Leeds Bradford - General Thread

[Moo2009]

Heard 3 different rumours today about LBA

1. Jet2 are not happy with LBA and are taking the airport to court over fees
2. The airport have been quoted 1.25million for a new stand and won't build them
3. The runway needs major repairs and the airport have been quoted 38 million to relay it

Only what I heard others may have heard something?

 

[imagineif]

Well, lets face it that runway does need major work. It would be wonderful if they just re-surfaced full length but the cost would be phenomenal and staying operational when such works are under-way is extremely complex and difficult. I recall when BRS re-surfaced they tried to stay open and ended up with forced closure and airlines refusing to fly in sighting the runway surface was unfinished and unsafe.

When you land at LBA no matter how smooth the the pilot trys to plant the aircraft, the subsequent roll out is extremely rough. For a runway its no better than some of our little country roads littered with pot holes lol. Combined with the fact its short and slopes down hill with limited turn off options before having to back track - most pilots resign themselves to the fact that your better to just smack it in and break hard lol..

The priority I think should be more stands and others have said the same.

It is important to keep Jet2 happy and since they continue to be the airports biggest customer they should be kept happy to an extent. Look at Manchester and Ryanair.. Manchester tried to stand tough - they lost a shed load of routes and passenger numbers overnight. They soon did a 180 and got Ryanair back in....

I know Jet2 have too much invested in Leeds to just up and move but new stands and favourable deals on fees are likely to encourage new routes and growth again.

 

[Bhowani]

Alas another boot has landed a blow on LBA's public face. Tonight the BBC declare on their "Red Button" service that LBA's arrivals will no longer be shown on Page 468.
Sad: am I the only one that used it to see what was trundling when Wharfe Valley when watching TV and away from a computer?

Bhowani

 

[White Heather]

Re stands and the restrictions a lack of them are placing on LBA development. I have spoken in some detail to two of the the Directors of LBA, the second of which was yesterday. I put it to him that there was a perception that the lack of stands was preventing based airlines from expanding at LBA and that this was leading to a loss of flights and ultimately, passengers. Once again, I was told this was untrue, and a complete fallacy. I was told, quite categorically, that if/when based airlines indicate a desire to base more aircraft at LBA, with the result that more stands are required, they will be provided, and not before. Bridgepoint's policy is not to spend fortunes on developments in the hope that airlines will actually use what they have provided. That makes no business sense. Equally, it makes no sense to not provide the facilities when airlines do want to expand, and Bridgepoint are intent on developing more services from LBA. Expect more stands to feature in the revised Masterplan, but with no specific date for providing them. At least they are something that can be built pretty quickly and if they are needed for a summer season, they can be provided over the previous winter. No doubt there will be some who will cast doubt on what the Director said, but I have had the same conversation with two of them, 6 months apart, and there was absolutely no variance in the response given.

 

[White Heather]

Alas another boot has landed a blow on LBA's public face. Tonight the BBC declare on their "Red Button" service that LBA's arrivals will no longer be shown on Page 468.
Sad: am I the only one that used it to see what was trundling when Wharfe Valley when watching TV and away from a computer?

Bhowani

Bowani, I noticed that last night and I was a regular viewer of page 468. However, this is not just LBA - the BBC have withdrawn the service completely for all airports, the reason given being that many airports had stopped providing a link to the information. LBA wasn't one of them, but clearly the BBC have decided it is no longer worthwhile.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Have to LBA arrivals/departure is set on my phone, tablet and computer along with Flight Radar 24, so 24/7 I can keep in touch even when not in the country.
Took me until last year at 69 before my son convinced me of the advantages of a smart phone, especially as I spend a lot of time outside the u.k. now retired.

 

[imagineif]

Regarding stand/general expansion it is true that such things can be put in place quickly should the need arise. I am astonished at the growth at London Southend, now upto 4 A319 from U2 based & 2 ATR of FLYBE/Stobart Air. Barely 2 years after re-launching they have just opened a terminal extension and additional aircraft parking.

I also noticed that every deal so far they sign is for several years - Easyjet 10 years & Flybe 5 years. Seems like a more secure way to do business.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Throwing concrete down takes only days, we can stand 44 ton vehicles 72 hours after laying, think a 737 only about double the weight so just a bit more steel reinforcement and a few inch extra of hardcore

 

[SNOWMAN]

Throwing concrete down takes only days, we can stand 44 ton vehicles 72 hours after laying, think a 737 only about double the weight so just a bit more steel reinforcement and a few inch extra of hardcore

re new laid concrete of high strength keep off for 3days only light traffic after 7 days concrete takes 28 days to cure,sample cubes are crushed to test for 7 and 28 day strengths also thickness and the time of the year are taken into account.
regards sm1
ex rugby Portland cement

 

[Aviador]

That's your standard concrete. These days airports often use quick drying concrete that can set within minutes. This method has already been applied during night time relaying work at LBA only hours before commercial use.

 

[michael]

Slight change of subject now, FR24 shows tonight's TOM flight from Tenerife arriving in to LBA in 3hours 50 mins and quickly followed by a Jet2 B757 from Lanzarote arriving in 3hours 35 minutes. Seems like pretty good going to me, is it likely that they're both accurate timings?

 

[White Heather]

With a tailwind I suppose it is possible. I have certainly come back from TFS in less than 4 hours. Last year I flew to Arrecife from LBA and the flight down took 4hrs 40 minutes on a Jet2 757WL. Coming back it took 3 hrs 55 minutes.

 

[GolfFox]

Southend has a station from which they say it is walkable to the terminal. 40 minutes from east London direct. Probably much easier for east Londoners than Gatwick or STN. I suspect that is the answer. Moral of the story LBA....???

 

[White Heather]

I am sure LBA are very much aware of the moral of the story, but they are not the ones who will build a railway link. If LBA could have one tomorrow, they would.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Guiseley station is a 40 minute walk from the airport. Live in yeadon close to the airport, takes me less then 30 minutes to walk to Guiseley station, even now nearly 70.
takes me 15 minutes to walk to the airport, if I combined in one direct route around 40m minutes.

 

[Bigman]

Just seen the news story on the YEP website about a cycle race down the runway on 3/7. Which Jet2 737 has been given the name ‘Grand Départ 2014’? Also mentions extra scheduled flights to France. Any clues anyone?

 

[Bigman]

OK, I should have noticed the Yorkshire Rose on the plane, so it must be CELB.

 

[armadillomaster]

Is there any reason no one has flown to London City from LBA?

For business travellers it would surely be a succesful route if it competed with the train and had business slots.

A few people at work say they don't fly from LBA to LHR because it takes an hour to get into London from LHR

 

[Aviador]

Flybe flew the route before. They operated the route just prior to the docklands light railway opening so it didn't prove as popular as it perhaps might have been had it opened the route after the railway was opened.

 

[LBA787]

Is there any reason no one has flown to London City from LBA?

Bmi regional operated LBA-LCY from 2004 to 2006ish. If I remember rightly a leased ATR 42 with promotional decals for MAN - Caribbean flights was used as the a/c was covered in Palm trees! The reason there are no LCY flights now is simple, the train is way to good to compete with. Fast reliable and every 20 minutes from Leeds to KX. The development of wifi also means business travellers can use their valuable time so much more. The BA LHR only works because of onward connections beyond London.

Times change I don't think LBA will ever see a link to LCY again.

:crazy: