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Coronavirus might well have persuaded a few more engineers to move as their choice would be move of face long term unemployment.
Gulfstream wanted to remain at Luton but were stonewalled by LLAL who refused to offer them land for a new hangar and apron within the existing boundary, as it would have impacted the Councils expansion plans. Even under plans for a land grab of the local park there are no plans for new hangars there. Aircraft maintenance has been on the decline for years at Luton. Signature at Luton stopped doing heavy maintenance years ago. Their new hangar by cargo has only car parking for around 10 cars, has no office space and was built just for parking aircraft out of the rain. No company has replaced Monarch Engineering who had 3 hangars at one time leaving just Harrods, Easyjet and TUI. One of Luton’s issues remains getting aircraft in and out of hangars as the hangar lines are often blocked with parked aircraft. The other issue is the cost of parking aircraft that are awaiting maintenance or have completed maintenance. |
Interesting priorities from the council if that is the case. Engineering jobs are normally described as the sort of well paid, skilled jobs councils are keen to attract - whereas the jobs created by handling low cost airlines...
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Construction update
Photos taken yesterday.
Parkway Dart station is getting a roof which is free standing and not connected to the walls. https://i.imgur.com/T6FFDac.jpg View from across the railway tracks. Careful examination shows the two entry and exit points for the Dart trains https://i.imgur.com/Tol4DWp.jpg At Central Station the framework for the roof is being installed. The roof will match that of Parkway. https://i.imgur.com/Osbcc58.jpg The concrete building contains 2 lift shafts, a public staircase, a fire escape staircase and two tunnel vent shafts. https://i.imgur.com/1XrwqGE.jpg How it is meant to look with the second multi story car park missing https://i.imgur.com/UpPS3lo.jpg Work is under way to restore the original dual carriageway route with its junction with the bus station and taxi rank. As can be seen the steel sheeting that was holding the embankment in place has disappeared. https://i.imgur.com/u003VLv.jpg |
Originally Posted by SWBKCB
(Post 10851356)
Interesting priorities from the council if that is the case. Engineering jobs are normally described as the sort of well paid, skilled jobs councils are keen to attract - whereas the jobs created by handling low cost airlines...
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LLAL's cram 'em in at all costs attitude has certainly led to the decline of heavy aircraft maintenance at LTN. I can't see any serious takers for the ex Monarch hangars as the parking restrictions already mentioned will prove too limiting. As it is, TUI have to wrangle with the airport on a daily basis during the busy hangar season to come up with a plan to shuffle aircraft around and deal with arrivals and departures.
Unfortunately the days of the hangar line being used virtually exclusively by Monarch and Britannia hangar aircraft with the odd cargo and ad-hoc aircraft are just a fond memory!:( |
Should heavy maintenance really be done at a major passenger airport where space will almost certainly be very limited, or better to put a business that needs lots of room in a location where it can be found easily ?
Manston, your time has come... ! |
The problem with that theory - where do the engineers live that you need to do the work? Certainly not within close proximity to Manston!
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Well that's why Gulfstream went. Also under threat, which has receded now for a few years due to Covid is FBO's at Luton.
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Medium term Luton FBOs are doing Ok, 80 Biz movements yesterday. On a normal F1 weekend they would have been turning business away to Oxford, Cranfield & Stansted. You can even get nighttime slots which would have been a no no pre covid.
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Think the nighttime ban on biz jets is meant to be still in force.
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Best keep quiet about it then, no current NOTAM about it that I can find.
Is this not current then https://www.signatureflight.com/even...rt-night-slots ? |
You are indeed correct as I have dug out the letter. I was told in March from the horses mouth that not only was there going to be no changes this year but also in future years.
