LUTON -8
Paxing All Over The World
Those that complain about the railway station not being on 'the front door' have failed to look at the geography of the area and the height above sea level of airport vis a vis the railway. 
Of course, if they can persuade every passenger to pay a surcharge to re-route the line, or build a funicular railway, or dig a tunnel with a escalator ...
Of course, if they can persuade every passenger to pay a surcharge to re-route the line, or build a funicular railway, or dig a tunnel with a escalator ...
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So the privatisation of AENA is not going according to plan, this in turn could well hold back the planned develpment plans of the airport (according to a recent story in the FT)! Possibilities could include moving the concession on to another 'party'!
I bet the budgets are rather tight at the airport currently!
I bet the budgets are rather tight at the airport currently!
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Legal fees and fines must be close to £1 million. Pedestriangate where they got fined £400,000 over a death in the CTA and busgate where they lost to Greenline won't come cheap with barrister fees and court costs and that case isn't fully resolved yet.
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Luton again in a hiatus?
Maybe there might be a Pension Fund, or a Guardian Angel to take over the AENA part of the new consortium?
Whatever happens = a delay in revitalising Luton?
LBC do seem to pick 'em!
Maybe there might be a Pension Fund, or a Guardian Angel to take over the AENA part of the new consortium?
Whatever happens = a delay in revitalising Luton?
LBC do seem to pick 'em!
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I see Signature are setting up a FBO at Biggin Hill. Wonder if it will have an impact on Luton?
I thought AENA had a pension fund partner for Luton who were providing the money?
Maybe there might be a Pension Fund, or a Guardian Angel to take over the AENA part of the new consortium?
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Signature
JETS more maintenance I thought but more of a footprint across London with FBO does help them against FAB. What's next for them, a FBO in Essex?
With Luton being their prime site and maxed out, it makes sense to take opportunities at other London locations.
With Luton being their prime site and maxed out, it makes sense to take opportunities at other London locations.
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On Monday I did a quick count of tails on the south stands as I headed for the M1. Exec jets were double parked and I think I counted 8 of them on what is in effect an overflow apron for biz jets. It was as though RSS/ Ocean had never moved.
Once airlines start using the south stands for terminal passengers and Signature gives up the Pond there could well be a big decline in biz jet movements.
Once airlines start using the south stands for terminal passengers and Signature gives up the Pond there could well be a big decline in biz jet movements.
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Wizz
Given the dominance of Wizz in Poland with a wide range of destinations served, all of them I think, to/from Luton, is there a reason why Krakow, Poland's second city isn't one of them?
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Maybe Signature are relying on that massive hangar as a place to park a lot of the planes that dont move for most of the day. I saw 2 DHL A300's parked near it the other day and it looks to me like you could fit at least 3 of them in there just by eye. (No idea what the exact dimensions are) Thats a whole lot of ground space to push bizjets into and arrange them for the day.
When you throw in that the Biz Terminal will have stands and outside the hangar will also have tarmac I think storing the planes on the airfiled will be fine. What I dont think will work out it towing each plane to the other side of the airport each time one needs to depart or be parked up for the day/week. It will slow down the flow of the airport.
When you throw in that the Biz Terminal will have stands and outside the hangar will also have tarmac I think storing the planes on the airfiled will be fine. What I dont think will work out it towing each plane to the other side of the airport each time one needs to depart or be parked up for the day/week. It will slow down the flow of the airport.
wallp - I could be completely wrong on this, but seem to recall ages ago that Wizz made a decision to set up at Katowice instead of Krakow when they were a much smaller airline (2005 ?), so as to avoid competing too much with Easyjet, Ryanair, Centralwings and SkyEurope
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I think some do see the airport through rose tint specs. It has some excellent aspects, but overall is a national embarrassment.
ATC - really good. The controllers are sharp and reliable, and have a sense of humour too.
Fire crew - seem well equipped (love the three new appliances!) and respond quickly.
New terminal - check-in and departure hall are reasonable, though the ends of the downstairs need to be full glazed for more light.
Holding time - next to nil most times of day, though peak hours can see up to 10 mins for departure. I have held for arrival twice in 15 years, both times due to snow clearing (used to be bad, but now is well controlled).
Old terminal -abysmal; leaking roofs with buckets all over the place, the grey corridors are a mess and look like a botch, but worse are the permanent portacabin gates 1-4. The arrivals area is worn out and badly laid out with cracked floors and an uncared for appearance. The apron behind the old terminal, for gates 1-6 is ridiculous, forcing pax to wait out in the weather under what look like bike sheds, and cause delays for SPecial Branch reasons.
Access - dire. The train link is understandable, but a subterranean station with tunnelled spur would be viable, if the govt were serious about investment in infrastructure and London airports (I know such a project would be hiddeously expensive). At least some improvements for road access are on the way, but staff parking is also a problem and the plans show nothing for that. Aeroplanes don't fly without crews, and shops don't work without staff either - it seems the plan has only remembered the staff employed by the airport itself.
Basically, the old half of the aiport needs demolishing and starting again from scratch to have two linked terminals, not this current hotch-potch of one terminal spread across two unrelated buildings, an infestation of extensions and portacabins and a load of unfinished, unfurnished corridors.
ATC - really good. The controllers are sharp and reliable, and have a sense of humour too.
Fire crew - seem well equipped (love the three new appliances!) and respond quickly.
New terminal - check-in and departure hall are reasonable, though the ends of the downstairs need to be full glazed for more light.
Holding time - next to nil most times of day, though peak hours can see up to 10 mins for departure. I have held for arrival twice in 15 years, both times due to snow clearing (used to be bad, but now is well controlled).
Old terminal -abysmal; leaking roofs with buckets all over the place, the grey corridors are a mess and look like a botch, but worse are the permanent portacabin gates 1-4. The arrivals area is worn out and badly laid out with cracked floors and an uncared for appearance. The apron behind the old terminal, for gates 1-6 is ridiculous, forcing pax to wait out in the weather under what look like bike sheds, and cause delays for SPecial Branch reasons.
Access - dire. The train link is understandable, but a subterranean station with tunnelled spur would be viable, if the govt were serious about investment in infrastructure and London airports (I know such a project would be hiddeously expensive). At least some improvements for road access are on the way, but staff parking is also a problem and the plans show nothing for that. Aeroplanes don't fly without crews, and shops don't work without staff either - it seems the plan has only remembered the staff employed by the airport itself.
Basically, the old half of the aiport needs demolishing and starting again from scratch to have two linked terminals, not this current hotch-potch of one terminal spread across two unrelated buildings, an infestation of extensions and portacabins and a load of unfinished, unfurnished corridors.
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The airport seems to be suffering big time from court judgements all of which seem to go against the airport. On top of the two recent cases GreenLine has now got an injunction against the airport which will allow them to restart their 757 coach service to London on Sunday.
i would imagine that National Express will be looking for a refund of their exclusive concession fees, which was rumoured to be worth a 7 figure sum.
Opinion English High Court concludes that terms of Luton Airport?s coach concession agreement are an unlawful abuse of its dominant position - Lexology
According to the Court, ATS enjoyed a profit margin of 46 per cent on this route, which accounted for 8 per cent of the company’s annual turnover but 32 per cent of its annual profit.
i would imagine that National Express will be looking for a refund of their exclusive concession fees, which was rumoured to be worth a 7 figure sum.
Opinion English High Court concludes that terms of Luton Airport?s coach concession agreement are an unlawful abuse of its dominant position - Lexology
According to the Court, ATS enjoyed a profit margin of 46 per cent on this route, which accounted for 8 per cent of the company’s annual turnover but 32 per cent of its annual profit.
Arriva the Shires, responsible for the Green Line services operating from Herts, Beds and Bucks are pleased to announce the recommencement of their flagship service, Green Line 757, operating between London Luton Airport and London Victoria.
The recommencement follows a high court judgement and absence from the Airport for 10 months.
Paul Adcock, Area Managing Director commented “We are absolutely delighted to re-launch the Green Line 757 service serving London Luton Airport from Sunday 2nd March. With over 30 years’ experience in providing first class coach travel between the airport and the capital this is a very welcome opportunity. “
The service will operate seven days a week and will drop off and collect customers from right outside the terminal building. Stopping at some of the most convenient locations in London enabling customers to quickly access the London transport network, hotels and tourist attractions, the service is a great way to travel to the capital.
The change to the service does not affect the current operation and all journeys aimed at commuters are still in place with three additional journeys added to the timetable meaning some commuters no longer need to change coach in Luton town centre and can travel direct to London.
“This opportunity sees us being able to work with London Luton Airport Operations Limited again and we look forward to supporting their aims for increasing passenger numbers.
The recommencement follows a high court judgement and absence from the Airport for 10 months.
Paul Adcock, Area Managing Director commented “We are absolutely delighted to re-launch the Green Line 757 service serving London Luton Airport from Sunday 2nd March. With over 30 years’ experience in providing first class coach travel between the airport and the capital this is a very welcome opportunity. “
The service will operate seven days a week and will drop off and collect customers from right outside the terminal building. Stopping at some of the most convenient locations in London enabling customers to quickly access the London transport network, hotels and tourist attractions, the service is a great way to travel to the capital.
The change to the service does not affect the current operation and all journeys aimed at commuters are still in place with three additional journeys added to the timetable meaning some commuters no longer need to change coach in Luton town centre and can travel direct to London.
“This opportunity sees us being able to work with London Luton Airport Operations Limited again and we look forward to supporting their aims for increasing passenger numbers.
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i would imagine that National Express will be looking for a refund of their exclusive concession fees, which was rumoured to be worth a 7 figure sum.
Seems a bit of a coincidence how National Express charged about £5-10 more for their walk-on fares to and London, that they did for exactly the same tickets from Gatwick and Stansted.
I wonder if competition at these airports with bus travel to London had anything to do with it, while they had a monopoly at Luton?!
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Well you can't say Luton isn't well connected by public transport to London.
2 an hour Greenline
4 an hour National Express
4 an hour Easybus
7 an hour National Rail.
17 services per hour total.
2 an hour Greenline
4 an hour National Express
4 an hour Easybus
7 an hour National Rail.
17 services per hour total.