LUTON -8
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It arrives from Brest at 10:30 and then departs to Clermont Ferrand at 11:10, it then arrives back into Luton at 15:30 before departing back to Brest at 16:10
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Another set of hoardings have gone up this time around check-in desks 57-60. Seems they are for easyjet who are installing 4 or 5 auto bag drops. This is a video of how it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7lbqY55mvs
While the machine for scanning boarding cards and issuing luggage tags seems to be the same as in the video it seems that luggage at Luton is placed on a set of scales built into the machine rather than a belt. Passengers then need to move the luggage off the scales and then I guess to a dedicated belt. We will see what happens when the hoardings come down.
Also what easyjet think of Gatwick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Th0P5A919Y
Luton are you listening? Easyjet seem to be using airbridges at Gatwick which is something Luton won't invest in. Is it a case that Luton really doesn't see itself as a business passenger airport so won't invest in trying to attract those passengers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7lbqY55mvs
While the machine for scanning boarding cards and issuing luggage tags seems to be the same as in the video it seems that luggage at Luton is placed on a set of scales built into the machine rather than a belt. Passengers then need to move the luggage off the scales and then I guess to a dedicated belt. We will see what happens when the hoardings come down.
Also what easyjet think of Gatwick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Th0P5A919Y
Luton are you listening? Easyjet seem to be using airbridges at Gatwick which is something Luton won't invest in. Is it a case that Luton really doesn't see itself as a business passenger airport so won't invest in trying to attract those passengers?
Last edited by LTNman; 7th Nov 2016 at 19:24.
Anyone happen to know how many passengers FlyKiss picked up or dropped off at Luton today (Monday) ? Can't imagine it's an awful lot, but am curious in case anyone happens to have some info
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The bag drop is the same as many others have, I found these at all but the smallest airports in Oz this year. The 'love LGW' video is great - if you live in their natural catchment area! Where you live and work is, I think, the greatest determinant of airport use. If there is a service from an airport closer to me, even if it's more expensive, the time and cost of travelling to a cheaper route, rarely makes up the saving.
Whilst there are 100s of routes from STN and LGW both of them are pain to get to from where I have lived in the last 40 years. Whilst LTN is becoming more of a pain, it is still fast and better to go there than to schlep across London, or round the M25. I am using LGW next week becuase of a cost benefit that does outweigh the awkward start to the journey, over the cost and convenience of LHR.
Airlines and airports continue to think that people will travel great distances to them. In the congested and expensive South East of England, the answer for me is simply No.
Whilst there are 100s of routes from STN and LGW both of them are pain to get to from where I have lived in the last 40 years. Whilst LTN is becoming more of a pain, it is still fast and better to go there than to schlep across London, or round the M25. I am using LGW next week becuase of a cost benefit that does outweigh the awkward start to the journey, over the cost and convenience of LHR.
Airlines and airports continue to think that people will travel great distances to them. In the congested and expensive South East of England, the answer for me is simply No.
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https://m.facebook.com/flykissoffici...779407/?type=3
I still don't understand the obsession with jetbridges? They slow everything down massively so Luton would basically grind to a halt, especially as they need trained ground handlers to operate them - something that always seems in short supply at Luton, especially marshaller and pushback crews!
With 180 passengers on a full A320, we can easily turn an aircraft with no problems in 35 minutes chocks on to chocks off with two sets of steps a la the Luton set up. Somewhere like KEF/TLV/PMI where we have to use a single jetbridge then you can add 20 minutes onto that easily. In fact turns in TLV are now scheduled to be longer (55 mins) as the company recognise the jetbridges don't lead to a quicker turn.
As you can see from the video you linked, speed of turn is incredibly important to easyJet, and presumably therefore airlines like Wizz and Ryanair. You'll see all three in airports with jetbridges but not using them (AMS for example). So I would suggest that Luton have been listening to their customers who just don't want/wouldn't pay to use them! The only airline I could see asking for them is El Al although they use steps in many other of their airports as well!
