Luton-9
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Construction update
While the new parallel taxiway to Delta is close to being completed work continues on the de-icing pads
The ground opposite the Ibis was planned to be the construction site for the signature Gateway bridge over the A1081. I am assuming this has something to do with the construction site.
By the fire station the curve of the route for the DART can be now seen.
The new multistory has now reached the second core. The car park will extend south and west before it is finished.
The bases to the 3 lifts are now complete
A Bar has been removed from the departure lounge to create more seating
The last of the retail units in the new build has now been let and is now under construction. It has been noted on several occasions that the high class top end shops never have anyone in them apart from staff while the likes of WH Smiths and the new Boots are really busy.
While most of the baggage reclaim area is finished the ceilings out of shot in the far distance are missing. I looks like a case of work in progress rather than abandonment as some hoardings are still in place near the exit.
Finally rams are keeping the walls of the new station in place.
The ground opposite the Ibis was planned to be the construction site for the signature Gateway bridge over the A1081. I am assuming this has something to do with the construction site.
By the fire station the curve of the route for the DART can be now seen.
The new multistory has now reached the second core. The car park will extend south and west before it is finished.
The bases to the 3 lifts are now complete
A Bar has been removed from the departure lounge to create more seating
The last of the retail units in the new build has now been let and is now under construction. It has been noted on several occasions that the high class top end shops never have anyone in them apart from staff while the likes of WH Smiths and the new Boots are really busy.
While most of the baggage reclaim area is finished the ceilings out of shot in the far distance are missing. I looks like a case of work in progress rather than abandonment as some hoardings are still in place near the exit.
Finally rams are keeping the walls of the new station in place.
Last edited by LTNman; 26th Mar 2019 at 14:33.
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Interesting link by Buster about keeping people informed by using digital displays. What is not mentioned is that the terminal does not have a single clock anywhere displaying airport time.
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New Century Park approved by council, now referred to central government https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...herts-47727649
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The planning application was allegedly for Century Park except it wasn't. The application was a full planning application to build roads into Wigmore Park for Century Park except the application for Century Park was just an outline application. This was a massive act of deception by the council as the roads are for terminal 2 and not a business park that sits on the same piece of land. Also a dual carriageway would not be needed for a business park.
Application by the council, for the council, that will benefit the council and was decided by the council who ignored every objection. Think this is called democracy by a council that is run like a one party state and dictatorship.
Application by the council, for the council, that will benefit the council and was decided by the council who ignored every objection. Think this is called democracy by a council that is run like a one party state and dictatorship.
Last edited by Spanish eyes; 28th Mar 2019 at 09:07.
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New Century Park approved by council, now referred to central government https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...herts-47727649
When did Century Park become New Century Park?, surely the NEW part only came about when the plans were shown for the Airport expansion so how can this be approved already?
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Century Park is plan B incase the second terminal does not happen. The road network in this application, which is meant to be for Century Park, assumes the second terminal will happen.
Last edited by LTNman; 28th Mar 2019 at 09:36.
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Objection?
The planning application was allegedly for Century Park except it wasn't. The application was a full planning application to build roads into Wigmore Park for Century Park except the application for Century Park was just an outline application. This was a massive act of deception by the council as the roads are for terminal 2 and not a business park that sits on the same piece of land. Also a dual carriageway would not be needed for a business park.
Application by the council, for the council, that will benefit the council and was decided by the council who ignored every objection. Think this is called democracy by a council that is run like a one party state and dictatorship.
Application by the council, for the council, that will benefit the council and was decided by the council who ignored every objection. Think this is called democracy by a council that is run like a one party state and dictatorship.
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The term act of deception by the council is correct. Nowhere in the planning application documentation does the word Luton Airport or its expansion appear yet this was the sole purpose of the planning application. The BBC have been taken in as they are reporting that 3000 jobs will be created by Century Park except Century Park was given outline permission only while the road was given full planning permission. The expansion of Luton Airport and its second terminal sits on the same land as Century Park so which is it?
The council announced at a public meeting last year that the average wage at Luton Airport was £36,000 per year. So there you have it, those working in the second terminal in the shops and security and on the new apron will be earning around £10,000 a year more than the national average and for only being on short hour or zero hour contracts.
Good old Luton Council, it can’t be said they ever try to mislead.
