Luton-9

[BHX5DME]

LTN Pax Firgues

Originally Posted by LTNman

From the BBC



Something fishy going on here. For the financial year ending April 6th the airport passengers figures were up 1.6% compared with last year despite the 56% passenger drop shown in March. It is this financial year the sh!t will hit the fan.

They are correct - why do you think there is something fishy ?
Go back a month to 29.02.20 and Luton was up 7% on the rolling year so March was well down so the new rolling year is 1.6%

[alm1]

Wizz Air sent an email that flights will resume:

Travel limitations imposed by local authorities to minimize the spread of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) are changing dynamically and always require immediate actions. Wizz Air has been fighting daily to accommodate instantly all the government decisions and to comply with new regulations, but many flights’ changes, including yours, are the unfortunate result of the unsuccessful negotiations between Wizz Air and local representatives (this time in Bulgaria) on operation of the flights in the new given circumstances.

We have tirelessly continued the negotiations and as a result we would like to gladly inform you that there will be flights operated between Sofia and Luton in the upcoming days. In case it still fits your travel plans to fly, we kindly ask you to refer to our cancellation related e-mail, choose the rebook option and select the same route on a new date at your convenience (subject to availability of seats. If you made a different choice before, go to our website at wizzair.com . or https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/mobile-app/mobile-app]mobile application. and book a new flight directly.

[Spanish eyes]

With the terminal reopening at the end of the week it will be more of the same before it shut but after the lockdown started. Expect no social distancing when families see each other for the first time in a long while, no social distancing from staff, who seem to switch off or forget when they are at work. No social distancing by the baggage belts or when boarding the aircraft. The list is endless regardless of what the airport claims. Yes I have seen it all and it horrifies me.

This is the only public council building that will be open. No libraries, no leisure centres, no swimming pools, no schools, no community centres, no tidy tips, just the airport open for foreign travel.

Is Wizz asking passengers if their journey is essential? Is the airport asking the same question? Two cases of no is the answer to that.

[Lee Baker Street]

Originally Posted by Spanish eyes

With the terminal reopening at the end of the week it will be more of the same before it shut but after the lockdown started. Expect no social distancing when families see each other for the first time in a long while, no social distancing from staff, who seem to switch off or forget when they are at work. No social distancing by the baggage belts or when boarding the aircraft. The list is endless regardless of what the airport claims. Yes I have seen it all and it horrifies me.

This is the only public council building that will be open. No libraries, no leisure centres, no swimming pools, no schools, no community centres, no tidy tips, just the airport open for foreign travel.

Is Wizz asking passengers if their journey is essential? Is the airport asking the same question? Two cases of no is the answer to that.

I take it Spanish eyes you work at the airport. If you do you should raise your issues with your employer. They have a duty of care to you. It appears you are horrified by what you see. Ask your employer if you can take time off to recuperate as you appear deeply affected. These events affect people differently so it is nothing to be ashamed of if you are struggling.

[LTNman]

No one wants the airport to be closed longer than necessary but there is a valid question to be asked when the country has been told to self isolate to reduce the length of the lockdown.

Airports and aircraft are not conducive to stopping the spread of viruses. They are the initial reason the U.K. got infected in the first place. Reopening Luton for financial gain will not be helping the economy in the long run as it will just help to prolong the pain for those businesses that remain closed.

[Rutan16]

Originally Posted by LTNman

No one wants the airport to be closed longer than necessary but there is a valid question to be asked when the country has been told to self isolate to reduce the length of the lockdown.

Airports and aircraft are not conducive to stopping the spread of viruses. They are the initial reason the U.K. got infected in the first place. Reopening Luton for financial gain will not be helping the economy in the long run as it will just help to prolong the pain for those businesses that remain closed.

The country has NOT been told to self isolate to REDUCE the lockdown period -Quite the contrary; The idea is the reduce the potential burden on the Health Service by an extended period of infectious risk however at a lower peak rate .

This is a political rather than health decision and the UK government only took this course at the last moment .

Hence the utter shambles of planning ensued.

