Leeds Bradford - General Thread

[jason1-11]

http://www.leedspride.com/news/2017/manchester-airport-to-sponsor-leeds-pride

Manchester really do see the potential of the under served Leeds market.

 

[lbaspotter]

North East based (Middlesbrough/Durham area) "The Northern Echo" website interviewed the new CEO of Leeds/Bradford Airport, Dave Laws and has published the article onto its website.

Source: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...le_Airport_boss_takes_over_at_Leeds_Bradford/

21st June
Holidaymakers could get new long-haul flights as former Newcastle Airport boss takes over at Leeds Bradford
Steven Hugill shugillecho - Business Editor

NORTH-EAST holidaymakers could soon have greater access to faraway shores in ambitious proposals set out by a new airport boss, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Dave Laws says long-haul flights are very much “on the radar” as he draws up a blueprint to strengthen operations at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Mr Laws, who last year stepped down as chief executive at Newcastle Airport, says he aims to replicate the success he enjoyed at the North Tyneside base, which included bolstering European and international services.

The former fireman, who took a pay cut to join Newcastle’s corporate team, has also laid out plans to improve Leeds Bradford’s terminal and take passenger numbers to five million over the next three years, saying he hopes to increase choice for people living across County Durham and Teesside.

Mr Laws, who masterminded Emirates’ Dubai flights from Newcastle and worked with United Airlines to give flyers the opportunity to take advantage of non-stop services to New York, stood down from the North-East site a year ago.

He took on an advisory role with Newcastle Airport shareholder AMP Capital but says while the venture was enjoyable, he’s thrilled with his new project as Leeds Bradford’s chief executive.

He told the Echo: “I’ve been in this industry 37 years and it’s in my blood; I love it.

“I hope people appreciate what I tried to do at Newcastle.

“I’m a Newcastle guy and a North-Easterner through and through but when I got this opportunity, the pull was too just much.

“I had a very enjoyable year with AMP and I felt re-energised after a year out from the day-to-day stuff.

“When this opportunity came up out of the blue I had to have a look at it.

“The potential at Leeds Bradford is absolutely immense and my job coming is to review the business and part of that is looking at strategy.

“Long-haul is on the radar and I’m sure people would welcome the opportunity to fly long-haul from the airport.

“I’ve got the opportunity to take this place to a new level and I’m excited by that.”

Playing down suggestions he’ll be taking passengers off his former employer, Mr Laws said the two bases can continue operating successfully, saying road improvements, particularly those being carried out on the A1, will give holidaymakers easier access.

He also said he was confident of taking Leeds Bradford’s passenger numbers up towards the five million mark from their existing 3.9 million.

Mr Laws added: “The work on Scotch Corner and Bedale, in North Yorkshire, means the journey to Leeds Bradford is going to be massively improved. People obviously have the choice but I don’t think it’s a case of Leeds Bradford and Newcastle being in competition.

“People are still going to choose to fly from their local airport.

“They both run similar flights and Newcastle has got the long-haul proposition that Leeds doesn’t have.

“At this stage I see no reason why Leeds Bradford can’t grow to 4.5 million or even five million passengers in the next three years, though you never know what the market is going to be like.”

However, Mr Laws, who oversaw football matches at Wembley and Cardiff ’s Millennium Stadium during his time as a referee, highlighted one area where he believes airports could be dealt an operational blow; air passenger duty (APD).

Reiterating a similar warning from officials at Newcastle, Mr Laws pointed to the impact APD had on a once 250,000-strong passenger service between the North-East and Stansted.

He added: “APD is a hindrance to the aviation industry and a hindrance to inward investment and inward tourism.”

Newcastle bosses say they fear major changes to Scottish APD could see at least 500,000 passengers lured away from the North-East site, as holidaymakers and potentially airlines, seek to dodge the charge in England.

Chiefs have argued they want at the very least a matching of any cuts across the rest of the UK, though the Government has yet to indicate if it will proceed with any fresh action on APD.

However, the Democratic Unionist Party’s anticipated deal with the Conservatives has raised new hope for campaigners, since the former’s General Election manifesto included a commitment to pursue APD’s scrapping.

 

[oldendays]

As the newly-appointed Chief Executive I would naturally expect David Laws to issue a positive statement. After all, he could not realistically do anything but. However, this is the cynic in me talking and I do genuinely hope he can give Leeds Bradford a shot in the arm. Gaining more commitment from Thomson and Thomas Cook, a la Newcastle, would be a big step in the right direction and long haul would clearly be a massive plus. A worthy successor to Tony Hallwood must be an early target before such aspirations can become reality.

