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June shows passengers down over a fifth compared to June 2019. With demand likely to fall in 2023 everything is not rosy due to the removal of pent up demand, a cut to living standards, a pending recession and an increase in fares but then that applies everywhere.
The unique risk for Luton is Wizz picking up more slots at Gatwick.
The unique risk for Luton is Wizz picking up more slots at Gatwick.
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History teaches us lessons
https://mediacentre.easyjet.com/stor...n-gatwick-base
https://mediacentre.easyjet.com/stor...n-gatwick-base
Some think that Wizz will decamp Luton to go fully to Gatwick as there will be more money to make there but history also tells us any reduction is quickly filled by another. Wizzair will not give up there slots at Luton for fear of another just taking them up. It has been oversubscribed in slot applications for years now.
Remember Flyr, SkyUp and Sky Express asked for new slots and Wizzair, Easyjet, Ryanair, Blue Air and even TUI wanted more.
Last edited by pabely; 31st Jul 2022 at 17:31.
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Exactly, when slots became available they bought them up.
Some think that Wizz will decamp Luton to go fully to Gatwick as there will be more money to make there but history also tells us any reduction is quickly filled by another. Wizzair will not give up there slots at Luton for fear of another just taking them up. It has been oversubscribed in slot applications for years now.
Remember Flyr, SkyUp and Sky Express asked for new slots and Wizzair, Easyjet, Ryanair, Blue Air and even TUI wanted more.
Some think that Wizz will decamp Luton to go fully to Gatwick as there will be more money to make there but history also tells us any reduction is quickly filled by another. Wizzair will not give up there slots at Luton for fear of another just taking them up. It has been oversubscribed in slot applications for years now.
Remember Flyr, SkyUp and Sky Express asked for new slots and Wizzair, Easyjet, Ryanair, Blue Air and even TUI wanted more.
To add to Lee Baker Street... even if Wizz wanted to move the bulk of its LTN operation to LGW... are there the slots and gates available at suitable times ? I don't see a lot of space for departures at LGW before 9 am, unless a sizeable airline ceases flying to/from LGW. The window of opportunity that Easyjet took many years ago may no longer exist
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IAG and easyJet are not going to let anyone in the back door at Gatwick, that boat has sailed. Frankly Wizz are deluded if they think they are going to get to any decent sizeable operation any time soon (unless they buy themselves in).
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I'm sure there will be plenty wanting a piece of the action. Jet2 springs to mind. LGW world does not revolve around Wizzair unless they get a sniff of new opportunities to US?
I still cannot see any significant exodus.
Airports like SEN might worry more.
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The whole point of the 19m application is to keep Wizz out of Gatwick in the short term.
That plan isn’t working.
The airport was a cash cow for the Council but now Luton Rising Temperature is being screwed by the airport operator who are walking all over them. Maybe their plan is to keep LRT in continued losses, which isn’t hard, seeing the size of their debts, and buy the airport in a fire sale forced on by the government?
That plan isn’t working.
The airport was a cash cow for the Council but now Luton Rising Temperature is being screwed by the airport operator who are walking all over them. Maybe their plan is to keep LRT in continued losses, which isn’t hard, seeing the size of their debts, and buy the airport in a fire sale forced on by the government?
Last edited by LTNman; 1st Aug 2022 at 20:43.
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IF Gatwick goes for the upgrade of the existing parellel emergency runway, it said this in April 2021, Gatwick told investors that expansion of London's airport capacity was not required until at least 2030 due to the impact of covid travel restrictions on passenger demand.
So we are a long way out from this scenario.
As has been said, getting slots before 9AM at Gatwick is impossible.
That will kill any sizable based or early arrival East European operation at LGW.
Luton will be back to 18M long before that.
As for Govenment forcing LBC to sell LRT, who has suggested that?
So we are a long way out from this scenario.
As has been said, getting slots before 9AM at Gatwick is impossible.
That will kill any sizable based or early arrival East European operation at LGW.
Luton will be back to 18M long before that.
As for Govenment forcing LBC to sell LRT, who has suggested that?
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As for Govenment forcing LBC to sell LRT, who has suggested that?
https://www.lgcplus.com/finance/luto...ut-24-02-2021/
Alex Skinner, director of local government finance at MHCLG, added that the review would consider “what assets they hold and whether it would be appropriate for the local authority to consider selling those, and if so, over what time period”.
A report to Luton's full council last week said that "a forced sale of assets would have significant implications for the council and it is important for the council to work with London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) in order to ensure LLAL is a going concern and at the same time any support provided are affordable and sustainable from the council’s view point". The council "anticipates requests from the company for aid in ensuring its financial stabilisation".
Plans are now taking place to separate the Dart from LRT by forming a separate company owned by LRT with its own management. It is all part of the plan to off load the Dart in the next few years, which has cost close to £300m but independently valued at only £75m.
At the same time LRT is putting in new layers of management to more isolate it from the Council in an attempt to prevent a forced sale. Even the chair of LRT, who is a councillor is being replaced by a non executive director who has yet to be appointed together with new non executive directors. All these layers of management cost money, which is making the financial situation worse.
IF Gatwick goes for the upgrade of the existing parellel emergency runway, it said this in April 2021, Gatwick told investors that expansion of London's airport capacity was not required until at least 2030
Last edited by LTNman; 2nd Aug 2022 at 05:48.
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Alex Skinner, director of local government finance at MHCLG, added that the review would consider “what assets they hold and whether it would be appropriate for the local authority to consider selling those, and if so, over what time period”.
If such comments had come from Secretary of State department I would accept it rather than people who are trying to win points.
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Perhaps he didn’t. It is not for government to bail out councils who bail out airports.
taxpayer-funded bail-out of four councils across the country, including two Tory-run authorities (£4.8m to Peterborough and £3.9m to Bexley), one LibDem-run council (£6.8m to Eastbourne) and a whopping £35m to the Labour-run Luton Council.
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Got to agree with you on that one. I think the big mistake was made around 2004 when they were allowed to start the big investments. At that point they should have brought in Beds, Herts and Bucks CCs and private equity to finance but more importantly create a holding company to run the operation on the lines of MAG where direct control was out of the hands of Councillor's - but that would involve less of a return to LBC coffers in good times so was seen as not a voter winner at the time.
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Construction update.
Work has started on the new apron by removing the exiting surface to the former temporary drop off area. Service road can be seen to the left of the first photo.
The new taxi rank has opened while the former private hire area behind it lies empty.
Dart Central Station awaits its first passengers
Meanwhile at Parkway the forecourt is being paved but is weeks away from completion.
The new taxi rank has opened while the former private hire area behind it lies empty.
Dart Central Station awaits its first passengers
Meanwhile at Parkway the forecourt is being paved but is weeks away from completion.
Last edited by LTNman; 2nd Aug 2022 at 17:57.
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I just did a comparison of current the summer 2022 schedule (Mon, 1st Aug) versus the summer 2019 schedule (Mon, 9th July - when I did this in 2019).
In terms of based aircraft, it's the same as 2019 with 41 based aircraft:
- easyJet is down 1 (23 currently vs 24 in 2019), though they have an extra A320 and 2 less A319. (One of the A320s is operated by SmartLynx).
- Wizzair is up 1 (11 currently vs 10 in 2019) and they have an extra 2 A321s this year and one less A320
- Ryanair is unchanged with 6 based B738s
- TUI is unchanged with 1 based B738
In terms of movements, we're down significantly with 286 currently vs 360 in summer 2019 (down 21%). This is obviously not an exact comparison as I'm comparing slightly different times of the year and the length of routes also may have changed, but it's interesting none the less:
- easyJet is down 17% from 156 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 130 on 1st Aug 2022
- Wizzair is down 25% from 136 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 102 on 1st Aug 2022
- Ryanair is down 14% from 44 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 38 on 1st Aug 2022
- Others (inc TUI) down 33% from 24 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 16 on 1st Aug 2022 - main change is loss of Level, Vueling and Blue Air reductions
In terms of based aircraft, it's the same as 2019 with 41 based aircraft:
- easyJet is down 1 (23 currently vs 24 in 2019), though they have an extra A320 and 2 less A319. (One of the A320s is operated by SmartLynx).
- Wizzair is up 1 (11 currently vs 10 in 2019) and they have an extra 2 A321s this year and one less A320
- Ryanair is unchanged with 6 based B738s
- TUI is unchanged with 1 based B738
In terms of movements, we're down significantly with 286 currently vs 360 in summer 2019 (down 21%). This is obviously not an exact comparison as I'm comparing slightly different times of the year and the length of routes also may have changed, but it's interesting none the less:
- easyJet is down 17% from 156 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 130 on 1st Aug 2022
- Wizzair is down 25% from 136 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 102 on 1st Aug 2022
- Ryanair is down 14% from 44 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 38 on 1st Aug 2022
- Others (inc TUI) down 33% from 24 movements on 9th Jul 2019 to 16 on 1st Aug 2022 - main change is loss of Level, Vueling and Blue Air reductions
Last edited by ClearLand08; 2nd Aug 2022 at 18:59.
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LTN man Doesn't explain why Blue Air have used SEN today for a LHR rescue flight, but maybe other restrictions in place, short notice Ad-Hoc slot refused or too short notice to be approved?
Thanks for sharing the pics though.
ClearLand08 Thanks for the summary, I think EZY might ramp up a little more towards the end of the month, but reasons for this I cannot disclose currently.
Thanks for sharing the pics though.
ClearLand08 Thanks for the summary, I think EZY might ramp up a little more towards the end of the month, but reasons for this I cannot disclose currently.