The Air Berlin was one operated by TUI & it ended up in a TUI hangar so make your own mind up.

Wasn't that a 737? I think it went to MAEL anyhow for work.

Air Berlin
 

Yes was a 737. I never realised MAEL, carried out their maintenance.

ACL have published "start of season" data for W17:

https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/up...-of-Season.pdf

Headlines:

Monarch flights still included.
Blue Air +15% (over W16)
Backbone listed as 140 ATMs (for Powdair to Sion)
EasyJet +6%
DHL -20%
Ryanair -21%
Titan Airways listed with 30 ATMs - a weekly ski season Chambery charter.
Transavia France returning on Orly 2x pw from Feb.
Wizzair +17%

Overall ATMs +4.5%, passenger capacity +7.5%.
Adjusting for Monarch: ATMs +0.9%, pax +3.4%

How is the construction going on at London Luton?

Have they still not finished it yet?

Which project part? Perhaps LTNman might give a photo update?

Growth continues
 

3 to 4% growth, BlueAir increasing services. Seems my Chrystal ball is spot on!

I took in a camera yesterday but to be honest not much has changed in the last few weeks since the last update so I didn't bother taking any photos.

The gaps in the cladding of the new terminal frontage have been filled in apart from a small half metre gap at floor level.

The brick balcony of the old terminal has had framework erected that will eventually hide it. Below the balcony it is open with no framework.

When facing the terminal from the bus station the right hand entrance recess is in yellow while the left hand arrivals recess is in grey. Windows have been fitted to both the arrivals and departures entrances.

Pier B now has all its windows in place but the external doors have still to be fitted.

The bus station now has traffic lights. When a bus or coach wants to leave a bay the driver presses a button that puts the bus in a queue. The bay gets a green light when it is its turn to leave. It might be safer but it take longer to get in and out.

Behind the hoardings the terminal external walls have been removed to link it to the new build but it is only visible when a workman passes through a hording door.

Still no sign of a canopy being fitted.

At the back of the terminal the framework to expand the immigration hall was meant to have started last week but as of yesterday it had not began. The framework will be put up between 2am and 5am on weekdays when immigration is empty as the building is gaining a floor that is no immigration related.

Didn’t realise that easyJet’s Luton-Hamburg route ends 24th March 2018

Summer 2017 & 18 for comparison.

http://i65.tinypic.com/2m5xc08.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/xmr4es.jpg

We will see if this base does close as Air Berlin were No. 2 (EZY No.4) or will it all be left to Lufty & German Wings and they consolidate in Berlin.

They could always operate the route from LTN rather than Hamburg. The EDI route has always worked that way.

Two interesting points there: Transavia returning albeit only two weekly and DHL having to use Stansted and/or East Midlands because of the runway closures during November and December.w

The Hamburg route is operated by a LTN based a/c.
Am a regular user so sad to see it go!!

I have always wondered how many scheduled cargo flights Luton would handle of it had more than two cargo stands?

Luton handled more cargo flights when it had no cargo apron or cargo centre. Remember the TNT 146's, Air Bridge/Hunting Merchantmen/Electras in the late 80's/early 90's? Not to mention Aer Turas DC-8's on horse flights and a host of smaller aircraft (SD330's/360's, Bandeirantes, Beech 99's, Trislanders) operating small parcels and mail flights nightly. The cargo apron originally had 5 stands - so do executive jets which often sit around for days at a time make the airport more money than cargo aircraft?

As someone who keeps an eye on the airport in the evening when cooking dinner, the winter feels like the bleakest for sometime. Last night I think the last scheduled arrival was 23.10; particularly absent are the late night Canaries, Cyprus etc that Monarch used to have. A glance at the boards might suggest that Wizz are the biggest operator although I guess they haven't topped EasyJet yet. I notice Jersey was still operating earlier this week? Is this now year round? Ryanair are definitely less busy than for several years. Of course the night closures might be partly responsible.

Why is taxiway alpha partially closed at night?

Any idea why there is 3 months of construction works in the area of the Long term and Harrods ramp?

The next six weeks are usually the quietist time of the year until the ski flights and a few Santa charters start around the middle of December.

The work in the long term car park is located behind one of the Harrods Hangars but hasn't started yet. A sign says don't park here while another one says the work will end at the end of February.

Maybe the airport want to dig various test pits as the car park sits on the former council tip. When the airport carries test drillings on Wigmore Park every dog walker for miles spots what is going on. It was not helped by decontamination showers being installed the last time holes were dug on the park.

