LUTON -8
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: London Whipsnade Wildlife Park
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Monarch
It's all very negative and damaging, until I hear anything from staff I will not believe the Sunday Times article. If it was a PLC on stock market.......
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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The route to London was killed off when Aer Arann under pressure from new investors Stobart thought the successful route to Waterford that had operated for years from Luton could be just moved to the east coast.
The move was a disaster as Southend’s new terminal and railway station had not even opened with passengers finding themselves in the middle of nowhere. Even when the terminal and station had opened Aer Arann found that there was resistance to the move so had to create a split operation between Luton and Southend with Southend still getting most of the services at the insistence of Stobart but by then the damage was done and Stobart and Aer Arann ended up with nothing.
The move was a disaster as Southend’s new terminal and railway station had not even opened with passengers finding themselves in the middle of nowhere. Even when the terminal and station had opened Aer Arann found that there was resistance to the move so had to create a split operation between Luton and Southend with Southend still getting most of the services at the insistence of Stobart but by then the damage was done and Stobart and Aer Arann ended up with nothing.
Join Date: Aug 2014
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The opening of improved road access between Waterford and Dublin, major downturn in the Irish economy and downturn in the UK resulting in reduced leisure demand weren't also contributing factors then?
I understood that once the new facilities were up and running, the business pax in particular rather liked their new terminus.
I understood that once the new facilities were up and running, the business pax in particular rather liked their new terminus.
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Given the Aer Lingus Regional/Flybe links at SEN it seems more likely that any resumption of flights to WAT will be from there as its hard to think of an airline that might be tempted to take on the route from LTN?
Join Date: Feb 2005
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The whole Monarch thing reminds me of when Britannia tried to transform to a low cost model known then as ThomsonFly. That didn't last long, but fortunately the airline did with a further transformation. 
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Monarch have been operating in the 'low cost' arena for many years now providing a valuable alternative to the likes of easyJet & Ryanair on key leisure routes and of course the forerunner of the current low cost operation, their old 'Crown Service', offering a scheduled route network alongside charter operations goes back even further to the 80's.
It's a highly completive sector of the market that Monarch operate in but they've already proved much more adept & successful at it than Thomson were with their short lived Thomsonfly operation.
It's great to see Monarch continue to grow operations, especially at Luton providing healthy competition & alternatives for passengers on routes across Southern Europe & North Africa. Hopefully in time we'll see even more routes & frequencies
It's a highly completive sector of the market that Monarch operate in but they've already proved much more adept & successful at it than Thomson were with their short lived Thomsonfly operation.
It's great to see Monarch continue to grow operations, especially at Luton providing healthy competition & alternatives for passengers on routes across Southern Europe & North Africa. Hopefully in time we'll see even more routes & frequencies
Join Date: Feb 2005
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It's a tough game when Easy offer a comparable standard of service these days, and even with Ryan Air's new fluffy mantra it's going to be tough to compete. I'd hate to see Monarch fail and sincerely hope that they don't, but there's nothing much that differentiates them from the likes of Easy & Ryan nowadays that's all. I think it's a shame they never stuck with the good old Crown service, but who's to say that that would be popular in today's climate. Time will now tell.
Best of luck to them.
Best of luck to them.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Probably the airports last link to CourtLine. The inside of the building is in a right state after asbestos was removed a few years ago and has lain empty ever since. There is still a sign by the front door showing the last tenants which were ScotAirways, Easyjet, TGWU Unison and Air Foyle Ltd.
Next to this building but at the back of the car park used to be the concrete Courline Tristar cabin crew trainer. Their old hangar from Autair days is about the be knocked down after planning permission was granted to create a new Signature apron.
Next to this building but at the back of the car park used to be the concrete Courline Tristar cabin crew trainer. Their old hangar from Autair days is about the be knocked down after planning permission was granted to create a new Signature apron.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Still see no action on re-building Signature complex. Would it not make more sense to build it on site of Allied hangar which will be pulled down. Access would be better with more potential for car parking at rear which does not appear to feature in existing plans. Surely better than trying to squeeze aircraft parking between Thomson and Gulfstream hangars. Would considerably reduce the mayhem that exists around gate 5 at the moment.
Would provide apron parking space from hangar 125 all way along to Stand 16 (except for the security gate). Probably make the whole area look a bit better as well.
Could it be that this is already being considered, hence the delay ?
Would provide apron parking space from hangar 125 all way along to Stand 16 (except for the security gate). Probably make the whole area look a bit better as well.
Could it be that this is already being considered, hence the delay ?
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Emirates...
Interesting rumour and would be brilliant if true...
