KLM

[White Heather]

Maybe because the charges KLM will receive will be higher, not by much, but none the less a higher charge for KLM who will have signed up to use the airbridge. If the ground handler cannot provide that function, given the lighter schedule for KLM, it’s not much for the airport step in and ensure it’s operated.

As a customer of KLM I would not be happy at stepping off onto stairs and not now we heading towards winter. As a customer like KLM I would not be happy at receiving piss poor service because “lack of trained staff” coupled with then the excuse in your eyes that “it’s not that high priority”. It’s about damnn time the airport KLM and swissport sat down and worked out how to rectify this problem.

The airport have already had various meetings with Swissport over their poor performance, including trips to London to get things sorted, with the result that Swissport have removed the previous station manager, which has led to some improvements, but they remain understaffed. As Swissport are contracted to KLM, not to LBA, then perhaps its KLM who should do more to resolve the situation. It's their contract and their customers.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The airport have already had various meetings with Swissport over their poor performance, including trips to London to get things sorted, with the result that Swissport have removed the previous station manager, which has led to some improvements, but they remain understaffed. As Swissport are contracted to KLM, not to LBA, then perhaps its KLM who should do more to resolve the situation. It's their contract and their customers.

I agree, and you would think KLM would have more 'clout' than LBA. They must spend millions with Swissport.

 

[Jerry]

From a KLM point of view i'd expect that they are more interested in having an ontime turnaround than whether they use an airbridge or not, which often isn't quick. With their Cityhopper brand for the most part they tend to board by steps at airports that are regional airports which LBA would be classed as one. At AMS it's used to be bus to stand and then steps onto the aircraft. Can only speak for myself but steps are better as you get to see the aircraft and take photos!

 

[A400]

Which I think is the point they don’t use jetbridges at some of their other UK airports. HUY, BRS,MME to name some.

 

[oldendays]

Last week, Jet2 towed one of their 733s to stand 8 and the bridge was connected. This was not for a passenger flight but rather a test for the benefit of ASU and a few Jet2 bods. Later on, the aircraft was towed away back to its remote stand. I don't know whether or not this procedure demonstrated if the stand 8 bridge is serviceable but I suspect not, otherwise the likelihood is that Jet2 would have been using the facility. Maybe KLM and easyJet would also have partaken with ASU assistance, regardless of Swissport's perceived operational inadequacies. Nobody knows, tiddly pom.

The stand 8 bridge has hardly worked at all the last two years so I'm not hopeful.

Maybe Wizz will be invited to a stand 8 airbridge experiment with their Airbuses.

 

[White Heather]

Last week, Jet2 towed one of their 733s to stand 8 and the bridge was connected. This was not for a passenger flight but rather a test for the benefit of ASU and a few Jet2 bods. Later on, the aircraft was towed away back to its remote stand. I don't know whether or not this procedure demonstrated if the stand 8 bridge is serviceable but I suspect not, otherwise the likelihood is that Jet2 would have been using the facility. Maybe KLM and easyJet would also have partaken with ASU assistance, regardless of Swissport's perceived operational inadequacies. Nobody knows, tiddly pom.

The stand 8 bridge has hardly worked at all the last two years so I'm not hopeful.

Maybe Wizz will be invited to a stand 8 airbridge experiment with their Airbuses.

Isn't there another air bridge though? I thought there were two? Stand 7 or 9. A second is clearly visible on FR24. So even if 8 is bust, there's another there and they still don't use it.

 

[oldendays]

Yes, stand 7 and you're right, KLM don't use that either. Maybe they just don't want to use an airbridge at LBA !

 

[LBAYORKIE]

So what's the point of having them if they're not used?

Personally no one's prepared to pay to use them I would offer them free.

 

[White Heather]

So what's the point of having them if they're not used?

Personally no one's prepared to pay to use them I would offer them free.

A lot of airlines dont want to use them as they slow down loading, with only the front entrance available to unload and load. If a quick turn around is required, that makes all the difference. Longer to unload, longer before the cleaners can get in, longer to load up again and having to load up the back before the front to avoid chaos in the aircraft.

I suspect that given their time again, LBA management back then would have saved a few million pounds and not installed them at all given their unreliability and huge repair costs.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

A lot of airlines dont want to use them as they slow down loading, with only the front entrance available to unload and load. If a quick turn around is required, that makes all the difference. Longer to unload, longer before the cleaners can get in, longer to load up again and having to load up the back before the front to avoid chaos in the aircraft.

I suspect that given their time again, LBA management back then would have saved a few million pounds and not installed them at all given their unreliability and huge repair costs.

I understand the budget carriers don't use them for the reasons you outlined, but for airlines carrying business passengers it's got to be a 'must have'. You don't want to go from express check-in, business class lounge and then get soaked waiting on some wind swept steps.

LBA finds it hard to compete with MAN in many ways but air bridges shouldn't be one of them. If they are there they should be used. Let KLM use them free.

 

[White Heather]

I understand the budget carriers don't use them for the reasons you outlined, but for airlines carrying business passengers it's got to be a 'must have'. You don't want to go from express check-in, business class lounge and then get soaked waiting on some wind swept steps.

LBA finds it hard to compete with MAN in many ways but air bridges shouldn't be one of them. If they are there they should be used. Let KLM use them free.

Except KLM operate to plenty of airports that dont have air-bridges at all, and as has already been pointed out, they often don't even use them at AMS.

You're assuming that they are not using the air-bridges at LBA because there's a charge? That's highly unlikely. Whatever the charge is, they have paid it for years at LBA. Assuming one, or both the air-bridges are now functional, it's almost certainly down to Swissport that they are not in use by KLM, or an operational choice by KLM themselves.

I will try and clarify at the next Consultative Meeting, but that's not until December.

 

[lbaspotter]

It looks like KLM City Hopper will continue to operate a reduced schedule from the start of the Winter 2022/23 season on its Leeds/Bradford – Amsterdam route

Reduced Schedule (October 30th to November 27th)

Mondays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Tuesdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Wednesdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190
Thursdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Fridays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190
Saturdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:00 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Sundays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:05 – AMS 08:20 = EMBRAER 190
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190


Full 3x daily schedule looks to restart from November 28th. But this date is still subject to change.

Mondays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:05 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190-E2
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Tuesdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:05 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190-E2
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Wednesdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:05 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190-E2
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190
Thursdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:05 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190-E2
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Fridays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:05 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190-E2
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190
Saturdays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:00 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

Sundays
------------------------------------- / KL1540 = LBA 06:10 – AMS 08:30 = EMBRAER 190
KL1545 = AMS 09:25 – LBA 09:30 / KL1550 = LBA 10:05 – AMS 12:15 = EMBRAER 190-E2
KL1549 = AMS 16:35 – LBA 16:45 / KL1550 = LBA 17:15 – AMS 19:35 = EMBRAER 190
KL1551 = AMS 21:45 – LBA 21:55 / ------------------------------------- = EMBRAER 190

 

[lbaspotter]

KLM's reduced 2x daily LBA-AMS schedule has now been extended a further 3 weeks and now operates up until Sunday December 18th with the 3x daily recommencing following day on Monday December 19th

 

[YorkshireLad]

I quite honestly think it’ll be next summer (March) at best before AMS becomes fully operational again

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I was looking at an AMS day return middle of next month with grand kids. LBA-AMS £359, AMS-LBA £196. Checked corresponding timings for MAN-AMS-MAN, £92 out and less than LBA for return (think it was about £130.

 

[KARFA]

Always the case that LBA was expensive. LS provided a bit of competition and helped, but basically if you look at any airport where KL has a monopoly on the AMS route, the prices are very high.

 

[752]

could be a sign LBA is well sold. Wonder how Flybe EMA & BHX is getting on, think Flybe LBA AMS would be a great shout and more successful then LHR. picking up where Jet2 left off.

 

[gulftraveller]

Loads appear to be quite light at this stage. The higher price will be because of the reduced frequency. They will want to keep higher fare transfer passengers.

 

[LBA4EVER]

AMS would be a good route for Easyjet out of LBA esp with jet2 no longer on the route and reduced KLM ops, 2 key routes, belfast and amsterdam.

 

[Finger66]

Regardless of all your wishes for other airlines on the route, current caps at AMS ain't gonna allow that to happen, unless it was at the expense of an existing AMS route from another airport