Airport Consultative Committee [Questions & Responses]

[Sherburnflyer92]

Wizz have nothing to gain by going to Manchester. Though I heavily protested having them here, they are doing well, and was until the engine fiasco. They are good for the airport and we know that.

I don't see them putting all eggs into the MAN basket as that would alienate the customers who have chosen to fly with them / loyalty. As has also been said; Ryanair will simply pick the lost capacity up at both airports and throw everything at them if they were to arrive at MAN.

I'd like to see more of Wizz at LBA - remember the days of 5 Wizz airs on the ground before 9am on a Friday?

Good report @White Heather - shame the dementors are hell bent on doing what they are doing but we clearly can see the corruption between them and MP's.

 

[alpha.alpha]

I agree why wouldn’t MAN be trying to poach Wizz, I’m sure they was trying to do it when they was at DSA etc.

I want Wizz to stay here and hope it’s the case they’re doing well. Like you said they choose to come here by choice. I was thinking Xmas markets etc the flights should be packed.

They seem steady at the moment with slight increases for summer. I hope to see new routes / reinstated ones soon.

Like SherburnFlyer said, 5 Wizz’ on deck in a Friday morning in Winter, exactly what the airport needs.

 

[Seasider]

I agree why wouldn’t MAN be trying to poach Wizz, I’m sure they was trying to do it when they was at DSA etc.

I want Wizz to stay here and hope it’s the case they’re doing well. Like you said they choose to come here by choice. I was thinking Xmas markets etc the flights should be packed.

They seem steady at the moment with slight increases for summer. I hope to see new routes / reinstated ones soon.

Like SherburnFlyer said, 5 Wizz’ on deck in a Friday morning in Winter, exactly what the airport needs.

not within 40 mins! That was the case because of having to move to LBA after the winter program was planned.

 

[Snackbar]

I agree why wouldn’t MAN be trying to poach Wizz, I’m sure they was trying to do it when they was at DSA etc.

I want Wizz to stay here and hope it’s the case they’re doing well. Like you said they choose to come here by choice. I was thinking Xmas markets etc the flights should be packed.

They seem steady at the moment with slight increases for summer. I hope to see new routes / reinstated ones soon.

Like SherburnFlyer said, 5 Wizz’ on deck in a Friday morning in Winter, exactly what the airport needs.

I think this really a non story. Airports talk to airlines all the time trying to get them to either move ops there from a competitor airport or establish an operation there….You can be sure that not only will MAN be speaking to Whizz so will DSA, NCL, EMA and MME. The same goes for other operators at LBA such as Jet2.
Conversely LBA will be speaking to other airlines based elsewhere to try and gain their presence at LBA.

 

[markietg]

someone posted 166 on A321 From GDN with Wizz, not the best of loads.

That was me yesterday. I will say that 3 hours after my Wizz flight back to LBA there was a FR flight to LBA, so 2 flights in the space of a couple of hours. Also chatting with the crew they said the return flight to GDN was full. I will also say that compared with FR there were loads of “Brits” on the flight & judging by their accents from the North East. Quick look online and there are no flights from NCL to GDN until the summer.

 

[White Heather]

That was me yesterday. I will say that 3 hours after my Wizz flight back to LBA there was a FR flight to LBA, so 2 flights in the space of a couple of hours. Also chatting with the crew they said the return flight to GDN was full. I will also say that compared with FR there were loads of “Brits” on the flight & judging by their accents from the North East. Quick look online and there are no flights from NCL to GDN until the summer.

So roughly an average of just under 200 pax.each way then. I would think that Wizz will be quite happy with that.

 

[Finger66]

Is William Shakespeare going to be out new Aviation Director? Much Ado About Nothing all this Wizz rubbish!

 

[White Heather]

Today was the quarterly airport consultative meeting, which was held for some undisclosed reason, virtually, on Teams. Sadly, Vince Hodder the CEO, who invariably provides us with a huge amount of insight , was called away on business unexpectedly, so unable to attend. The meeting was therefore somewhat truncated and provided little in the way of information to excite.

Passenger figures

The total passenger throughput for the financial year up to week ending 2nd March 2025 was 4,033,546, an increase of 230,000 over the same period last year.