Noise restrictions commencing Summer 20 In both 2018 and 2019, I wrote to you advising of operational restrictions that we had to put in place following a breach of our permitted night noise contour limit. I advised at the time that the restrictions would be in place for every subsequent Summer season. I am writing to you today to update you on the restrictions that we plan to implement from 1st June 2020 and in light of the current challenges the industry is facing in relation to COVID- 19. Many of these restrictions were communicated at the S20 coordination committee on the 18th September 2019 and remain unchanged from previous seasons. The following measures will be in place from 1st June 2020, and will be reviewed on a monthly basis across the summer season; • A limit of 15 ad-hoc movements will be permitted per week from 1st June 2020. This restriction includes GA and Maintenance flights between 2200-0559 GMT • No further night slots to be allocated to series flights 2200-0559 GMT 1st June – 30th September • No re-scheduling of existing allocated slots from the day time 0600-2159 GMT into the night time 2200-0559 GMT 1st June – 30th September • For the Summer 2020 season and all subsequent seasons no aircraft with a value greater than QC1 will be permitted to operate in the night-time period (although there are current exemptions for cargo aircraft containing essential supplies due to COVID-19) • No new slot applications with an aircraft QC value greater than 0.5 will be permitted between 2200 – 0559 GMT It is important for all operators to adhere to their slots, last summer we saw aircraft which were scheduled during the daytime period (0659-2159 GMT) and were actually operating during the night time period (2200-0559 GMT). If aircraft fail to adhere to slots this summer, we will be forced to implement a nighttime curfew during this period. We will continue to monitor this on a monthly basis and we will notify all operators if we need to implement this. If you have any queries relating to the restrictions then please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of the Flight Operations Team at *********** Hopefully some of this additional flexibility with the night restrictions will support your businesses during this challenging time although we still have to be mindful that we must work within the legal limits that are attached to our planning approval. Yours sincerely ****** ******* Operations Director London Luton Airport Percival House Percival Way Luton LU2 9NU 19th May 2020 |
A limit of 15 ad-hoc movements will be permitted per week from 1st June 2020. This restriction includes GA and Maintenance flights between 2200-0559 GMT |
Daily passenger movements have now crept up to 200-210. Wizz are starting more Greek routes this week, and resuming Russia later in August.
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What will be more interesting is average load factors, it is great seeing more shedules but how full are the flights. It will be a long hard winter coming up soon.
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Some flights are near full while others are almost empty so I am thinking well under 500,000 passengers this months. Even with so few passengers the airport has not been designed to handle even this amount so many social distancing measures have been discreetly removed in the middle of the night. The public urinals I use which had 50% taped off have been opened up. Many of the seating that is in sets of 4 have also had the tapped off areas removed. Passengers are being bussed to remote stands. Long closely packed queues form at border force otherwise passengers would be queuing on the aprons. In fact I can't think of a single area where the airport conforms to social distancing rules apart from proving sanitiser except that often runs out. What is happening is a ticking time bomb that is going to explode sooner rather than later with a second wave and Luton will have played its part.
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2Excel Engineering at Lasham has recently struck a major 3 year contract with easyJet which will see heavy maintenance performed on their fleet in Hampshire. They are currently assisting with fleet disposals, but that will move on to heavy C Checks on the active fleet. Work that no doubt could have taken place in the empty hangars at Luton?
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Have EZY ever done any heavy checks themselves, I don't remember? Usually cheapest outsourcing contract gets it. I think in this case fixed price contract, cost overruns contractors pay.
To setup such an operation at Luton would require, tooling , insurance , approval from caa , spares support , technical ie drawing office , structures dept , totally not possible. Boat has gone, receiver tried to sell ex MAEL on, no takers. |
Originally Posted by Spanish eyes
(Post 10852973)
Some flights are near full while others are almost empty so I am thinking well under 500,000 passengers this months. Even with so few passengers the airport has not been designed to handle even this amount so many social distancing measures have been discreetly removed in the middle of the night. The public urinals I use which had 50% taped off have been opened up. Many of the seating that is in sets of 4 have also had the tapped off areas removed. Passengers are being bussed to remote stands. Long closely packed queues form at border force otherwise passengers would be queuing on the aprons. In fact I can't think of a single area where the airport conforms to social distancing rules apart from proving sanitiser except that often runs out. What is happening is a ticking time bomb that is going to explode sooner rather than later with a second wave and Luton will have played its part.
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Originally Posted by asdf1234
(Post 10853937)
We all have to acknowledge that COVID-19 got to these shores via the airlines. That they will be responsible for the second wave is becoming more likely by the day.
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Regarding the night time movements I would have thought that it was the least of the airport authorities concerns at the moment. They will need all the landing fees they can get at the moment.
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Originally Posted by Lee Baker Street
(Post 10853983)
The Plague killed 100s of millions of people throughout the World from the year 1347. I wonder what airlines were in existence back then!
