Luton-9
Join Date: Jul 2016
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How do you get just 6 airlines ? I count 8...
Blue Air, Easyjet, El Al, Ryanair, SunExpress, TUI, Vueling and Wizzair
On your main point, I agree that Luton seems to be dependent on very few airlines given the number of passengers that passed through its doors in 2019
Blue Air, Easyjet, El Al, Ryanair, SunExpress, TUI, Vueling and Wizzair
On your main point, I agree that Luton seems to be dependent on very few airlines given the number of passengers that passed through its doors in 2019
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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All comes back to diversification or a lack of. History is littered with airport's that have relied on just one or two airlines. Southampton is the UK's latest example. Luton's business model is cheap as chips low cost European routes and that other London airports that are full so they can get away with a poor experience. What is their business model for a 32m Luton? What new markets are they aiming for as they haven't said? Their only hint is a new terminal as bad as the existing one.
Questions about LLAOL as well. With just 11 years of the existing franchise left the clock is ticking regarding any new investment from the airport operator. They were meant to be funding the taxiway extension at runway 25, maybe they have no choice but to finish it but the new aprons that were announced last year around the engine run up bay might now never get built, as LLAOL announced they were stopping all investment. If the demand comes back in future years there will not be enough time to recoup the investment. The terminal expansion to 22.5million won't happen either as that is dependent on the new aprons.
Meanwhile the council has announce massive job cuts, cuts to services including children's and adult social services. Even the switching off of street lights and charging residents to empty their brown bins. As for the airport, the council doesn't intend to make any cutbacks so the £418 million being spent or to be spent on pre enabling work will continue, as the council has decided that residents, including the vulnerable and poor, need to make sacrifices and the government needs to bail them out due to their loss making airport and not putting money aside during the good years. The £418m might be a complete waste if the government says no to airport expansion. The DCO has now been put back a year.
As for how the Council has spent money in the past, apart from the airport, carnivals for Londoners comes to mind and money poured into trying to get City of Culture status for a town that is a sh!thole in the town centre. Even the locals who live on the edge have stopped going to the town centre and now travel to other towns for events and shopping.
Questions about LLAOL as well. With just 11 years of the existing franchise left the clock is ticking regarding any new investment from the airport operator. They were meant to be funding the taxiway extension at runway 25, maybe they have no choice but to finish it but the new aprons that were announced last year around the engine run up bay might now never get built, as LLAOL announced they were stopping all investment. If the demand comes back in future years there will not be enough time to recoup the investment. The terminal expansion to 22.5million won't happen either as that is dependent on the new aprons.
Meanwhile the council has announce massive job cuts, cuts to services including children's and adult social services. Even the switching off of street lights and charging residents to empty their brown bins. As for the airport, the council doesn't intend to make any cutbacks so the £418 million being spent or to be spent on pre enabling work will continue, as the council has decided that residents, including the vulnerable and poor, need to make sacrifices and the government needs to bail them out due to their loss making airport and not putting money aside during the good years. The £418m might be a complete waste if the government says no to airport expansion. The DCO has now been put back a year.
As for how the Council has spent money in the past, apart from the airport, carnivals for Londoners comes to mind and money poured into trying to get City of Culture status for a town that is a sh!thole in the town centre. Even the locals who live on the edge have stopped going to the town centre and now travel to other towns for events and shopping.
Join Date: Sep 2012
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I suppose it all boils down to the fact airlines (not necessarily passengers I hasten to add) want LHR and LGW. When they can get the slots, they'll move in a heartbeat.
Whilst STN has had some success with the likes of EK, Jet2 and the odd other interesting carrier, it too frankly struggles to attract, or at least retain, a diversity of carriers. MAG continues to bang the drum on long-haul potential, at least before the pandemic, and largely on the basis of lack of capacity in LGW and LHR.
In all honesty, if many airlines won't settle for STN, then LTN is only going to find it even harder. The only exceptions really are the likes of EL AL and Blue Air where LTN has a clear advantage to serving their demographic.
Passengers on the other hand, I believe, would travel in similar numbers to other airports besides LHR and LGW if that's where the flights operated. It's a requirement far more for airlines rather than passenger preferences in my view, who always seem to have this image that LHR is just off Trafalgar Square and STN or LTN conversely are in the middle of the outback.
Unless there's a clear alliance partnership for hub connections, or Virgin/Delta type interlining agreement (which admittedly is most cases) there's little reason really to serve LHR over the other London airports other than national pride or perception alone and not really within the passenger's main interest, which is a shame.
