Poll - Using LBA in the winter

[Aviador]

The debate has raged for decades and while other airports have seemingly made significant investment to improve winter diversion rates, LBA doesn't seem to priorities investments in this area? LBA arguably knows it's customers best, or does it? You decide in our forum poll....

1 vote per user. Registration is required to take part. Registration is free.

 

[cmj]

I just book from LBA and hope for the best.

 

[Aviador]

Excuse the typo by the way. I can't change it without restarting the poll.

 

[Seasider]

I always look at LBA first, summer or winter, you can get delayed at any airport. Flying out twice next month, will see what happens.

 

[White Heather]

I always book from LBA. If the worst happens and I am diverted, then the airline will get to or from wherever. Not my problem. All airports suffer from time to time.

 

[Aviador]

I have used LBA in the past during the winter months and so far we haven't had to divert else where. I did nearly get caught out returning from Tenerife on an LTE A321 a few years back. We circled LBA a number of times and thankfully the fog cleared allowing us to land. If I'm honest though, these days we do try where possible to pick flights knowing that in the event of poor visibility there is a strong likelihood the particular airline will be able to make an approach into LBA. Sadly, the general public out there will be non the wiser and so they're more likely to just go for the easiest option which will be to use an alternative airport.

 

[lbaspotter]

Leeds/Bradford is always first choice for me, doesn’t matter if it’s in the winter or summer. I've been very lucky as never been diverted away before.
Was close to been diverted to Teeside after 2 missed approach attempts at landing on runway 14 in Fog when inbound from Dublin aboard a Ryanair Boeing 737-200. I remember the captain mentioning over the intercom that a British Midland Fokker 100 was attempting an approach onto runway 32 and that we would follow him if they got in. We eventually landed on the 3rd attempt. Scary as didn't see anything out of the window and first I knew we was down was when the undercarriage hit the runway.

 

[a300boy]

I have been diverted twice as a passenger from Leeds to Manchester. But always book from Lbia if possible as like most of you I support my local airfield.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Always LBA for me, sat on a 757 for 5 hours in 2013 due to snow, but got away in the end. Have had two goes from stanstead in the last 5 years and we could not even reach the airport due to weather, had to use this airport due to our destination.
Have never failed to land or take off from LBA in winter.

 

[cmj]

I've managed to get out of LBA in bad weather before. Obviously it's a bit of luck on the day. I've also been delayed (once for weather, once because of aircraft fault). Driving to Manchester, or the train to Manchester or London can cause it's own problems. The wires on the ECML don't always hold up well in the wind.

I just put it down to one of those things about travelling. Yes the weather may get you at LBA, but there's not much use in your flight leaving on time from Manchester if you're stuck in traffic on the M62..

 

[LBA787]

LBA is my 1st choice always has been and always will be as long as I'm living in this area and the destination is available.

I was diverted to MAN flying back from HER once. We were flying on an Astreaus 737 back when they had their base, it was early October and the fog at LBA caused us to go over the hill. Not a problem for me and certainly won't put me off booking flights from LBA in the winter months.

:crazy:

 

[Keith Marshall]

I always use LBIA if I possibly can, only ever experienced one problem when my Ryanair flight to Dublin couldn't land to take me there. Had to get over to Liverpool (at my own cost) to catch a flight from there

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Personally, my loyalty is to my wallet primarily, the flight times and the destination. I have flow from all over England to get what I need and weather is of no consideration whatsoever. This not mean, however, that the weather performance of LBA is not an issue. As a predominantly leisure traveller, I can afford to lose a few hours with a diversion. The situation is entirely different for business travellers who rely on airlines keeping to the schedule and to those who are flying to the likes of LHR, AMS and DUB for connecting flights. I would be particularly concerned about connecting through Dublin as the aircraft is not based. If a diversion or cancellation occurred in these circumstances, it would have a significant impact. How often does the early arrival from Belfast City have problems, for example? In terms of the poll, I believe that the majority of people using this site will support, defend and use LBA no matter what - it is not necessarily a fair reflection of the demographic of people who wish to use or, indeed, choose not to use LBA. Flybe will always have a problem at LBA due to the a/c they utilise. Aer Lingus and Eastern will suffer similarly. Regardless of this, LBA suffers low visibility events far more than other airports in the country. With that in mind, booking a flight in winter with any of those three airlines is a risk. Everybody else would have a far better LBA experience if LBA were to make the necessary improvements.

 

[Aviador]

37% vs 63% is the running poll percentages.

Whoshotjimmi, I would say that is probably a reasonably accurate figure similar to what a larger poll would come up with. Imagine that translating as a possible 37% increase in passenger numbers if LBA could reduce the diversion rate of flights away to other airports? There will always be occasions when the weather has the upper hand when a diversion is inevitable but if LBA could prevent unnecessary diversions peoples perception of LBA could be improved leading to increased bookings on flights and ultimately new winter holiday flights and year round scheduled flights.

 

[ridgeback]

Not wishing to sound pedantic but capturing that lost 37% would actually be a 58% increase in numbers wouldn't it?

 

[Aviador]

That is exactly the point.

 

[jason1-11]

Of the 14 odd flights into Leeds, I have never been diverted or suffered significant delay. This has included at least 5 flights in October, November and March, but as a business traveller, I would have serious reservations about utilising the services from Leeds Bradford especially on Flybe, Aer Lingus, Eastern and now very disappointingly KLM in winter. Why should we receive a second rate winter product this side of the Pennines as that’s what’s currently on offer?

If Leeds can’t offer the airlines the runway and relevant equipment to enable them to land then do we need to consider the long-term viability of an airport at that location?