LUTON -8
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Never though I would say that but the airport is going to have to stop being so successful in attracting new routes and airlines for the next couple of years.
Building work is about to start and while the first few months will be painless there is a massive amount of noisy disruptive work that is going to take place with the terminal extension and inside the existing terminal both landside and airside. Public floor space will be reduced with parts of the terminal boarded up and yet there seems no end to the airports desire to shift more and more passengers through the doors.
As Luton can come no lower than it does now in the Which passenger survey the next couple of years are going to be trying to say the least.
Building work is about to start and while the first few months will be painless there is a massive amount of noisy disruptive work that is going to take place with the terminal extension and inside the existing terminal both landside and airside. Public floor space will be reduced with parts of the terminal boarded up and yet there seems no end to the airports desire to shift more and more passengers through the doors.
As Luton can come no lower than it does now in the Which passenger survey the next couple of years are going to be trying to say the least.
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A FEW OBSERVATIONS
Used the airport inbound at the end of February no problems except for the usual queue at ´´the UK border´´. On the return flight on Monday arrived just before 5 am and no wait whatsoever at security, pleasant and polite staff again. Terminal not too crowded - then 5.30am WOW packed, shudder to think what it will be like from May onwards. No discernible work going on but it looked a lot cleaner.
Regards airlines operating from Luton I would except to see a number of European charter companies i.e Small Planet, Enter Air etc as well as Jet2 operating the occasional charter flights throughout the summer with Monarch pulling out of the charter market.
Regards airlines operating from Luton I would except to see a number of European charter companies i.e Small Planet, Enter Air etc as well as Jet2 operating the occasional charter flights throughout the summer with Monarch pulling out of the charter market.
LTNman - I completely understand the point you're making, but is it possible during building work that temporary buildings might be erected to handle peak passenger flow ?
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All this talk about Scandinavian routes from the likes of SAS but, honestly, why would any top-tier flag carrier fly to Luton when the terminal is such a shambles and transportation such a farce?
Granted, El Al is Y heavy (TAROM too possibly) and Israeli pax are quite "rough and ready" and will put up with the airport's clear shortcomings. But the drop off tax and the train station shuttle tax and the plastic bag tax and the baggage trolley tax and the often shambolic security lines and the lack of jet bridges and the unkempt and tumbledown feel of the terminal generally and the inevitable total chaos inherent in any undercapacity airport that also doubles as a building site will all combine to grate with any self-respecting airline, i.e. not El Al.
There are just better airports.
...I just wish they'd install some lightbulbs in the tinminal entrance.
Granted, El Al is Y heavy (TAROM too possibly) and Israeli pax are quite "rough and ready" and will put up with the airport's clear shortcomings. But the drop off tax and the train station shuttle tax and the plastic bag tax and the baggage trolley tax and the often shambolic security lines and the lack of jet bridges and the unkempt and tumbledown feel of the terminal generally and the inevitable total chaos inherent in any undercapacity airport that also doubles as a building site will all combine to grate with any self-respecting airline, i.e. not El Al.
There are just better airports.
...I just wish they'd install some lightbulbs in the tinminal entrance.
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VLM
Brilliant news about the VLM route between WAT-LTN...
I think time will tell about the airport gaining new routes from the airline to the likes of GCI, JER and IOM.
Looking at the current schedule VLM are flying on the route, it is clear the Fokker 50 is being based at Waterford and the aircraft is only on he ground at LTN for 30 mins before heading back to Ireland.
Four days a week, the airline also operates a midday route WAT-BHX...
The only way we will see additional routes is if another aircraft operates into LTN to fly the above suggested routes, or the schedule is changed. It is not good for an airline to launch a route and so quickly afterwards adjust the schedule.
I think routes from Waterford get Irish government financial support, so it is going to be WAT that will gain and benefit from additional routes VLM choose to operate with the spare capacity they have with the aircraft based there.
(We could however see a 3rd daily rotation?!)
It would seem VLM are just picking up proven routes they know that have previously worked. FlyBE use to operate MAN-WAT, so that could be next route they launch.
These are only routes VLM currently operate in the UK, as they have abandoned their London City Airport base, after the merger of CityJet and VLM several years ago, they choose to go their own ways no so long ago.
I think time will tell about the airport gaining new routes from the airline to the likes of GCI, JER and IOM.
