LUTON -8

[Buster the Bear]

Far from being an easyJet expert there does however, appear to be an increase in flights available next summer?

[LTNman]

Wonder how the airport and terminal will cope with the builders in. Hope it doesn't put too many people off with the airlines ramping up fights and passengers in readiness for a 18 million capacity Luton.

[pabely]

Hopefully things are now run with a experienced company who know about infrastructure increase whilst keeping existing facilities running.

[Falcon666]

Easyjet

Not totally convinced there will be an additional A/C next summer.
There are more routes but a quick look at July still only has 15 a/c based for morning departures
There are reductions for example on Dortmund down to one flight daily and only 5 day a week and Milan is also reduced.

Blue Air have released S15 with one additional flight to Bucharest now daily.
Bacau stays at 5x wkly.

Will be interesting to see what Atlasjet does

[Boeing737-8]

Today's atlasjets planes is part of there Ukraine company
UR-AJB
A320

[Falcon666]

Easy S15

Ok I take it all back.
Took a sample in July, second week and schedules for based a/c look like this.

0600 AMS 1,2,3,4,5
0600 SXF 1,2,3,4,5,6
0600 PMI 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
0600 CDG 1,2,3,4,5,6
0600 MAH 1,5
0615 ALC 1,2,3,4,5,6
0615 NAP 1,3,5,6
0625 OLB 3
0635 PSA 4
0640 FAO 1,3,5 ( 0630 , 2 ) ( 0610 , 4 )
0640 ESU 1,5
0645 LIS 1,2,3,4,5
0700 BFS 1,2,3,4,5
0705 TLV 1,2,4,5,7
0705 BCN 1,2,3,4,5
0710 MXP 1
0710 OPO 2,4
0715 CPN 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
0720 GVA 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
0725 NCE 1,2,3,4
0730 JMK 2,5
0735 KEF 1,4,5,7
0740 CFU 2,4
0745 CTA 3,7 ( 0700 ,5 )



Saturday extra
0605 AGP
0610 NCE
0645 MAD
0700 MXP
0700 CFU
0700 INV
0710 GLA
0720 MPL
0755 AMS

Sunday Extra
0600 AGP
0610 ALC
0630 CFU
0635 PSA
0640 LIS
0655 FAO
0700 BJV
0700 MAH
0700 SXF
0700 PFO
0700 AMS
0710 NCE
0745 MXP


So that makes

1 - 18 a/c
2 - 16
3 - 15
4 - 17
5 - 18
6 - 16
7 - 19?

That's quite an increase over S14 . The MAD and DTM morning flights from S14 move to pm departures.CPN and NAP take their slots in the morning rush.

[wallp]

Easyjet

Looks like easyJet are being true to their word and increasing capacity as promised. Presumably this is the start rather than the end point for next summers schedules so there could well be more routes/capacity added in over the months to come?

[Fairdealfrank]

LY at LTN

OK the 777 might only operated around holiday times with 767's and 737's operating the rest of the time but it was a big coup when El-Al came to Luton after giving up on Stansted.

Given the relatively large numbers of point-to-point VFR pax between the Hendon area and Israel, it makes good sense for LY to operate LTN-TLV. It would be stupid not to!

[TOM100]

and Stanmore, Bushey, Golders Green - all very convenient with large ElAl catchment.....

[wallp]

It's great that El AL have been able to successfully tap into a community that wants easy, efficient flights to Israel. Not only does Luton offer convenient connectivity, it also gives El Al the ability to scale their operation up or down depending on demand, something they could never do just from Heathrow.


With Atlasjet now tapping into the vast Turkish communities in Luton's catchment area, both carriers have developed operations which have a great chance of long term success.


Hopefully other carriers will follow suit, perhaps targeting other communities within the catchment, including Pakistani and Indian?

[gilesdavies]

It's great that El AL have been able to successfully tap into a community that wants easy, efficient flights to Israel. Not only does Luton offer convenient connectivity, it also gives El Al the ability to scale their operation up or down depending on demand, something they could never do just from Heathrow.

Don't forget you also have easyJet flying twice daily to TLV offering a further 360 seats in each direction!

During Jewish holiday periods, as well as the extra capacity being offered by El Al, we also see a number of other carriers popping up, like Jet2, Sun D'Or and Israir. Are these charter flights being operated by a local Jewish travel agency or are they flying on behalf of El Al to fill seating capacity demand their own fleet can't meet?

