LUTON -8

[LTNman]

That chart might well be the latest but it does not show the new stands.

[Buster the Bear]

I might have picked up on those traffic lights late, but they are only going to add to the backing up of traffic in all directions. Why not a forth exit off the roundabout directly into the mid term as a temp measure? The mid term is going to be obliterated at times by the Luton Borough Council Gold Rail link, but seems a more sensible access point?

[LTNman]

Buster makes a valid point about a 4th exit on the roundabout. For those with long memories that is exactly where the entrance used to be before the roundabout was increased in size in around 2003 as per this google earth screen shot of that year. I wonder if anyone at the airport actually thought about moving back there rather than installing traffic lights.

[PAXboy]

Thinking about that roundabout, remind me - where would the people mover go? Will it be in cut and cover under the mid-term? That might have influenced the roundabout/traffic lights?

[Lee Baker Street]

15 MPPA

Next year when EasyJet pull out it's Copenhagen flights there will be a loss of at least 500K pax per annum.

I personally think the airport will handle 14.6 million passengers this year and unless the airport has more surprises to surface in 2017 could result in slower growth?

EasyJet committed to continued growth so I personally hope they have another 1 - 2 more based aircraft at Luton for 2017 bringing the fleet based at 21-23.

My only concern is that if and when the new train link to the CTA comes into force, it should be noted that the current operator of Thameslink Trains often cancels services due to no driver available or technical faults!

Govia Trains is in my personal view not fit to operate the Thameslink service!

As a daily commuter, I see airport passengers often 'DUMPED' at another station waiting for a train with a 'DRIVER'!
Luton is a 'BAD' name when it comes to traveling by train through no fault of it's own to the airport!

[Lee Baker Street]

I wish to further add, Luton Airport should advise any potential passengers traveling to Luton via train should at minimum add between 1 - 2 hours traveling time as Govia trains are not reliable and are 'typically' subject to cancellation-giving passengers the alternative to catch a taxi instead in order to book in at the airport on time.

[AvGeek1]

Originally Posted by Lee Baker Street

Next year when EasyJet pull out it's Copenhagen flights there will be a loss of at least 500K pax per annum.

I personally think the airport will handle 14.6 million passengers this year and unless the airport has more surprises to surface in 2017 could result in slower growth?

EasyJet committed to continued growth so I personally hope they have another 1 - 2 more based aircraft at Luton for 2017 bringing the fleet based at 21-23.

My only concern is that if and when the new train link to the CTA comes into force, it should be noted that the current operator of Thameslink Trains often cancels services due to no driver available or technical faults!

Govia Trains is in my personal view not fit to operate the Thameslink service!

As a daily commuter, I see airport passengers often 'DUMPED' at another station waiting for a train with a 'DRIVER'!
Luton is a 'BAD' name when it comes to traveling by train through no fault of it's own to the airport!

Hopefully easyJet will replace the loss of Copenhagen with some new routes or adding frequencies on existing routes. We might also see Ryanair offering more daily flights to Copenhagen as remember they do still operate LTN-CPH

[Falcon666]

2x daily AMS up to 6 daily
1x daily BCN up to 3 daily

That is where the CPH flights have probably gone
So having given up fighting RYR they are still trying to fight off Vueling.

I wonder if Vueling might try Madrid as an opportunity to take on EZY

[gilesdavies]

2x daily AMS up to 6 daily
1x daily BCN up to 3 daily

That is where the CPH flights have probably gone
So having given up fighting RYR they are still trying to fight off Vueling.

I wonder if Vueling might try Madrid as an opportunity to take on EZY

That is not where the capacity is going and still remains a mystery how the capacity will be filled, (if it is?!).

easyJet reacted to Vueling earlier in the year by increasing frequencies on the AMS, BCN and ZRH routes, to the frequencies you said!

easyJet Media Centre

[AvGeek1]

Originally Posted by gilesdavies

That is not where the capacity is going and still remains a mystery how the capacity will be filled, (if it is?!).

easyJet reacted to Vueling earlier in the year by increasing frequencies on the AMS, BCN and ZRH routes, to the frequencies you said!

easyJet Media Centre

Just about to say the same, frequencies like BCN being 3 daily have been operating all summer!