With 180 passengers on a full A320, we can easily turn an aircraft with no problems in 35 minutes chocks on to chocks off with two sets of steps a la the Luton set up. Somewhere like KEF/TLV/PMI where we have to use a single jetbridge then you can add 20 minutes onto that easily. In fact turns in TLV are now scheduled to be longer (55 mins) as the company recognise the jetbridges don't lead to a quicker turn.
As you can see from the video you linked, speed of turn is incredibly important to easyJet, and presumably therefore airlines like Wizz and Ryanair. You'll see all three in airports with jetbridges but not using them (AMS for example). So I would suggest that Luton have been listening to their customers who just don't want/wouldn't pay to use them! The only airline I could see asking for them is El Al although they use steps in many other of their airports as well!
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Quite agree plane drive, the few times I have flown out of Gatwick recently the aircraft has been on a remote stand after having walked nearly to Crawley to be loaded on to a coach. The last time on an air bridge at Gatwick was when I flew on a Monarch A300 (ugh) fortunately only half full so everybody could spread out after take off.
Join Date: Apr 2009
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It is an unfortunate byproduct of the LCC's that a turnround in the shortest possible time (25 minutes for a 189 seat aircraft in one case) is considered far more important than anything relating to passenger comfort. Boarding from the pier gates - the most obvious places for airbridges - passengers have to negotiate 50-60 steps down (no lifts unless you are a PRM), cross a busy airside road then queue outside in whatever weather the British climate chooses to throw at them before climbing another 20 odd steps to get on board. Yes I know it's all down to money and LCC's don't want to pay extra for better facilities. So we're stuck at the bottom of the airport league table for evermore. Yes I know there are other contributory factors involved in the airports ongoing unpopularity, but the above gripe is the one I hear the most.
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I am reliably informed that both AtlasGlobal and El Al were prepared to contribute to the cost of at least one airbridge but LLA declined their offers.
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I heard it was the other ways around in that the airport would put one in if El-Al and others paid for it but the offer was declined. Chinese whispers comes to mind.
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Possibly the real story is that the airlines made an offer, LLA countered with their offer but the 2 didn't come anywhere close to meeting in the middle.
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Re FlyKiss numbers, I have some doubts there were as many as 11. I got a shot of the arrival from Brest but it took me by surprise so had to be shot through the fence! Still, zooming in to the image shows only a couple of heads through the windows. The return to Brest and the inbound Clermont Ferrand flights didn't look any better.
I suspect the co-pilot maybe thought he wouldn't be coming back. I have a picture of the plane waiting at the intersection and zooming in shows the first officer filming in the direction of the crash gate with his mobile phone!
Inbound from Brest: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
Return to Brest: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
Inbound from Clermont: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
Filming the filmers: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
I suspect the co-pilot maybe thought he wouldn't be coming back. I have a picture of the plane waiting at the intersection and zooming in shows the first officer filming in the direction of the crash gate with his mobile phone!
Inbound from Brest: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
Return to Brest: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
Inbound from Clermont: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
Filming the filmers: Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc
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All the stands on the main apron have been remarked to allow for A321 parking.
On the eastern apron stand 46 markings have been removed while stands 47R, 47L and 48L have been added.
Also as previously reported here stands 43L, 44L, 44R and 45R have been marked up
On the hangar line of the main apron Stand 15R has been deleted while stands 10R, 11L, 11R, 12R, 13L and 13R have been added. I thought the hangar line was going to gain a stand so I guess stands 14 and 14L and 15L remain but I have yet to see an up to date docking chart.
On the eastern apron stand 46 markings have been removed while stands 47R, 47L and 48L have been added.
Also as previously reported here stands 43L, 44L, 44R and 45R have been marked up
On the hangar line of the main apron Stand 15R has been deleted while stands 10R, 11L, 11R, 12R, 13L and 13R have been added. I thought the hangar line was going to gain a stand so I guess stands 14 and 14L and 15L remain but I have yet to see an up to date docking chart.
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Full details here and details about CAT3A at the moment
https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWe...trievalByICAOs
https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWe...trievalByICAOs
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