I don't see why LTN-DXB would only be restricted to the A330-200, I am pretty sure the 777-200 would have no issues too. We see EL-AL using this type regularly into Luton, and it is barely going to be leaving at full weight, as that is a pretty short hop for this type of aircraft.
I still question if Luton would be the suitable airport, it isn't renowned for premium traffic, which airlines like Emirates rely on to fill the front of the aircraft and lacks the lounges too... The little old Aspire Lounge is pretty busty at the best of times, let alone an additonal 40-50 business passengers decending on it!
Luton very much falls into Heathrow's catchment area, and Stansted in my opinion would be the airlines preferred choice. Purely because it is an area of London that does not currently have easy access to Emirates flights, and you also have access to East Anglia market, which includes a direct link via the M11 and trains to Cambridge which is very affluent in owns right.
On a lessor note, Stansted can offer Emirates things like an Air Bridge link directly into the terminal, which the larger flag carriers usually want and don't want passengers deplaning down stairs.
However fingers crossed, something materialises.
Luton to Australia via Dubai that would be brilliant!
I don't see why LTN-DXB would only be restricted to the A330-200, I am pretty sure the 777-200 would have no issues too. We see EL-AL using this type regularly into Luton, and it is barely going to be leaving at full weight, as that is a pretty short hop for this type of aircraft.
I still question if Luton would be the suitable airport, it isn't renowned for premium traffic, which airlines like Emirates rely on to fill the front of the aircraft and lacks the lounges too... The little old Aspire Lounge is pretty busty at the best of times, let alone an additonal 40-50 business passengers decending on it!
Luton very much falls into Heathrow's catchment area, and Stansted in my opinion would be the airlines preferred choice. Purely because it is an area of London that does not currently have easy access to Emirates flights, and you also have access to East Anglia market, which includes a direct link via the M11 and trains to Cambridge which is very affluent in owns right.
On a lessor note, Stansted can offer Emirates things like an Air Bridge link directly into the terminal, which the larger flag carriers usually want and don't want passengers deplaning down stairs.
However fingers crossed, something materialises.
Luton to Australia via Dubai that would be brilliant!
Luton to Australia happened my moons ago with Britannia !
Join Date: Sep 2012
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I don't think there is much else to say that hasn't been said already re: Emirates.
The A330 and 772 only make up a very small amount of the EK fleet and are both phasing out by 2022. That leaves the 773 as the most likely (or only) option and you can't really compare a 772 travelling only 2,200 miles to Israel with the bigger 773 going 3,500+ miles to Dubai. I'm sure for El Al, the 772 out of LTN would be a push if fully loaded.
The A330 and 772 only make up a very small amount of the EK fleet and are both phasing out by 2022. That leaves the 773 as the most likely (or only) option and you can't really compare a 772 travelling only 2,200 miles to Israel with the bigger 773 going 3,500+ miles to Dubai. I'm sure for El Al, the 772 out of LTN would be a push if fully loaded.
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Im not sure a 777-300 could backtrack and turn around at the end of the runway, due to its shear length.
Also I think there is a Wing Span restriction which effects aircraft the size of the 773 getting access to any of the Aprons from the runway. Is that right?
Has a 773 ever been into Luton before, for example as a diversion?
Also I think there is a Wing Span restriction which effects aircraft the size of the 773 getting access to any of the Aprons from the runway. Is that right?
Has a 773 ever been into Luton before, for example as a diversion?
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Signature must now regret selling their nice newish hangar to Gulfstream so soon after it was built. I have been told that aircraft in their new hangar not only get blocked in by DHL but aircraft can’t depart or arrive from the hangar and have to be towed from Signatures main site on the opposite side of the airport.
Join Date: May 2011
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Yeah no really? This is something I mentioned when the position was chosen and people said they foresaw no problems. Not only will towing planes from one side of the airport to the other all the time cause delays its a crowded little corner with sucky amounts of room to maneuver the amount of aircraft sig play with. It's just stupid planning, But the history of the airport is just endless years of stupid planning so why be surprised.
I hate to be a realist but Emirates are not coming to LTN. It is just not happening. It's a wishful thinking rumour with zero basis that has been thrown around for years on end. If you must dream of operations to the UAE then a More likely option would be Atlasjet from Luton to Istanbul - Zagros Jet > Istanbul - Dubai the same way they will eventually run the Erbil route. Smaller Airbuses with a stop.
I hate to be a realist but Emirates are not coming to LTN. It is just not happening. It's a wishful thinking rumour with zero basis that has been thrown around for years on end. If you must dream of operations to the UAE then a More likely option would be Atlasjet from Luton to Istanbul - Zagros Jet > Istanbul - Dubai the same way they will eventually run the Erbil route. Smaller Airbuses with a stop.