Luton-10
I used LTN for the first time in nearly a year this week. It is definitely getting busier, although very much in the “winter” mode with easyJet and Ryanair still not getting their schedules back up to top speed, but promising signs. Most of the demand seemingly coming from bucket and spade routes and VFR traffic to Eastern Europe. Changes to the travel rules this week will help too. I wonder if August will see over 500k passengers again?
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Lee Baker Street, please list the high paid jobs an expanded Luton will bring? There is no coincidence that Luton is one of the most deprived towns in the country and that the airport is the towns largest employer. That poverty is not caused by unemployment but by in work poverty where people are forced to work zero hour contracts or are employed on guaranteed short hour contracts where anything above 15-20 hours is called flat rate overtime.
My son spent 2 years working at the airport on the ramp where a shift could be as little as 4 hours. Taking into account travelling costs a shift could produce little financial reward. The company he worked for like many of the companies at the airport won contracts by placing the lowest contract bid. This has resulted in the latest winner of the terminal cleaning contract replacing low paid staff with driverless cleaning machines.
Luton’s expansion plans need a town that is poor to provide a pool of cheap labour. With airlines like Wizz and Ryanair demanding ever lower airport costs I would love to know where this people’s prosperity will come from?
As for the airports traditional high paid jobs like aircraft engineering and maintenance, they have mainly gone with most of Luton’s hangars being used for aircraft storage or are left empty. When Gulfstream wanted to expand at Luton the answer was no so they left leaving yet another hangar now being used just for aircraft parking. The reason for the refusal is that the authorities are not interested in highly paid jobs, as all they want is stands for low cost carriers, as that produces a potential profit for them.
My son spent 2 years working at the airport on the ramp where a shift could be as little as 4 hours. Taking into account travelling costs a shift could produce little financial reward. The company he worked for like many of the companies at the airport won contracts by placing the lowest contract bid. This has resulted in the latest winner of the terminal cleaning contract replacing low paid staff with driverless cleaning machines.
Luton’s expansion plans need a town that is poor to provide a pool of cheap labour. With airlines like Wizz and Ryanair demanding ever lower airport costs I would love to know where this people’s prosperity will come from?
As for the airports traditional high paid jobs like aircraft engineering and maintenance, they have mainly gone with most of Luton’s hangars being used for aircraft storage or are left empty. When Gulfstream wanted to expand at Luton the answer was no so they left leaving yet another hangar now being used just for aircraft parking. The reason for the refusal is that the authorities are not interested in highly paid jobs, as all they want is stands for low cost carriers, as that produces a potential profit for them.
Last edited by LTNman; 5th Aug 2021 at 08:18.
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TUI to bring Europe Wide Back Office Operation to Luton
Looks like TUI have decided to centralise some of their back office operations, of their 5 airlines across Europe and will managed from LTN.
These includes the Traffic and Operational Control Centres.
While unlikely to bring additonal flights to the airport, hopefully will be good for the local economy and local jobs.
Unfortunately as I have posted less than 10 posts, I cannot include a link, but can be viewed of Aviation.be
These includes the Traffic and Operational Control Centres.
While unlikely to bring additonal flights to the airport, hopefully will be good for the local economy and local jobs.
Unfortunately as I have posted less than 10 posts, I cannot include a link, but can be viewed of Aviation.be
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Here is a link to Airways Mag about this https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/tui-...five-airlines/
The consolidation of the TUI Group Engineering Control function at Luton has already taken place with the small number of new positions having been filled by internal transfers (with the bulk coming from the hangar at Luton!)