Whilst STN has had some success with the likes of EK, Jet2 and the odd other interesting carrier, it too frankly struggles to attract, or at least retain, a diversity of carriers. MAG continues to bang the drum on long-haul potential, at least before the pandemic, and largely on the basis of lack of capacity in LGW and LHR.
In all honesty, if many airlines won't settle for STN, then LTN is only going to find it even harder. The only exceptions really are the likes of EL AL and Blue Air where LTN has a clear advantage to serving their demographic.
Passengers on the other hand, I believe, would travel in similar numbers to other airports besides LHR and LGW if that's where the flights operated. It's a requirement far more for airlines rather than passenger preferences in my view, who always seem to have this image that LHR is just off Trafalgar Square and STN or LTN conversely are in the middle of the outback.
Unless there's a clear alliance partnership for hub connections, or Virgin/Delta type interlining agreement (which admittedly is most cases) there's little reason really to serve LHR over the other London airports other than national pride or perception alone and not really within the passenger's main interest, which is a shame.
Last edited by FRatSTN; 18th Jun 2020 at 16:03.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Luton’s Dart will help the airport’s image as will the the extra nonstop train per hour to and from London. 21 minutes from London and a 5 minute Dart should bring the terminal to within 30 minutes of St Pancras. The downside is that there will be a price premium for East Midland Railways and that the 6 trains an hour Thameslink service will often be quicker than waiting half an hour if a train was missed.
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Luton’s Dart will help the airport’s image as will the the extra nonstop train per hour to and from London. 21 minutes from London and a 5 minute Dart should bring the terminal to within 30 minutes of St Pancras. And what will be additionally useful is that if you don't want to pay the premium for the faster non-stop East Midlands train, there will also be 6 trains an hour via Thameslink. Very similar to the Gatwick Express etc.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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13 Wizz departures on the board today with one cancellation. Might be more later tonight that are not showing. With essential travel only guidance from government, no insurance cover and a quarantine on return I wonder what the passenger figures are? Wizz will be happy to keep all the money from the no shows for pre Covid bookings.
Certainly from the Canaries they are providing regular 'direct' flights to the uk and recommended on the Home Office travel site as a method of returning back home. Now what you may consider essential travel and people just out of lockdown will no doubt have differing views.
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Don't RYR restart AGL & ALC soon?
Does the Intera European Health Insurance cover still apply so why would you buy extra Insurance intra Europe anyhow?
Does the Intera European Health Insurance cover still apply so why would you buy extra Insurance intra Europe anyhow?
Join Date: Nov 2001
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The problem with EHIC, is that many doctors will not treat patients without the back up of travel insurance. I have also read that any treatment that is offered by doctors and hospitals, varies significantly around the EU. I certainly would not wish to fall ill of have an accident without a decent travel insurance policy. Quite a good number are now offering some Covid cover, but that would be null and void if the FCO advice remains 'as is'.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/06...ty-guidelines/
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/06...ty-guidelines/
Join Date: Jul 2002
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I had my EHIC card when I ended up in hospital in Spain. I had no say how I got there after being taken ill at the poolside. The hotel called out a doctor who called out an ambulance where I was taken to a flash hospital. I was thinking this is better than the NHS. A few hours later I was given the all clear despite being offered many other tests so I just walked out of the front door.
A month later I was tracked down and was sent a big bill as they used my EHIC card details to find me. I can’t remember flashing any insurance policy at them. I had no idea but I was seen by a private doctor, went to hospital in a private ambulance and was admitted to a private hospital. Lucky for me I had travel insurance.
No travel insurance means no repatriation flights, no anything.
A month later I was tracked down and was sent a big bill as they used my EHIC card details to find me. I can’t remember flashing any insurance policy at them. I had no idea but I was seen by a private doctor, went to hospital in a private ambulance and was admitted to a private hospital. Lucky for me I had travel insurance.
No travel insurance means no repatriation flights, no anything.
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Daws Heath Essex
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I had my EHIC card when I ended up in hospital in Spain. I had no say how I got there after being taken ill at the poolside. The hotel called out a doctor who called out an ambulance where I was taken to a flash hospital. I was thinking this is better than the NHS. A few hours later I was given the all clear despite being offered many other tests so I just walked out of the front door.
