LYDD AIRPORT

[helinick]

Have you heard that lydd has upgraded to Lydd Approach and now has an ILS/DME and NDB/DME procedure !:D

any thoughts ?

Regards

[MEON VALLEY FLYER]

is it really worth it though ? for a out of the way GA field

[tilewood]

Have you heard that lydd has upgraded to Lydd Approach and now has an ILS/DME and NDB/DME procedure !:D

any thoughts ?

Regards


Yes.........why?!!

Lydd, like Manston is at the edge of the known world with
no significant catchment area. Manston has been far better equipped than
Lydd for years and still can't attract worthwhile traffic.

[helinick]

tilewood

You will be surprised how much traffic is going into lydd now days
it is really taking of.

since its upgrade to Tower and Approach a fair ammount of biz jets and other larger stuff are making an appearence.

it has nothing to do with equipment the fact that traffic can not be attracted, there is a lot more to it.

[chevvron]

How about nicely situated between Dover/Folkstone and Hastings/Bexhill and convenient for cross channel flights? What do you want, re-open Lympne?(London/Ashford; '748's every 30min or so to Paris/Beauvais)
In any case, haven't you noticed the NOTAM's about the occasional non-availability of some facilities at Manston?

[Andy_S]

chevvron

The trouble is, you're about 20 minutes away from Ashford International, convenient for cross channel trains....

[chevvron]

I'm well aware of that having done a shuttle last year, but the point is it's a very popular sunday jaunt for PPLs in SE England is to pop over the channel by air for lunch, you get such a better view than from below the waves.

[MEON VALLEY FLYER]

surely the main problem from a commercial , is its to close to france. the object of air travel being to travel greater distances and faster, than by other transport means (car / ferry / combined). not to mention from a reasonable populated area.

Yes I often use to bimble along the coast from EGHI for the 1p per kilo gw landing fee and a good coffee and butty. used to be good practise tracking all the vor's along the way etc.

But I always had trouble spotting the bloody place, its so flat and desolate out there.

Whatever the reality, good luck London East / Ashford International or even just Lydd

[Stampe]

A really great airfield nowadays much smartened up with a good restaurant extremely good value landing fees and a warm welcome.The airfield deserves to do well and should at least attract instrument training traffic there is a real shortage of available procedures in the south.Good luck Lydd it deserves all our support we need more not less airfields.:ok:

[helinick]

it has come a long way and they have spent a significant ammount of money on it ....many million!

as far as i am aware it has state of the art new equipment

also instrument training fees are cheap @ £15 for ils/ dme approach + 1 touch and go.

bonus i think.

has anyone tried the ils yet ?

NDB has new ident (LZD) 397k and is now on site.

VDF available for those of us that might be unsure of our location !

please give feedback if anyone trys Instrument approach out !
would be interested to hear , :E

[General Aviation]

helinick

Call me quizzical but it sounds like you have a vested interest in the place?? :cool:

[Barnaby the Bear]

Don't think I could afford the fuel on the long winded approaches. Let alone find the holding fix!!!

Its great to see life in the old airfield, but unless serious upgrades to infrastructure leading to the airport and the construction of several large towns. I can't see a massive future in commercial traffic.

Best of luck down there! :}

[GBALU53]

Bring back the sixties and seventies,

When some of our out of the way airfields enjoyed the life of these times.

Every one enjoyed working hard, long hours little pay but we all had a good time,

If only we could turn back the clock.

Before security came into being

The CAA would help the small operators.

The good old word if only whese days were still here i know some of us have been in aviation a long time but seeing the ups and downs of avitions the sixities and seventies were some of the good old days.:ok: :ok:

[Barnaby the Bear]

I noticed in a national broadsheet that Eurostar have plans to halve the number of international rail services from Ashford. ....What has that got to do with Lydd airport I hear you say? Well that is my question.....Will this have an impact on the airport trying to sell itself for future growth?
Ashford as a town was looking to capitilise on the rail link for economic growth, and with that nearly doubling its population, thus increasing an already small catchment. :8

[Robing]

Cut to Continent but increased and improved to London.
<38 minutes from 2009
Now that really does make a difference..

[jabird]

Eurostar have to allow for stops at Ebbsfleet and Stratford, so something will have to give.

Lydd are talking of plans to handle upto 2m pax pa, with long term plans to go as high as 6. The blurb on their website seems to focus on turboprops and regional jets, but doesn't really explain why they'd need a runway extension for this.

It even goes into great deal about the airlines which might be interested in using it.

As a reliever to LGW, LYX has to be more promising than MSE, but I think LGW would have to get very very full before airlines really want to go so far out of the way.

I could see a scenario developing where the nimbys get there way, and capital investment on new runways at LHR or STN doesn't look likely to produce a return, and 2019 cap on LGW stays on for longer - but I think a mass defection to LYX would still be a long shot, considering how many airports London already has.

Even if high speed domestic trains make Lydd closer, do people really want a train + bus connection? LTN is bad enough as it is getting in and out of Parkway - if people are going to use public transport, there needs to be a station right underneath, or immediately outside, the terminal - and even if there are railways near to LYX, then they would need huge volumes to make the investment worthwhile.

[Robing]

Jabird
Kent is the UK's largest county with a population of 1.3M
East Sussex poulation .5M
2001 Audit, National Statistics.
I believe that Lydd has a strong local market with London access.
Based on an assumed cost per ASK of around 5 USC I think that for many routes (around 80%) the reduced DOC based on direct track savings (both in C and $) will be attractive to those operating on industry standard low margins.
Lastly I think that colleagues in the Air Traffic sections of this BB might be able to comment on the levels/delays that LTN and STN traffic is being held down to, I guess due to Clacton??
Regards

[bottom rung]

Jabird
Kent is the UK's largest county with a population of 1.3M

I'm not disputing the rest of your post but Kent is only the tenth largest English county, even before Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are taken into account. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_counties_by_area

Full marks for enthusiasm though. Lydd is a nice spot and it would be good to see it work.

[Robing]

Well, I am just interested in the potential for passengers, hence my using population rather than Sq Km,Hectares, Acres Etc.

[Robing]

After more than two and half years of environmental, traffic, economic and technical appraisal London Ashford Airport (Lydd) today filed planning applications for development. Details can be found here http://www.lydd-airport.co.uk/news.asp
And massive detail here (see links to UK planning portal, new terminal, runway, environmental statements Etc). http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200154/1652/

[niknak]

Good luck to them but I can't see where they will attract more passengers from than already use the airport.
The SE is well catered for by existing facilities which are far more competitive than Lydd ever could be.

Freight is an interesting proposition though, a much longer runway than that proposed is required - 2000m + to cater for the sort of freight a/c which are the realistic market - given the concentration on passengers by local competing airports freight could be Lydd's saviour, but they only have one chance to get it right.

[airhumberside]

I see on the SEN thread it was mentioned Lydd handled a number of diversions today - anyone got any details of what flights?

[Stampe]

A steady stream of exec. jets and a euromanx LCY flight from the IOM maybe others I don,t know about.Airfield remained open till about 2100 .All reported on regional BBC news.Well done Lydd its facilities are excellent following all the investment:ok: .Weather held up very well all day .

[Robing]

Thank you Stampe

The new procedures worked well, the new Bravo apron still had capacity, the circulation on the ground was as planned.

Compliments of the season

[Airnuts]

Have you heard that lydd has upgraded to Lydd Approach ....any thoughts ?

Take a grass field (aerodrome) that fighters used in WWII and convert the mess barrack into a kind of terminal and you have a Lydd. :ok:

That's what Lydd was when I made my first ever flight in an aeroplane from there to Mulhouse back in 1957 on our way over to Austria!

An uphill, unpressurized DC3 it was and my ears hurt for two days after the flight :yuk: . Love the DC3 but you won't get me flying in one again---- no siree.

"Nostalgia aint what it used to be"

Thanks for the info to all who contributed to this thread. Don't forget Manston btw

Cheers :D
Airnuts

"There are more planes in the ocean than sumbarines in the sky"

[LTNman]

Take a grass field (aerodrome) that fighters used in WWII and convert the mess barrack into a kind of terminal and you have a Lydd.

Except Lydd was not built and opened until 1954

[Airnuts]

Except Lydd was not built and opened until 1954

Cor - did I divulge war secrets? Or can we let them out of the bag now? The BBC does

I DID say grass airfield (=aerodrome) and I think you'll find that the RAF operated from there in WWII. Anyhow, my DC3 DID fly from there in 1957 - I was on it :D

"Before WWI (http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-i) Lydd became an important artillery practice camp. Experiments with high explosives carried out on the shingle wastes around 1888 led to the invention of the explosive (http://www.answers.com/topic/explosive-material) Lyddite. Lydd was at one time a garrison town, and the area is still an important training ground for the military.
Lydd is also the site of an airfield (http://www.answers.com/topic/airport-1), the first constructed in Britain after the Second World War (http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-ii), Lydd Airport is now known as London Ashford Airport (http://www.answers.com/topic/london-ashford-airport)."

and 1940

"On October 21, a Dornier (http://www.answers.com/topic/dornier-flugzeugwerke) was forced to land at the Lydd aerodrome, short of fuel, having been confused in his bearings whilst attempting to return to France, by the use of recently invented equipment devised to interrupt the homing beams sent from Germany to guide such planes. The Dornier was the first example of this new type of Bomber to fall into the hands of British Intelligence.
A Wellington Bomber (http://www.answers.com/topic/vickers-wellington) had the misfortune to crash-land on the 26th June on returning from a 1500-plane attack on Bremen (http://www.answers.com/topic/bremen)...."
(Fm http://www.answers.com/topic/lydd)

Also http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/33/a6027833.shtml

Both sites worth reading

Airnuts

[Stampe]

Airnuts I suspect your DC3 flight was from nearby Lympne an all grass airfield a little nearer Ashford where Skyways operated their coach air services from.It closed a long time ago late 60s early 70s.You are correct there was a wartime Advanced Landing ground at Lydd but it may not have been at the exact geographical site of the current Lydd airport.Best Regards

[Airnuts]

Here a copy of my posting to KIA (Kent International Airport) thread which incorporates the Lydd data

Lemmeno if more required - drop a mail to
[email protected] but with subject starting [THC] to avoid trashing with the rest of the junk


Lydd (LAA)

www.answers.com/topic/lydd (http://www.answers.com/topic/lydd) All about Lydd with a Link to
which tells us London Ashford Airport or Lydd Airport (IATA (http://www.answers.com/topic/iata-airport-code): LYX, ICAO (http://www.answers.com/topic/icao-airport-code): EGMD) is located 1.2 nautical miles (http://www.answers.com/topic/nautical-mile) (2.2 km) northeast of the town of Lydd (http://www.answers.com/topic/lydd) and 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) south of Ashford (http://www.answers.com/topic/ashford-kent) in Kent (http://www.answers.com/topic/kent), South East England (http://www.answers.com/topic/south-east-england). and lots more about the "Ferry Field" as it used to be known.
London Ashford Airport
Lydd AirportIATA (http://www.answers.com/topic/iata-airport-code): LYX - ICAO (http://www.answers.com/topic/icao-airport-code): EGMDSummaryAirport typePublicOperatorLondon Ashford Airport Ltd.ServesLydd (http://www.answers.com/topic/lydd)Elevation AMSL (http://www.answers.com/topic/above-mean-sea-level)45 m (http://www.answers.com/topic/metre) (146 ft (http://www.answers.com/topic/foot-unit-of-length))Coordinates (http://www.answers.com/topic/geographic-coordinate-system)50°57′22″N, 000°56′21″E (http://tools.wikimedia.de/~magnus/geo/geohack.php?params=50_57_22_N_000_56_21_E_type:airport)Runwa ys (http://www.answers.com/topic/runway)DirectionLengthSurfacem (http://www.answers.com/topic/metre)ft (http://www.answers.com/topic/foot-unit-of-length)03/211,5054,938Grooved Asphalt (http://www.answers.com/topic/asphalt)

KIA (Kent Intl Airport) Manston

How to get to KIA
~~~~~~~~~~~~
By road fm London (90mls)
Kent International Airport (KIA) located on the Thanet Peninsula just 2mls W of Ramsgate and 72 miles E of London.
Follow M2 from the M25 until the A299. Then towards Ramsgate until A253 from where signs to KIA direct to B2050.
Passenger terminal on the B2050 (1mile from Manston).

By rail and bus:
Nearest train station is Ramsgate on the South Eastern train network (from Victoria - 2hr rail trip presently)
Then 10-minute taxi ride (£7) or #38 bus ride to/from the airport (only 4 trips per day).
NationalRail - Map www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/print_maps/LondonAndSouthEast.pdf (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/print_maps/LondonAndSouthEast.pdf)

NationalExpress coaches www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm (http://www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm) do not presently serve KIA but do serve London-Victoria to Ramsgate in approx 3hrs.

Map showing all airports close to London www.mlcengland.com/margate/travel.htm (http://www.mlcengland.com/margate/travel.htm)

Otherwise click around at
www.kentinternationalairport-manston.com/news-CosmoH.asp (http://www.kentinternationalairport-manston.com/news-CosmoH.asp)
re the Cosmos/Monarch flights to Norfolk, VA due to start in spring 2007 and at www.answers.com/kent%20international%20airport (http://www.answers.com/kent%20international%20airport)


Kent International Airport
Manston Airporthttp://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/9f/200px-Kia22.jpg (http://www.answers.com/topic/kia22-jpg)

IATA (http://www.answers.com/topic/iata-airport-code): MSE - ICAO (http://www.answers.com/topic/icao-airport-code): EGMHSummaryAirport typePublicOperatorInfratil (http://www.answers.com/topic/infratil)ServesKent (http://www.answers.com/topic/kent)Elevation AMSL (http://www.answers.com/topic/above-mean-sea-level)54 m (http://www.answers.com/topic/metre) (178 ft (http://www.answers.com/topic/foot-unit-of-length))Coordinates (http://www.answers.com/topic/geographic-coordinate-system)51°20′32″N, 001°20′46″E (http://tools.wikimedia.de/~magnus/geo/geohack.php?params=51_20_32_N_001_20_46_E_type:airport_regio n:GB)Runways (http://www.answers.com/topic/runway)DirectionLengthSurfacem (http://www.answers.com/topic/metre)ft (http://www.answers.com/topic/foot-unit-of-length)10/282,7529,029Asphalt (http://www.answers.com/topic/asphalt)/Concrete (http://www.answers.com/topic/concrete)Kent International Airport (IATA (http://www.answers.com/topic/iata-airport-code): MSE, ICAO (http://www.answers.com/topic/icao-airport-code): EGMH) is an airport (http://www.answers.com/topic/airport-1) in Kent (http://www.answers.com/topic/kent), England (http://www.answers.com/topic/england). It was formerly called RAF Manston (a Royal Air Force (http://www.answers.com/topic/royal-air-force) airfield) – also, previously known as London Manston Airport.

History

At the outset of the Great War (http://www.answers.com/topic/world-war-i), the Isle of Thanet (http://www.answers.com/topic/isle-of-thanet) was equipped with a small and precarious landing strip for aircraft at Westgate (http://www.answers.com/topic/westgate), above the cliffs at the foot of the sea where a seaplane had been based at the end of the promenade.
The landing grounds atop the cliff soon became the scene of several accidents, with at least one plane seen to fail to stop before the end of the cliffs and tumble into the sea, which for the fortunate pilot had been on its inward tide.........


Cheers
Airnuts

PS KIA also unfortunately means "Killed in action" :-(

[Robing]

The ATIS is now available for use in two ways :


1) VHF : 129.225 Mhz 45nm/20000 Ft

2) Telephone: 01797 322422

[Robing]

Detailed plans for the development of Lydd are now available on the UK planning portal. These include environmental and economic studies and are in two parts. The runway (http://www.ukplanning.com/ukp/showCaseFile.do?councilName=Shepway+District+Council&appNumber=Y06/1648/SH) and new terminal (http://www.ukplanning.com/ukp/showCaseFile.do?councilName=Shepway+District+Council&appNumber=Y06/1647/SH).
With low cost operators achieving costs per ASK of UK Pence 4.02 the savings associated with operation from south of the LTMA may start to become attractive.

[Skylion]

The current Lydd Airport was never an RAF station,- or grass. It was built, largely on shingle, in the early 1950s by Silver City Airways to replace the grass Lympne as the base for its 20 minute high frequency cross channel car ferry services, mainly to Le Touquet by Bristol Freighters and Superfreighters. Air Kruise (Kent) was also there with its all all passenger DC 3s and was later merged into Silver City. The simultaneous need for a Superfreighter ultra short haul replacement and the rise of the ferry companies resulted in a lingering death for Silver City and for many years the airport and its terminal were pretty moribund, a sad fate for an airport which originally was recording the highest freight tonnage of any UK airport. Geography and slow road access doesn't help it and the nearby single track link to the Rye- Ashford rail line is freight only. It will always struggle and for long haul freight Manston's USAF B-36 sized runway is a ready made much better bet and slightly better placed for access to the UK motorway system.

[helinick]

:oh: rumor has it that lydd is soon to to get approval for a seperate tower and approach frequency

Approach 120.7
Tower 12*.525 :E
ATIS 129.225


not bad for an airport that was Air Ground 3 years ago

[GBALU53]

Things are looking up a lot of dosh being spent.

The only real thing missing is some schedules to make this all work.

We will eatch with an open mouth it would be nice to see the traffic levels from the sixities or seventies going through.

[Barnaby the Bear]

And a missed approach procedure of less than 28NM! :} :}

[Robing]

With the strong weather record at Lydd these are a rare occurrence indeed.

[trumpcard]

BBC Southeast were reporting this morning that Lydd are chartering a 737 to prove their systems and test reactions locally.
Good move
Flush out the NIMBYs.

trumpcard

[Manston Airport]

Hi all Looking in one of the kent newspapers the weekend think it was Kent on Sunday.It look like it had the airports fire truck about to push a 737-200 does the airport not have any tugs to do the job?

Regards
James

[helinick]

James

The airport has got tugs to carry out the job , just as they did for the Lydd Airshow.

dont know where you got the idea about a fire truck pushing a 737,

i think that being in a forum about aviation you would know that this is not possible , unless of course this is some magic trick that manston ground ops have under their sleves. :ugh:

just to add , the last 737 - 200 to visit was over a year ago

[Manston Airport]

Well it was from a newspaper and you cant tell if the picture is old or recent.

James

[Buster the Bear]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6392919.stm

[Throat]

Bad news from Lydd on local news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6562965.stm

Good luck Guys...

P.S Sorry couldn't find the Old thread

[HZ123]

Regretable and watching the various threads on Lydd and Manston surely this was only to be expected as both dromes are so remote I fail to see the likelyhood of any serious and sustained operations by airline companies. As a Southend resident that seems to be the only one of the S East corner seeing any improvements, much of that is down to the Ford Corporate Flights / regular small freight aircraft.

[Red Four]

So if the operational capability of the airport is not going to be affected, I wonder where are the jobs being lost from exactly?

I hope this is not a brinkmanship exercise by the owner to pressurise the local planners; the staff over at Lydd deserve so much better than this if this is the case.

[blazing_air]

unfortunately, i have heard that some of the redundancies will come from the fire crew, with possibly up to a third of the team losing their jobs.

[HZ123]

There is a more detailed article on 'travelmole.com' this morning relating to activities or the lack of them at Ashford International.

[tilewood]

Sad for those involved but not exactly surprising. Like Manston Lydd
has no large catchment area to call on, and poor surface access and
local infrastructure.

It is difficult to see how it can ever produce a return on the millions
needed in investment.

[nav3]

I have relatives in the area and thisproject has been on and off for many years but as you rightly say the infrastructure is not there and it lacks a strong enough catchment area to survive.Maybe cargo /GA are the only real options long term.

[whitehorse]

Just joined ppune, so this my first comment.
Having operated from Lydd regularly for the last 3 years the pace of improvement is fantastic, and the number of movements continues to increase,. If you haven´t been there recently, give it a try.

With regards to the length of the ILS approach the airport is aware of this and are trying to get it shortened. There are 2 other problems with the approach,
1. Try finding the hold at ROMTI acurately in a basic equiped light aircraft.
The old NDB LYX has been replaced by LZD, named after the airport manager Zak Deir.
2. Joining th 14 DME arc puts you in close proximity to the very active gliding site at Challock.

We were all sorry about the loss of staff but fueling etc does not seem to be a problem. Its quite handy being fueled by the fire department, you invariably have the fire truck standing beside you, or in very close proximity!

When carrying out visual circuits a downwind dog leg is required when approaching the Dungerness Nuclear Power Station. If you are unfamilar with the limits, contact Lydd ATC, there are reduced minimum distances for light aircraft.
Be aware that the Anti runway extension group are very active and the police have been known to observe aircraft in the power station area.:yuk:

Normally there are very few delays for VFR departures at LYDD, however when an aircraft is on the ILS you can be held at holding point C or asked to orbit downwind.

The airport restaurant now serves good food, its very popular with the locals at the weekend.

On the subject of who would use it, us in GA. As far as medium/heavy aircraft are concerned I don´t think that Lydd is likely to be a new LGW.
Manston has a chance if in connection with the 2012 olympics a fast rail line can connect it with London.

But who cares, we have a rich arab who is willing to put money into the airfield, and when his lease is up in 30+ years we will have a modernised airfield.:)

If you realy want to get depressed look at the nimby web site www.kentnet.org.uk/laag/index.htm (http://www.kentnet.org.uk/laag/index.htm) :yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk:, if not don´t bother.

[Jes]

Six people are to be made redundant at Lydd airport as part of a restructuring exercise to cut costs.

The owners said the current economic climate meant it could not continue to operate at a loss.

They also blamed the decision to cut staff from 54 to 48 on the uncertainty over their expansion plans.

Earlier this month a hearing to decide whether the airport could extend its runway and build a new terminal was postponed for the fourth time.

The airport's managing director, Jonathan Gordon, said: "During the past eight years more than £25m has been spent on the airport project and dozens of jobs were created in the process. However, in light of the current economic climate, I have been forced to take a long hard look at the finances. The slight streamlining of our operations will produce the cost savings that we need to make, but I am saddened that it means the loss of six jobs."

A staff consultation is expected to take place this week.

Mr Gordon, who asked for the latest Shepway Council hearing to be postponed, said the meeting would now be held at the end of February or early March.

Lydd wants to extend its runway and build a new terminal to attract more passengers and bigger airline carriers.

Lynne Beaumont, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Shepway and a member of the Keep the Marsh Special Alliance, said she believed the delay until next year was to buy more time to answer environmental criticisms.

[Dizzee Rascal]

Jes, is this new information? Where did it come from?

[Jes]

BBC News website.

[Buster the Bear]

Lydd Air to open a connection between Malaga (AGP) and (LYX) (http://www.theairdb.com/news/2009100949-lydd-air.html)

[colossus]

The Gordon brothers could run a bath let alone a new route

PAX numbers at Lydd 2003 around 4,000 by 2008 down to 2,000

What a sad joke Lydd is becoming - needs to be GA / Engineering / Training

PAX will simply not work

[putneyuk]

I guess good news on the Malaga route, but cant imagine it working for 1 minute, but Lydd always a friendly place to fly in to. Does anyone know what the ATR42 does thats been at Lydd for a while now?

[airhumberside]

Is that Malaga route a mistake on theairdb website. Wouldn't be unknown for there to be mistakes on there

I think the ATR is operated by TransEuro Air

[Expressflight]

No, it isn't a mistake. I spoke with Robin Gordon at the weekend and he told me they had decided to test the scheduled market after having flown many BE200 charters to Malaga in the past couple of years. I should imagine it will be targeted at those who are willing to pay a premium for what will be equivalent to executive charter levels of service and operate at a low frequency.

[colossus]

I'd be interested on that basis of you getting a timetable and planned start date for the service? ExpressFlight.

The BE200 seems glued to the ground nearly 24 x 7

[Expressflight]

You'd be interested in me getting a timetable etc. colossus.?

With respect, wouldn't it be as easy for you to get a timetable/further information direct from Lydd Air yourself? After all, I have nothing whatever to do with the operation.

[colossus]

Sorry no offence meant to you ExpressFlight, but I doubt you or I would get anything realistic out of LyddAir - they will run any route if passengers turn up with the right amount of dosh, but anything over and above the 1 route they offer today I will eat my hat !

[putneyuk]

I notice if you use the pull down map on discoverjersey.com it shows Saturday flights to Jersey from Lydd 10/7 - 11/9 2010. Anyone else heard anything about these?

[Robing]

That is good news.

The 60 and 90 minute drive time profiles are shown below (planning enquiry grade data) containing > 1.1M and >4.1M "usually resident population" based on 2003 census data. The 1 hour drive time includes Canterbury, Maidstone, Hastings & Ashford.

From December 13th fast train services offer 38 minute journey Ashford - St Pancras.

http://www.f-l-a-g.co.uk/Lydd%20LA.jpg

[airhumberside]

Travel mole reports it will be a charter for Channel Islands Travel Group (CITG) and operated by a 50 seat Fokker (CityJet/VLM F50 maybe?)

[jerhippo]

or air southwest? they are already doing OXF

[Jerbourg]

or Blue Islands with the ATR42 that sits about most of the weekend?

[J-Guy]

The CITG press release confirms that Lydd will be operated by a Fokker 50, as too will Oxford, which is obviously VLM/CityJet. Schedules can change, especially at this early stage, but I would take this as fairly certain. Air Southwest will operate the charter flight to Manston in 2010.

[Twitcher]

A new air route is to operate between Kent and the Channel Islands for two months in the summer of 2010.

The service from Lydd to Jersey will run on Saturdays between 10 July and 11 September using a 50-seater plane.

A spokesman for London Ashford Airport said it was the first time for 20 years there had been a direct link with Jersey from the Kent/Sussex border.

The flights will be operated by CityJet, which already flies to Jersey from Kent International at Manston.

Lydd airport spokeswoman Jo Oliver said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for both the airport and communities across Kent and East Sussex."

In September the airport announced it was making six of its 54 staff redundant as part of a cost-cutting exercise due to the economic downturn.

The airport, which caters for light aircraft and business jets, wants to extend its runway and build a new terminal to attract more passengers and bigger airline carriers.

Shepway Council is due to consider a planning application early next year.

[NorthSouth]

The service from Lydd to Jersey will run on Saturdays between 10 July and 11 September using a 50-seater plane10 return flights in a 50-seater = total 1000 seats. If they fill every seat on every flight, that will take them some small way towards recovering some of the 4000 passengers they've lost since 2003.
NS

[colossus]

and in order to help "find" these 1,000 passengers they have given away the parking.

Next they will be paying you to fly from Lydd !

[Robing]

Shepway DC will vote tonight on the application to extend the runway and build a new terminal.

[NorthSouth]

The council approved the runway extension and new terminal applications last night by a vote of 27 to 12.
NS

[Twitcher]

Councillors gave the go ahead to Lydd Airport’s multi-million pound expansion plans after a seven-hour meeting which ran into the early hours.

Members voted 27-12 in favour of the applications, for a 444 metre runway extension and passenger terminal, going against planning officers’ recommendations.

The officers’ objections were based mainly on ecological grounds, particularly on the effects on birds and vegetation in designated conservation areas.

Earlier, protestors both for and against the scheme had gathered outside Shepway’s Civic Centre in Folkestone, holding banners and waving placards.

Shepway MP Michael Howard led the line of speakers who addressed the full council meeting, reminding them that they were not obliged to follow the officers’ lead.

Mr Howard, who hours earlier announced he had negotiated a deal with the airport to compensate affected residents, said:

“It is clear to me that these are issues on which you the councillors are free to make up your own mind.

“You are free to come to the conclusion, as I have, that you can be reasonably satisfied that there is no reasonable scientific doubt that the integrity of the designated areas….would be adversely affected by these proposals.”

His said his recent compensation agreement was “not perfect” but would provide a degree of reassurance. He also rejected claims by action group LAAG the deal was an acknowledgement that property values would be reduced.

He said: “Jobs are scarce on Romney Marsh. Unemployment’s too high, deprivation is too high.

“These proposals offer the opportunity of regenerating the economy of the Marsh. We can and we should care about the future of the wildlife of the Marsh but we can and we should care about the future of its people too.”

Earlier planning barrister Matthew Horton QC, representing anti-expansion lobbyists LAAG, said the proposals were “damaging, dangerous and dispiriting.”

He told the council: “LAAG urges members that their duty is to protect the Marsh and not to jeopardise its long-term value for the sake of alleged jobs.

“Alleged because there may be no net gain, given that the airport may harm the tourist economy and the jobs it supports.”

Other speakers in favour of the proposal included Channel Chamber of Commerce manager Peter Hobbs and local resident Caroline Chambers.

Those speaking against included Greatstone Primary School chair of governors Paul Black and the RSPB’s Chris Corrigan.

District ward members for Lydd, Victoria Dawson and Clive Goddard, also voiced their approval.

Carole Waters of New Romney Town offered her support while Val Loseby of New Romney Coast spoke out against.

County councillor for Romney Marsh William Richardson also addressed the meeting in favour of the proposals and said priority must be given to people.

A team from Lydd Airport, led by managing director Jonathan Gordon, then gave a 15-minute presentation on the benefits their proposals would bring.

Following an adjournment, councillors debated the merits of the applications between them.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Lynne Beaumont said that 4-11 year old children at Greatstone would have their education disrupted by Boeing 737s flying overhead.

Ms Beaumont also said planning officers had based their findings on purely scientific fact and an open mind, not by trying to sell a business.

Tory Cabinet member for planning Hugh Barker reminded the council not to repeat the mistake when drug company Pfizer had their application for offices in Folkestone turned down and the subsequent lost job opportunities.

Conservative Jennifer Hollingsbee also said the majority of students at the Marsh Academy in New Romney, where she works, were in favour of the development as post-16 students were finding it extremely difficult to find work.

Eventually a vote was taken based on a proposal by Cabinet member for economic development Malcolm Dearden, which adopted some of the airport’s own findings. Members voted 27-12 to approve the applications, with two abstentions.

Following the meeting Lydd managing director Jonathan Gordon said the approval for the £25 million investment plan was “a victory for the people of Shepway.”

He said: “We put forward a compelling case for allowing the controlled development of the airport and when councillors took stock of the overwhelming body of evidence in front of them, they were persuaded to vote in a positive way.

“They have made the right choice for the future of our community.”

It is expected LAAG will appeal the decision which could lead to a public inquiry.

Last night’s meeting was broadcast live on the Shepway council website, where over 2,000 people logged on to watch the proceedings, together with a public showing at the Marsh Academy.

[Robing]

http://www.f-l-a-g.co.uk/Donald%20Worsley%20supporting%20local%20jobs1.jpg

[controlx]

Bearing in mind the fast rail link to Ashford rail station, the 70 miles between Lydd and central London have been squeezed in recent years - however, what is the real world, door to door taxi drive time between Ashford rail station and the front door of the proposed new terminal?

I reckon it has to be 25-30 minutes?

Accordingly, what's the real commute from say north of the river, (W1, SW1?) to the check-in desk of the new terminal?

With Southend's new rail station a few minutes walk from their terminal and a forty-something minute run from Liverpool street, has london got two new 'London' airports in 2010 that actually give Luton, Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow a bit of a run for their money on regional routes?

What need anymore for second runways at Stansted and Heathrow now Lydd and Southend are moving forward?

[SFCC]

It's a nice idea to make Lydd work, but sadly those of us that reside in the real world know that it has absolutely no chance whatsoever of success.
I'm not suggesting that it has anything to do with the Gordon's, but it failed last time they tried and it will surely fail again. It's a victim of it's geographical
position.:(

[jonheli]

Might have something to do with the recent announcement that they have now been granted permission to go ahead with a new runway and terminal facilities - Perhaps it will now become a 'Proper'airport, and will lose the jinx it seems to have had over the past years?

[Mickey Kaye]

I would rather see some of the other airports around London developed more than second runways at Stanstead and further runways at heathrow.

I wish Lydd all the best but would also like to see places such as Blackbush and Biggin Hill being able to except commercial traffic.

[NorthSouth]

Saskatoon9999:The weather would be no friend either - I dont expect Cat III landing would be instaled for even the ammount of traffic in their wildest dreamsActually, even getting Cat.1 on the one runway with ILS is impossible. And most of the time when there are easterlies there can be no commercial arrivals. Not much of a prospect.
NS

[757 Speedbrakes]

Well done to Lydd after years of effort :ok:

Like NorthSouth, I've spent the last four years living up North but originating from just down the road from LYD, in fact I did my PPL from there almost 10 years ago.

However, Ive seen one or two airports in the last few years and I'm afraid I can't exactly see LYD becoming anything more than a small commuter / VIP jet airport. Would FR or EZ move in there, I doubt it.........

Just for info to get the spotters excited, a 757 has better take off / landing performance than a 73 or one of the Airbi 320 variations but I can't see a charter airline going in there even on a 'W' patten. LGW is too close and the road / rail network isn't there yet but here's to hoping it improves.

Lydds best chance is to hope they can grow to a similar level as BLK, which is a similar size, has a matching catchment and similar infrastructure.

[NorthSouth]

Would FR or EZ move in thereNo chance of FR even on a 1799m runway.
NS

[757 Speedbrakes]

6000' not enough then..........?

[Red Four]

http://http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200929/1922/ (http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200929/1922/)

http://http://www.kentnet.org.uk/laag/Private_Eye_article_March_2010.PDF (http://www.kentnet.org.uk/laag/Private_Eye_article_March_2010.PDF)

[wsmempson]

Interesting to see the intervention of the Secretary of State, who wants any grant of permission delayed until the 22nd April; I wonder if this has anything to do with the sites of a new generation of Nuclear power stations being announced, as the building of Dungeness 2 might put a real dampener on any runway extension....

[Ad C]

I was under the impression that dungeness had been ruled out of any future power generation plants.

[Red Four]

Lydd Airport – Jersey flights axed : Lydd London Ashford Airport News Stories (http://www.uk-airport-news.info/lydd-airport-news-110610.html)

and some further (probably inevitable) news: Kent News - Lydd airport plans called in by Government (http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Lydd-airport-plans-called-in-by-Government--newsinkent37139.aspx)

[Red Four]

More news from the marsh: Lydd Airport chief Jonathan Gordon steps down (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/july/7/airport_boss.aspx?lang=en-gb)

[Robing]

This started last week - Looks like they will sit till July.

[Lon More]

Found this (http://www.nzmeccano.com/MMviewer.php) on another thread

[PAXboy]

Found this: Go-ahead for Kent airport expansion angers green lobby - UK Politics - UK - The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/goahead-for-kent-airport-expansion-angers-green-lobby-8567880.html)

And this: BBC News - Lydd Airport expansion given go-ahead (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22100142)

[fairflyer]

Just wondering about the logistics of catching a flight from Lydd (sorry London Ashford International) if you were centsral London destined or originated. There's a nice, fast train from St.Pancras to Ashford International - 38 mins, but if that's the Eurostar(?), does that not mean you've got to give yourself another 30+ mins for check-in/screening at St.Pancras, possibly more? Then on top of that, you've got a 17 mile trip between the station and the airport - in a taxi 25 mins plus waiting time? The train might cost around £33 one way, but that taxi's going to cost you another £25 on top. Allowing for dwell times, from arriving at St.Pancras to standing at the airport check-in desk is going to take at least one hour 40 mins, plus your time from home/office to St Pancras in the first place.

Doesn't really stack up as a 'London' airport in quite the same way say Southend does now, does it?

With Gatwick up the road and Manston to the north, they'd be mad to compete on any similar routes with a catchment just a few miles up the road crossing over with theirs.

What's the business model there, what routes, airline types?

[PAXboy]

Sounds like Southend pipped them to the post! One can only suppose that they are hoping to catch the Kent and East Sussex folk who don't want to play on Gatwick's fun fair?

[canberra97]

I think the whole sceme is a total waste of time and money especially in this day of age what with ever rising APD and fuel costs and the amount of UK airports that are already struggling and with some even investing in nice new terminals such as BOH so how on earth are the developers of Lydd Airport going to get anyone flying from their nice new shiny airport, I think they are crazy.

But it will be interesting to see what airline if any makes the first commitment but I can't see it happening myself what with Gatwick nearby and Manston even closer, the latter having a far better advantage of succeding in my view especially now that KLM fly from the airport.

[Red Four]

Every cloud has a silver lining as they say, no doubt the sort of news Lydd Airport wants to hear:

Newmarket Holidays confirms it will move chartered flights from Manston to Lydd Airport as uncertainty remains over Thanet site's future (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/tour-operator-likely-to-switch-15570/)

[NorthSouth]

Hmm, that'll be interesting to see. Significantly shorter runway dimensions than - for example - Southend; compulsory and very demanding circling approaches most of the time when rw 03's in use; and instrument approach minima considerably higher than Manston. Expect cancellations and payload limits....

[pottwiddler]

I'm not one to cast doubt on someone spending money to make a go of a business but it really does seem strange that someone would want to fly from Lydd, it's not a huge metropolis.
It's miles away from the nearest train station, unless you make one on the track to the Nuclear Power station. And would airlines want to fly from there especially in these comercially risk averse times. they would rather go from DVT, BOH, LPL etc than Lydd

[tibbs87]

In regard to the runway dimensions at Lydd - Newmarket Holidays could charter in an Avro RJ, Embraer jet, Airbus A318 or even a lightly loaded Airbus A319 to operate. The only worry for me would be the size of Lydd's current terminal, they would probably need to make some room and improve check in (if not already in place). :)

[LadyL2013]

I will never understand the idea of expanding Lydd when Manston is a much more viable option.

[NorthSouth]

Newmarket Holidays could charter in an Avro RJ, Embraer jet, Airbus A318 or even a lightly loaded Airbus A319 to operateUnfortunately the laws of physics don't change with aircraft size and when the wind requires use of runway 03, any aircraft would have to make a tight turn on to final at 300ft or less.

The only way to avoid that is to schedule all your flights to arrive at Lydd in the late evenings and/or weekends to avoid Lydd Range activity. But even that's no guarantee because it's a 24/7 range with frequent short-notice changes of activation.

Best of luck to them. They'll need it.

NS

[Mickey Kaye]

"I will never understand the idea of expanding Lydd when Manston is a much more viable option."

But thats becuase Manston is worth alot more as building land than Lydd is.

Plus you could get all that building land for a quid.

[davidjohnson6]

The paradox being that land in the middle of nowhere far from population centres is not normally going to be of much value as an airport either...

I imagine that even if Boris Island were to be built and Heathrow was closed permanently, the land currently occupied by Heathrow would be really quite valuable for alternate use

[Twitcher]

BBC News - Holiday flights take off from Lydd Airport (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-27635401)

[Mickey Kaye]

Has any work yet started on the runway extension?

[Red Four]

Looks like the major work yet to come:
Lydd to invite bids for 294m runway extension in January (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/runway-plans-to-kick-in-28745/)

[LTNman]

The successful bidder will be revealed as soon as the airport, officially called London Ashford Airport, completes planning conditions.

I thought "London" Oxford airport was bad enough but this is really taking the Mick:eek:

[Buster the Bear]

It is only 75 miles by road. :eek:

[Akrotiri bad boy]

With apologies to the Gallagher Bros;

"All the roads that lead to Lydd are winding"

It's a loooooong way across the swamp before you get to the M20:sad: But good luck to 'em

[adfly]

SOU is probably nearer! London Southampton Airport anyone? :p

[tibbs87]

SOU is probably nearer! London Southampton Airport anyone?

Shortest distance from City of Westminster to Southampton Airport is 78.8 miles, shortest distance to Lydd Airport is 73.2 miles. According to the AA's mileage calculator. :ooh:

[stab3.5up]

there was an old joke around Dublin airport that Ryaniar wanted to rename City of Derry Airport, Dublin North. I tend to agree re names of so called London Airports is Ams going to be London East!!!

[adfly]

Well there isn't much in it at all!

[Fairdealfrank]

Shortest distance from City of Westminster to Southampton Airport is 78.8 miles, shortest distance to Lydd Airport is 73.2 miles. According to the AA's mileage calculator.


SOU is eminently qualified then: London-Southampton


there was an old joke around Dublin airport that Ryaniar wanted to rename City of Derry Airport, Dublin North. I tend to agree re names of so called London Airports is Ams going to be London East!!!


Ha ha. Wasn't a joke when BOH became "London-West".

[felixflyer]

Anyone know the latest regarding the expansion plans?

It seems to have gone quiet with no news for a long time.

[canberra97]

With the outstanding success of SEN I can not honestly see the expansion plans ever materialising at Lydd and with so much at stake due to Brexit fears it would be foolish to go ahead at this time.

Is there any real need for it anyway as it is an airport in the middle of no where.

[LTNman]

The terminal should be made a listed building. I great place to visit and so full of nostalgia. Can't imagine the staff getting stressed through pressure of work.

[tophat27dt]

The terminal should be made a listed building. I great place to visit and so full or nostalgia. Can't imagine the staff getting stressed through pressure of work.But there are no Bristol Freighters on the ramp to view whilst eating my full English breakfast anymore!

[Stampe]

I base my light aircraft there in the winter months an excellent facility with great staff and good weather record.Well connected to the motorway network M20 and HS1 rail to Central London from Ashford.My journey times to the airport are very consistent and trouble free.Given the pressures on South Eastern UK infrastructure it has a place supporting peripheral UK aviation activities wishing to avoid the expense and congestion of the oversubscribed main airports. Regards Stampe

[Andy_S]

I’m not sure I’d describe Lydd as “well connected” to the motorway network or connected in any shape or form to HS1 at all…….

[crablab]

...I'm not sure I'd describe Lydd as well connected to anything. One road in and out and the airfield is on a saltmarsh. Bus stop is a good 20 minute walk.

[NorthSouth]

Anyone know the latest regarding the expansion plans?
The start of construction of the runway extension has been delayed many times. The airport has said it expects the works to start early this year and be completed by the end of the year (but they also said that last year). The terminal will not be started until after the runway extension is completed - and may not happen at all if the runway extension doesn't attract any commercial passenger operators.

[canberra97]

So in all reality it won't be happening.

[davidjohnson6]

I'm not an expert on Lydd so I hope someone else more familiar with Lydd will be able to help answer 2 questions

Why exactly does Lydd need a runway extension, and who are likely to be the new additional users of the airport ?
Additionally, how does this strategy take into account developments in the last few years at London-City, Manston, Gatwick, Shoreham and the HS1 train line ?

I'm not saying it shouldn't happen - just want to understand the business case and try to see if it makes sense (preferably without having to put on rose tinted fanboy glasses !)

[Aero Mad]

davidjohnson6, whether the catchment is sufficient is a matter of contention but one can imagine the sort of demand they might be looking to attract. London City is expanding fast but serves a wholly different market to the one which Lydd (one imagines) proposes to. Manston has closed; whether the early success of KLM's AMS service could be replicated from Lydd is doubtful given its catchment. Cargo (the former's bread and butter) is dependent on infrastructure which Lydd simply doesn't have. Shoreham's runway dimensions and ATC cover are significantly restricting (putting it firmly in the GA realm). It's very hard to see how investment to reopen the railway to Ashford via Appledore (and thence to London) would be viable. One suspects a competitively-priced GA, bizjet, niche cargo and ad hoc charter operation is the plan. But the resurgence of Southend and Oxford in some or most of these markets necessarily means demand must be localised (even LGW is less than an hour's drive from Ashford) - SEN is infinitely better connected and has still struggled to attract new operators (though this may change as LTN and STN reach capacity).

A mixed picture. LGW is now full enough that (if I remember correctly) EZY struggled to discharge its full flying programme last summer. In Lydd's dreams a loco would use it as a cheap access to a challenge for LGW's easterly catchment; it's not beyond the means of man to have the bus which stops hourly at the turning into the airport (leaving passengers with just under a mile's yomp) actually end up at the terminal. Beauvais doesn't have a railway station; a deal between a based operator and Southeastern could use off-peak capacity on HS1 to connect passengers to a direct bus service. But this is a figment of my imagination, and a long shot at that.

As such I'm at once sceptical as to Lydd's prospects and reminded of the widespread surprise which met the success of KLM's MSE-AMS operation. Without such sprawling infrastructure, if such a service (big if) were to emerge it is easy to imagine that together with summer charters and healthy GA patronage, Lydd would earn its keep. In its absence, one has to wonder.

[Harry Wayfarers]

Correct me if I'm out of date but doesn't London, indeed the City of London, already have a dedicated GA and Business airport in Biggin Hill which is significantly better placed that a few other (supposed) London airports that I could mention.

Despite all the mocking of Manston's poor location Manston has/had significantly better road and public transport facilities than Lydd has, and may ever have.

Even if KLM were doing OK with yield on their Manston operations I'd suggest that Lydd management have long since approached KLM regarding Lydd operations, alas Lydd was specifically built to serve the cross channel market pre ferry and chunnel services, it's location is specifically to serve France pretty much making it useless to serve anywhere other than south of itself.

As for runway extension etc. ... What for? ... Manston tried and failed with a based low cost carrier operation, not even the save Manston group are suggesting that a re-opened Manston would have a viable future with passenger operations, a KLM service alone wouldn't finance the costs of a new runway and terminal at Lydd and any IT charter operations in/out of Manston clearly didn't last if at all.

[Mickey Kaye]

I'm well out my sphere of knowledge here but would Lydd's current runway be long enough for E175/190 operating to AMS?

[tophat27dt]

I'm well out my sphere of knowledge here but would Lydd's current runway be long enough for E175/190 operating to AMS?sadly for Lydd and its poor catchment area i see no future to spend millions on expansion. Its a pleasant GA airfield with a superb history but that's all.

[NorthSouth]

would Lydd's current runway be long enough for E175/190 operating to AMS?Probably do-able with a 175 off the current runway but the runway isn't necessarily the problem. Most of the time an approach to runway 03 is impossible for any commercial aircraft because there's an army firing range c.2km from the end of the runway, danger area up to 4000ft. So if the wind favours 03 they'd have to land on 21 with a tailwind. And 21 departures require an immediate right turn through at least 90 degrees to avoid the range. Not every airline's cup of tea.
Then there's the fact that this is an airfield in uncontrolled airspace with no radar. We've already seen Flybe withdraw from Dundee for that reason - and at one point Flybe was seen as one of the most promising potential operators from Lydd.

[felixflyer]

Looks like things could be moving forward

Lydd Airport expansion: New terminal build could be brought forward says boss Hani Mutlaq (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/romney-marsh/news/airports-expansion-touching-down-early-119858/)

[NorthSouth]

Looks like things could be moving forwardOnly if you take statements by airport management as fact. Another six months on and there is still no sign of contracts being awarded for either the runway extension or the terminal.
Planning applications for the runway extension and terminal went in in 2006. Approved in 2010. Seven years later nothing happening.

[davidjohnson6]

Report on ch-aviation that Lyddair are to end scheduled flights. Can't find anything to confirm this though. Anyone have knowledge on this ?

[LTNman]

I paid a visit to Lydd a few weeks ago. The terminal building that was fully accessible, complete with viewing area pre covid, is now mainly off limits apart from a reception area. Such a shame as the terminal was in a time warp complete with wall photos of famous people boarding Bristol Freighters and Carvairs.

I would think that the plans to expand the airport have been forgotten.

https://i.imgur.com/44Zse8h.jpg


Not much has changed
https://i.imgur.com/gYR96c5.jpg

[horatio_b]

Never been to Lydd myself, but the area referred to by LTNman would be the Biggles Bar which offers views of the apron. Apparently still closed for "refurbishment" following flooding in 2021.
This is one of the photos showing famous people there (Note that the airport was built for a superior class of traveller):

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g503911-d15741126-Reviews-Biggles_Bar-Lydd_Kent_England.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=437965020

[compton3bravo]

Called in last March, everywhere open. Had a nice mug of help yourself coffee for £1. Visited the nostalgia area, everybody very friendly. Maybe they had prior knowledge were coming LTNman!!

[LTNman]

Yes, this is it, the Biggles Bar. All now locked up.

The terminal reminded me of Swansea but on a much bigger scale. Biz jets still pass through the airport.

https://simpleflying.com/lydd-international-airport-story/

[Akrotiri bad boy]

I popped into Lydd a few years ago, I've just got home now. It is a long way from Ashford let alone London.
Turning off the M20 at Ashford I thought I'd drop by for a cuppa which I duly managed in the delightful little cafe. This was a few years ago and for the 40mins I was there nothing at all moved, not even the windsock. But I do believe in more recent times the UK Border Force have been flying drones from there?

[TCAS FAN]

[QUOTE=LTNman;11271181]

The terminal reminded me of Swansea but on a much bigger scale…….
/QUOTE]

A number of similarities between the two with the owners of each who had (misguided) visions of making millions by attracting operators who were simply not interested due to better equipped established airports close by. Similar to what is said about airlines “how do you make a small fortune?-start with a large one!”

[BACsuperVC10]

I've flown from Lydd several times in the past to Ostend, Le Touquet and Paris / BVA. Viscouts , Heralds and HS748.

[LTNman]

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/romney-marsh/news/passenger-flights-to-return-to-kent-airport-284398/


Air Alderney is expected to operate regular services from the airfield at Lydd on Romney Marsh (https://www.kentonline.co.uk/romney-marsh/) to destinations including the French airport of Le Touquet.

[kcockayne]

Just wait & see !

[simoncorbett]

Air Alderney … have they actually started any of the flights to any destinations now ?

[BACsuperVC10]

At one time Jersey was available as a summer service from Lydd. Dan Air operated it for example.

[Jerbourg]

Air Alderney … have they actually started any of the flights to any destinations now ?


No, & I doubt they ever will.

[LTNman]

Lydd’s Terminal is receiving an internal makeover. See post 130 for external view.

New access to departures with monitor screens either side of the entrance.
https://i.imgur.com/ySKEOag.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E5KxaZI.jpg

Still a bit sparse but the cafe has now reopened. The check-in desks have disappeared.
https://i.imgur.com/wFAur8k.jpg

Section still closed off
https://i.imgur.com/jzoYU5A.jpg

Indoor viewing area
https://i.imgur.com/MqL2bTT.jpg

Outdoor viewing area but without seating. This area looks the same but last year it was closed off.
https://i.imgur.com/KS3MpqK.jpg

[Aero Mad]

As Air Alderney's accounts are now almost two years (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12913882) overdue, its website security certificate has expired (https://www.airalderney.co.uk), its one aircraft has been transferred into private hands (see G-INFO) and is subject to a No Fly declaration from 15 June 2023, and in view of its long record of making announcements which then come to nothing, I wouldn't expect these facilities to be used for the advertised services any time soon.

[BA318]

The Home Office is currently using Lydd for a Dash8 from PAL Airlines (Canada) to carry out surveillance of the Channel. Scheduled services are probably not coming.

[DaveReidUK]

The Home Office is currently using Lydd for a Dash8 from PAL Airlines (Canada) to carry out surveillance of the Channel. Scheduled services are probably not coming.

Wears a rather smart all-grey scheme with "Home Office" titles.

[LTNman]

I saw it parked in a hangar today. I wondered what it was.

[davidjohnson6]

It seems that Le Touquet airport in northern France is to be renamed after Queen Elizabeth II
I wonder if Lyddair might revive their scheduled flights between Lydd and Le Touquet ? Or perhaps there might be a route from Southend or London City on another airline ?
https://news.sky.com/story/french-airport-to-be-renamed-after-queen-elizabeth-ii-12944835