There is some creditability to herd immunity however requires far more knowledge of the infectious processes and whether the mutations are close enough to reduce the risk of reinfection . COVID19 doesn’t seem to follow the rules on that With the current evidence available though and this IS a health issue of major concern.

[Buster the Bear]

I assume Wizz have a vaccine for every passenger? My bet is that they are operating flights with the biggest yield and load factors, so no refunds. That would mean operating empty A320s becomes profitable, compared to refunding those pax booked? Plus who knows what subsidies they will retain!

[LGS6753]

Most WZZ flights are Bulgaria and Romania - although there are others. Some pax will be VFR, some coming in for seasonal work, some returning home temporarily or permanently. I suspect loads will be reasonable. All crew and pax being told to wear masks.

[alm1]

There won't be any flights from Romania for next two weeks at least. Some governments are more sensible and ban flights.

[AirportPlanner1]

There are some flights from Romania because the first Jet2 flight in weeks is over there right now bringing more farm workers into Stansted this afternoon.

[LTNman]

These photos were doing the rounds in the newspapers showing farm workers heading out of Romania a couple of weeks ago. No social distancing here.

https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148055

[pabely]

First Sofia appearing on LLA arrivals board for tomorrow.

[LTNman]

Second flight departure showing as cancelled but then it isn’t bookable until 17th May

W67702 to Skopje DEPART 09:30 FLIGHT STATUS Cancelled (NON OP)

Wonder if anyone told the airport?

[Buster the Bear]

https://www.lgcplus.com/finance/luto...ue-30-04-2020/

[LTNman]

Good link but according to this council document only 7% of their income comes from the airport while they intend to spend £168 million in this financial year on mainly the airport and a planning application for new homes. I suspect most of that £168m will go on the next payment for the Dart but £47 million is down for the first payment of the T2 access road called Century Park. This road is costed at £124m and that doesn't include turning it into a dual carriageway.

https://www.luton.gov.uk/Council_tax...ax-booklet.pdf

[avidspotter]

Hi All. This is my first post. I'm normally happily watching quietly from the sidelines. But I'm interested in the reaction to the resumption of Wizz Air flights and I wanted to chuck in some points to the debate.

1. UK hasn't shut border
2. Passenger flights continue elsewhere LGW, STN and LHR and other UK airports
4. Government says "Do not travel abroad unless it’s essential..." but does not say you shouldn't travel at all. "If your travel is essential, see our guidance on international travel"
5. WHO guidance "Recommendations for International Travel" says travel restrictions ineffective (except at start of out break)
5. Despite the news stories, Wizz are only flying to a handful of destinations to start with and probably won't get into double figures for several weeks
6. Just because they will eventually fly to Spain and Portugal doesn't make the passengers 'holiday makers'
7. Passenger numbers likely to be extremely low
8. They will need to follow restrictions in the country they are travelling to eg. only Bulgarian citizens are allowed into Bulgaria and in Tenerife you will have to go to your place of residence for 14 days
9. As far as I understand it, Wizz will refund passengers where travel restrictions mean they can't travel, providing they booked for the lock down (although I stand to be corrected)
10.Airport workers are classed as Key workers "those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response" so one can assume airports are seen as a key industry?

Thanks for reading.

PS I wanted to back up some of my points with some weblinks but it won't let me because I've never posted before but you can google them.

[ericlday]

Point 8. To be allowed entry into Tenerife currently you will need to be a resident (probably the same for the other islands and mainland Spain)

[LTNman]

Many people have become residents of both countries due to Brexit so can live in Tenerife and are free to float between the two countries if they wish I would have thought.

[ericlday]

As from 0.00 hours on 23 March travellers entry through the Spanish external borders is restricted. Only the following will be allowed entry: nationals and Spanish residents; residents in other EU countries or Schengen countries to get to their places of residence; holders of a long-stay visa issued by a Member State going to the latter; cross-border sanitary or elderly care workers; transport of goods; diplomats; and due to force majeure reasons when justified.

[davidjohnson6]

Has any decision been made around charges for the DART so as to start paying off the loans ? Will it be paid directly by passengers similiar to the bus and if so how much ? Or will it be added to the overall airport charges paid by airlines, and again how much ?