Looking at the current schedule VLM are flying on the route, it is clear the Fokker 50 is being based at Waterford and the aircraft is only on he ground at LTN for 30 mins before heading back to Ireland.
Four days a week, the airline also operates a midday route WAT-BHX...
The only way we will see additional routes is if another aircraft operates into LTN to fly the above suggested routes, or the schedule is changed. It is not good for an airline to launch a route and so quickly afterwards adjust the schedule.
I think routes from Waterford get Irish government financial support, so it is going to be WAT that will gain and benefit from additional routes VLM choose to operate with the spare capacity they have with the aircraft based there.
(We could however see a 3rd daily rotation?!)
It would seem VLM are just picking up proven routes they know that have previously worked. FlyBE use to operate MAN-WAT, so that could be next route they launch.
These are only routes VLM currently operate in the UK, as they have abandoned their London City Airport base, after the merger of CityJet and VLM several years ago, they choose to go their own ways no so long ago.
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VLM
I bet they got good terms from WAT airport to base an aircraft there. They must've been desperate to have an operator that keeps the airport going.
I think the WAT-LTN schedule is perfectly timed and can't see why it would be changed. If any further routes are added over time it'll have to come through additional aircraft, except perhaps for something like a weekly only service to somewhere like JER?
I think the WAT-LTN schedule is perfectly timed and can't see why it would be changed. If any further routes are added over time it'll have to come through additional aircraft, except perhaps for something like a weekly only service to somewhere like JER?
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Good terms or not, no operator would of based at LTN to operate as it would be unviable as schedules wouldn't meet demand. I bet LTN gave them a good deal to...
Aurport would of remained open regardless, lot more than passenger ops I believe go on around there.
Aurport would of remained open regardless, lot more than passenger ops I believe go on around there.
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So now that WAT has been restored what next? Could a return to JER and/or IOM be on the cards?
Whilst VLM would be a great choice to operate either or both, I can't see it happening just yet but perhaps someone else might pick up the gauntlet?
How about Blue Islands with a weekend schedule to the Channel Islands, similar to the old BMA days? It's harder to envisage a potential operator to IOM unless easyJet thinks it could work for them?
Still, no one saw VLM to WAT coming so I guess anythings possible
Whilst VLM would be a great choice to operate either or both, I can't see it happening just yet but perhaps someone else might pick up the gauntlet?
How about Blue Islands with a weekend schedule to the Channel Islands, similar to the old BMA days? It's harder to envisage a potential operator to IOM unless easyJet thinks it could work for them?
Still, no one saw VLM to WAT coming so I guess anythings possible
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Still, no one saw VLM to WAT coming so I guess anythings possible
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There's so much vitriol about our little airport on the hill that many of us use often know and love - from frequent El Al flyer and others. Yet more and more people keep using it. So an essay title
"Luton is the wrong airport in the right place - discuss".
As I need to go to Carcassonne at Easter I shall be using STN (and Ryanair). I am expecting a much better airport experience. I shall report back.
"Luton is the wrong airport in the right place - discuss".
As I need to go to Carcassonne at Easter I shall be using STN (and Ryanair). I am expecting a much better airport experience. I shall report back.
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I think as far as both airports are concerned the customer experience is linked to the time of day that the airports were used but as the Stansted terminal was built on a green field site it has a big advantage over little old Luton
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The airport is somewhat constrained by the limits created by the current infrastructure but the expansion plans seeks to address those issues.
The customer experience may not be great right now, especially at peak times, but it doesn't seem to be putting airlines or passengers off with both growing significantly.
The customer experience may not be great right now, especially at peak times, but it doesn't seem to be putting airlines or passengers off with both growing significantly.
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Regarding El Al Frequent Flyer´s comments about El Al passengers being ´´rough and ready´´ I would have thought exactly the opposite - very patronising. As people have said if you don´t like the airport go and fly from somewhere else, plenty of choice. What do you want - The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Wildebeests roaming over the African Plains as Basil Faulty once famously said!
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I can't help but think that the Spanish operators know what they are doing and bring a great deal of expertise to Luton and its redevelopment.
Exciting times lay ahead over the next couple of years as the upgrade takes place and the airport is transformed. Camera at the ready!
Exciting times lay ahead over the next couple of years as the upgrade takes place and the airport is transformed. Camera at the ready!
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Not only is work about to begin on the CTA and terminal but at the same time construction starts on Signatures new FBO. Almost complete now is stand 58 Signatures new apron.