 

[dmrodgers]

An Etihad A330 to Abu Dhabi would be a good start as Emirates do not have the right equipment for our short runway. And then some operator using maybe A330, or A350/B787 if these two are suitable for our runway, to the US/Caribbean and Mexico.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

An Etihad A330 to Abu Dhabi would be a good start as Emirates do not have the right equipment for our short runway. And then some operator using maybe A330, or A350/B787 if these two are suitable for our runway, to the US/Caribbean and Mexico.

Never say never. Cardiff Airport with an annual passenger throughput of fewer than 1.5 million has managed to attract Qatar despite the airline serving BHX and LHR not a million miles away. So MAN's presence might not be a complete bar. Come to think of it, perhaps Qatar with their 787s would be a better bet for LBA.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I echo your words olden days, commitment from TCX (seasonal maybe to begin with) and permanent commitment from TOM is the first step for any sort of long haul service.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Unless Jet2 start up long haul. LET'S NOT START THAT RUMOUR.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I don't think that Turkish operates to Australasia though which accounts for a good chunk of passengers transiting the ME hubs.

 

[Jerry]

Turkish have 777 300er aircraft wouldn't they have the range for Australia at least? Even if they don't have connections to Australia they do have them for practically evetywhere else and don't have to fill up large aircraft as they'd use 737/A320s.

 

[Jerry]

Turkish have 777 300er aircraft wouldn't they have the range for Australia at least? Even if they don't have connections to Australia they do have them for practically evetywhere else and don't have to fill up large aircraft as they'd use 737/A320s.

 

[a300boy]

Not really long haul from Lba though if its via Istanbul just another hub destination like Heathrow Dublin and Amsterdam but never the less most welcome.

 

[KARFA]

If TK to IST for connections elsewhere is long haul, then LBA aready has such options with KL via AMS or BA via LHR (who do fly to SYD). I really don't see a sustainable direct long haul route from LBA.

 

[White Heather]

It would appear there are either gremlins (perhaps of Eastern European origin) or rain in the LBA arrivals/departures today as they haven't been updated on either since around 0815 this morning and won't re-fresh

 

[Seasider]

I used flightradar24 for an up to date list. OK about teatime.

 

[armadillomaster]

Don't know where to put this, so here will do. Feel free to move.

Does anyone else think that the baggage reclaim area is a bit dark and cramped? Some better lighting would make it a happier place. Oh and some better communication. I don't moan, but a few others on our flight weren't happy. We were stood at the allocated belt for about 15-20 mins with the same bags going round. Then the belt number changed. Much to the disgust of others. Had to laugh. IMO an announcement would have been nice...

 

[airforced]

This seems to happen quite frequently much to the consternation of those eagerly gathered round the belt. Happened to me twice in recent times and yes better lighting would make matters better.

 

[White Heather]

It is better to be held back on the bus, or at passport control like I was recently, as then your bags are already going round on the carousel when you get down there. In and out in 2 minutes was great! I agree it is dark - and cramped - and far from good enough. LBA management also agree and they are very aware of its dificiencies. Upgrading lighting etc. would be throwing good money after bad though, especially if the entire area is to be refurbished in due course when the terminal extension is built.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Have to agree with White Heather, a slow walk to baggage reclaim usually coincides with our bags being on one of the carousels, it always amuses me that people cram round the carousel as if its a life or death experience, blocking the view and I usually have to ask people to move to retrieve our cases.
Not sure the belt number is needed in such a confined space, its easy to determine the flight number from any case on the carousel, even with a wheel chair takes 30 seconds to locate the right belt.
Our issue with baggage reclaim is that you cannot release a trolley unless you have an old £1 coin and they dont work putting in 2 x 1 euro coins, same issue in the car park, I reported the situation in April and again in May and June, only now 3 months before the old £1 coin withdrawn.

 

[rangieowner]

People use these sites to piss and moan about things, very rarely will someone praise a good experience. Also I noticed the star ratings, peoples opinions of things varied wildly, some were happy with thing that others state were appalling.........never has the quote "you can't please everybody" been so true!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The old saying is still true: have a good experience and you might tell someone; have a bad experience and you will tell ten people.

I remember some years ago on Skytrax someone castigated a UK regional airport - can't remember which now - because there was no water fountain for travellers to use. That seemed to be the only complaint yet the score given was 1 out of 10.