Future Infrastructure Developments

[wawkrk]

I agree with whoshotjimmi.
The excuses made on Bridgepoints behalf stopped having any meaning a long time ago.
All airports have ongoing behind the scenes happenings.
Why on Earth does LBA always have to be a special case with years and years and years of inaction.The place remains a joke in my opinion and I cannot see this changing any time soon.Bridgepoint should hold their hands up and admit, they just ain't got the brass to invest in our little shambolic airport or they have no wish to do so.
It reminds me of the film, Groundhog Day.

 

[Aviador]

I can thoroughly understand the negativity and it's totally understandable considering the lengthy wait we've had just to get this far. Although I totally agree with what 'wawkrk' and agree with what 'whoshotjimmi' have said, I would just say, we've waited this long so we might as well wait until next summer to see how the development pans out before passing judgement.

There has been so much emphasis on the airside part of this development and how the departure lounge will increase in size that the scale of the development from a landside prospective has been totally underestimated. From what I understand the development amounts to a near total refurbishment of the terminal. Land side the terminal will have stairs and escalators taken down, offices and desks removed and realigned to make it seem more open and much less confusing. It's difficult to imagine what it will look like in the end but it should be considerably better than it is now, even if we don't see the new building on the front.

 

[User0001]

The council have approved the amendment to the planning application put forward by the airport.

In a brief report it states that the modification to the original planning application was made by LBIA because the economic climate meant the building works would be phased over a longer period of time. Nonetheless, the airport state that additional space is critical to deliver an improved and fully functioning terminal.

It states that the amendments to the plans are all internal and involve creating an additional 534 square metres of floor space by the infill over check-in hall A. It mentions that the plans for the first floor compromise

- improved circulation space
- retail space
- duty free provision
- departure seating area
- a new leisure lounge

Work, it says, will start in October and be completed by April.

 

[Aviador]

Work is already underway to prepare for a new escalator and lift so really you could say the work has already begun. The main work is due to commence in November. Does anybody have any idea which company has been awarded the contract for the development?

 

[White Heather]

I don't know, but I do know that the airport will be ensuring maximum publicity some time in the not too distant future, although what form that will take, I couldn't say.

 

[User0001]

This looks likely to be the brand that will be installed in the food village area once it goes airside as part of the terminal works

http://www.camdenfoodco.com/

Burger king will stay. Yates Bar will go.

Also confirmed is that existing duty free area on ground floor will go completely and part of the space will be used to increase security screening from 4 to 6 channels. I believe the security lanes will be rotated through 45 degrees compared to where they are now

I also understand that almost all of the shops, cafe etc from the existing departure area will go and that all of the space will be given over to seating / waiting areas for the departure gates.

All of the retail and eating will be on the first floor as will the new family lounge.

 

[tleeds]

I'm slightly unsure about the new selection of Food Outlet the airport have chosen. I hadn't heard of them, before looking on their website, via the link you posted LS16. It's a shame Yates Bar will go, as I always thought it looked a relaxing place to be, early in the morning and was always full of business passengers, but I suppose this isn't the main market anymore and something directly aimed at families is something a lot more appropriate.

The security screening area can get very congested at times and so expanding this area, was almost a necessity. The fact that more seating will be offered is a god send. There have been count-less instances where I have seen people resorting to sitting on the floor, especially by Gate 8 upstairs and also at times along the main concourse opposite WHSmith's along-side the current Danby Bar railing.

All we need now is for the airport to actually tell the general public that changes are to be made, and one thing I am in favor for is a billboard on the current 'waste' land outside the terminal, which has been mentioned on numerous occasions by Whoshotjimmi(??)

 

[User0001]

They have been chosen because they offer a combination of sit down / eat-in options or fresh sandwiches, snacks, drinks that will be made up to order to be taken on-board the aircraft.

The airport are hosting an event at the Skybar at the Mint Hotel in Leeds this Thursday evening in conjunction with Eastern Airways. It will be an opportunity to meet Tony Hallwood and they will be talking about the terminal development and plans for the airport as well as the guys from Eastern talking about their product.

The event is free but registration is required so send me a PM if you would like the details.

 

[Aviador]

At last things are happening. It seems only another world credit crunch could stop it now! I don't want to get bogged down discussing what retail we might have had as there's a dedicated retail thread, but as this is still in the development stage I must say I am surprised the airport has chosen yet another brand that people aren't familiar with. The majority any new offerings will undoubtedly be franchise operated. They could have done a public poll on the airport website to establish what the passengers and the paying public prefer out of a selection of brands available to them.

On another note It's a shame Betty's can't be persuaded to open an express version of their brand at the Yorkshire airport, it would be a real hit with foreigners.

As for how things are progressing, the BMI crew room has now moved from the services corridor on the first floor in readiness for work to begin within the next ten weeks or so. I am told the other business partners on the service corridor will be moving to other locations around the airport within the next six to eight weeks.