For those of us who are positive thinking, I personally believe the airport will regain its popularity far quicker than expected. All those who are negative are in my personal view members of the anti airport growth brigade! Growth equals much needed jobs for today’s children tomorrow and negative views equates to selfishness because they already have achieved their goals. London Luton Airport represents prosperity not just for individuals but the local cities and towns and villages and hamlets that encompass the airport
Lee Baker Street - Your "expand at any cost" views are well known on this forum but to describe those with opposing views as selfish is just plain bonkers! I'm all for a well managed local airport that is a responsible employer and also takes the important environmental issues seriously. I've been continuously employed at the airport for 35 years as an aircraft engineer and as LTNman mentions, the decline of this decent type of job is well underway with dust gathering in the ex Monarch hangars and Gulfstream re-locating to Farnborough. Most of those who do earn decent money (Pilots, Engineers, ATC etc) don't actually live in Luton (so the local economy is supported in a much more limited way by those who are working long hours for very low wages)
The crux of the issue is that much of the recent pre-covid growth at Luton has been driven by price sensitive very low cost flying. The airlines have been incentivised to cram more and more passengers into a facility designed for far fewer passengers. As long as the fares stay at a certain level the punters will still keep flying and tolerate the sub-standard conditions endured. However, these fares cannot translate into well paid jobs for the bulk of employees at the airport. So, most don't hang around and certainly don't plan a career at the place!
Lee Baker Street - Your "expand at any cost" views are well known on this forum but to describe those with opposing views as selfish is just plain bonkers! I'm all for a well managed local airport that is a responsible employer and also takes the important environmental issues seriously. I've been continuously employed at the airport for 35 years as an aircraft engineer and as LTNman mentions, the decline of this decent type of job is well underway with dust gathering in the ex Monarch hangars and Gulfstream re-locating to Farnborough. Most of those who do earn decent money (Pilots, Engineers, ATC etc) don't actually live in Luton (so the local economy is supported in a much more limited way by those who are working long hours for very low wages)
The crux of the issue is that much of the recent pre-covid growth at Luton has been driven by price sensitive very low cost flying. The airlines have been incentivised to cram more and more passengers into a facility designed for far fewer passengers. As long as the fares stay at a certain level the punters will still keep flying and tolerate the sub-standard conditions endured. However, these fares cannot translate into well paid jobs for the bulk of employees at the airport. So, most don't hang around and certainly don't plan a career at the place!
Last edited by boeing_eng; 5th Aug 2021 at 15:23.
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Interesting news about TUI. The TUI building, where they rent their office space away from the airport, had a planning application for conversation into flats. It was mentioned at the time that TUI was off to Milton Keynes. Years ago TUI moved its Luton ops abroad with their ops building being knocked down for a new aircraft stand.
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New (old route) Shannon. https://www.independent.ie/life/trav...-40723281.html
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Only two floors are vacant in the former Monarch HQ, no good if they want the whole building. Ops can go anywhere but I would suspect they will join the rest of TUI in their existing off airport building. Many years ago I helped upgrade Britannia ops and spent time working in all their buildings including both hangars. Happy Days
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Could it be that someone didn't like the Dart bridge being backlit in Tory blue? After a 2 month switch off the bridge has changed colour at night.
Out with the old
In with the new (sorry dashcam screen shot). I am surprised the bridge is now not lit in red.
The LED strip lighting is attached to the underneath of the ski slope.
Out with the old
In with the new (sorry dashcam screen shot). I am surprised the bridge is now not lit in red.
The LED strip lighting is attached to the underneath of the ski slope.
Last edited by LTNman; 7th Aug 2021 at 06:56.
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I am thinking Luton’s expansion plans have just got more difficult today. While the owners are still in denial, this time they can’t approve their own application.
Climate change: IPCC report is 'code red for humanity' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705
Climate change: IPCC report is 'code red for humanity' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705
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https://www.london-luton.co.uk/corpo...ons/statistics
Passengers up 312% for June at 255,434 but year to date down 71.9% at 850,969 for the half year. The airport is expecting the end of year passenger numbers to be lower than 2020.
Passengers up 312% for June at 255,434 but year to date down 71.9% at 850,969 for the half year. The airport is expecting the end of year passenger numbers to be lower than 2020.
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No impact of course on local services provided by Luton Borough Council.........
I'll let Mr Grumpy know that it'll cost him £50 per year to have his bins collected and candles replaced bi-annually for street lighting!
I'll let Mr Grumpy know that it'll cost him £50 per year to have his bins collected and candles replaced bi-annually for street lighting!
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The much delayed LLAL accounts for the year ending 31st March 2020 will be appearing in the coming days. So how bad can it be when the airport had a near normal 12 months trading period with only the end of March 2020 Covid affected? I am thinking the directors and independent auditors report will make for some interesting reading, which was the reasons for the delay but how far will they look into the future?