Future Infrastructure Developments

[White Heather]

Perhaps you should suggest that to LBA Management Bigman. It would be another way to pull in much needed revenue. Perhaps they will eventually start installing seats that lock in the 'up' position and require £1 to unlock them, then everyone will have to pay to sit down or wander around the retail outlets! leasantry:

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Maybe put sensors in all the seats and have a display board showing where the empty seats are, simple and cheap to do. I think there should be display boards showing the location of all the seating areas in the terminal ( I have never seen one).
When I walk round I always see empty seats even in the 7am rush hour. (with a boarding announcement every 5 minutes people are always on the move)
If were so desperate for seating lets get rid of duty free, would be interested to know what income the airport receive from this large area, retail in general has suffered from internet buying, is the airport today getting growth in income year on year.
The larger airports are saying they are having to change substantially the retail offer to keep pace with customer needs, i.e. more service offers, hairdressors, nail bars etc rather then good purchased.

 

[leedslad]

I know there's little chance of it etc etc and it's perhaps been discussed previously - but does anyone remember Leeds Councillor Keith Wakefield's comments (I think they made local TV news) that Leeds needs a new airport by the M1/A1/M62?

My question is, is this something that the council is actually looking at, or a throwaway comment reflecting the opinion of one man?

It's certainly something that could be very lucrative to the council if they were to set up and run it (look at the value and returns of MAG).

 

[White Heather]

I suspect a throwaway comment. I know some within the council were less than impressed with his comments and there wasn't much support in Bradford or to the West of Leeds. It might be lucrative in the long term, but much would depend on whether or not airlines were prepared to fly out of the new airport in sufficient numbers. Many I suspect would still stay at MAN and expect the masses to travel to where they are settled, rather than take a risk. Given that the estimated cost for developing a new airport is circa £5 billion, I find it hard to imagine that Leeds Council would ever have money like that to spend - and it would take a joint effort by all Councils within the Leeds City Region to have any chance of happening.

 

[Aviador]

Bridgepoint buys Moneycorp for £212m

It would seem Bridgepoint does have money available for capital expenditure after acquiring Moneycorp for £210m.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

This at least shows the company has capital to spend, unfortunately they must feel investment at LBA will at the moment not moment give them the return that this and other investments will.
We all know the airport going through a period of uncertainty at the moment in relationship to Monarch.
It is really vital Monarch make a statement soon on their position, I am sure Easyjet etc are sitting on their hands at the moment waiting to see what happens, unable to make their plans until they see the outcome.
Would imagine airlines putting winter 15 plans to bed at the moment as only 14 months away a short time in business life.

 

[airforced]

Tarnspotter. Do you really think that Easyjet would base their forward plans around Monarchs measly 2 aircraft operation at LBA and only decide to come here should Monarch leave? Operators the size of Easyjet didn't get where they are today by worrying about the Monarchs of this world.

Much as I would love to see them here I doubt very much that they will come, mores the pity.

I hope Monarch don't leave but it is looking more likely as each day goes by and they remain quiet.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

No they worry about a greater then 90% aircraft capicity and slot times. In their last accounts stated that poor slot times was a huge drag on expansion.
yes they do worry about other competitors, just look at the pull out from madrid.

 

[rhinoscrazy]

long time no post (roughly 4 years? surprised my account still works! i know this may seem off from the conversation you're having but what is next inline for construction and development at LBIA?

 

[White Heather]

Welcome back Rhinoscrazy, nice to see you after so long. A good question you have raised but not one anyone on here can answer as LBA management are being very secretive about what they are planning, or when they are planning it. They are currently working up the next Masterplan but so far have given no clues as to what will be in it or the timescales. Further alterations to the terminal would, I suspect, be next, but the extension isn't likely to happen until such time as the passenger numbers show signs of accelerating again. At the moment they are going down, not up. Hopefully that is a short-lived trend that will be reversed again by next year. If I was to bet, I would say that (in order) the most likely sequence would be:

1. Further alternationst to the terminal - specifically to improve the arrivals experience
2. Extension of the apron areas to create additional stands, as and when there is a clear demand for them. This is a relatively quick job and can be done over one winter.
3. Eventual expansion of the existing terminal as per the original planning consent, although that assumes that they apply for and receive an extension to the planning consent.

