LBA Cargo Ops

[Bobby Ham]

No, not at all. Keep up. White Heather spoke at length about the airports discussions with cargo operators, they are in decline at most airports as cargo operators are concentrating on the main air cargo hubs such as East Midlands.

LBA already has the capacity to handle wide bodies aircraft in the same location as the new terminal. Just because the new terminal will have the capacity to handle such aircraft doesn't mean we're instantly going to be seeing daily wide bodied aircraft, but that doesn't mean LBA shouldn't seek to try and attract them.

OK then.

 

[Bobby Ham]

No, not at all. Keep up. White Heather spoke at length about the airports discussions with cargo operators, they are in decline at most airports as cargo operators are concentrating on the main air cargo hubs such as East Midlands.

LBA already has the capacity to handle wide bodies aircraft in the same location as the new terminal. Just because the new terminal will have the capacity to handle such aircraft doesn't mean we're instantly going to be seeing daily wide bodied aircraft, but that doesn't mean LBA shouldn't seek to try and attract them.

White Heather who spoke to her contacts at the airport who said there was no massive news? That White Heather? The new terminal is good news, but if the airport are saying that they're chasing long haul airlines then they're either lying or they're just stupid. No (scheduled, before the Jet2 pedants leap in) airline flying long haul would start a service without provision for air cargo, it's an integral part of any service. The nonsense about airlines consolidating in to East Midlands is just face saving nonsense, spun to keep the spotters happy. Bucket and spade all the way, hopefully keep the Heathrow route too, maybe a Paris or Frankfurt service too perhaps? Talk of anything else is counter productive nonsense when the airport is trying to garner support from local residents such as myself.

 

[Aviador]

White Heather who spoke to her contacts at the airport who said there was no massive news? That White Heather? The new terminal is good news, but if the airport are saying that they're chasing long haul airlines then they're either lying or they're just stupid. No (scheduled, before the Jet2 pedants leap in) airline flying long haul would start a service without provision for air cargo, it's an integral part of any service. The nonsense about airlines consolidating in to East Midlands is just face saving nonsense, spun to keep the spotters happy. Bucket and spade all the way, hopefully keep the Heathrow route too, maybe a Paris or Frankfurt service too perhaps? Talk of anything else is counter productive nonsense when the airport is trying to garner support from local residents such as myself.

I appreciate what you are saying and I am fully aware of the general requirement by long haul airlines for the provision of cargo facilities. The way I understand it is the airport are indeed trying to get a cargo operator on board but at this moment in time they haven't been able to. This doesn't mean they have stopped trying and it doesn't mean they shouldn't try to improve the passenger or aircraft handling facilities. The two go hand in hand if they are to secure airlines such as Emirates or Qatar in the future. Cargo handling maybe something the airport company can do itself if the need arises and if there is no alternative in place.

 

[Bobby Ham]

I appreciate what you are saying and I am fully aware of the general requirement by long haul airlines for the provision of cargo facilities. The way I understand it is the airport are indeed trying to get a cargo operator on board but at this moment in time they haven't been able to. This doesn't mean they have stopped trying and it doesn't mean they shouldn't try to improve the passenger or aircraft handling facilities. The two go hand in hand if they are to secure airlines such as Emirates or Qatar in the future. Cargo handling maybe something the airport company can do itself if the need arises and if there is no alternative in place.

They won't get them without the facilities being in place. Build them along with the new terminal to show that they've put their money where their mouth is. They'll have no problem attracting a handling company if they've got regular flights. Or don't build it and acknowledge that they're happy with what they've got. Personally I think it would be a waste of money given the slim chance of viable long haul from the airport. It's the muddled thinking of saying one thing and doing another that grates.

 

[Aviador]

You could argue there is already a cargo facility in place albeit in need of renewal. As I said, there is nothing to stop LBA from operating their own cargo facility. Hypothetically any offer to a prospective airline could include cargo facilities for them to run themselves. Once the old terminal is gone, there will then be more scope to redevelop that part of the airport with the need of the business in mind.

 

[B737]

I saw some electricians working in the old cargo building earlier in the week. It could be something or it could be nothing, just an observation.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Thanks for your post. I heard back from the airport only last week and indications are there is no prospect of cargo operations returning in the foreseeable future. Presumably they are putting the building to some other use. Jet2 related?

 

[Aviador]

Thanks for your post. I heard back from the airport only last week and indications are there is no prospect of cargo operations returning in the foreseeable future. Presumably they are putting the building to some other use. Jet2 related?

Its basically a giant shed. Would be good to temporarily house a couple of refurbished air bridges🙂

 

[White Heather]

White Heather who spoke to her contacts at the airport who said there was no massive news? That White Heather? The new terminal is good news, but if the airport are saying that they're chasing long haul airlines then they're either lying or they're just stupid. No (scheduled, before the Jet2 pedants leap in) airline flying long haul would start a service without provision for air cargo, it's an integral part of any service. The nonsense about airlines consolidating in to East Midlands is just face saving nonsense, spun to keep the spotters happy. Bucket and spade all the way, hopefully keep the Heathrow route too, maybe a Paris or Frankfurt service too perhaps? Talk of anything else is counter productive nonsense when the airport is trying to garner support from local residents such as myself.