Construction update
 

Well its a new sign that was dug in so I will add it. As can be seen any driver heading for the terminal needs to keep calm.
https://i.imgur.com/MwWpRfQ.jpg

The immigration hall is being expanded on the ground floor while the building picks up a new first floor.
https://i.imgur.com/NxPCyyH.jpg

The old terminal balcony is being hidden from public view.
https://i.imgur.com/klfyrqz.jpg

Still not a hint of a canopy being installed.
https://i.imgur.com/ZgIqJdJ.jpg

I have no idea what is happening here. It looks like a concrete base for a trolley park but trolleys are paid for at Luton plus the whole area is isolated from public access. Maybe the airport is squeezing in a few extra parking bays for when the short term car park loses half its spaces. This is also the route for the rail link cut and cover tunnel.
https://i.imgur.com/VFuaFS1.jpg

Pier B is progressing well
https://i.imgur.com/kT0jySE.jpg

Finally just one ramp of many at Luton that is heaving with bizjets. The pond has passed back to the airport but you would never know it.
https://i.imgur.com/hmzDRa6.jpg

Half the Pond goes back to the airport for overnight parking (usually 2 x EZY's) Signature use it for the rest of the day:D

EasyJet growth?
 

After the very sad and unfortunate demise of Monarch Airlines, EasyJet stated on October 2nd 2017 they were seeking to fill 100 cabin crew roles at Luton and 500 at LGW.

Based on typical crewing levels per flight (180 pax=4 cabin attendants) are they currently short of crew or are they looking to expand in the new year?

Is there a potential 5 aircraft to join the current fleet of 23/24 at Luton in 2018 based on the 'industry' standard of 5 'sets' of crew per one aircraft?

That figure may seem generous, but they did state a few years ago about doubling their presence at LTN which meant having a planned fleet of at least 30 based A/C.

Only time will tell...

Presumably they have to fill quite a few roles each year simply due to natural turnover, never mind expansion?

The pitch will be aimed at ex MON c/c to replenish EZY`s own natural wastage as well.

I think the car drop off charge is probably the one that irritates most. The other charges seem comparable with Heathrow and Gatwick.
I can understand the reason for charging for drop off given the congestion that could occur if it wasn't implemented. Trouble is many don't realise there is a charge until beyond the traffic lights which causes delays at the exit point and unless they've researched before travelling then they won't know.
I can't imagine many non-regulars actually seeing this sign because of concentrating on the unfamiliar road ahead, especially if there are several other signs nearby that contribute to sign blindness.

Remarkably the £3 minimum charge for Luton is actually cheaper than Stansted.

Thanks LTNman - It certainly is and it's not easy to find the details on the STN website.
For LTN once the new transit is operational from the railway station to the terminal it will be a premier London Airport for access from London, so no wonder why airlines are keen to start or expand their existing operations.

The rail link will make a big diffence for that final mile. With Luton always looking to save the last penny I just hope that what is proposed is what we end up with. I have this vision of early railways where passengers wearing top hats travelled in converted open coal wagons. The only difference is that the Luton coal wagons will have LLA written on the side.

Those coal wagons (I like the description) will probably be emblazoned with tacky advertising such as HSBC so that the airport can gain extra revenue from it's investment, I can't see them in just a plain livery with just LLA added.

Musket90...
Could you please reference which "airlines are keen to start...operations".Ta.

£35 million will cover construction, £115 million will cover civil work, that leaves up to £50 million to purchase actual rail stock. I can see no reason that the airport / LBC will not be operating state of the art trains.

Does anyone know what stock the council / airport are currently looking at? If you consider it, there is no point carrying out all this ground work when you don’t know what will be actually using the track!

It was a humorous remark made by LTNman that I was referring to I wasn't inferring that the trains would be inferior, of course they will be modern state of the art trains but I still wouldn't be surprised to see them emblazoned with advertising. Regardless of how the planned shuttle is financed it would still be a financial gain by having some form of advertising even with a LLA logo.

Not that I am a fan of over advertising I do see the financial gains.

Unless there will be only one train, a signalling system will be required, and that cannot be specified without knowing the stock to be used.

I would imagine the cars will be similar to London Underground's new District / Metropolitan trains with very basic interiors, lots of standing room and 3 double doors per car. Those trains cost around £8.5 million each, but Luton's order will be a tad smaller.

