Future Infrastructure Developments

[Aviador]

I would suspect that if they are down there it will be related to drainage. When Hewlett won the contract to do work to the car park, it included a civil engineering job to improve drainage, and if its going to drain to anywhere it will be the beck down there.

You were spot on Heather, Hewlett are installing huge drainage pipes. It looks like a sizeable project, probably one which will go almost unnoticed despite the cost probably involved.

As for the walkway. I used the walkway yesterday and the wind was blowing the rain through the northern side at the top (channel 1). I suspect the same will happen to lane 3 on the western side of the walkway with westerly winds. I am sure some sort of grill similar to what has been used on the base between the lanes would suffice in stopping the rain from coming through. I hope the airport can address this problem to make the experience more pleasant.

 

[White Heather]

thanks Aviador, I thought it would be. These are the sort of jobs that the airport has to do, and fund, that tend to go un-noticed, but they are expensive! This is related to the car park works, and I suspect most will think that the cost of changing the car park is relatively minimal, but then there is this Civil Engineering job too which certainly will not be minimal cost. It all adds up.

 

[EX9]

That would be a negative.

 

[White Heather]

It was confirmed today at the Consultative Committee meeting that the official opening of the terminal enhancement is tomorrow morning, ahead of the inaugural Monarch scheduled flight to Munich. It was also confirmed that there are still some jobs to complete, including works to the ceiling and flooring in the area at the base of the escalator. It was stated that the general consensus amongst passengers is that the improvements are a huge success and many compliments have been received.

The Central Screening Zone is now enlarged and during the next few months new equipment will be put in, resulting in a quicker clearance. As a direct result of this, from now going forward, passengers will be able to take on board 2 pieces of hand baggage instead of one, on all airlines including Ryanair. No more jumping up and down on a suitcase trying to fit a handbag in it before going through check-in.

I had promised previously to raise the issue of elderly passengers or those with walking difficulties having to walk along the walkway and then climb stairs, which was causing them difficulties. I also raised the issue of the 'part time' escalator which comes into play for passengers who are bussed to the terminal. Credit to the airport, they provided a written response, handed to all members. Essentially they stated the following:
For those walking via the walkway, they have added seating in the area where the terminal is accessed and there is a telephone where they can phone for help if they require it, including someone to carry bags or help them up the stairs.
For those being bussed, the escalator does work but at very busy times has to be switched off for H&S reasons, these being that passengers cannot be allowed on to the escalator if they reach the top and cannot get off due to a long immigration queue - which apparently happens often at peak times. Again, help is available if required.

It was confirmed, in the written response, that LBA are aware of the problems and the next phase of the terminal development will aim to address arrivals issues such as these,

One interesting fact was given about the walk way. It is 'future proofed' and in the future can be dismantled from where it is now and re-installed at the far end of the apron, with a double decker walk way being installed nearer to the terminal to replace what has been installed now. This is because beyond certain passenger numbers, there are regulations as to how many can use a walkway on one level.

Re the Masterplan, work is continuing on this and will be stepped up considerably after Christmas. The report will be published mid 2013 but prior to that LBA will be undertaking major consultation with the public. A full presentation on what is likely to be in the Masterplan will ble given at the next meeting, but it was confirmed this includes enhancing the road approaches to the airport to make it visually more appealing,

In response to a question about whether buses were to be redundant, the MD replied this was not the case and in fact some additional, larger buses, are to be introduced to compliment those already in use.

Hope that is of some interest. If anyone disagrees with any of the statements made, don't shoot the messenger!

 

[Seasider]

With a bit of luck we will be away before the Monarch flight comes in, we're on the Thomson flight.
Will report back on the "airport experience" when we arrive home.

 

[White Heather]

Lets hope that your flight gets in OK Seasider as the weather forecast is for fog to clear overnight but then re-form. The wind is supposed strengthen tomorrow from the SE, so hopefully it will blow away the freezing fog, and preferably not replace it with low cloud! Enjoy Tenerife!

 

[Tarn Spotter]

White Heather:
Many thanks for your detailed update from the meeting.
I have to say I think the new layout is a vast improvement. The retail outlets now blend in to the whole frame work and there are now plenty of seats in all areas. Having experienced to departures in late summer at the 8am peak plenty of seats and room for the vast numbers about.
As an Oldie and both my partner and I have walking problems thanks again for putting forward our issues. A small point, but why cant the staff member(s) who are now supposed to carry luggage up the stairs, just hold the passengers back until the exit at the top cleared, this would solve all the problems.
In addition recently we were held on our plane because the queue was back to the escalator, better we sit on the plane and the airlines put pressure on the management as turn round times are extended, there are many was of solving this issue, without the passenger being the fall guy.
New to this site so dont know how to put a thanks against your thread.however, appreciate the work you have done.

 

[lbaspotter]

The Leeds Bradford Airport have just released the following press release regarding the Official opening of the £11 million pound terminal investment this morning by Rt. Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Source: http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/about-the-airport/news/2012-12-14-terminal-launch

Terminal investment officially opens

The Rt. Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs officially opened Leeds Bradford Airport’s (LBA) £11 million passenger terminal with John Parkin, Leeds Bradford Airport’s Chief Executive

News item

Leeds Bradford Airport £11 million pound terminal investment officially opens

The Rt. Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs officially opened Leeds Bradford Airport’s (LBA) £11 million passenger terminal development today, (Friday 14th December, 2012).

The development, which was backed by the airport’s private equity owners Bridgepoint, delivers on its commitment to create ‘best in class’ facilities at Leeds Bradford, Yorkshire’s gateway airport.

Prior to the official ceremony Mr Hague toured the impressive new facilities with Leeds Bradford Airport’s Chief Executive, John Parkin and the airport’s Commercial Director, Tony Hallwood.

Construction work to improve the passenger experience commenced in December 2011. The completed terminal investment now provides for a 65% increase in airside space over two floors, creating a new larger departure lounge, a range of new food and beverage units, a major walk-through Tax and Duty Free store and additional retail brands. This development has created an additional 2500m² of airside space of which 600m² is new construction. The security search zone has also been increased by approximately 250m², equivalent to a 40% increase in area.

The Yorkshire Premier Lounge, which has received passenger and industry acclaim for its stylish and contemporary ambience, has also been extended to provide both a business and leisure product. Passengers may now choose two separate areas; an exclusive business zone and family friendly leisure lounge. Both have been designed to cater for the specific needs of these departing passengers with a 90% increase in floor space allowing 171 guests to start their journey in style. Both lounges offer similar facilities, including, complimentary refreshments, satellite TV and the latest magazines, newspapers and wi-fi.

Following passenger feedback, boarding gate zones have also been extended and a covered walkway constructed from the terminal to a number of aircraft stands now provides all weather cover.

The Rt. Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commented: “Regional airports can make a vital contribution to local and regional economies and Leeds Bradford is an excellent example of that, providing over £100m of value [Gross Value Added] to the City Region, a figure set to grow by 10% with the introduction of the new British Airways services.

Regional airports also have an important role to play in strengthening the national economy by ensuring that the UK remains one of the best connected countries in the world, so that we can compete successfully for economic opportunities in established and emerging markets.

When I became Foreign Secretary I stressed that to ensure long-term prosperity at home we must intensify our engagement with the emerging economies of the world. That is why I made economic objectives a central aspect of British foreign policy and it is why I injected a new commercialism into the work of our Foreign Office. Leeds Bradford Airport has an important role to play in achieving those goals.

People in Yorkshire are also now able to travel to London Heathrow from Leeds Bradford with much greater ease, where they can take advantage of the huge global flight network to destinations such as New York, Beijing, Delhi, Dubai, and Rio de Janeiro”.

John Parkin, Leeds Bradford Airport’s Chief Executive, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome The Foreign Secretary, the Right Honourable William Hague, to celebrate this special day in the airport’s 80 year history for the opening of LBA’s £11 million terminal development.

This commitment by our shareholders to invest such a significant amount highlights our confidence in the optimism and strength of the Leeds City Region economy and the businesses which we serve. By investing in the airport we are also therefore investing in the region’s core infrastructure to support further growth.

As one of the UK’s fastest growing airports LBA generates substantial economic benefits to the region and the new terminal development will now allow us to grow to 4.4m passengers with a potential to deliver over £130m GVA and boost employment to over 3,000.

We are determined to support the region's ambitions to deliver inward investment and boost inbound tourism by attracting even more airlines, routes and services to Yorkshire”.

Airline Growth

2012 has seen a number of significant business development announcements with the introduction of major new airlines and the expansion of LBA’s route network.

Leading leisure airline, Monarch, announced the launch of its sixth UK base in 2013 at Leeds Bradford Airport, introducing 13 routes from Yorkshire’s gateway airport. This announcement further strengthens the airline’s operations from the North of England and creates 200 jobs within the local area. Monarch’s multi-million pound investment will see two A320 aircraft based at Leeds Bradford in Summer 2013.

Monarch will today, (Friday 14 December, 2012), celebrate its first departure to Munich. A second winter route to the ski destination of Grenoble, also twice weekly, has its inaugural flight on Saturday 15 December, 2012.

Earlier this week British Airways launched its four-times-a-day flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Heathrow. Yorkshire business and leisure customers now have the opportunity to connect with British Airways' extensive global network via Heathrow. It will provide regional businesses with the access they require to emerging and established global markets and enables those markets to fly into Yorkshire, delivering investment and inbound tourism direct into our region.

Jet2.com, LBA’s largest based airline, has continued to widen its network to serve over 40 destinations with new routes to Berlin and Las Palmas introduced. Their expansion will continue into 2013 with new services to Greece (Zakynthos) and Croatia (Pula and Split).

Ryanair introduced a third based aircraft at LBA in Summer 12, offering seven new routes to Greece, Italy and Spain, widening their destination choice to 27.

Thomson has also grown their presence at LBA for Summer 13 with the introduction of a 7 new routes and a based aircraft operation.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

With all the debate about B A flight times, interesting the emphasis William Hague placed on the the B A global network and the commencement of this B A route to London on the business prospects for the region.
Surprised work only commenced in December 2011, seem to have experienced disruption for at least 2 years, if not longer. Certainly broken chairs etc have not been repaired or replaced in this time period.

 

[White Heather]

If anyone wishes to hear the interviews with John Parkin and William Hague MP at todays official opening, they are both available to listen to on the Calendar News website.

Look North never even mentioned it! Perhaps understandably they focussed entirely on the Tour de France, although the relevance of that to LBA and its terminal should not be under-estimated. July 2014 could be one very busy period for LBA and it would not surpise me if this announcement resulted in the acceleration of phase 2 of the terminal. It could also be very lucrative for BA if they are still around then.

 

[User0001]

Images from the William Hague visit if anyone is interested.

http://www.imagenorth.net/p1061588029

Don't remember seeing the photographer and was surprised to see me on a couple of the shots ! The bits that were mentioned as still to be completed were;

- rotating security lanes through 90 desgrees and adding an extra channel
- flooring and seating at the East End of the ground floor departures area- where the cafe used to be
- seating to be added where the old duty free area was in ground floor departures (behind where the small Camden outlet is)
- pushing the ground floor WH Smith back towards the apron

 

[channex 757]

I was travelling through the airport last week for the first time since the development and i must say i like it. I think that it makes the airport look a lot more modern.

Also i was grateful for the new walkway as the weather was blowing a gale and pouring with rain and with the aircraft been on stand 11 and pushed backwards onto stand because of the wind, it would of been a very unpleasant and wet trip down to the aircraft. So that's another thumbs up to the airport.

Also i was impressed with Ryanair, couldn't fault them. Friendly crew onboard the flight both ways and a pleasant ride down. Also on the return leg, the aircraft was EI-EVX so was only a few weeks old so was nice to fly on a brand new shiny aircraft!!

 

[Aviador]

It's looking like the airport might be about to commence the refurbishment of the ground floor area of the departure lounge with ceiling tiles now removed.

 

[EX9]

Also of note the short stay car park has now begun opening up a 1 hour free parking area.. It looks as if you come in through long stay still and follow a new lane into the bottom end of SS2 near the water drainage tanks.

 

[wawkrk]

Tram - train link raised again.

http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/mps ... 12.article

 

[radar]

Subscription only link. Could you copy the text here? Cheers.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Subscription only link. Could you copy the text here? Cheers.

A summary would be preferable to avoid any copyright issues. Many thanks.

 

[wawkrk]

Sorry, this is all the information I have, just a few words. I was hoping others may know more.

MPs back Leeds-Bradford airport tram-train link
25 January, 2013
A cross party group of MPs have met with transport minister Norman Baker to push forward plans for tram-train link between the city centres of Leeds and Bradford with Leeds-Bradford airport this week.

wawkrk

 

[Tarn Spotter]

There was talk last week in the local paper, that the whole tram scheme for Leeds was now in doubt, same comments made on look north.
With HST2 announced today coming to Leeds, thinking may now go into possible links to the airport from the centre of Leeds.
Who can crystal ball the next 12 years.

 

[Aviador]

I don't know if anybody else has noticed but building work has commenced on a new taxi or bus lane in front of the terminal building. This will surely mean a complete redesign of the terminal extension to take into account the governments requirements of a 20 metres clear buffer zone and in reality it will mean a smaller extension than previously planned?