Thanks for the sarcasm Bobby Ham. Of course the airport director I contacted said there was no massive news at the time as the airport didn't want it leaking out - something that obviously happened though as you knew all about it and said nothing on here other than leaving a trail of clues. You seem to be aiming sarcastic criticism at me for trying to find out what was happening. It isn't my fault if the airport directors didn't want to say anything at the time. And I can assure you that the current airport directors are far from stupid and certainly are not lying. You need to be careful with your accusations.

As for wide body operations, I can assure you that LBA are very much interested in attracting one or two longer haul routes in the future , but this isn't going to happen before 2023, assuming the new terminal is built on schedule and that is very much in the hands of Leeds City Council planning. However, they have also indicated that they would want the capability of handling wide body aircraft for the likes of Jet2. At present they cannot handle their A330s due to lack of ground handling equipment, inadequate baggage reclaim facilities and inadequate gate facilities for an aircraft of that size. Two of those will be resolved by the proposed terminal and the other will be resolved if and when any airline indicates a willingness to .operate wide body aircraft types out of LBA on a regular basis. Other than that, don't forget that some airlines operate long haul on narrow body aircraft and this may well increase with the availability of new aircraft types.

As for cargo, LBA are continuing to try and secure a new Cargo Operator and as things stand, they have slightly more than 3 years in which to do so if they wish to have a realistic chance of attracting a long haul carrier.

 

[XEROX]

As for cargo, LBA are continuing to try and secure a new Cargo Operator and as things stand, they have slightly more than 3 years in which to do so if they wish to have a realistic chance of attracting a long haul carrier.

Without going to much into future UK trade policy, i can imagine today's climate for cargo will be totally different in 10 years once Brexit has fully materialised i.e with trade deals with non-EU trading partners.

I can tell you many big businesses have not taken stock of the aftermath Brexit will bring, and i really wouldn't be surprised if cargo plans would be further up the agenda once the terminal has been built. I really do envisage a major increase in export / import in the next 10 years.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Although there's no particular reason a cargo operator would choose to use LBA for PPE flights my assumption is that these aircraft are realatively lightly loaded on landing and carrying nothing for the return flight so could operate into and out of LBA with no issues. This irrespective of the size of aircraft. Im sure the airport would open for a PPE flights and I reckonCustoms would cooperate to permit clearance.

 

[twevsmiff]

Although there's no particular reason a cargo operator would choose to use LBA for PPE flights my assumption is that these aircraft are realatively lightly loaded on landing and carrying nothing for the return flight so could operate into and out of LBA with no issues. This irrespective of the size of aircraft. Im sure the airport would open for a PPE flights and I reckonCustoms would cooperate to permit clearance.

Why would an airline come here when there is a more than adequate airport down the road which is fully geared up with all the necessary equipment and facilities to handle them, which LBA totally lacks ?l

 

[LBAYORKIE]

They wouldnt. I was pointing out that runway length would necessarily be an issue if all other things were equal.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Due to the fact PPE is needed all over the country and not just in west Yorkshire you would pick a more central airport with good access to motorways like DSA or EMA, in the case of PPE its more about location of airport rather than runway length.

 

[Bigman]

There are enough cargo operators using 737's and 146's, so I do not see why LBA should not be an option. Gearing up would surely not be onerous. Do we not still have the big scissor lift for handling luggage bins and cargo pallets? There is always the environment card that we can chuck into the mix as getting cargo in locally could reduce the length of lorry journeys to the final cargo destination.

 

[Aviador]

Due to the fact PPE is needed all over the country and not just in west Yorkshire you would pick a more central airport with good access to motorways like DSA or EMA, in the case of PPE its more about location of airport rather than runway length.

Or was it a case of operating through an airport which was open and with a cargo operation and nothing to do with runway length or location. Notably, Cardiff had a couple of these PPE flights. Cardiff isn't central to the UK or Wales and Cardiff only has an extra 100m of concrete more than LBA.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I was just stating that whatever the reasons for choosing DSA over LBA for large freighters runway length isn't for once an issue. I accept central location and readily available cargo/customs facilities at DSA are key factors.

I attended a presentation on cargo at DSS and what they offer is very impressive. They have staff who understand cargo operations unlike anyone past or present at LBA.

 

[White Heather]

Or was it a case of operating through an airport which was open and with a cargo operation and nothing to do with runway length or location. Notably, Cardiff had a couple of these PPE flights. Cardiff isn't central to the UK or Wales and Cardiff only has an extra 100m of concrete more than LBA.

I would think the only reason DSA is open is the cargo ops! They have no commercial traffic otherwise do they?

 

[stars&sids]

I would think the only reason DSA is open is the cargo ops! They have no commercial traffic otherwise do they?

WH, see post #80 in this thread.

 

[Finger66]

Definitely worth having then. Can't understand what Teesside has that LBA hasn't, apart perhaps from a pro active development team.

“Space” immediately springs to mind!