With Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group group moving to Cranfield do we think there will be a spin-off benefits for Luton Airport?

Tui will be restarting some flight again end of this month , ACE TFS and from December, INN.

Flew out of LTN a few days ago, it was a pleasant experience. Security was a breeze (less than 3 mins all in, unlike the airport at the other end), masks on for everyone, plane was probably 30-40% full so plenty of space to move around in case someone sat next to you (with permission of course).

On the way back passport control was quick too. Out of airport in record time.

The trouble is that 30-40% load factors are not economically sustainable.

Construction update
 

There are 3 stages to the Dart Parkway interchange. Stage 1 is the main Dart building. Stage 2a is the new passenger footbridge across the existing railway platforms, which is a Network Rail project. Stage 2b is the addition of 2 "parasol" roof sections, which again will be built by Network Rail. The contractor is hopeful that stage 2 will be complete when the Dart commences operations in the summer but stage 1 allows for the connection of the existing footbridge to the Dart station if Network Rail are slow to deliver Stage 2

https://i.imgur.com/11sGlBW.png

The ceiling when it was under construction with the Dart tracks in the distance.
https://i.imgur.com/wRbIQW9.jpg

The parasol ceiling is now almost complete.
https://i.imgur.com/pvigjpa.jpg

The photo shows the existing footbridge, which can be connected to the Dart station if Stage 2 is not completed in time with a glimpse of the new footbridge on the right. I am not sure if a permanent connection will be made to the existing footbridge if Stage 2 is finished on time.
https://i.imgur.com/iOQv5Xh.jpg

Work continues on the Gateway Bridge, as viewed heading from the airport
https://i.imgur.com/m237s0U.jpg

One of the two tracks with an emergency track side walkway. Careful examinations shows 2 of the pulley wheels that will guide the cable that pulls the Dart. Note this photo is a little out of date.
https://i.imgur.com/mRNaydn.jpg

Central Station now has more of the roof metalwork in place.
https://i.imgur.com/y7qaNPe.jpg

A few changes to W6/W9 shedules around 15/16 Nov, not a great increase but does show a little more capacity being added.

Wizz, like other Luton airlines need passengers who are prepared to travel against government advice which is not good as I doubt many will bother to quarantine. I would say they are acting against the national interest as they try to undermine the message.

Could say that about any airline or airport...

Meanwhile, moving holding patterns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...herts-54572593

Not so much moving them as giving Luton one of its very own.

...& even more about separating LTN & STN holding patterns/traffic providing enhanced safety & a more streamlined continuous flow into both.

Where that hold is proposed conflicts with EGBB/EGNX arrivals and departures. EGSS CPT and northbound deps. City and Heathrow departures to the north. No description of the PBN arrival routes either in geographical terms. I thought at first, that it was a school project. I am sure Mildenhall and Lakenheath are happy.

EGSS doesn't have CPT departures. NUGBO is the one, changed about 5 years ago, and won't be affected while UTAVAs will probably jump it. Mildenhall and Lakenheath aren't affected as they will still go via LOREL and so don't get involved. Heathrow again no issue.

Confirmed that Luton's August passenger figures were indeed 835,000. Luton was saved by Eastern Europe with very high passenger loads. Polish airports up to 92%, Bulgarian airports up to 86%, Romania 88% while Spain was as low as 19% (Palma). Busiest route I can see was Bucharest at 8 flights a day with 37,636 passengers on 236 flights with a load of 88%. Even Albania, which isn't even in the EU had a load factor of 80%

With Wizzair stats on the web about Luton being it's most profitable base and Romania there best route profit wise, I can see why Blue Air stick around but for how long, Wizzair could afford to slash prices and drive Blue Air off their routes or is there good yield for both?

Only being 66% down for the month vs 2019 actually looks good when compared with other airports!

56% actually for August.

Presumably the East European numbers are falling as the seasoned workers return home?

Numbers...
Press release from the CEO Alberto Martin quoted 575,000 passengers for September down 66% stating "although we saw some recovery in passengers in the Summer numbers are beginning to tumble once again".

TUI
 

What are TUI's plans at Luton moving forward? I see there are some TUI holidays to book this winter and next summer with flights from Luton

Without being fully in the know, its impossible to predict what TUI's intentions are when it comes to LTN. Bear in mind that LTN was the only UK TUI base which did not re-start flying in July and pre-Covid only 1 x 737-800 was due to based at LTN this Summer anyway!

Ironically, the first TUI passenger flight since the March shutdown departed this morning with G-FDZD operating to ACE

I said pre Covid that I heard from someone at TUI HQ that they were closing their Luton base, which understandably didn’t go down too well so don’t shoot the messenger. I don’t think anyone can dispute the base has been in decline for years.