I call it negative because you insist "nothing" will happen and everything will be miserable and "stay the same" yet plans are clearly in place for upgrades and changes. Give the new chaps a couple of months at least before you condemn the future golly gosh.

On a general note Luton will have no problem attracting new airlines regardless of how pessimistic people seem to be. The way LGW/LHR expansion is going it will take another 20 years for them to even talk about expanding. With FR embedded at STN scaring everyone from even attempting a move there. Planes have to fly somewhere and LTN is very well located. Now whether that means an "amazing" improvement for the PAX using the airport who knows but as for flights I see no concern for a downturn in LTN's fortune for a good long while.

The cup is half full man its half full.. :ok: cheers

Well said runway08!
The only issue I can see is how quickly this can be done.
Lets says 3-6 months everything approved of change on management, another 3-6 months to get plans approved (I'm sure it's all in the background already) then start things moving after the end of next years summer season and the UK ecomony picks up a little more. :oh:

Bloor
 

Whilst cycling around various plane spotting points around LTN today I realised what a beautiful area the airport is actually near. I was then shocked to hear of bloor proposals to pave over various prime spotting points toward the Eastern side of the airport. To protect our beautiful countryside and areas where I see many a planespotter daily please protest in writing to Richard Kelly, principal strategic planning officer, NHDC, Gernon Road, Letchworth SG6 3JF or email [email protected]. Sorry about lack of aviation details but had to be heard on this one.

Ps el al 777-200 is always nice to se Among a319s once in a while even if it did take a very short run upm:O:O

And on the other hand....

Luton voted worst Airport in the UK by consumers | Bedfordshire Local News, Local News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online

An interesting article, but they don't go into much detail as to what went wrong. My guess is that car parking is top of the list which will wind anyone up.

There is plenty wrong with Luton, I got stung for £11 the other week for 1 hour 20 minutes parking in the short term car park. I then got hit with a £1.35 credit card fee on top of that.

The airport spokesmen talks about the extra retail outlets but that has come at the price of reducing seating even more.

The airport has no control over check-in times but it has never struck me as being an issue. Passenger screening is an issue in the early morning but can only be addressed when it is moved downstairs. Thankfully the traffic jams into the CTA now seem to be a thing of the past but even though we here could all see a simple solution the airport could not and first introduced traffic lights which had no effect on traffic flows before it bit the bullet and revised the road layout.

The truth is that Luton is still running at over capacity for parts of the day but if passengers want to keep using Luton no one is going to put the full signs up.

Planning Application
 

If you look at the application 12/01400/FUL it shows an expiry of 30/6/2013 so I don't think it is currently being considered by LBC planning.

Pabely

I think , but I am not sure that the date of 30/6/2013 was for the consultation period which has been completed.
The important date is the permission date which has no date inserted hence it is still pending consideration on the portal.

I may be proved wrong so watch this space

Hi wigmore, Where could they really pave over... most of it is Large open fields. What reason would they have to lay concrete randomly? The crash gate? Needs a proper concreting anyway.. its a mess.:ok: Was when I went up a few months back anywho.

runway08, have you actually looked at the plans which include enviromental inpacts, drainage, new stands, taxiway, expanded terminal etc. etc.
This is not a couple of paddy's doing a new driveway!
Which crashgate are you worried about?

Pabely I am not worried about any spotting site as I don't spot, Did some photography as a teen but that's about it. I was responding to the chap who said they are paving over spotting spots. All I could think of is the crash gate and the open fields... That's where I see all the cars congregate anytime I go watch a few take offs.

runway08, no problem. I think I know where you mean, spend some time there with the kids in the past. Lets hope the new operator is more friendly to the guys & gals who almost self police airport boarders.

Spotters and enthusiasts acting as permiter security on a voluntary basis. We all did that once, but now ostracised for even wanting to look at aeroplanes!

I for one would not have taken my current career path if it wasn't for being (and I hate this word) inspired, by watching very closely, jets taxying past the spectators area back in 1969 (I was 6)!

I would love to take Busterette to the old Luton spectator area, or the Queens Building, or even on the Gatwick terminal roof.

September 11th 2001 changed the world forever....sadly!

Very true, Buster. However, Manchester manages to maintain an Aviation Viewing Park.

Wigmore - in the next 3 months there are 2 new routes to Romania, 1 to Slovakia and 1 to Ukraine ... and you still want to know about more ????

@wigmore lol you have to love it eh, A new housing development near the airport.. no doubt in 20 years they will all be complaining about the noise from the pesky airport.

@pabely no worries, do you have a link to the newest plans by the way?

cheers :ok:

@buster when I was small I would spend my Saturdays in that building getting a toasted cheese sandwich and hoping an airplane would actually move at the oh so dead airport. I remember tristars from Caledonian and Hercules from southern air? There weren't many movements but the variation was so good compared to modern day. Really built my interest in aviation.

Latest plans are here:

Revised Masterplan - London Luton Airport

This was the video which is still current

Will there be a new plan with the new owners or the same

No doubt it could be tweaked here are there but I would have thought it would be basically the same as before.

Well I am departing LTN today at 7:45 which is the 25th departure after 6am. I will report back next week at what LTN and its terminal was like its peak travel time.