 

[tleeds]

Just leading on from your point there Aviador, about 'Brand Named Stores'... I took part in a questionnaire last summer, which asked passengers a whole range of questions about how the airport could be improved i.e. what airlines would you like to see offer what routes, what destinations would you like to see and also a variety of questions about the terminal itself.

A great deal of the responses I heard, when the 'Happy2Help' team asked the people sat at the tables either side of us, where in-fact well known brands such as; Boots/SuperDrug (Airside), McDonalds, Costa Coffee and even a sports store. It's probably going to work out that we don't get many, if any, new large brand names into LBA, which is a great shame....

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I would assume that some of the large brand names would be put off by the fact that the airport isn't massively busy during the winter months. Though the audience is captive, they are not constant. The big brand names will not commit money to something that would potentially spend 6 months of every year not making a good profit. The brand names on the landside already have ludicrously short opening hours (I once wrote a long letter of complaint to the airport due to the fact that I could not get anything to eat at 5pm). Most airports of the size of LBA and even those that have a higher passenger throughput cannot attract the likes of McDonald's/Boots etc - not just here in the UK, but across the world.

 

[airforced]

On another note It's a shame Betty's can't be persuaded to open an express version of their brand at the Yorkshire airport, it would be a real hit with foreigners.

An admirable idea Aviador but I just can't see Betty's in any regional airport let alone LBA. Maybe they would fit at LHR but then they would be playing an away game wouldn't they so that would defeat the object of the exercise. Another thing - they don't do 'express' as anyone who has sat waiting to be served in one of their establishments will testify. I also couldn't see them wanting to be associated with a such a dysfunctional operation as LBA currently is. Additionally I can't see many of the bucket and spade brigade wanting to pay Betty's money on a tea and teacake.

Other than that, what a good idea or was it a tongue in cheek suggestion just to get me going?

 

[Aviador]

Certainly not a tongue in cheek idea. The idea was based on the number of Betty's bags I already see coming through the airport. There's clearly a demand for the brand but admittedly I know it's a long shot.

 

[User0001]

The airport has a contract with SSP to provide all catering outlets at the airport, so you'll only see SSP brands - hence why Greggs ended up going.

There is more about Camden Food co here, but I was told they were chosen for the healthy eating on the go and their appeal for people looking for good quality food they could eat in the airport or take on board.

http://www.foodtravelexperts.com/intern ... -food-co./

There will be plenty of passing trade for them, as the passenger circulation means that after leaving security, all passengers will be routed up to the first floor and then down a wide corridor (looking right, you will be looking out over the terminal front car parks). This corridor ends where Burger King is located & the entrance to Camden Food Co and World Duty Free will be here too. Then it's a loop back round, walking back towards the in-fill over hall A, where WH Smith, Superdrug and the lounges will be. I think there will be a coffee shop around here too. When ready, passengers then continue to the boarding gates and the new waiting areas.

Finally, here are more details about the event on Thursday, whem more should be revealed....

Eastern Airways currently operate convenient daily flights from Leeds Bradford International Airport to Aberdeen and are soon to introduce new services to Bristol Airport. The airline will provide a full update on the latest route developments and prestigious Eastern Airways business products & services. Leeds Bradford International Airport will provide a full business overview of the exciting new terminal developments and initiatives taking place at Yorkshire’s leading regional airport.

The business client event taking place on Thursday 29th September starting at 6pm at the Mint Hotel, Leeds will feature updates from Tony Hallwood, Commercial & Aviation Director, Leeds Bradford International Airport and Kay Ryan, Commercial Director, Eastern Airways alongside the opportunity to enjoy and end of Summer drink.

If you are interested in attending the event or would like to receive any further information, please contact Becky Leach - [email protected]

 

[User0001]

Also wonder when the airport are going to go public with actual designs/cgi images of these works.Leeds City Council don't have these on the plans web site apart from general layout images and nothing from the viewpoint of the passenger.

The airport officially opened on 17th October 1931, so it will be 80 years old in a couple of weeks. You will probably start to see news about the terminal plans around the anniversary.

 

[Aviador]

The airport has had a whole summer of bad press so it will be nice to see something positive for once in the YEP. Having said that, the crappy YEP may not even feature it if it's good news.

 

[Aviador]

Work is continuing in check-in hall 'A' to prepare it for the main works that are set to begin next month. Contractors are currently dismantling the cosmetic casing around the pillars throughout the check-in hall area.

 

[tleeds]

I am travelling through the airport next Thursday morning and so will 'experience' the early transition stages of the airport refurbishment. I will post on here, of any developments I spot which are currently on-going and haven't been mentioned.

 

[Bigman]

I heard from someone at the weekend that the terminal work is not due to really kick in until February. Can anyone add anything to this?

 

[brtitania020]

Are we talking about the Extension to the front of the Terminal building or the new floor to be added to the Departure area in the current Terminal building.
The reason i ask is that i understood that works had begun on the interior part in Departures.