Community Meetings

The LBA PR director spoke about the current round of local meetings. Requests were made for more, in different locations, including Otley and Baildon. It was stated that the current meetings are not only available to local people as the information is general to all areas. So Otley and Baildon residents can attend the Rawdon or Menston events, or others. Nevertheless, the requests were noted for future events.

Airspace Change

This is ongoing and proving to be a nightmare, LBA having had 3 submitted proposals rejected by the CAA who it is said are prone to frequent changes in direction. Submission comments are answered, and resubmitted, only for more comments to be raised that could have been raised first time, but weren't. There is no clear steer and any guidance is vague and liable to change. LBA have been told to take account of DSA airspace but nobody knows what DSA airspace will be, or from when (if ever) so it's impossible to make any proposals based on certainty. So the process is ongoing with no sign of a resolution.

LBA Regeneration

Slides were shown of the ongoing works to the terminal. The baggage belts up from the undercroft to the baggage reclaim hall are now installed. Numerous trades are working throughout the terminal particularly the upper floor now that the building is constructed and weather tight.

Unfortunately, the snow in January caused delay to exterior works which has put the project back a couple of weeks. Currently, completion and handover is expected in mid to late May. Thereafter there will be a period of testing and familiarisation before the extension opens fully to the public some time in June. No specific date has yet been set .

It was stated that when fully completed there will be 5 baggage belts available. However, two are currently boxed off and will not be immediately available. This is while Border Force work from a temporary location pending them moving into their new, permanent location. When they do, the additional two belts will go into use.

Two thirds of the infamous LBA 'bus shelter' walkway has now been demolished. RIP bus shelter walkway. You will be missed.
Maybe not!


It was stated that the view out of the extension over the ramp and airfield was fantastic and panoramic. It certainly looked that way in the photos too.

Commercial update.

In the absence of the CEO there wasn't one. Sorry guys. This is where the best bits usually are, but not this time.


CLEUD Public Inquiry.

An update was given but no detail, partly due to an objection by a Leeds Councillor member who pointed out that the Inquiry was still ongoing. He and other Councillors had been told not to discuss until it was concluded.

The Inquiry had been scheduled to conclude last Friday. However, by Friday, it was clear that there were still two more days' of activity required. The Inspector, therefore suspended the Inquiry on Thursday and it will reconvene in April for two further days.

It was stated that very few members if the public attended, and that They Who Shall Not Be Named livestreamed the daily proceedings to their disciples. Well they would, wouldn't they!


Unfortunately, that was about it. I attended whilst sitting in JCT600 at Wortley whilst my car was serviced. Their new showroom is impressive, the service good and the hot chocolate some of the best . Doing these meetings on Teams doesn't work well though, so hopefully it'll be the usual in person meeting next time in June.

 

[SierraHotel]

Thanks as ever, WH. Was there any update re new stands construction?

 

[White Heather]

Thanks as ever, WH. Was there any update re new stands construction?

No, sorry.

 

[Aviador]

Today was the quarterly airport consultative meeting, which was held for some undisclosed reason, virtually, on Teams. Sadly, Vince Hodder the CEO, who invariably provides us with a huge amount of insight , was called away on business unexpectedly, so unable to attend. The meeting was therefore somewhat truncated and provided little in the way of information to excite.

Passenger figures

The total passenger throughput for the financial year up to week ending 2nd March 2025 was 4,033,546, an increase of 230,000 over the same period last year.

Community Meetings

The LBA PR director spoke about the current round of local meetings. Requests were made for more, in different locations, including Otley and Baildon. It was stated that the current meetings are not only available to local people as the information is general to all areas. So Otley and Baildon residents can attend the Rawdon or Menston events, or others. Nevertheless, the requests were noted for future events.

Airspace Change

This is ongoing and proving to be a nightmare, LBA having had 3 submitted proposals rejected by the CAA who it is said are prone to frequent changes in direction. Submission comments are answered, and resubmitted, only for more comments to be raised that could have been raised first time, but weren't. There is no clear steer and any guidance is vague and liable to change. LBA have been told to take account of DSA airspace but nobody knows what DSA airspace will be, or from when (if ever) so it's impossible to make any proposals based on certainty. So the process is ongoing with no sign of a resolution.

