Leeds Bradford: Infrastructure & Construction Updates

[LBA4EVER]

Forgive me if you have already said @White Heather but have you any idea how long before we might have to wait before we learn more about the terminal work?

Around 2033 maybe! Haha

 

[lbaspotter]

Forgive me if you have already said @White Heather but have you any idea how long before we might have to wait before we learn more about the terminal work?

I'm sure @White Heather said we would hear more at the Next consultative committee in June.

To me it makes sense not to have builders on site until at least September to break ground, as we are just to dam busy over the summer months.

 

[HX3]

Lbaspotter posted in the Jet2 thread that 22 overnight airport parking stands will be utilised next year. With the terminal expanding, Jet2 fleet increasing and holiday markets coming back to pre-pandemic levels. Is now the time to invest in some more stands, to ensure that the airport remains flexible to user requirements and potential expansion plans?

 

[White Heather]

Lbaspotter posted in the Jet2 thread that 22 overnight airport parking stands will be utilised next year. With the terminal expanding, Jet2 fleet increasing and holiday markets coming back to pre-pandemic levels. Is now the time to invest in some more stands, to ensure that the airport remains flexible to user requirements and potential expansion plans?

Apron expansion is phase 3 of the airports expansion plan. Extension, then re-configuration of the existing terminal, then apron expansion with additional stands.

 

[lbaspotter]

Lbaspotter posted in the Jet2 thread that 22 overnight airport parking stands will be utilised next year. With the terminal expanding, Jet2 fleet increasing and holiday markets coming back to pre-pandemic levels. Is now the time to invest in some more stands, to ensure that the airport remains flexible to user requirements and potential expansion plans?

As has been said numerous times before in here, the airport has said it will build aircraft parking stands when they are required to do so/if an airline wishes to base new or additional aircraft at LBA.

I guess that request hasn't come yet?

 

[HX3]

I agree it has been said numerous times before, but owners and market conditions have changed, so I thought was worth a discussion point; but as it’s phase 3 and has been has discussed before, I’ll shut up.

 

[lbaspotter]

I agree it has been said numerous times before, but owners and market conditions have changed, so I thought was worth a discussion point; but as it’s phase 3 and has been has discussed before, I’ll shut up.

Sorry I wasn't having a go at you personally @HX3

I would have been surprised if TUi had put in a based aircraft request. But that sadly didn't happen when they confirmed there summer 2024:schedule this past week

Now if Ryanair do a new deal to base that 4th aircraft, or either Wizz Air (UK) / EasyJet want to base aircraft at LBA anytime we might see something happen sooner rather than later.

Never say never, when the is a good business deal to be done.

 

[Aviador]

I'm sure the Multiflight apron could accommodate one unit if necessary so the main apron can free up a stand?

 

[HX3]

No worries, @lbaspotter. To be honest, I raised it as a conversation point as I am conscious that it is the same regular posters who generate conversation, so I thought I would make the effort, after all a forum will only ever work if more people contribute.

 

[White Heather]

No worries, @lbaspotter. To be honest, I raised it as a conversation point as I am conscious that it is the same regular posters who generate conversation, so I thought I would make the effort, after all a forum will only ever work if more people contribute.

It's a valid question.

The terminal capacity continues to limit the airport's ability to handle any more based aircraft than we currently have planned for next year . It also limits the size of those aircraft. The extension to the terminal will, at a stroke, resolve all the current arrivals problems and the considerable additional seating and extra gates on the first floor will enhance the ability of the airport to handle more passengers at the same time, but it will take the terminal reconfiguration (phase 2) to increase capacity of the security screening area and also provide a better passenger experience from arrival to boarding. When that's done, then we can expect additional based aircraft - something the airport isn't actively encouraging airlines to do. They know their limits.

LBA know that the terminal works will enable more based aircraft in a few years time but that will then require more stands. Their plans include the construction of these in phases over time. Effectively they will be built as and when the demand for them becomes evident.

 

[Easy289]

I'm sure @White Heather said we would hear more at the Next consultative committee in June.

To me it makes sense not to have builders on site until at least September to break ground, as we are just to dam busy over the summer months.

I don't necessarily see why business as usual could not be maintained within the existing terminal during S23 whilst extension work is undertaken (despite possibly reducing the number of parking spaces in the Long Stay by a relatively small percentage).

 

[White Heather]

I don't necessarily see why business as usual could not be maintained within the existing terminal during S23 whilst extension work is undertaken (despite possibly reducing the number of parking spaces in the Long Stay by a relatively small percentage).

It's nothing to do with that. There's a limit to what they can fund at once. They dont have millions to throw at both an extension to the terminal and apron works too. It's a question of priorities . The terminal will generate more business . The apron by itself, won't generate anything other than another big financial loan at a time of high interest rates. It makes little sense to invest in infrastructure now that won't increase business anyway until the terminal is completed .

 

[LBAYORKIE]

What I dont get is the need to seek external financing. I was sure we had heard that the funds (for the new terminal) had been ring fenced by the airports owners.

 

[Easy289]

When groundworks began 2 years ago, presumably funds had been secured? Why then, have funds to be resecured again?

 

[White Heather]

When groundworks began 2 years ago, presumably funds had been secured? Why then, have funds to be resecured again?

Presumably the damage done by the pandemic changed things.

The CEO stated that the Investment Company that owns the airport doesn't have pots of money sloshing around to invest in airport infrastructure and the airport had to be self sufficient. But, even if they did have the money, it still makes no sense to spend millions on the apron when the terminal constraints mean that additional based aircraft can't be accommodated . The plan is to sort the terminal, remove the constraints, generate additional business, and then build stands as they are needed. Let's be grateful that the apron extensions are officially in the plan. It's obvious that LBA know that the number of based aircraft will increase as the terminal is transformed and once airlines sign up to that, they will have to build the stands.

 

[oldendays]

It's good that additional stands do feature in expansion plans but i shall be most interested to see where they are going to be! Moving the fire station Southside and Jet2's HQ would be a step towards gaining more room. And the dilapidated old BP garage too!

 

[Easy289]

Extend further up Delta taxiway perhaps?

 

[White Heather]

It's good that additional stands do feature in expansion plans but i shall be most interested to see where they are going to be! Moving the fire station Southside and Jet2's HQ would be a step towards gaining more room. And the dilapidated old BP garage too!

If you check out the airports development plans the expansion area are all marked on. No guessing needed. From memory, most if not all involve removal of grassed areas between the existing apron and the old runway 28 at the Eastern side of the terminal.

 

[Aviador]

Now we're running with plan B option I would expect to see the grassed areas down November becoming apron space. It will allow potential for a couple of wide body aircraft stands close to the terminal extension.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Adding extra apron space all the way down the old runway 28 would be the ideal plan, but obviously not all the way to runway32/14 due to safety. The plans are to develop the eastern end but certainly could be extended west too meaning the aircraft when parked would be facing outwards towards runway 32/14, plaintree hill etc.