A month later I was tracked down and was sent a big bill as they used my EHIC card details to find me. I can’t remember flashing any insurance policy at them. I had no idea but I was seen by a private doctor, went to hospital in a private ambulance and was admitted to a private hospital. Lucky for me I had travel insurance.
No travel insurance means no repatriation flights, no anything.
A month later I was tracked down and was sent a big bill as they used my EHIC card details to find me. I can’t remember flashing any insurance policy at them. I had no idea but I was seen by a private doctor, went to hospital in a private ambulance and was admitted to a private hospital. Lucky for me I had travel insurance.
No travel insurance means no repatriation flights, no anything.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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They said it was kidney stones. I thought I was dying. From nothing to debilitating agony in 5 minutes. Never had them before but I have had them since. As the years passed the events became closer until they became yearly. NHS said drink more water but less meat, less beer, less fibre and gave me a big long list of don’ts.
Nothing worked until did my own research. I now start the day with 2 glasses of cloudy lemonade and have milk after my main meal. That was 4 years ago and touch wood I have been fine.
Keeping the post on topic I did fly back into Luton Airport and can’t remember any problems.
Nothing worked until did my own research. I now start the day with 2 glasses of cloudy lemonade and have milk after my main meal. That was 4 years ago and touch wood I have been fine.
Keeping the post on topic I did fly back into Luton Airport and can’t remember any problems.
Join Date: Jan 2014
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They said it was kidney stones. I thought I was dying. From nothing to debilitating agony in 5 minutes. Never had them before but I have had them since. As the years passed the events became closer until they became yearly. NHS said drink more water but less meat, less beer, less fibre and gave me a big long list of don’ts.
Nothing worked until did my own research. I now start the day with 2 glasses of cloudy lemonade and have milk after my main meal. That was 4 years ago and touch wood I have been fine.
Keeping the post on topic I did fly back into Luton Airport and can’t remember any problems.
Nothing worked until did my own research. I now start the day with 2 glasses of cloudy lemonade and have milk after my main meal. That was 4 years ago and touch wood I have been fine.
Keeping the post on topic I did fly back into Luton Airport and can’t remember any problems.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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There are different types of kidney stones. Mine was the most common after being analysed. Cloudy lemonade contains citric acid that breaks down calcium as it passes through the kidneys. I add a couple of drops of pure lemon juice for good measure.
The milk helps bad calcium from the meal cling to the good calcium in the milk. Might all be total BS and just a coincidence but for the last couple of years I have not had to declare any existing medical conditions as too much time has passed. Before I was getting kidney stones every year and ending up in A&E.
Going back to the original post about just using the EHIC card. I had it and in my case it was worthless. I am sure the receptionist got a backhander.
To get the post back on Luton there are no extra Wizz flights today so the total departures remain at 13.
The milk helps bad calcium from the meal cling to the good calcium in the milk. Might all be total BS and just a coincidence but for the last couple of years I have not had to declare any existing medical conditions as too much time has passed. Before I was getting kidney stones every year and ending up in A&E.
Going back to the original post about just using the EHIC card. I had it and in my case it was worthless. I am sure the receptionist got a backhander.
To get the post back on Luton there are no extra Wizz flights today so the total departures remain at 13.
Last edited by LTNman; 20th Jun 2020 at 17:27.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Seems the airport or should I say the Council is in more trouble than first thought. The Dart is costing at least an extra £18m taking the bill to £247m. The original cost was meant to be £200. The DCO to government requires another £5m. Baring in mind LLAL as no staff and was set up to just be the collector of concession fees it needs an extra £60m this financial year from the Council and another £23m next year while cutting back the dividend to zero for at least the next 2 years. This is due to the the Council getting involved in airport expansion when that was the task of the airport operator who was meant to carry the financial risks.
The truth is that the Council got greedy and always wanted more so would not wait. They keep claiming the financial mess isn't the Councils fault when clearly it is. They borrowed and borrowed and lent LLAL hundreds of millions of pounds that LLAL now can't pay back. Now they have been caught with their pants down. There also appears to be a legal despite with the airport operator who is claiming force majeure to get out of contractual obligations. Apparently that will also have a further financial impact on the Council.
The truth is that the Council got greedy and always wanted more so would not wait. They keep claiming the financial mess isn't the Councils fault when clearly it is. They borrowed and borrowed and lent LLAL hundreds of millions of pounds that LLAL now can't pay back. Now they have been caught with their pants down. There also appears to be a legal despite with the airport operator who is claiming force majeure to get out of contractual obligations. Apparently that will also have a further financial impact on the Council.