Future Infrastructure Developments

[Aviador]

I have uploaded a poll to this thread. "In your opinion, has the airport company done enough to upgrade LBIA?"

(No) I think the airport company should have done much more to upgrade the airport
(Yes) I think the airport company has done what it can
Don't wish to share opinion in public.

You may change your vote in future if you change your mind!

The bottom line is our opinions are irrelevant to a private company except when we are customers "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning" Bill Gates, Microsoft

 

[User0001]

The situation has become stale just like the airport. I'll call it the weather shelter then. You seem to add a couple of million pounds onto the cost of that internal remodelling every time we discuss this.

We were promised and hugely needed an enlearged terminal building (as shown on the masterplan) - we did not get it. That is the bottom line. I'm struggling to see from the masterplan exactly what we did get from Bridgepoint. The council needed some readies its just as simple as that, they often changed the terminal appearance and they definitely built more apron space but yes I agree they did not have the funds to do the job right. Has anything really changed under the new owners?

There really is not much to debate. The work done in the last 6/7 years to attempt to bring our airport up to anywhere near where it should be is paltry.

Full of grand promises but cant do the job. The similarity with LUFC is frightening. Oh for proper owners who care for the club/airport and don't just want to make a fast buck.

 

[User0001]

I have uploaded a poll to this thread. "In your opinion, has the airport company done enough to upgrade LBIA?"

(No) I think the airport company should have done much more to upgrade the airport
(Yes) I think the airport company has done what it can
Don't wish to share opinion in public.

You may change your vote in future if you change your mind!

The bottom line is our opinions are irrelevant to a private company except when we are customers "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning" Bill Gates, Microsoft

It should not be 'has the airport company done what it can?' it should be has the airport company done what was needed?

It really is typical of people in this region to say 'they're trying their best' so we cant complain and that is exactly why the airport languishes in this mess - obliterated by manchester and only half the size of bristol.

The appollogetic 'we are second rate' attitude needs to change and then you might get your cat2 on 14. Until then - don't even moan about it winter after winter.

regards LUFC PETE

 

[lbia]

In the past, I have been known to let me views of the terminal development be known on here.

However, whilst we haven't for a brand new terminal that will last for the next 10 years, it certainly is a million times better than what we used to have. I have been very critical about the lack of lifts/escalators etc but in all fairness to the airport, they have been very pro-active this summer by placing customer service staff to help with the flow of passengers through the terminal.

There are still not enough gates or seats BUT there have been hardly any significant delays this summer, in fact it's been my best summer in the last 5 years and I can safely say that whilst the Airport have not put in the money that I think we all hoped they would - they have felt the squeeze with the loss of several services (yes they have gained lots too) but in general I think they hoped to be handling more passengers before the recession hit so that is going to have a direct impact on how much could be invested.

There are still a lot of improvements needed, but in general I think they have done the best they can with the available finances.

 

[rmac]

With nearly every business money is the key thing. This is true of airports, whether small regional airports or mid sized international airports such as Leeds, etc. People will always moan about something, probably justified and the management will be keen to make improvements, buy this, build that etc but at the end of the day financial directors,bank managers and so on will dictate what is done or bought. The Council too have an influence and may hold things up, often do. The logistics of doing something too have a bearing on what is done and when it is done. I think all these factors have and continue to have a huge effect on what is happening at LBA. I personally think huge improvements have been made, including the walkway which certainly is'nt a bus shelter! The terminal is a vast improvement and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was and looked when I used it a few months ago. The airport is growing, perhaps more than many other airports in the country and I think will continue steady progress and the infrastructure will improve also.
Of course the high elevation of the airport has an effect too and basically everyone has to live with that fact. Maybe when the airport handles many more passengers the finances will allow some improvements that will reduce the number of diversions. I say well done to the management for the progress so far and look forward to greater things in the future.

 

[User0001]

Ever wondered why manchester airport has a 10000 ft runway sat doing nothing? Because their attitude is provide the best and watch the boom and that place is booming. Our attitude in the Yorkshire region (marginally smaller than the north west region) is make do and mend. They make things happen while we wait and hope. They attract the customers while we annoy the customers. They demand an airport while we're all too happy to have a weather shelter [albeit extendable].

 

[a300boy]

It makes sense to focus on what the punter sees in the terminal etc but once they have been diverted to Liverpool or Manchester or Doncaster due to our famous weather and our out of wind short runway they ask people like me why it happens to be that Leeds has so many diversions and do other airports have the same problems. We all know the answer is no they dont. I believe that if we could solve some of the problems it would make winter operations more attractive. I also believe that the airlines also plan for the winter weather , just have a look at Jet 2 arrivals last winter when they often had none until mid to late afternoon. Eastern Airways and Loganair had a terrible time and often did not land at all at Lbia on some days.

 

[752]

Hypothetically speaking, if LBA did extend the runway, would this reduce the diversion rate?

 

[a300boy]

In a word Yes !

 

[Aviador]

Hypothetically speaking, if LBA did extend the runway, would this reduce the diversion rate?

