Future Infrastructure Developments

[White Heather]

At today's LBA Consultative Committee meeting, LBA management confirmed that the first floor landside infill construction work will be completed in October. Work will then commence on the fit out works, which are currently being planned. The final layout has yet to be determined, but they did confirm that an additional 500 seats have been ordered for this area and the seats are identical to those in use in London Heathrow's Terminal 5. The area is expected to be fully completed and available for use by the turn of the year (late December/early January).

 

[Tarn Spotter]

What does 500 extra seats mean to overall numbers at LBA, if you ignore bars etc seating, sounds quite an increase.

 

[Aviador]

What does 500 extra seats mean to overall numbers at LBA, if you ignore bars etc seating, sounds quite an increase.

If you exclude seating in cafes and bars I would guess at around 150 seats now and I feel like I'm being generous. 500 new seats is a huge increase. I'm not entirely sure how many seats are available if you include the bars and cafes. Maybe that's something Heather might know?

 

[Finger66]

Would just like to put a little bit of the frustrations around all the building work into some context. Having recently used Luton Airport this was very overcrowded, more so than LBA, because in similar vain they are going through a building program for the longer term benefit. In addition to this I have read elsewhere this morning about the on going saga with Berlins 3/4 airports, the overcrowding that exists there and how a vote may end up determining the future. So all I am saying is LBA is not alone and due to the length of time construction work can take to complete the sooner it is commenced the better in the long run even if this initially impacts on the summer peak. The queues at LTN for passport control were horrendous, far worse than at LBA, but again it is the end result that matters. I firmly believe LBA will reap the benefits of the current construction in 2018 when hopefully the next major passenger number milestone is passed. The future is bright as they say.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

If you exclude seating in cafes and bars I would guess at around 150 seats now and I feel like I'm being generous. 500 new seats is a huge increase.

Thanks for that Avaidor, whilst never counting how many seats at the moment, my guess would be in your ball park figure.

Having recently used Luton Airport this was very overcrowded, more so than LBA, because in similar vain they are going through a building program for the longer term benefit.

Not sure the new builidng works to blame for Luton over crowding and passport control isues.
For business puposes I used to fly out of Luton twice a month for 17 years until a few years back.
There used to be controls on even letting you in to the airport as the terminal was too full, then control times on when you could get through passport control as security under pressure. Going through passport control all you could hear was other passengers shouting to be let through as boarding called for their plane.
If you thought you would arrive 3 hours early to give you time, you were not even allowed in to the terminal, if you managed to break through this barrier, you were still not allowed though security unless your plane landed and ready to load.
Lost count of the times I walked from Luton Parkway to the airport (about 1.5 Miles) as the link road completely blocked (once by snow), just pray Leeds never just have one route from the new station. You just need a bus to break down or an accident for everything to stop.

 

[leedslad]

This is why any city with ambition should be linking via something like the Pisa Mover...

 

[KARFA]

This is why any city with ambition should be linking via something like the Pisa Mover...

What would LBA be linking to though? In Pisa the people mover is 1km long and links to the main train station.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

In pisa it actually links to the main parkNride car parks then onwards to the main train stations, so something similar would be possible at Leeds if car parks were established form the airport to the station.
I accept it means ripping up parts of the Master Plan, but no plan should be written in stone.

 

[dmrodgers]

Not sure what people expect when they fly LBA, we are never going to get bucket loads of money thrown at the terminal building some glitzy extravagant terminal like you get for example at let's say Dubai, yet people for whatever reason think Bridgeport should build it like this. Has the experience of flying out yesterday morning on the 07.10 Monarch (by the way they we excellent) to Faro. The terminal was busy as per usual at that time of day yet we managed to find 2 seats without issue and was pleasantly surprised how clean and tidy the terminal was. Some ceiling tiles need replacing, think this has been mentioned earlier in the year in another post, but apart from that it was a credit to the airport. We board quickly and efficiently through Gate 6 and all in all it was a good experience. Just waiting now for the return on the 10 October to see how efficient immigration and baggage is after some complaints. Yes the baggage reclaim is in need of some TLC but overall the whole experience was good.

 

[airforced]

I wouldn't hold your breath too long on that one but good luck anyway.

 

[Seasider]

Came though the airport this afternoon and from landing to leaving car park, 40 mins (Including bag pick up)

 

[lbaspotter]

Triton Construction have posted the following pictures on there website of what it currently looks like in the new terminal building departure lounge extension first floor area, before the furniture, fittings and fixtures as fitted added.

Source: http://www.tritonconstruction.co.uk/projects/lba-international-departures-works/

 

[Aviador]

It's not level with the mezzanine. (rolling eyes and shaking head)

 

[Bob101]

Not ideal but looks like the space could have a real transformative effect in terms of making departures feel more spacious.

 

[Aviador]

Not ideal but looks like the space could have a real transformative effect in terms of making departures feel more spacious.

Yes you are quite right. It's definitely better than before. It's just a shame they couldn't make it level.

 

[Seasider]

Yes you are quite right. It's definitely better than before. It's just a shame they couldn't make it level.

Not sure what you actually mean, but if it is the curve of the window, that could have been caused by the camera "panning" while taking the photograph. I thought the window there was parallel to the apron.

 

[Finger66]

Not sure what all the fuss is about. Is this really any different to the floor levels just outside the YPL? Stairs and a ramp if I am not mistaken! This is all about best improvement at minimal cost, yes. But it is massively massively (deliberate double massively) better than what we had before

 

[Seasider]

Hi Seasider - it is the floor level in the old area that is being referred to. If you look to the left on the picture you can see the floor level of the older area is about a metre lower than the in-filled section. Near the window you can see a break in a rail where stairs lead down.

Does that mean that you will be able to see across the apron from that area as well?

 

[White Heather]

Does that mean that you will be able to see across the apron from that area as well?

It does indeed!

 

[tleeds]

Apparently this new area of which was advertised as “free seating” is eventually becoming the new lounge which will take up the whole “galleries” view.

The old lounge will be kept with the kitchen as a family lounge and the current family lounge will become the new free seating. Don’t know if this will happen until another 18months though.

A lot of small shops and more airport owned retail being discussed too to fill the back wall of this new area. Also heard the renovated area opposite current gate 8 (where the old, old kitchen used to be with the restaurant) is to become a soft play area for children.

Very disappointing if this is true about the lounge moving, although it’s just another money spinner.