Future Infrastructure Developments

[airforced]

...............................The airport MD, John Parkin has said on a number of occasions however, that if passengers have complaints or something to say, he would rather they write to him than to a newspaper who then put their own spin on things anyway. He has always said he will respond and explain. Unfortunately it appears that there is some mistrust of Bridgepoint, so whatever is said, it seems likely that they will be accused of all talk and doing nowt.

I have drafted a letter to Mr Parkin which I will tidy up tomorrow and get off to him. It will be interesting (or not) to see how he responds. Baited breath!!!

 

[Seasider]

When I went thro' the airport on Monday (18) the security was the same layout.

 

[White Heather]

Well it will be turned through 90 degrees and up to a maximum of 6 lanes by Easter Seasider, so next time you come through it should look different. On that basis thew work and new scanners should be going in over the next 7 days

 

[BigMac]

Only one additional scanner planned for Easter, and that is planned for a last minute install. I'll correct my earlier post as they are only working with 3 awtmd's at the moment. Extensions of the rollers on the scanners were put in today giving the security team even less room to work in.

 

[White Heather]

That is not what the airport MD stated only last Thursday - he was quite specific that the works would be completed in time for the Easter rush and there would be six scanners available, although not all would be in use all of the time. The numbers will reduce as and when the passenger throughput reduces.

Do you have other information BigMac that updates what John Parkin stated?

 

[BigMac]

Only what I have already said. We discussed it at work today and yesterday. The 6th scanner would be in place for may, the 5th for Easter. Like you say, the extra equipment will only be used during peak times, much like the existing equipment is. I have noticed the 4th machine has been needed a lot recently on Thursdays And Fridays. I get the impression this was a little before Omniserv were hoping.

 

[EX9]

The changeover happened on the evening and most likely into the early hours of the morning 19th.

The issue is with the metal detector arches, when coming through fast track. You might get your belongings on a tray and into the scanner promptly however you then join a Que with every tom dick and harry to go through the arch depending on which one they have decided to open at the time if its in a reduced state of operation. So not very logical when they are not all running.

 

[White Heather]

LBA management and Omniserve have apparently worked through numerous 'models' to ensure that the new system works and that at peak times they can cope. The airport MD stated that bearing in mind the cost of the equipment being installed, 'it had better work'. So its not as though they are just taking a flyer at it and hoping. They have been working together on this for some time.

 

[BigMac]

Your right there white heather, and with the planned solution, passenger throughput is supposed to be quick and smooth but in my opinion, we are still going to see large queues for csz. I hope I'm wrong but with increased passengers figures for this summer compared to last, i dont see an additional 2 scanners being the solution to the queues.

 

[Seasider]

On Monday I was talking to the guys working on the lounge for Gate 1. You will now be able to have a better view across the airport like you used to be able to do a year or so ago.
How often is Gate 1 used?

 

[EX9]

Gate 1 is rarely used, it is only ever used for busing to remote stands. So in the summer it will serve stand one when the little ones don't get as close as they do at the moment. Though having had a look today the space in that area is now much larger so it will be ideal for busing to remote stands of big aircraft.

 

[Aviador]

The refurbishment of the downstairs departure area is now complete.

The work doesn't reach the same high spec that is seen on the first floor with cheap vinyl floor tiles used as opposed to the shiny marble tiles. The lighting however has been significantly improved giving the area a much lighter and brighter feel compared to the old dull and dirty look prior to the refurbishment.

On a downside, there is still a distinct lack of seating which will become more of a problem as we go into the busy summer season. Also, the majority of the old food village area is now filled with tensa barriers as opposed to the seats seen on the original artists impression. This may have been done to assist with passenger boarding but it doesn't do much for passenger comfort.

I understand work is to commence soon on a passenger smoking area.

 

[Aviador]

The landside WHSmith's store is being moved overnight to it''s new home opposite to take-up space previously occupied by the old Superdrug store. It is believed the old store is to be removed to provide additional space between the entrance and the check-in halls.

 

[User0001]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

All sounds encouraging, although I've been hearing "positive news" on this for well over 10 years and we're still waiting. Let's hope they finally get something done. I would have thought this is something to do in height of summer and not the winter, so if it doesn't happen this summer, I think it will be another 12 months at least. Much easier to get away with runway lighting and ILS out of action in the light nights and more pleasant weather of summer surely?
Not sure why they'd have to lose 30m of landing distance at the 14 stop end. It would hardly act as an effective overrun area, so I wonder what the thinking behind that one is

 

[User0001]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Revealed: Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plan

CONTROVERSIAL plans to expand the terminal building at Leeds Bradford Airport, creating up to 3,000 jobs, have gone before planning officials. See a preview of the proposals here.
The scheme, announced by the airport's new private equity owners Bridgepoint, is at the centre of a £70m masterplan to increase passenger numbers to five million a year by 2013.

But local residents have complained about increased traffic and aircraft noise.

Airport chief executive John Parkin said the "exciting" improvements would help Leeds Bradford lure passengers from Manchester and give the region's economy a boost.

"At the moment, we have an awful lot of people travelling from our catchment area across the M62, " he said.

The planned two-storey expansion, expected to cost £28m, would provide a new passenger security screening zone, a new departure lounge, an improved baggage reclaim hall and better immigration facilities.

An extra £450,000 is expected to be spent on improving access roads to the airport, as well as a feasibility study exploring the possibility of a light rail link.

Mr Parkin said the expansion was needed for the airport to offer more medium and long-haul flights, a key element of the plan to raise yearly passenger numbers from 2.9 million to five million.

"It is a big investment project, notwithstanding the current economic environment, but we have a great deal of confidence that it will go ahead, " he said.

Source

 

[User0001]

It was a government requirement to produce an updated masterplan every 5 years. 2years late now. A lot of false promises and new furniture in a old cramped terminal. At least the council got their money.....

 

[White Heather]

At least the terminal expansion project is not cancelled, it is on hold. The works done to the existing terminal have been designed specifically to enable an easy 'bolt on' of the expanded terminal when built. The airport are already working on design proposals and obviously when it happens will be determined by airport success. At the moment the future looks promising. It would be good to get a few longer haul routes and a return of some of the lost domestic routes. LBA has kept the planning consent alive for the terminal also, having spent a lot of money already on the design and planning. The other issue here is that the expanded terminal would probably push the airport to a level of passengers whereby the runway/taxiways/apron would struggle to cope with aircraft movements - so really, the terminal expansion needs to be built alongside developments on the airfield itself, otherwise it just isn't going to work.

 

[User0001]

Thought some of our members would appreciate this image from the world duty free at Southampton

 

[Seasider]

Do they stick them to the wall with blue tack?

 

[User0001]

I actually think the refurbishment of the old terminal building has been done very well. The problem is though the council sold the airport because they were unable to EXTEND the terminal. Bridgepoint won the right to do this and yet they have only succeeded in doing exactly what the council would have done. The terminal at rush hour is utterly ridiculous as of course was predicted. We need a BIGGER terminal not just a pretty one which i think i stated 7 years ago. And still we wait for a AWOL masterplan of work that should have been finished 5 years ago. It really is very embarrassing for Bridgepoint who promised the Yorkshire public so much so long ago. If anyone sees the missing masterplan please hand it in to Leeds Bedford Airport.