Leeds Bradford: Airport Consultative Committee Questions & Responses

[KARFA]

I think there may be three at NCL. In addition to the two you mention there might be a third next to the EK gate on the international side?

The one on the domestic side is gate 3.

I can say they are a lot more reliable than the two LBA have which seem to be constantly breaking down.

 

[Aviador]

I think there may be three at NCL. In addition to the two you mention there might be a third next to the EK gate on the international side?

The one on the domestic side is gate 3.

I can say they are a lot more reliable than the two LBA have which seem to be constantly breaking down.

I think your right.

 

[Aviador]

Today I attended the ACC meeting online of behalf of the Leeds Bradford Airport Support Group.

This time I don't feel I can give the in depth update that we have come to enjoy from @White Heather, partly because of the meeting being online but also because over 70% of the meeting was given over to noisy councillors raising points about the recent Leeds City Council Planning submissions.

(The Group that shall not be mentioned) Consultative Committee Application
The Chairman said with much consideration the group had been declined from joining the committee. Some objections were raised. It is fair to say there would appear to already be enough support for the group within the committee without them being there in person.

Airport Business Update
July saw 485,000 passengers.
August saw 507,000 passengers.
The airport confirmed Jet2 was operating 50% of the airports capacity.
Ryanair new routes doing well.
4th daily Amsterdam flight will benefit passengers heading to Asia.
The airport welcomes Sun Express next year.
The airports three lounges have become 2 lounges with handing over 4000 customers in a week.
Some retail refits taking place, Boots have now completed their refit.
The Leeds United store will be larger.
Large employment drive throughout the summer has improved customer satisfaction in feedback for the airport and business partners.

Leeds City Council Planning Submission Re: Night Operations

In summary It was clear the councillors didn't understand the difference between the airport submitting a planning application and the airport asking for clarity.

One councillor asked what the benefits of the airport were to the local community from having night flights.

The CEO said night slots enabled aircraft to be based at the airport meaning all the associated jobs created by basing an aircraft here at Leeds would benefit the local community. Using Jet2 as an example he said the airline would be able to support additional pilot, cabin crew and engineering jobs here in Leeds. He said the alternative was to continue to grow the daytime hours but he said this would see the employment going to the European airports where those aircraft are based.

Lots of other comments on night flying but nothing of notable benefit to the Airport Support Group.

I asked about scheduling changes and it was confirmed some flights operating between 06:45 and 07:00 had been delayed slightly to enable the airport to claw back night movements.

Edit: The airport confirmed they were predicting in the region of 200 night slots remaining at the end of the period.

Level 3 Slot Co-ordination

A councillor raised concerns about the airports application to join the level 3 slot co-ordination. The airport CEO explained it had absolutely nothing to do with night movements and it was about controlling aircraft movements better. He mentioned Jet2 had actually welcomed the airports application.

Basically the airport can currently offer 12 movements per hour and at peak times the airport was approaching a level it couldn't handle.

I asked if slots were moved back if that would impact the use of night movements later in the day it they said it wouldn't have any impact on night movements.

CAA Routes Application

It was confirmed the airport had failed in it's application to amend the aircraft routes.
The CEO said it was not unique and 75% of airports had failed this stage of their applications. It was noted that there are 7 stages to cross in total and the airport had sought feedback to enable it to proceed with it's application. The next submission date was expect early in the new year.

Other Items

Sorry but this bit is "commercial in confidence" but not long to wait.

 

[White Heather]

Most of the Councillors on the Committee haven't got a clue. They don't really need one though, as they tend to just make up their own version, go to the papers, and it's then printed as fact. Then the BBC and ITV broadcast it word for word, also as fact. We've just seen this process in action.

Thank God that group that shall not to be named were not accepted in the Committee. I couldn't tolerate being in the same room. I'm sure they'll be incensed at the injustice! 😄

 

[lbaspotter]

Thanks for the update @Aviador . Hopefully we won't be waiting to long for the good news to start roling in and finally shut up those whom we wont name on here..

 

[JRP]

Thank you for the update Aviador, much appreciated

 

[SierraHotel]

Thanks very much Aviador.

 

[Aviador]

Just edited slightly as it was confirmed around 200 night slots would remain at the end of the period.

 

[gcoabc1]

Thanks for the update @Aviador . Hopefully we won't be waiting to long for the good news to start roling in and finally shut up those whom we wont name on here..

Well done Aviador.
You should get some kind of award for enduring clueless moaning councillors who would have learned more by asking LBA and their own Council Officers about this matter before running their mouths off. I wonder if there is any correlation between their shoe sizes and mouths. Just asking for a friend.
That aside all good news for LBA and the wider community.

 

[mdobuk21]

Thanks for the report @Aviador. Hopefully the not long to wait news is more new routes or airlines!

 

[White Heather]

Thanks for the report @Aviador. Hopefully the not long to wait news is more new routes or airlines!

More likely more terminal!

 

[lbaspotter]

More likely more terminal!