I don't have the proper technical knowledge to fully explain it but basically yes is the answer. Extra length would allow for more tolerance of the ILS during Low Visibility Procedures and possibly allow for a greater tolerance of tailwind. When aircraft conduct a low visibility landing, aircraft often suffer from flare causing the aircraft to drift further down the runway than liked reducing the stopping distance available. A runway extension wouldn't necessarily be required, more a case of moving the goal posts. It still doesn't come cheap because all the landing aids including the ILS, glideslope and lighting would all need moving. This option will still be considerably cheaper than extending the physical length of the runway.

 

[yorkshire]

I agree with Pete on this one..no real expansion with the terminal . I flew In September and it was packed people stud up waiting for seats. doesn't put me off but if your old and bad on your pins then you have had it . Every seat was full people were sat on the floor,its good that the airport is busy but I have always said that a lot of theses extensions aren't bigger enough.

 

[Seasider]

LUFC correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't the apron at the side of the old 01/19 runway, been added by Bridgepoint?

 

[Aviador]

I seem to think Delta taxiway and the last set of apron stands were added by the council immediately prior to airports sale.

 

[Seasider]

Just shows how time flies, I thought they had been there 2/3 years.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I agree with Pete on this one..no real expansion with the terminal . I flew In September and it was packed people stud up waiting for seats. doesn't put me off but if your old and bad on your pins then you have had it . Every seat was full people were sat on the floor,its good that the airport is busy but I have always said that a lot of theses extensions aren't bigger enough.

I would like to echo the sentiment on this one. I was keeping quiet but, since the subject has been brought up anyway, I may as well add my voice.

I flew out in August. I will concede that I left at probably the busiest time of the week but, I feel, my point still stands. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the developments in the terminal building. Cramped, overcrowded, disjointed. The worst thing, by far, was that you could not hear any of the announcements made over the tannoy. Completely ineffective. How any flights at all leave on time is beyond me.

HOWEVER.

I will say that the whole journey from entering the airport to boarding the plane has VASTLY improved. Faster check in, faster security, better retail options, more efficient service through the gates etc. It is just a shame the terminal building is not fit for purpose. Sadly, it appears as though we are stuck with it.

Which brings me to expansion.

There are a number of things that hinder LBA, all of which have been mentioned here, and they are something that LBA needs to take seriously or they might as well forget it altogether. Quite aside from the questionable commitment to the airport of certain airlines, expansion is clearly suppressed in the summer due to a lack of peak capacity both in the terminal building and on the apron/runway. And, in winter, demand is hampered by the consistently atrocious performance of LBA in poor weather. We are all able to sit here and be sensible and we all agree that demand in the winter is, obviously, far lower than the summer. But I think we all agree that further expansion is possible given an improvement in the above scenarios. It only seems to be the official word from the airport that disagrees with this. And that can mean one of two things: we are all wrong about people wanting to fly from the airport we have known all our lives OR the owner does not intend to invest any more money in it.

If, indeed, we are all wrong, Jet2, Ryanair, Monarch, BA, KLM, PIA are all wrong too.

 

[doofhead]

I am always very sceptical about vast amounts of money quoted and how much companies pledge to invest when they acquire other companies etc. I always remember reading in the T&A the following article and thought YES GET IN.. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... idgepoint/
The Cities of Leeds and Bradford deserve to be served by a great airport and lets hope that Bridgepoint pledge to grow and improve on what we already have sooner rather than later..

 

[scousefowler]

Why can't we build a huge 4/5 storey terminal down the side of the apron where the current bus shelter is? That's what LBA needs a massive terminal building with loads of space instead of the disjointed arrangement of buildings we have now. Of course it boils down to money, investment, rate of return ect ect, but with the economy turning now, and the airline industry changing maybe the figures could stack up?
I suppose there are a lot of extra costs and issues that would need to be sorted-sorting the amount of cancellations in bad weather, increasing apron size and the transport infrastructure to name but a few, that might render such an investment non-viable.

 

[White Heather]

The logical place to build a new terminal would be where the current lower level of the short term car park is. The lie of the land would enable a split level with departures at lower level and arrivals above, as used at many Spanish airports. Once built the current terminal could be demolished and the space it occupies become an enlarged apron area, instantly enabling another 4 or 5 aircraft to be parked up.

For now, I would be happier with the current terminal expanded and at the same time an equal amount spent on improving airfield operational issues to reduce diverts to a minimum. That, to me, is the priority, whether it be the result of relocating the touch down point or extending the runway.

 

[lbaspotter]

Anyone know what's the problem been with the Alpha taxiway?

Saw a comment made on another forum but no one has replied to it yet. I was up at Multiflight on Saturday and everything seem to be using it as normal, But then heard an inbound Monarch pilot ask the approach controller this afternoon if the Alpha taxiway was reopened which had me thinking why he had asked..

 

[a300boy]

Maybe a notam is still showing it as closed as they are not always as accurate as you might think.