New development work for LTN

[LTNman]

Interesting year ahead with the following confirmed building work taking place at Luton. All work to be finished by June 2005 apart from the first 2 items.

Work starts on dual carriageway into the airport
Work starts on M1 being widened to 4 lanes
2 new piers serving the north and east apron
2 new stands between stand 9L and stand 40
New apron for Harrods
Easyjet tent to be moved to the cargo apron to free up 2 stands on the eastern apron
New large 1st floor security hall above the existing arrivals area to be built
Terminal to get its first excalators.
The opening up of 9000sqm of new airside lounge above the check-in desks.
Existing pier to be connected to the new airside lounge
More shops to open
New immigration hall to be built to the north of the new terminal
New larger International baggage reclaim hall
New larger domestic baggage reclaim hall
Passenger set down area to be modified to allow improved circulation
New hangar for Harrods

[TS Hauler]

Pretty big amount of work, interesting that the usual suspects have remained quiet. Especially when nothing happens they usually moan like hell.

Thanks for the update LTNman

TSH

[nickmanl]

Is the duty free lounge remaining where it is then or is that moving onto the second floor above check in? Also, are the baggage reclaim going to be moved or just rennovated?

[LTNman]

Is the duty free lounge remaining where it is then or is that moving onto the second floor above check in? Also, are the baggage reclaim going to be moved or just rennovated?

Don't know to both questions but most of the existing Airside retail and catering area will close and will be converted into offices although the existing departure lounges will remain. I suspect the duty free shop will move as there will only be limited passengers reaching this area in future.

Farrans the builders are now onsite fencing off parts of the block paving infront of the link building by the taxi rank that will gain an extra floor.

Come next June some 24 stands will be accessed via the 3 piers

I have been told that last week Luton handled 2207 aircraft which is 21% higher than the same week last year. I was also told that Luton was busier than Glasgow.

[Shaka Zulu]

Fantastic. Sounds good to me! Bring it on!
I hope they can get the taxiway the way they want aswell

[LTNman]

The north Apron has been NOTAMed until June 2005 due to a builder’s village being constructed on it. The 4 stands can now only take aircraft up to 737-800 instead of the 747 due to a lack of depth.

[Buster the Bear]

RYR apron then :D

http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[LTNman]

2 new stands between stand 9L and stand 40

The face of Luton is rapidly changing but what is happening to the 2 new stands that are under construction at the former airside bendy coach park by Taxiway Echo. The coach park has been dug up and I was expecting new concrete to be poured up to taxiway echo but now someone is building a brick wall between the old coach park and Echo. It’s all very bizarre. Anyone know what is going on?:sad:

[Doug the Head]

Somehow I fail to see the logic behind cramming more stands onto LTN, without expanding/improving the current taxiway layout.

[vintage ATCO]

Patience, LTNman, patience.

Because of the topography, the two stands will be at different levels so there will be more to the foundations that just two ordinary stands.

The concrete removed from the site has been ground down behind the engine run bay so will be reused.

[we_never_change]

Somehow I fail to see the logic behind cramming more stands onto LTN, without expanding/improving the current taxiway layout.

Anybody have any official figures (or anything else!) for delays caused by awaiting push-start or taxi since the opening of taxiway E? Presumably things have improved since the introduction of this one way system?

Also, I believe work has started on the new apron for Harrods (next to Hangar 201, the large hangar near the cargo apron). When this opens, I presume Harrods will cease to use the South Stands, anybody kinow what use these will be put to (executive jet parking or airliner parking)?

Cheers
WNC

[Powerjet1]

Apparently the set-down area outside of the terminal is being moved to the short-term car park for several days. Anybody know why ?. Is this due to building work being carried out inside the terminal ?.

[Buster the Bear]

I understand at times it is carnage, cars stopping and loading/unloading in all kinds of chaotic locations!

Great to see so much development at Luton, reminds me of a BAA airport!

http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[VIKING9]

Once a building site, always a building site. Since the late 80's, the builders have been there and what is there to show for it in terms of passenger convenience and improvements :confused:

[LTNman]

I just love to walk about the airport looking for what’s new on the building work front. The first signs of something new happening like a new hole appearing or in the case of the new stands by taxiway echo, a brick wall appearing I am left wondering for days on end what the hell is going on. Talking about the new stands has any thought been given to how they are going to be numbered? At the moment we have stands 1R to stands 9L then we have the two new stands, then it continues stand 40R onwards.

