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Without wishing to deviate from the aviation theme of PPrune......
The railway line between London and Cambridge is at maximum capacity south of Broxbourne. It has to accommodate 1. Stansted Express trains. 2. Fast service to Cambridge 3. Slow service to Cambridge 4. Services to Hertford East 5. Slow services to Broxbourne. The only way that this will be resolved is to “four track” the line from Broxbourne to Liverpool Street. I am sure that if this was seriously considered the people who’s houses would have to be demolished to accommodate the additional tracks would be setting up a campaign all of their own. Nice try but there is more chance of linking Stansted airport to Braintree by rail than four tracking this section. |
EZY is to cease yet another route from Stansted : Tallinn will disappear by the end of the summer schedule and moved to Gatwick.
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Look, I've never worked for BAA or GIP and am merely an observer of British aviation. However, I do feel that if the former company wants Stansted to be a successful airport and not to lag behind its southerly counterparts in terms of growth then it really needs to get off its backside and stop working off the rash assumption that it still has the monopoly over London's airports as it did a few years ago. The fact is that Gatwick under previous ownership was blighted with similar problems and is now flourishing under the investment programme of GIP. If BAA at Stansted was more prepared to invest in both the airport's infrastructure and its image then they would probably see the kind of growth which LGW is currently experiencing.
Obviously location is an issue but really, if they made the 'airport experience' (trendy term but certainly justifiable in this case) more pleasant as well as not allowing quite so much Ryanisation then they might do rather well. To hemorrhage routes and frequency to Gatwick and Southend (and I'm talking about more than just U2 here) is not at all good for Stansted and apparently eternal stagnation at that airport has got to stop if BAA wants growth. |
Will EZY withdraw from STN?
....and BAA not interested in STN at present. |
Not long term but short term why bother? Once a new owner comes along then it might be a new ball game.
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Why would BAA be interested in Stansted ? They have a legal requirement to sell STN, which is being held off only by virtue of judicial review applications that rely on BAA's claim that STN is a purely low cost airport (read Ryanair) while Heathrow aims at the higher end of the market and thus the 2 airports would never be in competition with each other. The last thing BAA would want is for Lufthansa or Air France to open a feeder route from STN to either Frankfurt or Paris, or heaven forbid, Delta opening a long haul route to somewhere like NY
Until the legal appeals process is exhausted and there is clarity over who will own STN long term, short term legal tactics will win out over any strategic growth and marketing. |
Agree with what davidjohnson has said above - it is currently in BAA's interest not to attract new airlines because it will then make their appeals look unfounded.
However, it is a very sad state of affairs to watch the place diminish the way it has. I flew from Stansted a couple of weekends ago, approx 9am on a Sunday which is traditionally a very quiet time of day at the airport, even more so now with all of the cutbacks. I turned up with 90 minutes to spare knowing that it should be pretty quiet. Well, the terminal was very quiet overall, however they only had a handful of x-rays open and so we still queued for 25 minutes in the end and I then waited another 10 minutes for my bag to be hand searched by a miserable member of staff as there were 4 or 5 people in front of me waiting for the same! For an airport that can supposedly cater for double the amount of passengers that it is currently handling, it really isn't good enough for it to be such a mind numbing and slow experience. I also witnessed a staff member threatening to 'phone the police' if one gentleman did not listen to the advice that his bag was over Ryanair's limit and that he'd have to go back to the check-in desk and pay for it to go as hold luggage. Basically he was just pleading that he was given the chance to 'give it a go' and that it was Ryanair's problem at the gate if it didn't meet the limits. Maybe someone in the know can tell me whether it is a security staff responsibility to enforce such rules, as I really don't know the answer to that one? Either way I think that the situation could have been much better handled than threatening to phone the police. This year I've only braved Stansted once, despite only living a few miles away. It's a 50 mile journey to Gatwick for me, yet time and time again this year (5 or 6 trips so far) it throws up better choices, more airlines/destinations, and a nicer experience. It would appear that for the time being this will only get worse as Easyjet move aircraft to Southend and gradually move other routes to Gatwick. |
SEN would be more than happy to take more flights from stansted/luton,alltogether a much nicer experience for the passenger
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Yeah they can sit in Southend's new terminal twiddling their thumbs with nothing to do as the new airport lacks retail outlets. Some might argue that this is not a problem but the shops and food outlets attract many passengers who are looking to pass some time.
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the new airport lacks retail outlets Now let me see... two Arnold and Forbes cafes (one landside and one airside), a WHSmith and another shop which sells a large range of the usual duty free suspects. And if you have a concentration span too short to withstand that, then there's even a viewing area to watch the aeroplanes from. Not enough for you? Just because SEN is growing rather faster than LTN, you don't need to vent your frustrations on here - yet time and again you do. It is so resentful, so crass that frankly I'm not sure if anyone even listens anymore. You've probably never even visited SEN - if you had then you'd know that 'the shops and food outlets attract many passengers who are looking to pass some time'. |
I would be interested to know what importance passengers really put on there being a good "shopping experience" when choosing a departure airport.
Personally I would rather choose somewhere which offers a speedy transit through the terminal so that I don't feel I need to arrive 90 minutes before departure just in case there are delays at security, or I have to wait 20 minutes for the car park bus. At SEN that speed of transit is available but when I use LTN or STN even I (and ask my wife how much I like shopping!) do find it relieves the boredom to browse in the numerous shops. But whether most other people appreciate the shops simply for that reason or see them as an essential part of the travel experience I really have no idea. I suspect research must have been carried out into that subject in the past. SEN certainly offers sufficient retail to meet the basic needs of the traveller as Aero Mad says, but what I really appreciate there as opposed to LTN is that you can actually sit comfortably adjacent to the gates until your flight is called. Standing around for ages at the gate, or even worse on the stairs at LTN, is no fun in my book. |
LTN - building site with a runway. Always has been, always will be.
I'll get my coat...:rolleyes: |
how sad that a topic on Stansted AIRPORT has degenerated into the shopping channel. I know things are bad at Stansted but there must be something positive to talk about.
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I know things are bad at Stansted but there must be something positive to talk about. as if by magic http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co....t-23042012.htm |
“Excellent operational performance, world-class terminal facilities and great range of destinations are key factors for passengers when deciding their favourite airport. Thanks to our great track record in these areas, we are delighted and honoured to once again be globally recognised as a world-leading airport.” |
You've probably never even visited SEN Nothing wrong with Southend and nothing wrong with Stansted. All I said was that many passengers like to look around the shops before departure which Stansted has many. Touchy lot those Southend folk. Sorry if I offended:confused: |
LGS6753
Will EZY withdraw from STN?
....and BAA not interested in STN at present. |
Another scheduled airline leaves Stansted! Anadolujet seems to have suspended all flights to Ankara, by the end of April...
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More discounts to Iceland
Iceland Express are now discounting their flights - all season - by 50%. Bookings must be struggling against EZY from Luton, who are increasing flights, and not discounting.
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Anadolujet disappearing is a bit odd and a shame but it doesn't seem to have gone anywhere else so at least on this occasion it appears to be the route not the airport.
But regardless, change of ownership can't come soon enough. I saw a report a couple of days ago that MAG are selling a major stake to Abu Dhabi to find a bid for STN. Sounds hopeful. |
Airport is about to lose yet another airline : Bmibaby will cease its flights to Belfast City by mid-June.
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Airport is about to lose yet another airline : Bmibaby will cease its flights to Belfast City by mid-June. I'm sure some posters get off on posting these messages. := |
Ankara
ESB always seems to struggle from the UK. Think BMed tried it for a while a way back. Huge Turkish community living around me here in NE London but I've not met any of them who come from Ankara. Pegasus seems to do well through Sabiha Gokcen airport and now Atlasjet will fly to IST. TK has launched LGW so the Turkish market is well served.
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more interest in Stansted
South Korean Operator May Buy Stansted: Airport International News
The dominant South Korean airport operations group has expressed interest in acquiring London Stansted Airport from BAA, according to information released on 14 May 2012. The purchase, if it went ahead, would reduce the British Airport Authority's managed sites to four, after the sale of the former London Gatwick Airport in October 2009 and the more recent Edinburgh Airport sale. According to comments made to news agency AFP by a representative from the Incheon International Airport Corporation, the operator is "watching with interest" and that applies not only to Stansted, but Glasgow Airport, too. "We also have an interest in other British airports to be put up for sale in the near future", the same figure added. At one point, BAA owned no less than seven airports but was ordered by the Competition Commission to distribute its assets around, to make the UK airport scene a fairer place. A US organisation, GIP (Global Infrastructure Partners) now owns both Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport. South Korean Stansted Interest The South Korean Stansted interest, meanwhile, seems to be related to Incheon's newly-expressed interest in developing an overseas portfolio, with foreign business only responsible for a fraction of its 2011 revenue. "Our overseas business since 2009 is only in its infancy", Incheon's representative explained to AFP. "We're mulling various plans to develop it including buying stakes in foreign airports or construction". London Stansted Airport is the fourth-busiest in Britain, with 18.3 million passing through it in 2011. Incheon International Airport, meanwhile, is the largest in South Korea and it processed almost twice as many passengers in 2011. Three months ago, it was recognised by ACI as the world's best airport for customer service for the seventh consecutive year. National carrier Korean Air has by far the largest airline presence at Incheon and the site has three runways, all of them over 12,000 feet long. This allows Incheon to handle the very largest commercial aircraft in service today, including Korean Air's fleet of Airbus A380s. Whether Incheon International Airport Corporation intends to develop London Stansted remains to be seen but Airport International will present further coverage of this story as future facts emerge. |
Aero Toy Store are coming .....
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Aero Toy Store
That is a big space for only spending £2M refurb. I assume the facility itself cost them a bit more?
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Also a very tall hangar just for business jets.
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LTNMAN
B747's, B777's, A330's - not all biz jets are small := |
Was in STN terminal at various times Monday & Tuesday this week. It struck me how quiet it is compared to 5 years ago. Not just fewer people, but so many empty in branded check in desks. And there is an increasing air of gloom and shabbiness about the place - the newly installed safety nets hanging from the ceiling add to the run down appearance.
I hope that the airport is sold swiftly to new owners. The transformation of LGW is remarkable since leaving BAA. It would be good to see STN become a cared for facility once again. |
the newly installed safety nets hanging from the ceiling add to the run down appearance. |
Heathrow humbled: Olympics stars run a mile from official Games airport
Hundreds of athletes and coaches forced to use Stansted Crisis: Queues at Heathrow Terminal 5 Share inShare 3 Related Articles Bid to hear passengers’ border queue views blocked We’ll transform Tube and slash delays, vows transport chief Tube drivers granted bonus payments, now London says bus drivers should get extra Olympics cash too Suggested Topics BAA London Stansted Airport Heathrow Airport The Super-Rich Private Jets Matthew Beard 16 May 2012 Hundreds of Olympic athletes and coaches will be forced to leave London from Stansted rather than Heathrow because the official Games gateway cannot cope with the rush. Major teams, said to include Canada, China and Australia, are booking private charter flights from the Essex airport after the closing ceremony, the Standard has learned. The moves come after Colin Matthews, the chief executive of Heathrow’s owner BAA, admitted that Britain’s only hub had just 15 years to secure more space for flights or suffer the humiliation of demotion from the world’s airport “Premier League”. It is a blow to the airport and comes as the Government faces growing pressure to address the lack of space for expansion at Heathrow. About one in 10 of the 10,500 athletes competing at London 2012 is expected to leave from Stansted. The airport, which handles 70 million passengers a year, is expected to be full to bursting on 13 August, the day after the closing ceremony, when 50,000 competitors, coaches and officials will vie with regular passengers to catch flights out of London. It is highly unusual for charter flights after the Games to depart from anywhere other than the official Olympic airport. A spokesman for BAA said: “We made the decision