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Oh dear, I have offended everyone. 
Don't get me wrong. I like Luton. I choose it over Heathrow as El Al ticket prices tend to be slightly lower and flight times - in the summer at least - slightly more convenient.
I will own up to never experiencing any of the infamous chaos, on the access road, at security, at passport control or anywhere else. I've never been demanded £1 for a plastic bag. I have never had enough luggage to require a baggage trolley. I have never encountered rude staff. In fact I have only ever zipped through Priority Security and been on the plane as quickly as El Al security will let me. I appreciate plenty of seating at Gate 25. I don't mind - and even prefer - the utilitarian feel of the airport. I have never had any major problems at all.
In fact, I think that most recall the airport as far worse than it is. And the reason they do is all the little things that suck and leave a bad impression.
I recall the time Priority Security had one metal detector out of order. I recall almost falling over other people's hand luggage trolleys in Departures - WH Smiths and Boots seem particularly undersized for the number of patrons.
I recall the handful of times I've had to walk to and from the plane in the pouring rain. I recall having to walk up a stopped escalator (with a maintenance panel removed, so it wasn't just some idiot hitting the emergency stop). I recall the long, unkempt corridors on the way to Arrivals. I recall the lack of surfacing in the mid-term car park. Did I ever mention the lack of lighting in the tinminal entrance?
I accept it's unfair to criticise the current state of the terminal when the operators are just about to commence major work to improve it. I only watched the video but the plans all look very sound to me. I suspect however it will be quickly filled up with new a/c from Easyjet and Wizz and in ten years time people here both celebrating and complaining that the airport is again at stated capacity plus 3 million.
Luton is in the right place, so it will probably never be the right airport there: it just suffers from topography and real estate limitations.
In the long term though, I think it will overtake Stansted and could probably rival Gatwick in attracting some "Heathrow dropouts" (assuming a third runway is never built). I can certainly envisage El Al eventually selling off their slots and moving entirely to Luton, as I think pax are generally satisfied with the airport, for all its shortcomings, and connecting traffic at LHR must now be nil.
Does this make you all feel better?
We'll have to wait until the construction is completed. It could be good!
Don't get me wrong. I like Luton. I choose it over Heathrow as El Al ticket prices tend to be slightly lower and flight times - in the summer at least - slightly more convenient.
I will own up to never experiencing any of the infamous chaos, on the access road, at security, at passport control or anywhere else. I've never been demanded £1 for a plastic bag. I have never had enough luggage to require a baggage trolley. I have never encountered rude staff. In fact I have only ever zipped through Priority Security and been on the plane as quickly as El Al security will let me. I appreciate plenty of seating at Gate 25. I don't mind - and even prefer - the utilitarian feel of the airport. I have never had any major problems at all.
In fact, I think that most recall the airport as far worse than it is. And the reason they do is all the little things that suck and leave a bad impression.
I recall the time Priority Security had one metal detector out of order. I recall almost falling over other people's hand luggage trolleys in Departures - WH Smiths and Boots seem particularly undersized for the number of patrons.
I recall the handful of times I've had to walk to and from the plane in the pouring rain. I recall having to walk up a stopped escalator (with a maintenance panel removed, so it wasn't just some idiot hitting the emergency stop). I recall the long, unkempt corridors on the way to Arrivals. I recall the lack of surfacing in the mid-term car park. Did I ever mention the lack of lighting in the tinminal entrance?
I accept it's unfair to criticise the current state of the terminal when the operators are just about to commence major work to improve it. I only watched the video but the plans all look very sound to me. I suspect however it will be quickly filled up with new a/c from Easyjet and Wizz and in ten years time people here both celebrating and complaining that the airport is again at stated capacity plus 3 million.
Luton is in the right place, so it will probably never be the right airport there: it just suffers from topography and real estate limitations.
In the long term though, I think it will overtake Stansted and could probably rival Gatwick in attracting some "Heathrow dropouts" (assuming a third runway is never built). I can certainly envisage El Al eventually selling off their slots and moving entirely to Luton, as I think pax are generally satisfied with the airport, for all its shortcomings, and connecting traffic at LHR must now be nil.
Does this make you all feel better?
We'll have to wait until the construction is completed. It could be good!
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In the long term though, I think it will overtake Stansted and could probably rival Gatwick in attracting some "Heathrow dropouts"