Luton-9
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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Great work by the airport this bank holiday weekend...
Flew out to Ohrid, on Saturday and from entering the airport (with just hand luggage) to clearing security and walking through the duty free shop upstairs, in six minutes!
This afternoon landed back, and from touchdown to getting on the railway link bus in eighteen minutes, and that included a few minutes wait on the stand before the stairs were attached and doors open at the rear.
Departure lounge on Saturday at 5am, was absolutely packed, still not the best of experiences, still lacking enough general seating. Managed to get seating in the Pret area after buying a coffee, but queue was crazy! Flights departed from the remote southerly stands (near the runway), they like to call those flights early, boarding commenced 55 mins before departure, from downstairs on the new pier.
Flew out to Ohrid, on Saturday and from entering the airport (with just hand luggage) to clearing security and walking through the duty free shop upstairs, in six minutes!
This afternoon landed back, and from touchdown to getting on the railway link bus in eighteen minutes, and that included a few minutes wait on the stand before the stairs were attached and doors open at the rear.
Departure lounge on Saturday at 5am, was absolutely packed, still not the best of experiences, still lacking enough general seating. Managed to get seating in the Pret area after buying a coffee, but queue was crazy! Flights departed from the remote southerly stands (near the runway), they like to call those flights early, boarding commenced 55 mins before departure, from downstairs on the new pier.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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The airport claim to have added a lot more seating airside. Think the claim was something ridiculous like over 2000 extra seats but the seating is there if you know where to look. Most of it went in the new pier B along corridors and by the gates so there are plenty of empty seats but most of it is in the wrong places to be useful.
Paxing All Over The World
Monday was the first time I saw the new arrivals board. At first glance it looks good but it lacks a clock telling you what Airport Time is, as opposed to what time you think it is, to calculate the elapsed time since landing. Secondly, the information does not give 'Baggage in the Hall' and other updates as you get at other airports.
However, I found the advertising screen tended to be so bright that I had to sheild my eyes to read the arrivals!
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Monday was the first time I saw the new arrivals board. At first glance it looks good but it lacks a clock telling you what Airport Time is, as opposed to what time you think it is, to calculate the elapsed time since landing. Secondly, the information does not give 'Baggage in the Hall' and other updates as you get at other
LTNman has already mentioned the missing clocks around the Terminal.
I wonder why, perhaps given most people now have mobile phones to check the time it’s not a big problem but one wouldn’t go amiss now and then.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Can’t say I really looked in the last few weeks but while the complete boards are HD the flight section is being displayed in low definition with fuzzy logos. Also the only area of the ground floor new build with a slatted board ceiling is the tiny section around this display screen which is another reason why the terminal still looks half finished.
Back in the check-in area the Easyjet and Blue Air airline desks are still in temporary accommodation while their new homes are boarded off with no work being carried out. Over sized baggage is behind a rough looking hoarding and the signage for a new chapel has been taped over.. Looks like it was meant to go at the far end close to check-in desks 201-210 which were ripped out a few years ago to make way for the temporary out sized baggage area that is now looking permanent.
Back in the check-in area the Easyjet and Blue Air airline desks are still in temporary accommodation while their new homes are boarded off with no work being carried out. Over sized baggage is behind a rough looking hoarding and the signage for a new chapel has been taped over.. Looks like it was meant to go at the far end close to check-in desks 201-210 which were ripped out a few years ago to make way for the temporary out sized baggage area that is now looking permanent.
How times have changed at LTN
Looking up at the new arrivals board there is not one holiday charter flight airline - Once you would see just all Britannia Monarch Dan Air Court Line, and many more
Looking up at the new arrivals board there is not one holiday charter flight airline - Once you would see just all Britannia Monarch Dan Air Court Line, and many more
Paxing All Over The World
The lack of clock is simply convenience. Look down the list and then glance at the clock at the top of the unit. Or not!
Falcon666
I'm sure that managment have it all in hand ... 
Falcon666
Strange that the “Baggage in Hall” doesn’t appear on the board yet it does on the Airport Web site arrivals section.
Court Line went bust 45 years ago, a long time. Luton airport was created just 36 years before Court Line disappeared. I would venture that 45 years is an awfully long time period over which to compare the development of Luton
Join Date: Jul 2002
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I have an official Luton Airport year book from I don’t know when which after discarding certain types of flights claimed Luton was the UK’s leading charter airport. Despite Luton carving its place out in the low cost market the airport has been spectacular in not being able to hang on to its IT flights which seems to be now down to a single based aircraft. This traffic has all ended up at Gatwick with a small bit at Stansted.
In the early 70s, Luton had 8 based Britannia Airways Brits/737s, 4+ based Monarch Brits/720s, 7 based Court Line 1-11s and 2 based Dan-Air 1-11s to say nothing of overseas charter airlines. But the only scheduled service was a weekend BMA Viscount to the Channel Islands.
In the early 70s, Luton had 8 based Britannia Airways Brits/737s, 4+ based Monarch Brits/720s, 7 based Court Line 1-11s and 2 based Dan-Air 1-11s to say nothing of overseas charter airlines. But the only scheduled service was a weekend BMA Viscount to the Channel Islands.
DAN AIR had 5 x 1-11's (300/400 series)
Monarch had 4 x 720B - the Brits were retiring
Court had up to 14 x 1-11 500's - Incl the leases from BMA and Austral, + 2 x 400 seat L1011's
Britannia had at least 8 737's out of a fleet then of 14 (the 2 x 707's would leave in 1973)
Join Date: Jan 2005
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If all three London clubs get to a final I wonder if the authorities will relax the night time restrictions at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted? Obviously the flights have got to be operated from the London area and next year it could be even worse with the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 being played at Wembley in June!
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Luton would be in breach of planning permission if the summer limit was broken which is why the summer restrictions were brought in, in the first place.
Next summer the restrictions might be lifted subject to a planning application going through now.
Just heard a biz jet take off at 05:05, same thing happened yesterday at the same time but it was a different aircraft. That won’t be happening next month.
Next summer the restrictions might be lifted subject to a planning application going through now.
Just heard a biz jet take off at 05:05, same thing happened yesterday at the same time but it was a different aircraft. That won’t be happening next month.
Last edited by LTNman; 10th May 2019 at 04:08.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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It is going to be a very interesting week at the end of May with probably the largest uplift of football supporters ever going to Madrid and Baku with no direct scheduled flights to Baku in that week. Will the night restrictions have to be lifted at Luton, Stansted, Gatwick etc to cope? Will Madrid ATC be able to cope, especially with all the corporate aircraft arriving from all parts of Europe. To cap it all, it is half-term week, still rest assured our indomitable transport secretary (failing Greyling) will have had contingency plans in place ready for such eventualities!
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More to the point given shortages and it being half term here will any aircraft actually be available to fly to Baku? It may very well be that scheduled connecting services are the beneficiaries although I’d imagine those too will be constrained
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Quite agree airport planner but I am sure a number of aircraft will be sourced even if from outside Europe. A well known sports travel company have already got two flights booked to Baku - one from Stansted and one from Gatwick. The Gatwick flight has no slot yet and may have to be moved to another airport!
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Baku match falls in May so should be Ok, connections for UK supporters via Doha & Istanbul are possible.
Madrid in June, good luck, Southend should be chocka, everywhere else from the first permitted arrival, if they can get a slot! Must be a few LFC fans based around London who have away match qualification for Tickets so demand for London travel high.
Madrid in June, good luck, Southend should be chocka, everywhere else from the first permitted arrival, if they can get a slot! Must be a few LFC fans based around London who have away match qualification for Tickets so demand for London travel high.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Construction update
Temporary Taxiway Bravo diversion has had concrete laid either side of the dug out route for the Dart which now needs a roof in this section to complete the taxiway.
Meanwhile just inside the CTA the full depth of what will be the tunnel can be seen where the rams are. The Dart Tunnel seems it might be a lot deeper than the road tunnel entrance to its right.
MSCP2 has now reached the main lift core
Meanwhile at Luton Airport Parkway the Dart Station is having temporarily trusses installed to take the weight of the floor above which will be installed later.
Meanwhile just inside the CTA the full depth of what will be the tunnel can be seen where the rams are. The Dart Tunnel seems it might be a lot deeper than the road tunnel entrance to its right.
MSCP2 has now reached the main lift core
Meanwhile at Luton Airport Parkway the Dart Station is having temporarily trusses installed to take the weight of the floor above which will be installed later.
Last edited by LTNman; 10th May 2019 at 14:27.