I agree the idea of LTN in future employing huge numbers of people *on site* is complete BS. However, the move to automate many roles is a good thing and not bad... you can be certain that BHX, EMA, STN, LGW and others are all trying to automate away as many employees as possible. Either LTN does the same, or LTN ceases to be cost competitive and loses relevancy to UK air travel. This element of competition keeps airports efficient and avoids the bad old days of a slothful and monopolistic BAA

Throughout history, we see that well developed and efficient transport infrastructure generates economic activity and employment. Those new jobs will not be minimum wage jobs at LTN airport... but instead more broadly across London and SE England. Having a significant airport in its back yard is a major asset to the economy of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire - just like Heathrow attracts business to the Thames Valley. I suspect Silicon Fen near Cambridge would not be as significant if STN were much smaller.

100 years ago, railway stations used to have vast numbers of people working on site - far fewer do so now, yet a good rail network is essential to the UK economic well being.

Build it and jobs in the wider region will come.

These were already in use when I passed through the airport last week in the fast track lane and the one next two it. Definitely an improvement not having to remove anything from bags. However, I had some hand cream in the bag which flagged up on the scan. At the other side of the scanner the agent threw the small 50ml hand cream into smaller scanning machine which he said "tested it". He then told me it had "failed the test" and I couldn't have it back. So whilst the aim is to speed things up, but also ultimately to allow passengers to take more liquids in hand luggage it seems the risk of liquids being confiscated increases.

The other change introduced are the body scanners. Machines like the ones below are being installed. When I passed through last week there was actually a bit of a delay caused by these machines - possibly a combination of passengers being unfamiliar with them and also staff getting used to them.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cf16948dae.jpg

davidjohnson6 - Your argument is valid if we look at the areas surrounding airports such as LHR and LGW (as the airports have world wide connections with a large amount of cargo activity)

Unless there is a drastic change in LTN's core market and the runway gets extended, LTN will never be in the same league.

Another joke about LRT's "high wage" sermons and reducing poverty in Luton.......Out of those that do earn decent wages at the airport (Pilots, ATC, Engineers etc) very few actually live in Luton!

If the railway disappeared.. what would happen to the economy of Crewe, Doncaster or Swindon, and their regions ? I suspect something similiar in the relationship between Luton, its region and LTN

First Dan Air Romania should start tomorrow.

And a second Lounge gets an upgrade was well next year "The current Aspire Lounge will be renovated and open under the My Lounge concept in summer 2024, offering 155 seats and a self-service pantry, with design “inspired by loft-style living”.
Along with the new mezzanine floor overlooking the departure lounge replacing the current Frankie & Benny’s unit, the Departures are seeing a significant upgrade for 2024.

For all of the above locations passengers have to pay to sit down. What the vast majority of passengers want is somewhere free to sit with the new mezzanine floor a major lost opportunity to provide much needed free seating.

The last set of accounts for the airport operator shows a turnover for the 13m passengers reached over £227m with an operating profit of £64m for its foreign owners. This is why everything is so expensive at Luton and in fact at all major airports, as they fleece captive passengers by taking a major cut of the income these eateries generate, which in turn means high prices for even a bottle of water.

How much are those passengers paying to fly, and consequently how much are the airlines paying the airports? It's not fleecing, it's just a different way of funding airports.

I don’t think for a second that if airlines paid sensible fees that prices at the airport for passengers would drop.

On the positive side Luton has reluctantly become one of the few U.K. airports offering free drop off and pick ups with no physical signs of that changing anytime soon. On the negative side the walk to the pick up area is a good 12 minutes for a passenger wheeling luggage.


It will be interesting to see if the replacement MSCP2, due in 2024/25, will be a carbon copy of what was built before with its fire rating of just one hour before it collapses.

S24 initial coordination report is out but not totally accurate.
(Still showing Sun Express slots which will not happen)
Only interesting point is that new slots were requested and allocated by Ryanair for Warsaw but that is not bookable- yet ?

I think the Airports property insurance may now demand a better fire protection rating.
Full use of sprinkler systems throughout maybe challenging with the need of retardant storages close by.

Anyone with a long history of working at the airport will understand that the operator is not noted for joined up thinking. If they can get away with building a new car park without adequate fire suppression they will if they can save a few quid. I doubt any lesions have been learned as the view will be that lightning won’t strike twice. Others will think they are a bunch of chancers.

There may well be a view that lightning won't strike twice... but the car park insurer will likely give its "advice" prior to any new construction activity, and how following or ignoring this advice may affect willingness to insure and likely premiums in the future. That advice may affect opinion of airport senior management. I'm definitely with pabely on this.

If they fit enhanced protection to a new MSCP2 it will be hard to justify not retrofitting suppression to MSCP1, as it is a mirror of the one that burned down.

Meanwhile

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/23993...hertfordshire/

You missed highlighting this bit "Leader of the county council Cllr Richard Roberts was not permitted to vote or take part in the airport debate – after declaring that his wife was a non executive director of EasyJet, which has its headquarters at Luton."

Good that he declared an interest unlike the directors of LRT, who are Luton Councillors and who openly refused to declare an interest in a vote over whether the airport should fund a residential parking scheme due to passengers parking in residential areas to avoid car park fees.

I think it’s fantastic that 1,200 direct employees of Luton Airport are residents of St Albans and residents of North Hertfordshire are equally employed. In addition it is great that Hertfordshire folk and in particular those living in the Dacorum area fly from their local airport.

Of course it is and with property costs being much higher in those areas I suspect a good number are well paid jobs. Add to that non direct jobs in supporting industries that is a good number of local voters.
Where were all these councillors & MPs during the Stansted expansion debate a few years ago if that is their real agenda.
As a good friend of mine says ( who spouts green agenda all day long ) we have to save the planet but when drilled would not give up his x4 year holidays to (Cape) Verde or skiing in the winter. He even criticises TUI for not offering summer flights from his local airport and has to go from Gatwick! But looks forward to Jet2 offering sometime from Stansted.