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I suppose when it is impossible to social distance on an aircraft why even try at the airport
https://i.imgur.com/7CTObD8.jpg Actually the odd passenger does try. https://i.imgur.com/B2cegxQ.jpg Meanwhile the airports propaganda machine likes to paint a different picture. Note the guy puts his mask on and then walks away from the terminal. He goes to self check-in to check-in a carry on bag then goes to a closed security lane with no staff. Also all the staff members seen in the film are wearing masks while in reality most don’t. The other giveaway is that he is far to smart looking to be a passenger at Luton. |
Flew through LTN for the first time in months about 10 days ago. I’d be lying if I said I was impressed with the way it was handled, both by WZZ and the airport.
-A perfect opportunity to social distance, yet everyone hoarded into two security lanes. -Norhing open in the airport apart from Boots and a couple of eateries. Nothing landside. -The incessant need for airlines to start boarding before an aircraft even arrives on the gate (this pandemic is the perfect opportunity to stop people standing at gate areas 45-60m before departure). -No hand sanitizer on board, soap in the bathrooms only, despite mods being approved recently for the installation of them in cabins. -A full service on board available inc alcohol, despite other airlines minimising this. -Many people including airport staff not wearing their masks properly. -Social distancing observed to a point in the queues, but busy flights still like a free for all. |
Originally Posted by Dannyboy39
(Post 10854289)
Flew through LTN for the first time in months about 10 days ago. I’d be lying if I said I was impressed with the way it was handled, both by WZZ and the airport.
-A perfect opportunity to social distance, yet everyone hoarded into two security lanes. -Norhing open in the airport apart from Boots and a couple of eateries. Nothing landside. -The incessant need for airlines to start boarding before an aircraft even arrives on the gate (this pandemic is the perfect opportunity to stop people standing at gate areas 45-60m before departure). -No hand sanitizer on board, soap in the bathrooms only, despite mods being approved recently for the installation of them in cabins. -A full service on board available inc alcohol, despite other airlines minimising this. -Many people including airport staff not wearing their masks properly. -Social distancing observed to a point in the queues, but busy flights still like a free for all. |
Yes and was it essential travel or a jolly to the beach?
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Harsh words from The96er when someone is expressing an honest opinion.
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What difference does it make? Both are allowed at the moment. It is currently these passengers on jollies which are keeping some airlines afloat. BA Cityflyer are only operating holiday routes.
Regarding the complaints, there is no problem with only having soap in bathrooms. It is better to wash your hands with soap and water than sanitize them. Nothing open other than a couple of eateries? most of the time there isn't anything else other than a World Duty Free shop anyway. Without the high spending asian tourists these shops will be the last to open. As for alcohol sales onboard, very few are restricting it other than for their own cost cutting purposes - nearly all airlines continue to serve alcohol in business/first class. |
most of the time there isn't anything else other than a World Duty Free shop anyway. Without the high spending asian tourists these shops will be the last to open. |
nearly all airlines continue to serve alcohol in business/first class |
Aircraft deep cleaning at Luton
A video has popped up on Youtube where someone has travelled out on seats 32a and 32b from Luton to Malaga via Wizz and travelled back on the same aircraft 8 days later in seats 33a and 33b. She has filmed on both legs of the flight what looks a can of coke spray that his hit the ceiling and questions whether the aircraft has had even one deep clean at Luton which is meant to happen nightly.
https://i.imgur.com/c01s5Jx.jpg Video here. Watch from around 1:15 sec The Wizz spin machine including video of their aircraft being cleaned including areas passengers would not normally touch. Another Wizz BS claim https://i.imgur.com/pFw9Ke5.jpg The Luton reality including side by side queuing. https://i.imgur.com/itkaWdw.jpg Wizz BS video with plenty of passenger space https://i.imgur.com/r29UzFy.png The Luton outbound flight https://i.imgur.com/kv0Yy89.png |
Unscientific I know but the airport seems quite busy. Mid term car park looks full, both multi stories well patronised. Long term car park reopened and quite high traffic volumes heading into and out of the airport.
