LUTON -8
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Wizz
With Carpatair seemingly having come & gone in a matter of weeks I wonder if Chișinău might become a potential destination for Wizz?
Also, how about Wizz to Tallinn, Pula & Dubrovnik, all routes that could perhaps work well from Luton and fit in nicely to Wizz's network?
Also, how about Wizz to Tallinn, Pula & Dubrovnik, all routes that could perhaps work well from Luton and fit in nicely to Wizz's network?
aceatco, retired
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That is a very good question. Didn't the runway get built up at that end a few years ago to reduce the hump in the middle. Maybe the ILS is sitting slightly lower now and someone has only just done the calculations?
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I believe it was a CAA requirement to remeasure the runway distances which was done last year.
The new measurements start/begin at slightly different locations compared to the old measurements hence the differences in the runway length including intersection departure distances.
Not sure the performance engineers for the airlines were too happy with the change.
The new measurements start/begin at slightly different locations compared to the old measurements hence the differences in the runway length including intersection departure distances.
Not sure the performance engineers for the airlines were too happy with the change.
aceatco, retired
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No, there can be occasions where the re-declaring of runways distances can have an adverse affect of performance figures even where the distances increase. I know of an airport, which I will not name but it wasn't Luton, where an increase in the TORA put an obstacle in the take off climb profile. Just goes to prove size isn't everything. 
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Good to see the airport have got the no-stopping cameras out on the approach to the airport! 
Parking ticket after stopping for 9 seconds - ITV News
Parking ticket after stopping for 9 seconds - ITV News
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Well I finally got a refund for my parking fine last week. I appealed to APCOA the airports partners in crime and heard nothing. Two phone calls made weeks later they admitted they hadn't even looked at my appeal so I started complaining on the airports Facebook page. After my second posting to Facebook and a promise it would be sorted out I got a letter from APOCOA informing me that I had been given a refund due to "technical reasons"
I think what they were trying to tell me is that they had no evidence that the pair of headlights in the distance was my company vehicle.
I think what they were trying to tell me is that they had no evidence that the pair of headlights in the distance was my company vehicle.
Last edited by LTNman; 27th Mar 2014 at 06:06.
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I wish Luton took this pro-active approach for growth at the airport...
Easyjet signs growth agreement with Gatwick Airport
If easyJet and other airlines were given assurances on fees for the next few years and incentives to grow ops at the airport, maybe we might see growth from the likes of easyJet, Ryanair and Thomson...
I might be mistaken and maybe the airport does this? But would imagine it is difficult to offer something like this, while the current terminal is near capacity and expansion is still under question.
On a seperate note, I noticed in the Monarch forum, while the airline is adding an additional aircraft to this summers schedule from the airport they have reduced the number of larger aircraft. As they had 3x A321 and 1x A320 and this year is 2x A321 and 3x A320.
With one of these two A321's flying the Luton to Sharm sector 4-5 times a week for the first time during the summer season, and having a block time of about 13 hours, this will mean there is going to be a fair bit of capacity cuts on other routes.
Easyjet signs growth agreement with Gatwick Airport
If easyJet and other airlines were given assurances on fees for the next few years and incentives to grow ops at the airport, maybe we might see growth from the likes of easyJet, Ryanair and Thomson...
I might be mistaken and maybe the airport does this? But would imagine it is difficult to offer something like this, while the current terminal is near capacity and expansion is still under question.
On a seperate note, I noticed in the Monarch forum, while the airline is adding an additional aircraft to this summers schedule from the airport they have reduced the number of larger aircraft. As they had 3x A321 and 1x A320 and this year is 2x A321 and 3x A320.
With one of these two A321's flying the Luton to Sharm sector 4-5 times a week for the first time during the summer season, and having a block time of about 13 hours, this will mean there is going to be a fair bit of capacity cuts on other routes.
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Not sure you're correct there giles. SSH is twice a week and always has something going before it. I reckon there's about 16% more capacity this year as a lot of the historic flying has had frequency increases.
giles - I get your point about growing traffic at LTN, but right now LTN has very little reason to offer cut price deals with airlines. That's not going to change until you see major building work underway at LTN. When you see at least 2 cement mixers and lots of people walking around in hard hats and heavy boots on site, then LTN and an airline might be actively engaged in talks about long term arrangements.
Airlines will happily take reduced fees arrangements, but there is very little that an airline can credibly offer LTN in return - there simply isn't the spare passenger capacity at LTN, meaning LTN can't derive any more revenue through per-passenger charges. Until that point, airport fees at LTN should be set to maximise revenue, so it makes sense for LTN to act in the same way as LHR - namely charge the maximum price possible without the number of passengers being too much below the airport's capacity.
Airlines will happily take reduced fees arrangements, but there is very little that an airline can credibly offer LTN in return - there simply isn't the spare passenger capacity at LTN, meaning LTN can't derive any more revenue through per-passenger charges. Until that point, airport fees at LTN should be set to maximise revenue, so it makes sense for LTN to act in the same way as LHR - namely charge the maximum price possible without the number of passengers being too much below the airport's capacity.
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Is there really no spare passenger capacity at Luton? Granted, the morning peak is very congested but outside of that there's plenty to offer. Even during the morning peak, Monarch have still found space for an additional aircraft.
As for Monarch, there's definitely a significant growth in their capacity this summer. Along with Wizz they seem to be the airlines driving growth at present.
What Luton could do with is to find more airlines like El-Al & AtlasJet to take slots during off peak periods. Easier said than done I know.
As for Monarch, there's definitely a significant growth in their capacity this summer. Along with Wizz they seem to be the airlines driving growth at present.
What Luton could do with is to find more airlines like El-Al & AtlasJet to take slots during off peak periods. Easier said than done I know.
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That's not going to change until you see major building work underway at LTN. When you see at least 2 cement mixers and lots of people walking around in hard hats and heavy boots on site.
Goodness only knows when that will commence, any word on the privatisation of AENA?
Goodness only knows when that will commence, any word on the privatisation of AENA?
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Double whammy comes to mind. AENA buys into LTN but awaits Spanish politicians to act which might never happen. While over here The Department for Communities and Local Government will consider if the planning application should be determined by Mr Pickles or whether the council can issue the consent.
It is bad enough that one government is holding up the development but Luton is in the unique position that two governments can scupper the plans. If the UK government gives the nod then maybe the council can once again play their ownership card and force AENA to either fulfill their obligations or sell their stake.
There are many here who are against the council owning the airport but it is the council and only the council that are pushing for development.
It is bad enough that one government is holding up the development but Luton is in the unique position that two governments can scupper the plans. If the UK government gives the nod then maybe the council can once again play their ownership card and force AENA to either fulfill their obligations or sell their stake.
There are many here who are against the council owning the airport but it is the council and only the council that are pushing for development.
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Had FlyBe not axed their Luton operation we'd have seen the first flights of the year to Isle of Man & Jersey today as the summer schedules commence. Seems strange that these long standing routes are no longer part of the Luton schedule.
I still don't fully understand why these routes can't be made to work by someone, nor indeed why FlyBe went to such trouble to secure an operating licence on LTN-GCI but then chose not to fly the route.
I hope it won't be too long before another airline decides to give these routes a go.
I still don't fully understand why these routes can't be made to work by someone, nor indeed why FlyBe went to such trouble to secure an operating licence on LTN-GCI but then chose not to fly the route.
I hope it won't be too long before another airline decides to give these routes a go.
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Exactly. That's why I find it hard to see why these routes couldn't still work. I know the aviation scene moves on quickly but every other London airport (exLHR) serves JER so why can't it work from LTN? Similarly, with only LCY & LGW flights to IOM, you might expect there to still be some demand to IOM for people to the north of London?
I'm surprised eadyJet haven't looked at these routes. Both being short hops, they could fit into the schedule around other services. I know they tried JER once before but I think it was a daily operation which is way too much. I'd have thought 3-4 rotations a week on both routes might be doable.
I'm surprised eadyJet haven't looked at these routes. Both being short hops, they could fit into the schedule around other services. I know they tried JER once before but I think it was a daily operation which is way too much. I'd have thought 3-4 rotations a week on both routes might be doable.
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Quote : If easyJet and other airlines were given assurances on fees for the next few years and incentives to grow ops at the airport, maybe we might see growth from the likes of easyJet, Ryanair and Thomson...
Well, the FT are reporting today that easyjet have agreed a new 10 year deal with the airport, to double pax numbers to more than 9m, 20% of which is in the first year!!!!!!!. This, despite all the uncertainty from the British & Spanish goverments, relating to the expansion of the airport.
Is it 1 April today ?????
Well, the FT are reporting today that easyjet have agreed a new 10 year deal with the airport, to double pax numbers to more than 9m, 20% of which is in the first year!!!!!!!. This, despite all the uncertainty from the British & Spanish goverments, relating to the expansion of the airport.
Is it 1 April today ?????
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Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, said the rate of expansion at Luton, would be “in part reliant” on planning approval for “much-needed improvements” at the airport.
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Apart from the Gatwick deal didn't Easyjet also do a 10 year deal with Stansted? No sign yet of that expansion happening yet.
BUT
The FT reports
"people familiar with the Aena's plans said this week that Luton was no longer a priority, because of the uncertainty over Aena's future"
So good and bad news. It is starting to look like the council need to force Aena to sell their stake as the airport will go nowhere under this company but the deal was in partnership with equity firm Ardian who were providing the money and has a 49% stake. I guess they will not be happy either.
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Apart from the Gatwick deal didn't Easyjet also do a 10 year deal with Stansted? No sign yet of that expansion happening yet.
BUT
The FT reports
"people familiar with the Aena's plans said this week that Luton was no longer a priority, because of the uncertainty over Aena's future"
So good and bad news. It is starting to look like the council need to force Aena to sell their stake as the airport will go nowhere under this company but the deal was in partnership with equity firm Ardian who were providing the money and has a 49% stake. I guess they will not be happy either.
Last edited by LTNman; 31st Mar 2014 at 05:34.