When is the easytent going to be shifted? Ryanair is now only weeks away!

The concrete removed from the site has been ground down behind the engine run bay so will be reused.

That's good seeing that it was only down for 12 months

Also, I believe work has started on the new apron for Harrods (next to Hangar 201, the large hangar near the cargo apron). When this opens, I presume Harrods will cease to use the South Stands, anybody kinow what use these will be put to (executive jet parking or airliner parking)?

No Harrods are staying where they are. They are building another hangar next to the existing one but at a right angle. The new apron will front the new hangar.

[Powerjet1]

TBI shares have leapt 14% so far today & traded some £10m.(usually about 0.25m). Something must be going on.

[Buster the Bear]

LONDON (SHARECAST) - TBI shares hit a three-year high as the airport owner revealed it had received a takeover approach from an unnamed party.

"Discussions are at a preliminary stage and there can be no assurances that agreement can be reached," TBI said in a statement. Volumes had been heavy all day ahead of the announcement.

Management has been under pressure in recent weeks after reports that a group of investors wants the company to sell its assets, which includes Cardiff, Belfast and Luton airports, and return the cash generated to shareholders.

TBI has been trading well recently, as no-frills airlines grow their services, and analysts have put a break-up value of between 80p-110p on the group. The company said this week it was not aware of any moves to force a sale of assets.

Names mentioned as possible bidders include Macquarie Airports of Australia, a private equity bidder or even a MBO to take it private.

Earlier this year German group Hochtief walked away from a deal, while French group Vinci backed out of a bid after 9/11. Neither are believed to be involved in the latest approach.

http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[Buster the Bear]

Airport could triple in size.

Plans drawn up for 30 million passengers.

Dramatic plans for the growth of London Luton Airport to cope with up to 30 million passengers a year are being drawn up by aviation chiefs.

Airport parent company TBI is engaged in top level talks with Luton Borough Council to extend its franchise and allow huge new investment to triple the size of the airport.

It is part of a wider plan, with the company vying to steal the thunder of Stansted Airport, and lure traffic away from their eastern region rivals.

Company chiefs are already trying to persuade Ryanair to quit Stansted and make Luton its main operational base.

But even before the council gives its approval for an extension of its franchise, TBI is making an immediate investment of £30million over two years in a move which will increase the number of passengers from seven million to 12 million.

Opponents of schemes for the expansion have feared huge passenger growth since the Government gave its approval to new runway proposals last year.

But the TBI decision to have active talks with the council now underline its determination to press ahead.

TBI already has a 30-year franchise on the airport agreed with the council, but chief executive Keith Brooks wants an extension of that time scale to justify multi-million pound investments.

A council spokeswoman would only say: "We understand TBI would like to extend the concession but their ambitions to do that have not progressed beyond initial discussions."

There was also reluctance to discuss growth plans at the airport, where it was considered they came under the umbrella of corporate confidentiality.

Expansion during the next two years will almost double the airport's retail and catering space. There will be a new pier, immigration hall, arrivals and onward travel areas, eight gates added and aircraft aprons will be increased by two.

TBI plans for Luton were highlighted in the group's interim financial results published this week, which showed group operating profit up 64 per cent to £24.1m.

Outlining his company's bid to persuade Ryanair to come to Luton, Mr Brooks said: "We have an unblemished record of filling every new Ryanair or easyJet plane launched at Luton. Our infrastructure is every bit as good as Stansted's and our transport links are better. Put it this way, I'd be very surprised if Ryanair stayed there."

In the first six months of last year, passenger numbers at Luton increased by nine per cent to 4.1 million.
18 November 2004

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[ebenezer]

The two new stands between 9L and 40 will be numbered 60 and 61. The new Harrods Aviation apron will be numbered and called Stand 62.

As an interim measure, the Cargo Apron may be used for some limited passenger aircraft parking where the airline is agreeable to having the passengers coached to/from. Ultimately, an additional six-stand apron will be built east of Taxiway Delta to the north of the Engine Run Bay. However, this will require planning permission.

