Leeds Bradford - General Thread

[White Heather]

I agree although they at least did mention that their favourite airport (DSA) had not managed to open at all!!

 

[rhinoscrazy]

does any one know what aircraft Thomas cook use to fly to grancanaria on from manchester on mondays

 

[Runway 32]

Suggest you might want to ask on the MAN forum and not the LBA forum. If you know the flight code you can have a look on antonakis and look at what has flown the route previously.

Click here for the Forums4airports - Manchester Forum

Aviador

 

[backtrack]

Wrong thread rhinoscrazy. However in answer to your question, it is norm for TCX to utilise Boeing 757-200 equipment to LPA.

 

[rhinoscrazy]

thank you and sorry about the wrong thread

 

[White Heather]

Over recent months there has been an increase in the number of posts in which forum members, who are both passengers and airport/airline workers, have expressed concerns over problems at the airport which appear to relate to the staffing levels and performance of the sole major handling agent at LBA.
Since the performance of the handling agents directly impacts on the airport performance and public perception of LBA, and in my role as a founder of the Airport Support Group, I wrote to the airport recently outlining the concerns expressed recently without of course, identifying exactly who or where the complaints/information had come from. I also took the opportunity to have a bit of a go about the shambolic web site, particularly relative to the arrivals/depatures board and the failure to update it during bad weather events and its inability to show unusual destinations/departure points.
This is therefore just to advise you all of the outcome. I received an acknowledgement of my letter within 24 hours and was advised that all the issues had been passed to the relevant directors and managers within Bridgepoint. Today I received a call from a Senior Terminal Manager who was grateful for the information provided. She confirmed that all the issues raised re handling agent performance had been put on the agenda for their next liaison meeting, to be held next week and also passed to Tony Hallwood, Ops Director. She confirmed that there were issues raised which she could identify with herself and she was very grateful that these matters had been brought to their attention, particularly since it is the handling agents who leave passengers with their impression of the airport in many cases. Bridgepoint are particularly keen to ensure that all companies based at LBA are working towards the same targets as they are with regard to customer service and these matters will be taken very seriously and fully discussed.
The issues regarding the web site are also recognised and they are trying to improve the system - however it would appear that due to issues with the systems, this is not proving to be straightforward.
She confirmed what I have said before - that if anyone has any concerns about anything to do with the airport, they would like to hear about it so they can investigate and try to put in place procedures/systems that will improve matters.

 

[pilot_737]

White Heather, what exactly were the specific issues of the handling agents?

I used to work at the airport and there were a lot of issues back then concerning all sorts of things.
All the baggage handlers had come across from working directly from the airport, and to my understanding the airport still paid the baggage handlers (via servisair). But that was all due to change with new contracts and stuff. The temps took a different contract with different conditions.
When I left in November 08 the old staff were all arguing who would be driving the snow ploughers and de icers over the winter with many of them not willing to do it. They wouldn't get paid any extra for it I don't think, unlike what they got working under the airport. Yet all the temps on new contracts were required by Servisair to do any job required. But then there was the matter that the temps/ new staff were not trained, and the man in charge of training had never drove the snow machines before!
It was all abit of a farce back then!
I'd guess it has all changed now, with airlines now paying servisair directly for baggage and stuff. But you never know, the company was a farce back then and it still could be!

 

[White Heather]

There were a number of issues raised in recent months, but they included insufficient staff (which appears to have become worse since Aviance pulled out). Another issue was failure to de-plane aircraft in the order they landed, long delays in de-planing, failure to provide transport from aircraft on remote stands in bad weather, delivery of baggage to the carousels in the wrong order (aircraft recently landed dealt with before previous arrivals leaving passengers standing around ages), and an apparent bias towards dealing with Ryanair first.

There were also complaints about the attitude of staff, inability to cope in a crisis such as that on Christmas Eve, and problems within the lounges relating to customer service. In short, a whole lot of issues all of which would seriously upset passengers and leave them with a negative impression of the airport. Nothing has been said about snow clearance, which traditionally has been something that LBA has been very good at, although there was a comment about ice on the apron areas, which does suggest that transport should be provided even for stands close to the terminal.

 

[012tom012]

l

 

[Aviador]

Your living in a dream world, White Heather..

....because???

You can elaborate if you disagree with what White Heather has said.

 

[Galaxy]

I got off the flight from DUS last night, which despite the terrible conditions landed 7 minutes early. The aircraft was as far from the terminal as I've ever been, and the bus was there promptly BUT we had to walk a good 30 metres from the aircraft to the bus across very dangerous and icy ground. I was surprised by how bad it was. I slipped several times as did others.