LBA Regeneration

Slides were shown of the ongoing works to the terminal. The baggage belts up from the undercroft to the baggage reclaim hall are now installed. Numerous trades are working throughout the terminal particularly the upper floor now that the building is constructed and weather tight.

Unfortunately, the snow in January caused delay to exterior works which has put the project back a couple of weeks. Currently, completion and handover is expected in mid to late May. Thereafter there will be a period of testing and familiarisation before the extension opens fully to the public some time in June. No specific date has yet been set .

It was stated that when fully completed there will be 5 baggage belts available. However, two are currently boxed off and will not be immediately available. This is while Border Force work from a temporary location pending them moving into their new, permanent location. When they do, the additional two belts will go into use.

Two thirds of the infamous LBA 'bus shelter' walkway has now been demolished. RIP bus shelter walkway. You will be missed.
Maybe not!


It was stated that the view out of the extension over the ramp and airfield was fantastic and panoramic. It certainly looked that way in the photos too.

Commercial update.

In the absence of the CEO there wasn't one. Sorry guys. This is where the best bits usually are, but not this time.


CLEUD Public Inquiry.

An update was given but no detail, partly due to an objection by a Leeds Councillor member who pointed out that the Inquiry was still ongoing. He and other Councillors had been told not to discuss until it was concluded.

The Inquiry had been scheduled to conclude last Friday. However, by Friday, it was clear that there were still two more days' of activity required. The Inspector, therefore suspended the Inquiry on Thursday and it will reconvene in April for two further days.

It was stated that very few members if the public attended, and that They Who Shall Not Be Named livestreamed the daily proceedings to their disciples. Well they would, wouldn't they!


Unfortunately, that was about it. I attended whilst sitting in JCT600 at Wortley whilst my car was serviced. Their new showroom is impressive, the service good and the hot chocolate some of the best . Doing these meetings on Teams doesn't work well though, so hopefully it'll be the usual in person meeting next time in June.

A very impressive write-up Heather, thank you. If only these meetings were held on a Thursday or Friday then I would be able to attend, so apologies.

 

[Len Fish]

Sounds like the CAA need a kick up the proverbial.

 

[pug]

Sounds like the CAA need a kick up the proverbial.

When haven’t they? Suggestions elsewhere of a ‘two tier’ approach. Evidenced by the complete removal of Sywells GNSS approaches and ATZ when they put their tower staff on furlough firing Covid. Yet an airport actually closes and they can’t remove the airspace because the clowncil want it reopening, so LBA - a key stakeholder and Yorkshires main airspace users for CAT are told to hang fire and consider what might happen at DSA?

Sorry to say it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

 

[White Heather]

Apparently, there are various alternative flights routings, and approaches in particular, which enable aircraft to avoid overflying heavily populated areas, which are in use all-round the world, but here, the CAA won't entertain them.

 

[CM.]

Thanks as ever, WH. Was there any update re new stands construction?

I’ve heard they intend to build at least 2 stands every year for the next 5 years so intend to have 10 by the end but I’m not sure how accurate this is.

 

[White Heather]

I’ve heard they intend to build at least 2 stands every year for the next 5 years so intend to have 10 by the end but I’m not sure how accurate this is.

That's exactly what LBA told us at a previous Committee Meeting and what I also reported back on here, so yes, as far as I know, it's still accurate.

 

[lbaspotter]

Thankyou for the update @White Heather.

I’m flying out of LBA down to Antalya with Sun Express on Friday, June 13th, so I’m very hopeful I may get a chance to be one of the first people to see what our nice new shiny terminal extension looks like.

 

[White Heather]

Today was the latest ACC meeting at LBA. It was disappointing that both Charles Johnson and CEO Vince Hodder had been called away on urgent business at the last minute (CLEUD related perhaps??) so there was no information provided under Business update which for us, is probably the part most are interested in. The meeting was taken by Jocelyn Rankin, PR director.

1. LBA has appointed a new Aviation Director who started work today. Declan McGuire replaces Nicola McMullen who left several months ago. Declan is ex York Aviation and Peel Holdings, having worked at both DSA and LPL, therefore having previous working relationships with Easyjet, Wizz and TUi.

2. Airspace change. LBA hope to make a further submission to the CAA at the end of August and are hopeful of getting through this gateway to stage 3 at the 4th attempt. In response to a question I asked, it was confirmed that now the CAA have removed DSAs airspace, they are effectively starting from scratch and will need to fit in with all airports around them. They are highly unlikely to have airspace in place by their proposed opening date in March 2026 but could operate general aviation without.

3. Recent local consultation events held at Rawdon and Horsforth were fully allocated but both had a considerable number of no shows. They were considered a success nonetheless and a further event is scheduled for Otley in August at a venue TBC. They who shall not be named have been present at all events, handing out leaflets and where they could, protesting. However the local reverend at Horsforth refused consent for protests at the venue, (presumably church premises), so they were limited to handing out leaflets. It was stated that the meetings demonstrated plenty of interest and support for LBA despite the usual naysayers. Other events will take place by the end of the autumn and these events will now be held annually.

3......LBA Regen. The decision to go ahead and open the terminal extension last Tuesday was taken at 1710 on Monday. It actually went live at 0230 on Tuesday morning and the CEO remained on site all night to oversee things. Much is, as yet incomplete. Things are still changing and will continue to do so during phase 2 which commences next week. Much signage is temporary.

The general vibe from passengers is very positive who welcome the available space. As expected, there has been some issues to resolve but this is always the case. Customers are complaining about the lack of airside smoking space. It was confirmed there are no plans to provide one, and many other airports are now taking the same stance.

The airport have now stationed staff within the terminal to provide help and guidance to passengers during ongoing works.

There has been a significant reduction in bus usage to transfer passengers,
meaning when they are used, they are more readily available.

Some long queues at Border Control were beyond LBAs control ( although the queues were entirely within the new area provided). It was confirmed that Border Force provide the staff as they see fit at all airports, working to a SLA that passengers wait no longer than 45 minutes. At LBA, wait times are usually well within this but although LBA can make representations to Border Force, they have no control over the number of staff allocated. The queues arose because of several detainees, originating from inbound flights. Any detained person results in the member of Border Force dealing with them and the gate they're operating has to close while they for so if they dont provide back up staff.

It was confirmed that the e gates remain unavailable due to the Border Force contract with suppliers having expired and they have yet to agree a new one. Once this happens, and equipment is procured, e gates will open. In total, there are 8 passport control desks available.

4. AOB

Confirmed LBA still in discussions with Loganair regarding services to LHR and other destinations . These were described as challenging, but they are also discussing with BA relating to codesharing.

In the absence of Vince Hodder, they were unable to comment on the issues with the Eastern/KLM service to Amsterdam but took note of the points I and others raised.

The Parkway Station project remains ongoing and LBA are meeting Northern Rail and WYCA next week to discuss what actions would be needed should the scheme be approved by our WY Mayor.

5. Passenger figures. No information provided other than in advance if the meeting it was confirmed that during the period w/e 8th April 2025 to 16th June 2026, (11 weeks) LBA saw 1,067,258 pax which is an increase of circa 68,000 over the same period last year..

6. Viewing area. At the end of the meeting, I asked Jocelyn if the airport could, in the future, consider opportunities to create a raised viewing area on the south side, for example adjacent to the entrance to Multiflight. This would clearly cost money but equally, once installed, could generate money too. Earth removed during other projects such as stand construction could potentially be reused to create this rather thsn being removed. I pointed out the issues created by the cemetery viewing area and that a viewing area would help alleviate some of the problems. Jocelyn agreed to mention it to Vince Hodder.

 

[Finger66]

Great update as ever @White Heather thank you. Shane as you say there was no business update but still interesting all the same

 

[gcoabc1]

Great update as ever @White Heather thank you. Shane as you say there was no business update but still interesting all the same

Excellent review WH.
A pity the CEO couldn’t attend to get his unfettered view on the Community meetings and first hand feel on new terminal operations, but business needs must. Let’s hope it’s really good and positive news. Wish they would push on with the Parkway Station project.