Rumoured that easyJet/FLS may acquire access to one of the main apron hangars as Britannia Engineering looks like winding down/closing down.

TBI appears to be seriously interesting several carriers (other than Ryanair) some of whom are indeed, looking to transfer from Stansted as Luton is seen as being more favourably located and the likely passenger facilities available from Summer 2005 are believed to be attracting significant interest. Whether any movement apart from RYR is seen prior to Autumn/Winter 2005 remains to be seen.

TBI is also talking to two long-haul carriers who operate Boeing 757 aircraft, one of whom would want to operate from LTN via an East European airport to the Far East; therefore, no payload or operating restrictions from Luton's runway.

Whilst Luton's transport links are certainly almost as good as Stansted's (accepted that the railway staion is a short bus ride away but at least it has trains that take you somewhere useful...), the airport's road system is appalling and is in desperate need of improving if TBI is really hoping to efficiently handle over 12M passengers by 2006.

What is also in desperate need of improving is the local airspace and air traffic control arrangements because it's already at times, unable to cope and causes delay to Luton's departing flights.

Still, TBI seems to have its eye firmly on the ball which for Luton, may mean that its time has finally come...


:ok:

[LTNman]

The two new stands between 9L and 40 will be numbered 60 and 61. The new Harrods Aviation apron will be numbered and called Stand 62.

A notam also reports that Stand 58 is now situated between stand 56 and hanger 125. There is no logic now to stand locations at LTN.

So how is an aircraft going to get onto stands 60 and 61? There is a new 4ft wall being built that is being in-filled to produce a level stand. There is not enough land between this wall, which must mark the northern edge of the stand and taxiway echo to allow for an aircraft to gain the extra height. Access must be via the north and main aprons which would mean that aircraft would be blocked in by aircraft on stands 40R and 9L

the airport's road system is appalling and is in desperate need of improving if TBI is really hoping to efficiently handle over 12M passengers by 2006.

A new dual carriage way is being started next year which will mean a dual carriageway all the way to the M1 via a flyover on to the A 505

[ebenezer]

There is a new 4ft wall being built that is being in-filled to produce a level stand. There is not enough land between this wall, which must mark the northern edge of the stand and taxiway echo to allow for an aircraft to gain the extra height. Access must be via the north and main aprons which would mean that aircraft would be blocked in by aircraft on stands 40R and 9L

Access to Stand 60 will be from the direction of the Main Apron and to Stand 61 from the direction of the North Apron. Both will be angled off Taxiway Echo and both will have electronic docking and parking guidance to ensure that aircraft move forwards onto the appropriate stop line.

This has all been successfully modelled by LLAO and approved by the CAA and so it must be viable even if it looks a bit tight to the naked eye.

As to the Macquarie Airports and TBI rumour, Macquarie has one of Luton's former senior commercial executives on its Board - a lacklustre individual who it has to be said, was singularly ineffective during his time, in promoting Luton as a viable London Airport. If Macquarie does take over TBI, they'd best keep him well away from Luton!!

:(

[Buster the Bear]

ebenezer, your last paragraph is very funny! I wonder how many members of staff from that period would contradict your view (My guess.....not any!).

http://whipsnade.co.uk/picturelibrary/jpeg150/br/brown_bear_120_wide.jpg

[LTNman]

It is increasingly looking like stands 60, 61 and 9L won’t be finished in time for the new Ryanair fleet due into Luton Mid January. Also the move of the easyjet tent, which is taking up two stands on the eastern apron, has been suspended, as the tent is not up to the move. So just where are these aircraft going to be parked over night?

[Powerjet1]

Along with other airports, LTN are now actively working on plans to expand the airport in line with the goverment's white paper proposals, a snippet.......


Project 2030 launched to grow London Luton Airport 23/12/2004

London Luton Airport – Project 2030

Statement of Intent – December 2004

Introduction

In December 2003, Government published its long-awaited White Paper The Future of Air Transport, which finally provided the aviation industry and UK plc with a clear, national, strategic framework for the development of air travel over the next 30 years.

