Re: Leeds Bradford - General Thread
Yesterday was the last Consultative Committee meeting of 2013, so here are a few highlights from it:
Monarch have carried 244,000 pax from LBA in their first year. This was described as a 'remarkable' performance from a zero start at a new airport. The MON Executive Chairman was at LBA to celebrate the 1st year.
An extra-ordinary year for LBA in terms of pax numbers. The busiest summer in the airport's history has guaranteed 2013/14 passenger numbers exceeding 3.2 million by the end of March 2014. Jet2 had a 'fantastic' year with LBA load factors averaging in excess of 90%. Jet2 were described as 'pivotal' in the success of LBA. LBA is officially the fastest growing regional airport in the UK.
The aviation industry was described as still 'fragile' as demonstrated by the problems faced by Flybe. LBA are very disappointed to lose the Flybe LBA - SOU route which carried 60,000 pax in the past year. They are delighted at Eastern's decision to replace Flybe and described it as an ideal route for Eastern to operate.
SAS are expected to develop the Copenhagen route, and it is hoped this will lead to
additional flights. LBA/SAS will concentrate on developing Copenhagen before considering any further routes to the likes of Gothenburg, Oslo, Stockholm or Helsinki, but it is hoped these may be secured further into the future.
LBA have secured several awards during the year and are in the running for another. The AOA award was particularly important as it was for all regional airports with less than 6m pax. Votes were by airlines, most of which do NOT operate from LBA.
LBA punctuality averages in excess of 90%. It should be noted that LBA operates on a Key Performance Indicator basis (KPI's) and each airline has different tolerances within which flights are classified as 'on time'.
With regard to a potential future runway extension at LBA - forget it. Bridgepoint have absolutely no intention of extending the runway. The costs are considered to be unsustainable when compared to the benefits and each year makes such a scheme less likely as aviation technology improves. The MD stated that he would be 'amazed' if the eventual successors to Bridgepoint ever considered such an extension.
With regard to the letter I wrote regarding the relocation of the runway 32 touch down and the upgrading of runway 14 ILS, the response was very much as I predicted. The runway 32 changes would be feasible but extremely messy and very expensive. Such work was not ruled out but is by no means a priority. Runway 14 ILS upgrades are also a low priority. LBA are fully aware of the problems caused by only having Cat1, but state that the problems caused by the Chevin and resultant 3.5 degree glide slope make the work 'non-do-able'. Certainly for the foreseeable future, it isn't going to happen. These problems are very much as previously reported by the LA owners and previous chairman Ed Anderson, so this is not Bridgepoint avoiding spending money.
With regard to the Masterplan. An update was given and the current position is as follows:
Work on developing the Masterplan is gathering pace. LBA have consultants on board and are now in discussions with the Local Authority with regard to developments at LBA, both airside and landside, including strategic improvements to surface access.
LBA have prepared feasibility reports (for presentation to the LA) regarding surface access improvements, including road, rail, and bus. This will lead to discussions with the LA to agree transport strategy.
Next will be the development of airside strategies to enforce LBA's success. I questioned them about this , specifically with regard to the need for more aircraft stands (the current Masterplan shows 4 more stands that have yet to be built). LBA acknowledged that there are times overnight when LBA is effectively full and that this will prevent more based a/c. They described the provision of more stands as a 'priority' but stressed also that it was important to use the facilities they have more evenly, so they are in discussions with based airlines about schedules and other airlines based elsewhere. It is also a priority to eliminate the quiet periods between departing waves of based a/c. This is as I reported previously.
All plans must be discussed publicly via the consultation process.
In response to a specific question by my colleague, LBA stated they intend developing LBA to ensure it's development continues up to and beyond 5m pax. Also as I have previously stated, it was emphasized that development must be timed to co-incide with demand. There is no intention to throw huge amounts at developments in the hope it will attract more business. Developments will take place when the new business is secured. So if an airline commits to base more a/c at LBA, we can expect the stands to be built pretty quickly, but NOT before the Masterplan has been through the Local Authority discussions and Publicity process, which are compulsory.
No dates were given - a further update will be provided next time. It is clear that LBA know what they intend to do but are not prepared to give details until the whole package has been agreed by the Local Authority.
LBA confirmed their commitment to a rail link for LBA, via a tram train. They are determined that any link needs to cover Leeds AND Bradford, which a tram train would. However, they are not opposed to any development of the Harrogate line, but state that the owner of the land where an parkway station would need to be built does not wish to sell, and that the Bramhope Tunnel and the areas leading into it are of historical interest, so cannot be just re-developed.
LBA confirmed that passenger numbers on the 967 bus were very poor and having given the route some time to pick up they have no option but to end the subsidy and spend the money on routes that are (or likely to be) successful.
I raised the need for a link to York, particularly in view of SAS arriving at LBA in March. This was acknowledged by the MD, but he said the problem was (for bus companies) that there are significant distances between Leeds and York where few, if any , pax would be picked up (ie along the A64). However, it was confirmed that LBA are in discussions with York Council regarding a bus link, and it was confirmed that the number of pax originating from the City of York itself has now risen to 4% of all LBA pax. The SAS route is likely to increase this further. I also raised the issue of through ticketing from LBA to York via Leeds until such time as a direct bus or train link was established. LBA said they would take this away.
I raised the fact that National Express run coach services linking airports and routes that pass within 5 miles of LBA but do not call at the airport. The MD seemed very interested in this and said LBA would also take that away to look into.
Finally - with regard to the problem 'non working escalator' up to the immigration area, LBA are developing plans to deal with this issue and are to provide the committee with a copy of these plans. Significant works are required in order to resolve the H&S problems that prevent the escalator being used when the airport is busy.
That's all folks.
Happy Christmas to all of you :drinks:
