Hi guys (and any girls if there are any out there!). Today was the latest Airport Consultative Committee Meeting at LBA so here is my report for your information.
Route development/airline business etc: Due to the impending retirement of the Aviation and Commercial Director at LBA (Chris Sanders) at the end of this week, there was no director presence who was able to provide any information on this subject. Chris will be replaced by existing employee, John Cunliffe, who has an airline industry background, having 10 years experience with Easyjet (come on John, get us Easyjet please!!), and a new employee, Tom Holdsworth who has a travel trade background. Both will be attending the Hanover route conference to meet with prospective new airlines to discuss developments at LBA, including terminal, road and rail, and to try to entice them towards the airport for future routes. This will take place on 8th-10th April. Meanwhile, LBA will publish a new Aviation Strategy in April, setting out their intentions to increase route options & passenger numbers in line with published expectations.
Terminal Development: A presentation was made regarding the terminal development, which is now commencing with the services connections work (groundworks). Further changes to plans have been introduced. All plant will now be located on the lower ground floor, instead of on the roof, which will now have a clean appearance. Border Force will also have office accommodation on the lower ground floor. Changes have also been made to the proposals for the 3 large size baggage re-claim belts and how the baggage will arrive at these. These will result in some changes to plan but will also mean that the ground floor (arrivals) will be approximately 1 metre above apron level. This will result in a small number of stairs supplemented by the necessary ramps for those unable (or unwilling) to use the steps, which should be no more than 5 or 6. The raising of this floor means that baggage can be loaded on to carousels underneath the floor level, with bags coming up from underneath on to the carousel. As before, the ground floor is entirely arrivals, and a video was shown (which later may appear on the airport website), showing a very spacious area and huge Border Force area with 12 desks - and of these 5 can be converted to E Desks if Border Force want them. There is a 250% capacity increase with a large area available for queuing (where necessary). The upper floor remains a Departures area, with further seating, new gates and gate seating overlooking the airfield, dedicated stairs down to aircraft and in future, further retail outlets. Approximately 70m of the little loved walkway along the apron will be removed. The terminal has been designed to enable further extensions along the apron as and when required and each will result in more of the walkway being removed.
Fuel Farm: Approaching the airport a large lifting crane was visible at the fuel farm. This relates to the current installation of 2 new 200,000 litre Jet fuel storage tanks, to add to the existing 3 x 150,000 litre tanks, providing 3 days fuel storage. LBA own these tanks, but the fuel in them is bought by the airlines, who can negotiate their own deals. Airlines then access the fuel as required with payment made to LBA. This arrangement benefits both LBA and the airlines who can secure better value for money on the fuel they buy.
Bus services: The Flying Tiger contract expires in October so LBA are currently negotiating with the bus operator with a view to securing improved services under any new contract. These include express bus services into Leeds (and presumably Bradford), (although how express they will be given traffic issues remains to be seen!), more direct routes between the airport and Bradford, bus pick ups at Apperley Bridge Station, new branding on the services and a new Service Level Agreement enabling LBA to take necessary action to ensure services are run efficiently. There is of course also the option to consider other bus operators.
Red Route: This came into effect a month ago and is policed by Leeds City Council using a camera car. However, Airport Police are authorised to also patrol the road and issue tickets where necessary on behalf of Leeds City Council. In the future, fixed cameras may be introduced to monitor the red route areas. It was notable today that there was no sign of any vehicle stood at the roadside on this stretch of road, for any reason, which I think is a first!
AVRO Memorial: A memorial, remembering the employees of the adjacent AVRO Shadow Factory (where Avro Anson, Lancaster and York aircraft were built during and after the war) is planned and will be located outside the new terminal development. It is planned to unveil this memorial in 2021, which is the 90th anniversary of the airfield and the 80th anniversary of the AVRO factory. The current 609 squadron memorial will remain where it is, inside the current terminal building.
Parkway Station/Airport Road Link: Leeds City Council were present at the meeting to provide a talk on the proposals for both the Parkway Station and Road Link options. Key points to note were that:-
a) planning is already underway for road improvement to the Leeds Outer Ring Road (A6120) between Dawsons Corner, Pudsey and the A65 at Broadway, Horsforth, which will then tie in with future development of the link road and presumably the stretch of A65 between the Ring Road roundabout and the proposed starting point for either Option A or B. In addition, works are to be carried out to enhance the junctions at Fink Hill (Horsforth), Dyneley Arms (Pool, junction with the A660) and also the signalling systems along the entire A65 corridor between Leeds and Guiseley, to speed up traffic flows.
b) The use of shuttle buses between the Parkway Station and Airport, will be free of charge;
c) Design work on the access from Parkway Station to the airport is still being worked on given that the station will be built before the (possible) link road. Thereby a temporary means of reaching the airport will be required, either via Scotland Lane (which I assume would require some widening to enable a bus to use it) or by crossing Scotland Lane (across, over or under) and then accessing the airport via the long stay car parks and Whitehouse Lane, as at present;
d) An artists impression of the Parkway Station design was shown - buildings having a sequence of arched roofs in the shape of barns, as an acknowledgement to the rural area. Each platform would have two over-sized lifts up to ground level, plus stairs. (No escalators) and there will be a bridge over the railway line above the station.
e) The consultation period for both ends 12th April 2019.
Trains: It was confirmed that from May 15th, the Leeds to Harrogate/Knaresborough/York line will have an improved service, increasing to 3 trains per hour (with the future intention being a further increase to 4 trains per hour). Also that from December 8th, there will be the long awaited significant increase in through trains to Harrogate from London Kings Cross, via Leeds, using the new Hitachi Azumo trains, subject to these being delivered on time by the manufacturer. Not currently directly related to LBA, but an important development for the future.
Brexit: (Of course! It had to be included.....)
In response to a question raised, LBA confirmed that irrespective of the outcome of Brexit, LBA operations will continue as they are, and the only 'issue' to be resolved will relate to the requirements of Border Force, which will change according to deal (and if so which deal) or no deal. Effectively LBA await their instructions so they can sort out the process and necessary signage with Border Force.
Hope you all find that of some interest. We were promised more relating to route development etc. at the next meeting when the new Aviation and Commercial Director is in place.