The White Paper clearly outlined the crucial role London Luton can play in the delivery of future runway capacity in the South East. Government has challenged all airport operators to deliver the policies enshrined in this document – we relish this opportunity.

Government forecasts suggest that there is the demand to justify expansion of Luton to the potential of a full-length single runway (circa 30mppa), in the period up to 2030, even with two new runways at other South East airports. We endorse this forecast and since publication of the White Paper we have actively commenced preliminary consultation with key stakeholders and strategic decision-makers, at national, regional and local level, with a view to developing common strategic principles and priorities, and communicating the importance of London Luton in delivering Government policy, as defined in the Future of Aviation White Paper, the Transport Bill and the Communities Plan.

We intend, subject to market conditions, to bring forward major development proposals pre-2015. With this in mind, we intend to publish a ‘fuller treatment’ of development plans, as required in Guidance on the Preparation of Airport Master Plans. However, our experience as a ‘no-frills’ airport operators clearly tells us this Master Plan must be flexible and responsive to the market, reflecting the dynamic nature of the airports sector.




A full report can be seen on the LTN wensite.

[Avro Arrow]

There's no shortage of stands at LTN - just contact stands in the short term. The south stands came into use for the Air Atlanta 742 on the 23rd.

My understanding is that the work on the new contact stands has been slowed because they found a gas main in the way and TRANSCO - the gas pipeline have along lead in time and are the onlly people who can move it - "Don't call us you need the gas board", so we called Britsih Gas and they said "gas pieplines nothing to do with us you need the Water Board so we called that's life.... (Sic)".. result - unexpected delay.

It would appear that Luton Borough Council never drew up any plans of where they put services and the like so everything has to be treated with caution. This could explain the hand-digging that's been going on with regard to the pier project.

I guess bussing of pax will be the norm for a bit longer.

If eJ don't leave the tent soon, then they had better start repatching it - it looks a right mess when you get close up. A permanent solution has to be on the cards for easytech surely??

AA

[OLNEY 1 BRAVO]

Avro Arrow - very true but of all the Stands there, only Stand 22 can be used for liners; Stands 18 - 21 are for the exclusive use of Harrods Aviation.

[ebenezer]

the move of the easyjet tent, which is taking up two stands on the eastern apron, has been suspended, as the tent is not up to the move

LTNman, the 'easyJet tent' is not going to move in the sense that the covering cannot be removed and refitted without causing significant damage. The structure beneath could be dismantled and relocated, however.

The plan is now for easyTech/FLS to lease Britannia's Hangar 89 on which Britannia has an 18 month lease outstanding. After that, guess easyTech/FLS will lease direct.

Since the late 80's, the builders have been there and what is there to show for it in terms of passenger convenience and improvements?

Although not currently at its best owing to the vast amount of building work going on, suggest nonetheless you take a look at what LTN now offers passengers compared to 10 or 15 years ago which is considerably improved over what it was. Aviance even has a business/frequent fliers' lounge facility.

Instead of making negatively inaccurate and subjective statements perhaps Vking9, you'd enlighten us all as to what exactly you define as 'passenger convenience and improvements'??

Better still, why not visit before making comment...

Whilst many BAA shareholders no doubt consider LTN to be of little or no significance in terms of business competition, those who see the Airport as a 'has-been Cinderella' ought now to wise up, and do so rapidly.

Providing all goes well, effective 04 January 2005, TBI and therefore, the Luton operating company LLAO will be owned by Abertis/AENA. For those who don't know, AENA is the Spanish version of BAA combined with the UK's NATS. The Company's book value far exceeds even BAA's and its expertise in running airports is equivalent to BAA's and of running air traffic control, equal to NATS. And it ain't gonna lie back, be pushed around and just let it happen guys, BELIEVE ME!!!!

It's also arguably the best thing that has happened to LTN since the local Borough Council ceased running the Airport.

Cynics BE WARY of judging the future by the past...

