No sign of a Hurricane and Spitfire escort. It flew across the runway and headed over Wigmore and Cockernhoe then banked left.

The word is that the announcement for 19m will be announced by the government within the next 4 weeks after many delays. With the government not so committed to net zero now, will it swing the decision in favour of expansion? Maybe that was always going to be the decision, as it is all about politics and getting the announcement timing right.

If it is agreed not much will change, if it is rejected then that is a massive decision and should influence the DCO but then the government will be accused of mixed messages.

What do we think in practice if approved. Another 2 based aircraft ? We had 43 based over the summer.

A321’s replacing A320’s replacing A319’s would suggest maybe no new based aircraft. The claim made is that the quieter times will be filled in with extra movement’s. If that is the case non based aircraft would possibly be used.

With a possible recession in the U.K. and in more of Europe next year the airport might struggle to reach this year’s totals.

[QUOTE=LTNman;11508875]A321’s replacing A320’s replacing A319’s would suggest maybe no new based aircraft. The claim made is that the quieter times will be filled in with extra movement’s. If that is the case non based aircraft would possibly be used.

With a possible recession in the U.K. and in more of Europe next year the airport might struggle to reach this year’s totals.[/QUOTE

LTNman Germany has been in recession the last two quarters! The Bank of of England has put in measures to mitigate a recession in the U.K.

Unfortunately both France and Germany are having to top up EU funding because various EU Member states can not afford to contribute!

Think positive. London Luton Airport is positioned in one of the busiest airspaces in the World meaning growth is guaranteed because it’s a top destination for air passengers.

I still remember when back in the early eighties a typical day at the airport there were on average 45 flight movements a day. Today it’s over 340 plus! Any increase in growth equates to more people employed and increased income and therefore profit,

There mioght not be the technical definition of a recession in the UK - but anyone I have asked has been locking down payments and act as if we ARE in a recession.

It doesn’t always work out that way. More passenger’s doesn’t necessarily mean more profit. In fact the opposite could be true. LRT most successful year could be argued to be 2015/16 when it made grants to charities of around 15m. Since then, as passenger figures grew, the grants have dropped every year. Now it is only around £7m. Yes there was Covid but in 2019 Luton handled 18m passengers. Also LRT no longer pays a dividend, that stopped before Covid kicked in with its last set of pre Covid accounts.

I think I have put the figures down before, 19m does not even keep pace with 319s to 320s, 320s to 321s and 737-800 to 737-8200 therefore no extra based aircraft.

Nobody pick up Luton has done well with it's goal to be Net Zero ? https://www.airportsinternational.co...ns-aca-level-4

I think the 19m decision will be interesting and I hope they make a recommendation about 22m at the same time, clearly with Gatwick issues currently the opportunities to help out should be made, a quite disgraceful service for Belfast customers this weekend.

They won’t say a word, as it has nothing to do with the 19m application.

Interesting day at the DCO hearings. LRT were condemned by the inspectors over their 9 page submission regarding funding of the expansion. The inspectors pointed out that a 55 page finance submission at Portishead over a DCO there was found lacking and if this was LRT best effort the application would fail.

Seeing LRT own advisers and the Council Auditors have concerns it will make an interesting rewrite as being vague is unacceptable.

If your taking about the branch railway line to be upgrade to again accept passengers, then it was passed by the Secretaries of State afterwards. Isn't that quite normal to thrash these things out in this way?

No, this was about the funding of the £2.7bn expansion and using old out of date costings. Inspectors were not impressed with 9 pages of waffle with no substance. The message was come back with something substantial. That might be difficult.

Live stream here but only this week https://www.liveeventstream.online/p...port-expansion. Don't forget to unmute.

OK, can't comment on what was said yesterday but it was clear listening to some today the chair were helping everybody, irrelevant said a few times, but welcome to submit written text, not relevant to this DCO (to climate speakers) as that is outside this scope. Everyone happy to supply more detail at a later cut off date where more detail is required.
Reminds me a little about the previous stream where some guy was able to voice his concerns about jumbo jets 24x7x365 at 1000' above his home in St. Albans which were clearly rubbish and wasting everybody's time. He wanted zero air travel which is not on any of these agendas.

A bit like LRT talking about all the extra airport jobs that will be created until the inspectors mentioned that the applicant kept quoting different figures in their written submission. They wanted to know why the town’s average wage was below the regional average when the airport was the town’s largest employer. Was it linked? It was pointed out that airport wages had dropped 10%.

Interesting MNG A300F today on what is usually a IST - AMS route, diversion?
Nice looking SkyUp for FlyOne today as well.

Looks like Ryanair are to operate a twice weekly service to Treviso over this winter. Not sure if this a new service (somebody will confirm). It seems to be part of the airline's expansion in the London area although some bases including EMA and Charleroi are being trimmed due to late delivery of new aircraft.

New Lounge to Open and Aspire Lounge to be Renovated
 

The Aspire Lounge at the airport is to be renovated and rebranded under the "MyLounge" brand.

Also the old Club Rooms (which closed during COVID), lounge space in the terminal is to be re-opened and branded as the No1 Lounge, and will be the more premium lounge.

Looks like both lounges will be operated by the same company and just be using different brand names.

Business Traveller - No1 Lounges to open two spaces at London Luton airport

Does Luton have enough premium passengers to support a more premium lounge than the standard one when the principal airlines are Wizz, Easyjet and Ryanair? I can remember when the terminal extension was built and up popped a champagne bar when a Greggs was needed. It didn’t last long.

Whenever I have used Clubrooms at Gatwick, it had plenty of Easyjet & TUI customers. No1 was the downmarket one which was packed with OnTheBeach & Bookings dot com people who had taken the small upgrade fee to feed kids on unlimited buffet.
I'm sure Luton will do similar with EasyJet Holidays customers and TUI ones booked on Easyjet flights.
I consider it is a small price for a guaranteed nice seat and a decent menu selection if going for leisure holiday.

Do you not think 'premium' passengers as you call them, don't fly with the airlines mentioned?

You'd be surprised who flies with the airlines mentiined.

If they are anything like the so-called premium lounges I've used at BHX and LGW in recent years I wouldn't bother!

Its seems to be a badge of honour now for certain types to decend on these places complete with unruly kids and eat and drink as much as possible!