Maybe not, if the rumour about Jet2 to Morroco are true

 

[Aviador]

Maybe not, if the rumour about Jet2 to Morroco are true

No airline news to report.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Today I attended the ACC meeting online of behalf of the Leeds Bradford Airport Support Group.

This time I don't feel I can give the in depth update that we have come to enjoy from @White Heather, partly because of the meeting being online but also because over 70% of the meeting was given over to noisy councillors raising points about the recent Leeds City Council Planning submissions.

(The Group that shall not be mentioned) Consultative Committee Application
The Chairman said with much consideration the group had been declined from joining the committee. Some objections were raised. It is fair to say there would appear to already be enough support for the group within the committee without them being there in person.

Airport Business Update
July saw 485,000 passengers.
August saw 507,000 passengers.
The airport confirmed Jet2 was operating 50% of the airports capacity.
Ryanair new routes doing well.
4th daily Amsterdam flight will benefit passengers heading to Asia.
The airport welcomes Sun Express next year.
The airports three lounges have become 2 lounges with handing over 4000 customers in a week.
Some retail refits taking place, Boots have now completed their refit.
The Leeds United store will be larger.
Large employment drive throughout the summer has improved customer satisfaction in feedback for the airport and business partners.

Leeds City Council Planning Submission Re: Night Operations

In summary It was clear the councillors didn't understand the difference between the airport submitting a planning application and the airport asking for clarity.

One councillor asked what the benefits of the airport were to the local community from having night flights.

The CEO said night slots enabled aircraft to be based at the airport meaning all the associated jobs created by basing an aircraft here at Leeds would benefit the local community. Using Jet2 as an example he said the airline would be able to support additional pilot, cabin crew and engineering jobs here in Leeds. He said the alternative was to continue to grow the daytime hours but he said this would see the employment going to the European airports where those aircraft are based.

Lots of other comments on night flying but nothing of notable benefit to the Airport Support Group.

I asked about scheduling changes and it was confirmed some flights operating between 06:45 and 07:00 had been delayed slightly to enable the airport to claw back night movements.

Edit: The airport confirmed they were predicting in the region of 200 night slots remaining at the end of the period.

Level 3 Slot Co-ordination

A councillor raised concerns about the airports application to join the level 3 slot co-ordination. The airport CEO explained it had absolutely nothing to do with night movements and it was about controlling aircraft movements better. He mentioned Jet2 had actually welcomed the airports application.

Basically the airport can currently offer 12 movements per hour and at peak times the airport was approaching a level it couldn't handle.

I asked if slots were moved back if that would impact the use of night movements later in the day it they said it wouldn't have any impact on night movements.

CAA Routes Application

It was confirmed the airport had failed in it's application to amend the aircraft routes.
The CEO said it was not unique and 75% of airports had failed this stage of their applications. It was noted that there are 7 stages to cross in total and the airport had sought feedback to enable it to proceed with it's application. The next submission date was expect early in the new year.

Other Items

Sorry but this bit is "commercial in confidence" but not long to wait.

Thanks for such a concise and timely report. Its great to hear there will be 200 slots left.

 

[Jetchaser]

Thanks for your excellent report from the meeting Aviador.....looking forward to positive news on the terminal development very soon...flying from LBA in 2 weeks, and would be nice to see some site movement when I get there.

 

[Finger66]

@Aviador thank you for your time and effort in both attending the meeting and compiling the report. Looking forward to any good news coming our way

 

[Len Fish]

The sheer brazen cheek of that group whose name we cannot say applying to join the Consultative Committee after all the damage they have done not only to the airport but to the general economy and prosperity of Leeds through their narrow minded and totally selfish actions, cynically using climate change as a smokescreen for their NIMBYism. The Councillors and MP’s who support them are just as culpable.

 

[Aviador]

The sheer brazen cheek of that group whose name we cannot say applying to join the Consultative Committee after all the damage they have done not only to the airport but to the general economy and prosperity of Leeds through their narrow minded and totally selfish actions, cynically using climate change as a smokescreen for their NIMBYism. The Councillors and MP’s who support them are just as culpable.

When you're at the meeting it feels like you're in a room with a bunch of folk who are member of said group.

 

[HX3]

I know quite a few councillors (not Leeds) due to my occupation, and most are self serving rather than serving their electorate. The best way to deal with them is to bombard their inboxes and media channels with literally any issue in their ward- not the ones important to them. Also look for their attendance to town hall and check specific to which groups within council they joined meetings. I called out a coucillor in my area who was spouting on about a local issue, but had never attended any meeting related to it. I also questioned general attendance across council and their expenses. When they commented on something, but had missed a meeting I called them out. When new services were introduced and on their street first, I called it out. Slowly, it modified their attendance to meetings, reduced their spouting on social media and ensured they started to toe the line on issues for the community, rather than issues that they were interested in only. I’d suggest people do the same around LBA, flood their inbox with general issues so they can’t focus on the airport.

 

[Len Fish]

I once worked with a local Councillor, although when I say “worked” he was never there, aways attending some meeting or another. You should have seen his face when I asked him why they didn’t hold their meetings in the evening after work!