I hope the free aircraft will be used wisely to allow easyJet to add more frequencies on routes that need, try and time flights (like Munich) better to attract leisure passengers for long weekend breaks and businessmen/women.

I would also like to see them open some new routes to add to their expansive network.

[LTNman]

Thinking about that roundabout, remind me - where would the people mover go? Will it be in cut and cover under the mid-term? That might have influenced the roundabout/traffic lights?

I was told it will cross the car park in a trough with the platforms level with the car park but there will have to be some sort of crossing point for pedestrians if their car is on the other side of the track from the station. It must be in a tunnel by the time it reaches the fire station as the fire station access road crosses it.

I wish to further add, Luton Airport should advise any potential passengers traveling to Luton via train should at minimum add between 1 - 2 hours traveling time as Govia trains are not reliable and are 'typically' subject to cancellation-giving passengers the alternative to catch a taxi instead in order to book in at the airport on time.

I had a look the other evening at the overnight trains and 3 were cancelled and replaced by buses due to a lack of drivers.

[Boeing737-8]

Wizz air

Bucharest has gone to 3 daily a321. The LGW service has been downgraded to a 320. Plus in peak season blue air will go double daily on this route.

[Buster the Bear]

If IAG wished to compete on the MAD-LTN route it would be with Iberia Express and not Vueling.

[LTNman]

Easyjet has now opened its self check-in area for those with luggage. There are a total of 8 self check-in machines complete with scales which are arranged in pairs close to check-in desks 59-62 where people in the past would have queued. When they have attached their own bar coded luggage tags they then place them on one of 4 belts as check-in desks 59-62 have been converted to accept them.

With reference to Easyjet being forced to give up its Copenhagen service so quickly. It would appear that any of their Luton routes are now potentially subject to the same Ryanair treatment. I don't have much sympathy for easyjet as they themselves are now attempting to force Vueling out of Luton.

[toledoashley]

LTNman - Yes, Ryanair seem to have no boundaries in pushing out the competition. I wonder if the new NRN route is linked to something EZY have up their sleeve to replace CPH?

[LTNman]

Luton airport reinforces call for express trains after passenger increase

The proposals have been endorsed by the CBI, FSB and easyJet, as well as the Transport Select Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP and Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. With that lot behind the airport I find it hard to believe that it will be turned down particularly as there is no cost involved just a change in the timetables.

With a mass transit system going in that should offer a seamless experience in around 4 years time and the fact that the standard daytime service would offer 20 trains an hour calling in at Parkway (4 non stop, 4 semi-fast and 2 all stations trains in each direction) it will make its main competitor Stansted looking somewhat like it was located out in the backwoods.

When I have travelled on the non stop service out of St Pancras it seems that no sooner have a settled in my seat that the train is arriving at Luton but then it only takes 22 minutes to complete the journey.

Also from the north it would give Luton a half hourly service to and from Sheffield, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham as well as an hourly service to York via Sheffield. Also it would put East Midland Airport just an hour away from their station.

[Boeing737-8]

https://www.ft.com/content/9fb59864-...3-bb8207902122
With Easyjet confirming that all of its offices will stay open as well as then opening offices in Europe so they can still fly in the EU after BREXIT. Now rumours that more planes will be based in LTN with some planes night stopping at other locations.

[planedrive]

That financial times article is behind a paywall so no-one can read it. Supposedly new routes for 2017 being announced by easyJet this week but no murmurs as to where yet. Would be very surprised if easyJet had any night stopping a/c away from LTN next year but I think the total will be 22+1 spare for the summer.

[Powerjet1]

Marseille, Nantes & Valencia, now appear in the drop down menu for easyjet, from Luton.

[LTNman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpj3H42EMYY A new experience is coming but progress on the terminal extension is so slow as the old bus station saw its last bus on December 23rd and even now some ten and a half months later the contractor is still digging holes.