Somewhere along the line I would think they will also have to find the money to replace the rather old Radar at LBA too and the runway will require ongoing repairs for the rest of its life unless at some point it is completely re-built - which isn't likely to happen.

I wish I could say that the realigment of the glideslopes to move touch down on 32 further back to where it used to be is another likelihood, but whenever I have mentioned this to airport directors, the answer is that it is far too expensive to achieve and the financial benefits (to LBA) don't add up.

 

[Aviador]

The aviation industry is very fluid. Things have changed quickly in the past and they will do so again in the future. It is likely the LBA company's priorities will change with it. What may seem as not essential today could be seen as essential tomorrow as the industry evolves. The average number of passengers per flight is very different today than it was a decade ago, so much so that if we see the same sort of increase over the next decade the need for a runway extension or improved available runway distances may become viable.

 

[rhinoscrazy]

I hope there is some work going on soon airside! Because a larger apron and the what seems to be another 50 years away parallel taxi way will add some more interest from airline companies to the airport! I was looking at the master plan last night for the 2005-2015 expected works! I definatly doubt they will complete the rest of it In less than a 1 year schedual! (The extension has been delayed and delayed!) what about the other apron spaces though! (Where they 'park' the planes haha) (Airport knowledge And airline knowledge has gone completely out the window it's been that long since I've been on here!)

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I think we just have to be patient. With a general election just 8 months away and the Scottish vote less then 12 days away, not the time to be planning anything.
As the saying goes, "All things come to he who waits"

 

[Aviador]

There's a lot of survey work going on at the moment airside. Not sure if it's related to the ongoing update to the airports masterplan or if it's related to new expansion plans?

 

[Bigman]

A big article on the YEP website this morning about overall plans/strategy etc for LBA.

 

[Aviador]

A big article on the YEP website this morning about overall plans/strategy etc for LBA.

Leeds Bradford airport could double in size by 2030

 

[White Heather]

If the Leeds Councillors of the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's had shown this attitude towards LBA, then it might actually be serving the region in the way it should, and much of this required development would already be there. Perhaps some of the moaning fools that spend their lives complaining on the YEP website would also have to find something else to target other than their local airport which provides employment for several thousand people. I wish to God they would just move to Manchester. It is quite funny to read comments that they could have driven back from Manchester to Leeds in the time they were queuing at LBA Immigration - as though queues are not something you find at Manchester! I seem to recall that during the summer they had record queues there. The fact is they occur at peak times at all airports. The whole purpose of this report is to support the development of the airport and to make it much much better than it is now, yet these people spend all their time complaining about what it is like now. Is it me or are they incapable of seeing the point??? It was like this when I helped set up the Airport Support Group 30 years ago, and sadly, it goes on.

I truly hope that this change in attitude towards LBA, results in a jointly agreed and supported Masterplan which this time, will see light of day. This article also fits in to the comments I have passed down from the Consultative Committee about why the Masterplan is still not published - that being because LBA and the Council this time are getting their heads together to ensure that what is in the Masterplan is what BOTH want. A Masterplan is useless if the Council planners put endless obstacles in the way of the airport as they did with the proposed terminal extension and such actions do little to encourage Bridgepoint to do anything much.

I have to say that reading this article, is like music to my ears, but frankly, it is 30 years too late. Better late than never though!

 

[Aviador]

I reported earlier in September that a lot of survey work was being carried out airside at LBA. This still seems to be the case with this work continuing with men carrying various plans around and so fourth. It would appear some sort of building work will be commencing fairly shortly. A number of people have mentioned plans to extend the apron and possibly moving the remainder of the fuel farm down to the new stand area. I'm guessing we'll hear more about it over the next few weeks when the updated masterplan is finally released.

 

[stevolba]

I wish I could tell you what the plans are, but sadly I can't, all I will say is that people will be very surprised! BIG changes for the coming summer, sit tight guys and girls all will be reviled

 

[Moo2009]

Stevolba- what about getting the runway sorted so planes can land in bad wether like today