The council announced at a public meeting last year that the average wage at Luton Airport was £36,000 per year. So there you have it, those working in the second terminal in the shops and security and on the new apron will be earning around £10,000 a year more than the national average and for only being on short hour or zero hour contracts.
Good old Luton Council, it can’t be said they ever try to mislead.
Last edited by LTNman; 28th Mar 2019 at 23:15.
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I think Lee Baker that successive governments in the 1970s and 80s restricted growth at a number of airport's including Luton so that the BAA (British Airport's Authority) which ran Heathrow, Gatwick etc more or less had a monopoly on expansion.
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Local deception or not the stay & scrutiny will of course will be Central Government.
It does appear to a non local that Luton Council is just hedging all & any bets.
Even if Luton Council is a proponent & facilitator for expansion eventually in any airport development planning involving over 10mppa automatically triggers being called in by the Government & a national enquiry I`m afraid.
Who will be paying for any mooted "2nd" Terminal?
It does appear to a non local that Luton Council is just hedging all & any bets.
Even if Luton Council is a proponent & facilitator for expansion eventually in any airport development planning involving over 10mppa automatically triggers being called in by the Government & a national enquiry I`m afraid.
Who will be paying for any mooted "2nd" Terminal?
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Yes indeed the terminal and airport expansion will go to the Planning Inspectorate to be decided by them but the council has separated out the access route and passed their own planning application. The Secretary of State has a period of time to call in the planning application if he wishes.
The new terminal and infrastructure will be paid for by the new franchise which starts in 2031. It will be the case that a new franchise will be won well in advance of 2031 but starting in 2031 with the expectation that they will be also paying off the £225 million the council is borrowing for the Dart and the other £75 million of LLAL loans as all loan payments are timed for for payment in both 2028 and 2031 as the existing LLAOL franchise was extended by 3 years.
The question then becomes how much income will the council get off the franchise holder for each passenger after all the bills have been paid. They might find that twice as many passengers brings in the same income or less. I also think the next lease will be more like 99 years.
The new terminal and infrastructure will be paid for by the new franchise which starts in 2031. It will be the case that a new franchise will be won well in advance of 2031 but starting in 2031 with the expectation that they will be also paying off the £225 million the council is borrowing for the Dart and the other £75 million of LLAL loans as all loan payments are timed for for payment in both 2028 and 2031 as the existing LLAOL franchise was extended by 3 years.
The question then becomes how much income will the council get off the franchise holder for each passenger after all the bills have been paid. They might find that twice as many passengers brings in the same income or less. I also think the next lease will be more like 99 years.
Last edited by LTNman; 29th Mar 2019 at 12:10.
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Most investment into UK airports has been into existing infrastructure not to pay off historical debt re the DART.
Will be a massive ask to expect a new investor in 2031 to take on a pre pack expansion plan from 2019 with the huge associated costs.
Certainly the (short) franchise agreements has been/is one of the millstones around LTN`s neck in trying for expansion.
Appears again to an outsider that Luton Council is/was too greedy in their income expectations & regard the airport as a cash cow perhaps.
For the massive investment/payoffs described it would need to be the 99 year lease,something Luton Council would with historical perspective perhaps find unable to grant.
Will be a massive ask to expect a new investor in 2031 to take on a pre pack expansion plan from 2019 with the huge associated costs.
Certainly the (short) franchise agreements has been/is one of the millstones around LTN`s neck in trying for expansion.
Appears again to an outsider that Luton Council is/was too greedy in their income expectations & regard the airport as a cash cow perhaps.
For the massive investment/payoffs described it would need to be the 99 year lease,something Luton Council would with historical perspective perhaps find unable to grant.
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Well you can add the cost of sorting out a toxic waste tip the terminal will be sitting on as well. The council's view is if they sold the airport it would sell for £xbn and then whoever bought it would still have to invest in new a new terminal so they are confident they will have no problems as the current debt is around £300m for a long term lease.
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It might be reasoned that any mooted or even ultimately approved expansion plans are again part & parcel of Luton Council`s hedging all the bets looking to add more capital in any eventual beauty parade of the airport for a new franchise bidder.
Just as selling a house it is a more valuable property with planning permission for an extension.
Nothing to say a new franchise owner though would proceed perhaps on the same scale at least.
Appears to quite a lot of wishful thinking from the comments but certainly not straightforward.
Just as selling a house it is a more valuable property with planning permission for an extension.
Nothing to say a new franchise owner though would proceed perhaps on the same scale at least.
