These Wizz flights, does anyone know how busy they are flying back to Poland?

I understand why they are rammed coming into the Uk with Poland now part of the EU but I would be interested to see their load factors for return flights....

Is the BMI Regional route in addition to announced Brussels, to Munich:

Passengers to Munich please note . . we don't have permission to fly yet

ALAN RODEN
TRANSPORT REPORTER


TICKETS for direct flights from Edinburgh to Munich have appeared for sale on the internet before an airline has been given permission to fly the route.

Holidaymakers are already able to book flights to Germany in 2006 on BMI's website, even though Edinburgh Airport has not officially won the right to fly planes there.


It is believed BAA, the owners of the airport, have been battling with Luton and Glasgow to secure the route. But all the signs now indicate that direct flights to the Bavarian capital will start on March 26 next year.

Germany is likely to be an extremely successful destination for BAA, with other European cities such as Barcelona and Geneva now among the most popular weekend break destinations for Edinburgh travellers.

Munich will also be hosting a number of World Cup games next summer, offering BMI the chance to make a huge profit from football fans, while the popular Oktoberfest beer festival is likely to attract thousands of customers.

A BAA spokeswoman said: "We have been in discussions with a number of airlines and we would be delighted if a direct flight to Munich starts up."

A formal announcement on the route is expected before the end of October. It would not be the first time Edinburgh Airport has offered flights to Munich - failed airline Duo flew there for six months but folded in May 2004.

Currently, the possible destinations in Germany are Cologne, which is served by the Germanwings airline, and Hamburg - served by Hapag-Lloyd Express.

But BMI would be the first major airline to fly to the country from the Capital, adding to an extensive list of destinations which includes Brussels, Copenhagen, Faro and Palma.

Council leader Donald Anderson said he would be "absolutely delighted" if the Munich flights were officially confirmed.

"Munich is one route we are very keen to secure," he said. "We have had discussions with BAA and BMI about this."

Lothians MSP Kenny MacAskill said the route would bring huge benefits to both Edinburgh and Scotland.

"There is clearly a desire on BMI's behalf to fly to Munich and we have to do everything possible at government and council level to make sure this goes ahead," he said. "Bavaria is a huge economic area, which is good news for Edinburgh, and if Scotland gets to the World Cup then these flights would also be a major bonus."

According to the BMI website, there will be two direct flights each weekday, departing Edinburgh at 6.55am and 4.05pm. Return flights are at 11am and 8.15pm, while there will be one flight in each direction on weekends.

Graham Bell, of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said he had been involved in recent discussions about the route.

"It is very important that we expand air links, and in particular to cities that are similar to Edinburgh. Munich is a holiday destination and has a very productive economy," he said. "This is very significant both commercially and culturally, and it would bring mutual benefits to both cities."

No-one at BMI was available for comment.

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Buy shares in concrete laying firms now!

Looks like powerjet1 is correct if the rumours I have been told today, come true! I cannot divulge yet.

BLIMEY!

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So who can remember the front page story in the Luton News dated around the early 90’s complete with an artists impression of a new large landside terminal where Luton Airport Parkway station is now located. After checking-in passengers board a monorail to take them to the existing terminal, which is now totally airside. The ground floor of the existing terminal having been converted as an additional airside lounge so doubling its capacity.

Buster

Obviously don't know of the rumours you heard yesterday but if they are similar to those I've come across,( and some are definately more than rumours) then 2006 will be a very exciting year in many ways, and the years that follow.

Luton growing up, shaking off it somewhat tarnished image of the past, with a great mix of flights to match. Taken as a serious player. Yes!!!


PS. Helvetic start their second daily ZRH-LTN flight today. As well as the evening flight they now have 08.30 arr LTN, dep 09.10 to ZRH.

Wizz have become quite established at Luton since their inception last year, and are pushing a considerable number of pax through the airport. A small section taken from the airport's website.....

"Since the start of operations in May 2004 Wizz Air have carried 2 million passengers on their network - over 600,000 of whom have flown through London Luton Airport".

Poznan going to five flights weekly from 1 December with a further three new destinations rumoured to follow in 2006, which would give Wizz 10 destinations ex LTN, eight of which would be served direct.

Can anyone confirm if construction of a second pier, effectively opposite tne new pier, on the eastern apron, and boardering the short-term carpark, falls within existing planning permission ?.
Concreting over 50% of the existing STCP, to make way for another 3-6 stands , I assume does not.

Finally, with the new departure lounge open, and other developments taking place at the moment, isn't the max capacity of the terminal now set at 12m ?.

Planning permission for a second pier was part of the original planning consent given in 1998 for the new terminal, east and northern aprons. Planning Permission has to be activated within 5 years though not necessarily completed in that time scale.

There was a separate application and permission for the new immigration and deep search link building.

It is debatable whether planning permission is required for the conversion of part of the short-term car park for aircraft stands. Last year the airside coach park by taxiway echo became stands 60 and 61. I remember reading some old minutes of the London Luton Airport Consultative Committee where it was raised that the stands didn’t need planning permission but maybe by moving the airside fence it does.

So looking at the new and potential EU map, how much longer until we see flights from Luton to:

Estonia
Latvia
Romania
Bulgaria
Malta
Turkey
Greece (other than Athens)?

Romania and Bulgaria, possible Wizz! destinations with the potential liberalisation of the skies ahead of EU entry, just like Poland did?

Sure to see more Spanish airlines with the clout that Aena has in Spain? They are like a BAA and NATS combined.

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Monarch Schd are likely to add up to two/possibly three new destinations by June 06,which is about time to. However, due to increased freqs on existing routes from Nov 1, winter 06 schedules are a 40% increase on winter 05.

What is Luton’s outbound flow rate when in RVR’s? Just heard ATC tell a Citation that they are number 12 to leave the apron (7:25) with the queue getting longer by the minute.

Still just the one weekly flight on a saturday between LTN & JER with Flybe for S06, starting 6 May. I'm sure the market is bigger than this. Perhaps Thomsonfly might look at putting on a couple of flights a week now they are introducing a 737 to LTN.

King Pong

He was no. 12 in the departure queue which inc 7 already on the taxiway system. ('The bases were loaded' :D ) We got everyone away in the end without too much delay.

There's no outbound flow rate: but a reduced overall flow rate from the 'normal' 32/hour is imposed when the RVR drops below 700 metres, and a further reduction when it drops below 400 metres. This procedure is precisely the same as applied at other major airports, e.g. Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted, which is why delays go 'through the roof' at these busy locations when it's foggy. However, it's designed to safeguard the integrity of operations and to facilitate the enhanced separation required for landing aircraft that are undertaking 'autoland' approaches and landings.

The lack of seats in Pier 'A' (Pier 'B' will be constructed within 18 months) is due to planning constraints imposed by the Luton Borough Council i.e. no seating allowed. However, to comply with disability requirements, limited 'disabled seating' will now be installed.

BTW, annual rolling TOTAL movements for LTN are now over 105,000 ~ this includes all corporate/biz-jet flights ~ and the busiest day ever was last week at 372 movements.

If the rumoured additional services appear, 400 movements should be regularly achieved on some days of the week next year.

Should be quite challenging on the local roads...

:hmm:

Something fishy here, how can the council limit seating? When football stadiums were made all seaters the ground capacity was cut. By making people stand up would actually increase capacity. What is to stop the airport authority moving some of existing seats from the old departure lounge to the new pier seeing that it is all one building now. Most of the old seating is unused now and the new lounge has less seating than the old lounge due to the large number of shops.

379 back in June . . . ;)

Heard yesterday from a reliable source, that LTN is now likely to see two new ( new to LTN that is) airlines operating services to/from the airport from mid-April 06. Of these, one is most definately foreign based and I believe currently uses STN. The second is UK based. There is also a third foreign airline involved, but negotiations are not so advanced so this may or may not happen. None of the above will actually base aircraft at LTN but are likely to operate routes into the airport daily from several european cities.

All this on top of the recently rumoured expansion, in many forms, from existing & new sources, which will become public knowledge within the next two/three months.

Where are they all going to park? Interesting times.

What money on the foreign airline being Sky Europe?

Keep your money in your wallet. It is not an eastern european airline.