I will say as a regular flyer (monthly) that other than what I've just said, that my overall perceptions of the airport are positive. The bar area could do with being a bit bigger at times, but i don't really have many complaints that I can think of.

 

[wawkrk]

Can you elaborate 012tom012 ?

 

[Runway 32]

I got off the flight from DUS last night, which despite the terrible conditions landed 7 minutes early. The aircraft was as far from the terminal as I've ever been, and the bus was there promptly BUT we had to walk a good 30 metres from the aircraft to the bus across very dangerous and icy ground. I was surprised by how bad it was. I slipped several times as did others.

Its almost impossible at the moment to clear all areas of the airfield in these current conditions, just be glad that the staff at LBA has kept the runway open for your flight to land as the build up of ice is constant at present. Yes LBA could spend more time clearing the aprons but this would mean the runway would end up being closed more often. I think all in all LBA have done a fantastic job being open as often as they have over the past couple of weeks.

 

[Galaxy]

I appreciate what you are saying, and I'm not having a pop at the ground staff, but it was definitely dangerous to walk on. Even from a legal perspective I would have thought with the amount of litigation that there is around that the degree of risk was too high, I was hoping for an air bridge (like we got on the way out on Weds) but it was probably taken.

 

[Aviador]

Every airport has a Snow Plan and this usually includes a staged clearance of surfaces as and when possible or appropriate. It is some time since I last read the LBA Snow Plan so I can't remember exactly how it goes but in short it will look something similar to this. There maybe members of the forum who can add to what I have put.....

[textarea]1.0 The primary locations will be the main runway to the maximum width achievable and the main taxiway route to the terminal including access to the Fire Station.

2.0 Primary taxiways such as Taxiway Alpha and the access road running from stand 1 to 24

3.0 Secondary taxiways such as Taxiway Delta, and Taxiway November (The rest of - which is not included in 1.0)

4.0 The rest of the taxiways such as Echo & Lima and apron areas.[/textarea]

 

[White Heather]

Your living in a dream world, White Heather..

Sorry 012tom012 but I am not living in a dream world. These are not my complaints and at no time have I indicated whether or not I agree with them or not. I have not been in a position to fly for over 2 years so I am not able to comment one way or the other. However, my position on the airport consultative committee enables me to refer complaints made to the airport management, which is exactly what I have done and what they are happy for me to do. The airport MD has said previously that he wants to know about people's concerns so he can deal with them. Several members on this forum have written in expressing concerns and I have pulled the subjects together and let the airport know what the concerns were in general.

So, perhaps you would like to expand and explain to me, and to those who have expressed genuine annoyance or concerns about the things that have happened, why you feel they are living in a dream world?

 

[ex_crew]

Your living in a dream world, White Heather..

012tom012 I have read and re-read Heathers post and am still no clearer as to why you claim Heather is living in a "dream-world".
Your remark has absolutely no substance or credibility.

As Heather explained, she does a lot of work with the airport consultative committee and if there are any comments to be made, they should be ones of gratitude.

Personally i think she's amazing and I especially come onto this site to read her updates and opinions, which are always fair.
Whilst we are on this subject, thank you Heather for acknowledging my comments earlier in the month about the lack of information on the arrivals board and taking my comments to the meetings.

My advice to you 012tom012 is that whenever you feel somebody lives in a " dream-world", please don't leave the comment and then scarper, at least back your feelings up with an explanation first.

So please, follow this thread and explain why you feel this way?
Edited by Humberside to correct code for quoting

 

[Turbulence]

You might well edit and remove your comment 012tom012, but you are very, very wrong. Probably you have realised it and removed it for this reason.

 

[Aviador]

Was G-OOAN. What's going on White Heather, the flight went a whopping 10 minutes late and your not blaming Servisair... (seems to be a very common theme from your posts that i've read)

Thanks Turbulence you may well be right but this previous post by him suggests that he could possibly work at the airport maybe even for Servisair so I can understand if he feels that some of the things White Heather has commented on are either incorrect or unfounded.

It is always more difficult to comment on forums about issues 'closer to home' as I think you will understand. If '012tom012' can comment on such issues without potentially compromising his position at the airport he is welcome to do so here but as White Heather has already pointed out, these are issues brought to her attention by members of this forum, not by herself.

Everyone has an opinion right or wrong and I hope everyone here can respect each others views in a positive rather than a negative way.

 

[012tom012]

Hello everyone.

I apologise for my last post. All I meant by it was that these problems have been going on for a long time, and the chances of them been solved are probably very slim!

I most certainly do not work at the airport, and it is just an opinion as a regular passenger.

regards