Appears to quite a lot of wishful thinking from the comments but certainly not straightforward.
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Most people here in Luton want the airport growth to support jobs for todays unemployed and future employment possibilities.
You equally give the impression that Wigmore Park has been around for ever when in fact it was waste land until its development during the late 1980s.
Many of the companies with bases at the airport struggle now to fill vacancies so I don't see Luton's low unemployment rate falling to zero as many people are not interested in working 24/7 shirt patterns for low wages.
Think I would rather keep this park as it is
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Reality here indicates with it now also being highlighted by current development that the site Luton Airport sits on is severely constrained in geographic/topographic/political/social & slot terms.
It appears LTN will max out shortly at the 18mppa limit albeit slightly higher with planning tweaks perhaps.
LTN is a victim of it`s own success in reaching max out much earlier than planned thanks largely to the WZZ group goldrush.
Further thought should be turning perhaps to route rationalization & airport usage with incumbents instead.
Are WZZ for example already recognizing facts with normal daytime slots (not red eyes) being acquired & actively sought now south of the river?
It appears LTN will max out shortly at the 18mppa limit albeit slightly higher with planning tweaks perhaps.
LTN is a victim of it`s own success in reaching max out much earlier than planned thanks largely to the WZZ group goldrush.
Further thought should be turning perhaps to route rationalization & airport usage with incumbents instead.
Are WZZ for example already recognizing facts with normal daytime slots (not red eyes) being acquired & actively sought now south of the river?
LTNman -
The reason for the council granting full planning permission for the access road, but only outline permission for the development itself is simple, The road will be the core of the development. But each unit will be developed according to the requirements of the end-user, so to seek detailed planning permission would be foolish. The units could be used by companies for headquarters-type offices, or catering units, or training facilities, or hotels, or any of numerous other options, all of which have differing detailed requirements.
Whenever postulating a conspiracy theory, consider that there may be an alternative!
LGS
The reason for the council granting full planning permission for the access road, but only outline permission for the development itself is simple, The road will be the core of the development. But each unit will be developed according to the requirements of the end-user, so to seek detailed planning permission would be foolish. The units could be used by companies for headquarters-type offices, or catering units, or training facilities, or hotels, or any of numerous other options, all of which have differing detailed requirements.
Whenever postulating a conspiracy theory, consider that there may be an alternative!
LGS
ACL Summer 19 analysis now available:
Air Nostrum - all cancelled
Blue Air - Cluj, Constanza & Turin cancelled. Seats down 25% overall
Tarom - all cancelled
Thomas Cook - all cancelled
Vueling - BCN cancelled
Air Europa, Travel Service, Freebird & Albastar charters ceased
FlyBosnia - new operator looks like 6pw to Sarajevo
Ryanair - additional 2 aircraft based - new destinations AGP. ALC, ATH, BCN, BLQ, ORK, RMU (in place of MJV)
Wizzair UK - additional one aircraft based. Overall movements up 15%.
Slight increase in EZY flights
El Al up 17% to 38 flights per week at peak.
DHL up 50% with new flights to ARN, BGY, BRU.
Sun Express up 20% due to longer season
Overall 8% increase in movements, 10% increase in passengers.
Only 13 operators in "peak week".
Air Nostrum - all cancelled
Blue Air - Cluj, Constanza & Turin cancelled. Seats down 25% overall
Tarom - all cancelled
Thomas Cook - all cancelled
Vueling - BCN cancelled
Air Europa, Travel Service, Freebird & Albastar charters ceased
FlyBosnia - new operator looks like 6pw to Sarajevo
Ryanair - additional 2 aircraft based - new destinations AGP. ALC, ATH, BCN, BLQ, ORK, RMU (in place of MJV)
Wizzair UK - additional one aircraft based. Overall movements up 15%.
Slight increase in EZY flights
El Al up 17% to 38 flights per week at peak.
DHL up 50% with new flights to ARN, BGY, BRU.
Sun Express up 20% due to longer season
Overall 8% increase in movements, 10% increase in passengers.
Only 13 operators in "peak week".
Paxing All Over The World
Since LHR 3 is never going to be built - other places will expand. This has been the unofficial policy of govts for 30 years.
On the other hand, do not assume that the growth will continue. 'Passenger numbers may go down as well as up' reads the small print.
On the other hand, do not assume that the growth will continue. 'Passenger numbers may go down as well as up' reads the small print.