All plans show two tracks all the way just like LGW and talk about state of the art technology. I can only see a single track used at quiet times overnight when maintenance takes place.
As far as advertising, we have had EZY sponsoring the LGW shuttle for years, now replaced by BA, perhaps they will be back at LTN being painted Orange!

Yes two trains on two tracks with no crossovers and no spare rolling stock in reserve. I don't know if this is standard with the likes of Birmingham and Gatwick.

I also don't know how many carriages each train will have either. When I asked at the public event I was told it hadn't been decided but I am guessing 2 or 3.

I hope they take the long term view and build the stations with enough platform to take an increase in passenger numbers if more carriages are needed later.

Enabling work.

New compound for airport equipment is almost complete. This is needed to clear the route for the rail link.

Note the airport camera van that sits at this location to catch any cars stopping at the bus stop.

https://i.imgur.com/e7zPI1W.jpg

New airside fence to allow the rail route to remain landside
https://i.imgur.com/o20BhLb.jpg

New Transit
 

I remember the LGW North to South Terminal Transit a good few years ago was sponsored by British Airways... They use to force you to listen to some commentory welcoming you to the BA transit link and then played some hideous operatic music.

I think it would be foolish if they didn't get some sort of sponsorship or advertising for the service, after the large investment. Maybe it could be sponsored by Wizzair and the train can WIZZZZ you up to the terminal, or sponsored by easyJet and called the easyTrain! :}

I've not really read much on the new proposed service, but I can imagine something similar to that of the transit that runs at Stansted Airport... Where the actual cars are on tyred wheels running of a guided concrete track and not a train as we know it, running on steel rails, which is a lot more expensive.

I am curious what the charging structure will be for the transit and who will operate and maintain the service? The service might be free from the Mid-Stay Car Park to the Terminal, but I highly doubt it will be from the railway station, and the airport/council will want to recoup the costs invested...

At present the bus link between Luton Airport Parkway and the Airport is operated by Govia Thameslink and is considered part of the UK rail network, as you can buy a train ticket directly from any UK station to the airport and the ticket includes the bus part of the journey. Will it remain part of the "national rail" network and use the same ticketing structure or will it be completely seperate, with seperate ticketing and machines to board the service?

I suspect the council will not want to run it directly itself and will do a similar deal to the airport and offer a 10-20 year revenue sharing lease of the transport system, to run and maintain it.

I can imagine it being something similar to that in New York at JFK Airport... Where you travel on the NYC Subway system from Manhatten to Howard Beach station using the subway's normal ticketing. Then in-order to use the JFK AirTrain at Howard Beach, you go upstairs and purchase a $5 ticket using a different ticketing system, to board this automated train to the approriate terminal. This causes a lot of confusion and many passengers expect their Subway passes to be accepted on the airport link.

If the new transit is future proofed and has sufficient capacity/frequencies, I could see the airport moving the entire drop off area completely away from the Central Terminal Area, and to a new location (AKA Mid Stay), where all passengers have to use the service to get to the terminal and something similar for car hire.

Maybe offering a smaller "premium" drop off area by the terminal where the charge is maybe £10-20, as the fee would have to be hefty to persaude people not going up to the terminal. As the currrent £3 fee, does not seem enough to make people to use the free bus link from the Mid-Stay car park.

Will the cheapskates like me still be able to walk between the Kimpton Road entrance to Parkway train station and the airport without having to pay ?

I can see it now.
easyTrain from Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport = £59.99 return.
EasyJet from Luton Airport to Tenerife = £29.99 return.

They'll probably charge extra for passengers with baggage too. :rolleyes:

I think the trains will be on tyres on a concrete track. There will be provision for a station in the mid term but it won’t be built as part of this phase.

For the system to work seamlessly then it has to be ticket free otherwise it will lose much of its benefit. This can be achieved now if a passenger buys a ticket to Luton Airport rather than Luton Airport Parkway but passengers with through tickets still wait their turn to have their ticket checked before boarding.

If some sort of standard combined fare is introduced then anyone starting their journey from Parkway will be paying for a link that they will not use.

This rail link is being funded by the council rather than by London Luton Airport Operations Ltd or London Luton Airport Ltd. The general airport upgrade to 18 million passengers is being funded by Aena. Not sure why the council would be paying for this link rather than their 100% owned airport company who seem to be paying for Century Park.