:uhoh:

[Fried_Chicken]

I've noticed recently that the new Harrods Aviation apron (Stand 62) has been brought into use for the parking of executive aircraft that are staying "a while" (usually a few days)

Fried Chicken

[VIKING9]

ebenezer Seasons Greetings

My comment was just aimed at my last experience of LTN as a passenger, which admittedly was earlier in the year. Check in with EZY was just that, easy. From there on it went down hill. Having to do a 180 and head towards the security channels to find 3 scanning areas open and literally hundreds of passengers queing in a snake like fashion and in a painfully slow manner moving towards the scanners. Once the gate had been reached, I was then hurded onto a bus and driven what was about 100 yards to the awaiting aircraft.

On the return, I parked on stand 13 I believe and had to wait 15 minutes for a bus to take me to the terminal where again, I had to wait over 30 minutes for my luggage.......

Stand 13 was used because no stands were available terminal side and not because the aircraft had finished its duty for the day. I know that because the crew told me they were turning round for another 2 sectors (I knew the purser).


Not a negative comment, just my opinion of an airport that appears to have not kept up with others around the UK. Having worked there on and off since the early 80's, I've seen bad attempts at what is called "expansion". It's a building site with a runway.

Happy Christmas to one and all.

[CAP670]

Not a negative comment, just my opinion of an airport that appears to have not kept up with others around the UK

Sorry VIKING9 but this specific criticism of LTN just doesn't stack up. Please see the quote below referring to NEMA:

Flew from EMA Monday morning for a change. What a mistake. Security lines stretching back to the cash machines at just after 06:00 (compare to about 20 people in the line at BHX the week before when I flew out at a similar time), which meant that they had to call forward passengers for some flights, making the wait in the queue for those of us who were considerate and checked in within a reasonable time even longer. Two x-ray machines not being used - wake up NEMA, its your busiest time of day so use ALL of the facilities and process the passengers reasonably quickly.

Some friends who flew back into Gatwick at the beginning of December had to wait 45 minutes for their bags to appear in the North Terminal. The conveyor belt was so overloaded with luggage that some it it apparently fell off when it moved onto the carousels.

Agreed this is probably down to the handling agents but it still gives bad service and a poor impression of the airport.

Whilst it's true that the security queues are over-long at LTN, once the terminal re-vamp has been completed I think you'll find that passenger processing will improve there although in today's security climate, it'll never be like it was pre-9/11.

Bussing will also cease as there will be the first of two new piers with boarding gates serving six stands - but many times at Heathrow I've arrived on a domsetic flight and having been parked on an 'international' stand, have also been loaded onto a bus that's taken us to an arrival gate elsewhere, after which I've been faced with a 10 minute walk to enter the terminal proper.

Stansted doesn't fair that much better at 'peak' times.

Give it another go after June and see if things at LTN haven't improved somewhat!

:D

[VIKING9]

CAP670 I see what you mean, but then I don't use EMA any longer and yes, baggage problems are most likely caused by handlers OR the bad facilities they have to use. STN security zone can be a nightmare at times, but all know about the BAA don't we :confused:

[LTNman]

Bussing will also cease as there will be the first of two new piers with boarding gates serving six stands

The new pier under construction will normally serve 7 stands. That’s 3 on the eastern apron and 4 on the northern apron. The 2 stands under construction by taxiway echo will be walk on stands as well as stand 9L, which is being modified to bring it back into service. I make that 10 new walk on stands by the summer.

Bussing will still exist but nowhere near the levels of today.

[ebenezer]

I believe that once the Luton terminal extensions/expansions have been completed in June/July the security processing capacity will be doubled and so in theory, the time taken to pass through should be halved. Not sure if a 'fast track' channel will also become available for business club card holders.

From what information is currently available, the terminal building facilities at Luton will compare very favourably with Gatwick's North Terminal and Birmingham's although there won't yet be air bridges provided (neither easyJet, Wizz or Ryanair favour these anyway as their turnaround times can then be lengthened).

The two issues that will remain to cause difficulty will be the local road access and the potential for 'local' air traffic control delays, both caused by lack of updated infrastructure (roads & airspace) trying to cope with significantly more traffic (vehicles & aircraft).

The M1 widening and dual carriageway to the Airport that LTNman speaks about won't improve access to/from the east via the A1M or to/from the west i.e. Aylesbury/Oxford areas.

Still, maybe the DfT as it's done for Stansted, will put taxpayers' money into some road improvements in these areas!

Pigs of course, might also fly...


:hmm: