the gates for the main apron, except I think this one is on the first floor rather than apron level. As can be seen the floor has not been tiled or carpeted and the painted walls will soon mark.
Does anyone know which stand gate 16 is associated with, as it isn't where I expected it to be but I think it is around stand 9L
LLA
With not a hope of an airbrige Luton passengers will leave the gate via a staircase and these pushchair unfriendly steps and door as they head across the apron.
LLA
This view is taken from inside the passenger footbridge, as the second section was about to be attached. I can't help but think that this is cost cutting too far. As can be seen with the windows made out of opaque plastic, like is found on conservatory roofs, passengers face walking through a dark featureless tube rather than a high level route full of natural light that would have showcased the airport if it had clear glass windows. All in all this is so disappointing and is a missed opportunity and is in stark contrast to the airports own artists impression that showed a clear glass structure that had clear glass on both sides. What has been built has a solid wall on one side and plastic on the other.
LLA
The final 3 pictures shows the last 2 sections of passenger walkway being installed and the route the traffic took to get past when the final section was installed over the road.
LLA
LLA
LLA
While many airports invest in infrastructure like airbridges and try to improve the passengers experience Luton is building very basic minimal facilities. This is well demonstrated by gate 16, which is about to open. Gate 16 holding area is very similar to the gates for the main apron, except I think this one is on the first floor rather than apron level. As can be seen the floor has not been tiled or carpeted and the painted walls will soon mark.
Does anyone know which stand gate 16 is associated with, as it isn't where I expected it to be but I think it is around stand 9L
LLA
With not a hope of an airbrige Luton passengers will leave the gate via a staircase and these pushchair unfriendly steps and door as they head across the apron.
LLA
This view is taken from inside the passenger footbridge, as the second section was about to be attached. I can't help but think that this is cost cutting too far. As can be seen with the windows made out of opaque plastic, like is found on conservatory roofs, passengers face walking through a dark featureless tube rather than a high level route full of natural light that would have showcased the airport if it had clear glass windows. All in all this is so disappointing and is a missed opportunity and is in stark contrast to the airports own artists impression that showed a clear glass structure that had clear glass on both sides. What has been built has a solid wall on one side and plastic on the other.
LLA
The final 3 pictures shows the last 2 sections of passenger walkway being installed and the route the traffic took to get past when the final section was installed over the road.
LLA
LLA
LLA
Last edited by LTNman; 3rd Sep 2016 at 07:17.
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Blue air summer 2017
Bucharest 14 weekly
Bacau 5 weekly
Iasi 5 weekly
Turin 4 weekly
Larnaca 4 weekly
Also Monarch will be looking after the Cathy Pacific a350 and I believe there may now doing this maintance at LTN.
Report here
http://mro-network.com/news/2016/09/...ay-a350s/14711
Bucharest 14 weekly
Bacau 5 weekly
Iasi 5 weekly
Turin 4 weekly
Larnaca 4 weekly
Also Monarch will be looking after the Cathy Pacific a350 and I believe there may now doing this maintance at LTN.
Report here
http://mro-network.com/news/2016/09/...ay-a350s/14711
Last edited by Boeing737-8; 3rd Sep 2016 at 09:32.
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Boeing737-8
Not a cat in hells chance of MAEL doing maintenance on an A350 at Luton.
The contract signed is for line maintenance only and l believe at LGW for the coming HKG-LGW route.
The contract signed is for line maintenance only and l believe at LGW for the coming HKG-LGW route.