The capacity in general being offered is quite phenominal, when you consider a few years back there was hardly any flights to Israel and just the occasional charters to Eilat and Ovda.

[Freq El Al Passenger]

TLV is an interesting route because of the substantial and unique VFR market. The Jewish community is reasonably affulent and flying to see Auntie Rivka in Jerusalem at any opportunity that arises is seen as an obligation rather than an option.

In that respect it's almost the ideal market. A large base of captive passengers, often in sizable groups (families), willing and able to fly regularly - and with considerable loyalty to this particular airline too.

Don't forget traffic in the other direction. London is a top destination for Israeli tourists, who will happily overlook the broken tiles, leaking roofs, non-functioning lifts/escalators/automatic doors and the fact that the Tinminal entrance has all the illumination, ambience and Gemütlichkeit of a damp cave if it saves thirty quid on a return fare.

Israelis particularly like shopping, as they get ripped off on literally EVERYTHING back home. I know people who come hand luggage-only and return with a huge suitcase full of clothes and electronics.

If Luton wanted to cash in they'd install a Primark in the terminal.

[Freq El Al Passenger]

Hopefully other carriers will follow suit, perhaps targeting other communities within the catchment, including Pakistani and Indian?

I think flights to India and Pakistan are far less likely. These destinations are true long haul destinations with prices and flight times to match. These two communities are, as a whole, far less affluent than the Jewish community and they'll also be facing stiff competition from the Gulf carriers and others. Visa limitations mean there'll be minimal traffic in the other direction.

LTN-TLV really is a unique route. In fact it's such a perfect match I'm amazed it took until 2009 to be "discovered".

During Jewish holiday periods, as well as the extra capacity being offered by El Al, we also see a number of other carriers popping up, like Jet2, Sun D'Or and Israir. Are these charter flights being operated by a local Jewish travel agency or are they flying on behalf of El Al to fill seating capacity demand their own fleet can't meet?

I didn't realise these carriers have been flying LTN-TLV recently. But I should imagine Sun D'Or and Israir are more likely catering to charter demand from the Israeli end. What aircraft did you see operating?

[Fairdealfrank]

With Atlasjet now tapping into the vast Turkish communities in Luton's catchment area, both carriers have developed operations which have a great chance of long term success.


Hopefully other carriers will follow suit, perhaps targeting other communities within the catchment, including Pakistani and Indian?

Guaranteed not to see AI at LTN (and please no one mention "hats" and "eating").

I think flights to India and Pakistan are far less likely. These destinations are true long haul destinations with prices and flight times to match. These two communities are, as a whole, far less affluent than the Jewish community and they'll also be facing stiff competition from the Gulf carriers and others. Visa limitations mean there'll be minimal traffic in the other direction.

Agreed, but don't forget the affluent Indian community in and around Finchley (albeit not big enough for dedicated LTN flights).

As far as flights to/from India and Pakistan, LHR has that market sown up.

LTN-TLV really is a unique route. In fact it's such a perfect match I'm amazed it took until 2009 to be "discovered".

Yes! it's so obvious.

[LTNman]

It took El-AL to discover Luton before Easyjet wanted some of the pie. I wonder how much easyjet restricts El AL at Luton?

[Lee Baker Street]

@Fairdealfrank

India and Pakistan are two destinations that have always been an inspiration for Luton Airport Management so don't hold your breath...

When you consider last weeks scheduled 777 service taking off from the intersection of taxiway B (as opposed to using the full length of runway available) on an easterly departure then I am sure there are many more medium to long haul routes viable that are yet to be discovered that do not necessitate long runways dependent on aircraft performance .

[wallp]

As the 787 becomes more prevalent in airline fleets, more potential for longer haul routes open up as the 787 is perfectly suited to shorter runways like at LTN

[Boeing737-8]

Does anyone know how many passengers used Luton in September. Says on birmingham thread that there had more than 1 million but did not beat Luton.

[Buster the Bear]

Luton - Hawaii direct is more than possible in a 787 (so I am reliably told).

No long haul schedules unlike Stansted with Tommy Cook next summer.

[LTNman]

The deal is done

Spanish airport operator Aena takes over the reins at Luton | City A.M.