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According to FL24 it looks like there were 19 easyJet first wave departures this morning
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What is important is bums on seats though, I know one had only 15 pax outbound
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Originally Posted by pabely
(Post 10855503)
What is important is bums on seats though, I know one had only 15 pax outbound
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4,509 new COVID-19 cases in Spain on Friday. That trend has continued since early August, doubling each week. Pointless quarantine on the return from Spain? With the number asymptomatics carrying the virus, COVID Zero is just a dream. Try telling those that have spent the last 4 months in virtual hiding, that a quarantine is pointless.
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The airlines are ignoring the Spanish situation and are carrying on regardless despite the government advice not to travel. Passengers definitely have a different mindset when travelling through Luton of virus what virus and so do the airlines and airport authority.
Practices have not changed of calling passengers to the gates even before the aircraft has arrived. Flights are not spread out evenly throughout the day to reduce peaks. Pre boarding waiting areas are still packed out with the overflow backing up on staircases. Remote stands are still being used using overcrowded buses. Boarding is done as quickly as possible. On arrival back at Luton long queues form for border force and baggage belts share multiple flights while others are empty. What I see everyday is a scandal of epic proportions of blatant non compliance of any social distancing requirements because it is not possible at Luton. The airlines and the airport like to paint a different picture with their interviews and social media videos but it is all lies. As for the few passengers with concerns, they have no control of the situations they find themselves in as they are processed through the airport in an unsafe way. The photos of passengers boarding a Wizz flight a few posts back is the final stage of their airport experience where any inhibitions have been removed from their mindset by the very process of getting passengers to the plane. |
May I politely suggest that rather than moaning on here, you report your very serious concerns to the airport authorities/CAA/Government/HSE etc etc. who might be able to do something about them.
I'm not having a go, but looking at some of your previous posts you don't seem to have a good word to say about LTN. Makes me wonder why you stick around if its so bad...? And I must say there do seem to be far to many anti-airport posts these days and the thread feels like its lost the essence of what I used to enjoy reading..
Originally Posted by Spanish eyes
(Post 10856470)
The airlines are ignoring the Spanish situation and are carrying on regardless despite the government advice not to travel. Passengers definitely have a different mindset when travelling through Luton of virus what virus and so do the airlines and airport authority.
Practices have not changed of calling passengers to the gates even before the aircraft has arrived. Flights are not spread out evenly throughout the day to reduce peaks. Pre boarding waiting areas are still packed out with the overflow backing up on staircases. Remote stands are still being used using overcrowded buses. Boarding is done as quickly as possible. On arrival back at Luton long queues form for border force and baggage belts share multiple flights while others are empty. What I see everyday is a scandal of epic proportions of blatant non compliance of any social distancing requirements because it is not possible at Luton. The airlines and the airport like to paint a different picture with their interviews and social media videos but it is all lies. As for the few passengers with concerns, they have no control of the situations they find themselves in as they are processed through the airport in an unsafe way. The photos of passengers boarding a Wizz flight a few posts back is the final stage of their airport experience where any inhibitions have been removed from their mindset by the very process of getting passengers to the plane. |
Luton is no different from most airports. Maybe the cracks are showing up here first but with limited space availability the choice is don’t fly or take a chance. The bigger issue is deception on the part of Wizz and LLAOL who give out the impression that they have the safety and well-being of passengers as their number one priority. It is actually their number 2 priority after making money.
Wizz don’t seem to do anything apart from asking passengers to wear masks. The airport operator has taken superficial measures that are compromised by staff and passengers but the terminal still has the same hourly flow rate as before. Maybe both should just be honest and spell out the truth rather than the BS so people can make informed choices. So what is more dangerous, flying on an aircraft out of Luton or visiting a pub? To be brutal I would say the pubs I visit feel safer and have more measures in place to ensure social distancing but a lot of people work at the airport. The airport is vital to the local community so maybe compromises have to take place. As for the Council enforcement teams and the airport police. They just look the other way. |
Perhaps worth remembering that the people who have most to gain by Luton being open and Wizz operating are likely to be either shareholders or are senior management who are often working from a desk at home, neither of which tend to be present very often on flights between Luton and an arbitrary city in E.Europe
Without wishing to demean the appalling sacrifice suffered by millions in WW 1, there does seem to be an element of the generals in their chateau, sending orders to the privates on the front line I suspect that if senior management of both airport and airlines were regularly spending time in the main departures/arrivals areas and also regularly sitting for 3 hour periods on an A320 holding 179 other pax, then the approach might be different |
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