not to accommodate charter planes or private jets during the Games period to ensure our scheduled flights timetable can be protected during this extremely challenging time. 80 per cent of all Games passengers will pass through Heathrow which already operates at 99.2 per cent capacity.” A Stansted spokesman said: “On arrival they will come in dribs and drabs but on departure you will get whole teams in one or two charters. “We are definitely ready to enable teams to depart here. It’s no loss of prestige for Heathrow because they get 80 per cent of the Games family. Any airports would be happy with that although they might be nervous about the challenge. “[Stansted is] a good alternative and you are not parking someone on the south coast or sending them to Manchester.” The Greek government built a new £2 billion airport in Athens in time for the 2004 Games while the Chinese authorities ordered the construction of the world’s biggest passenger terminal in Beijing — designed by British architect Lord Foster — ahead of the 2008 Olympics at a cost of about £2.3 billion. By contrast Heathrow has spent just £20 million gearing up for the Games — much of which is being spent on an “Olympic terminal” for just three days after the Games. Other measures include hundreds of extra Border Force staff to reduce immigration queues; 1,300 volunteers to meet VIPs off their flights and chaperone them through terminals and new flexible rules on runway use allowing planes to take off and land using the same runway. But the sheer volume of extra traffic means BAA is already diverting 10,000 flights to other airports over the summer and has banned charter and private flights completely during the Games. That means VIPs on private jets will head to Stansted’s private north terminal. Megastar athletes such as the multi-millionaires of the US Olympic basketball team, swimming legend Michael Phelps and tennis star Roger Federer are all expected to fly into Essex. There are no current plans to link the Essex airport to Stratford using Olympic-only road lanes. However it is thought departing teams would be entitled to a police escort to accompany them along the M11. inShare 3 |
Expand LHR, do it now!
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I spent a few hours today in a village about a mile or so from the end of Stansted’s runway. Most of the departures I had a good view of apart from when I was inside. So excluding Ryanair what did I see? Just 2 aircraft and not a single biz jet. Without Ryanair BAA would be sweeping the runway daily to keep the tumbleweed at bay.
No wonder Stansted will no doubt become the Olympics airport as it is the only London Airport out of the big 4 running at half capacity. Really don't know why it has gone wrong for this airport as it has so much to offer. |
Really don't know why it has gone wrong for this airport |
I don’t buy that answer. The busier the place the more money they would get so it is not in BAA’s interest to run the place down.
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it is not in BAA’s interest to run the place down. 1) The entire BAA argument for not selling stansted was that it did not compete with Heathrow as they served two entirely different markets. Heathrow is a full service airport with a transfer product and Stansted is a low cost point to point airport. Any sign of any full service carriers showing interest in Stansted would have to be discouraged to avoid undermining their argument 2) They are not likely to invest significant amounts of money in an asset they may be forced to sell possibly at a knock down price. I understand that even the staff uniforms are unbranded now in the expectation of a sale. |
Olympic charter flights
This story is mischief making by the Evening Standard.
The London bid was always going to be a “low cost” sustainable bid and, If I recall correctly, the bid document said that no new airport capacity was required or would be offered (I am willing to be corrected on this). From a very early stage the BAA said Heathrow was not available for ad-hoc flights or biz flights and that there were other airports in the London area available to take this traffic. To be honest if you had a closed group from East London why would you go to Heathrow it would take twice the time it takes to get to Stansted. Maybe the headline should be “Olympic teams decide to use more convenient airport” but that would not be as good a story |
Apparently the court of Appeal has given BAA permission to appeal against the competition Appeal Tribunals judgement from 1st Feb.
Not much more coming from "official" channels (they won't be allowed to comment) but any idea what the timescales might be? All this continued indecision can't be good for the place. No doubt the board will have their tin hats on and be standing by for incoming from MOL / Ryanair :E |
Safety nets
The netting is a temp measure while the roof glazing is being replaced, aparentley nobody wants to see pax or staff (even security staff) sliced in half by an oop's moment.:D
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reminds me of
Like in the movie The Excorcist? 1. 2 OR 3 I can't remember which?:ugh::rolleyes:
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