Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]
Well I attended the meeting today and asked what I could within the time. There are quite a few people there who all want their say, including councillors, so my opportunities are limited. The first 45 minutes of the meeting were spent discussing the make up of the committee, somewhat restricting time for other issues, although the meeting itself was interesting and informative.
1. Terminal development - there is no specific start date but plans continue to be drawn up and it is then a question of finding a suitable period to do the works - still working on the principle that they will be commencing at the end of the summer season.
2. Walkway/shelter for people in the pick up/drop off zone - this is a high priority but not high enough for immediate funding and it makes no sense to do it until the terminal is completed as anything installed now would probably be removed again during the building phase.
3. My previous suggestion (on behalf of many) of a midi bus (as used on the car park shuttles) from Horsforth Railway Station and Guiseley Railway Station has been referred to Metro for feasibility, but there are promising signs. Northern Rail are apparently quite keen on the idea too. I reiterated the benefits of both stations being given dual names (ie Horsforth/Leeds Bradford International Airport and similar for Guiseley) as this would mean the Airport would come up as a destination in the rail booking engines. If this fails I also pointed out the forthcoming development of Woodside Quarry and the proposed new rail stop and park and ride. This could also serve as a pick up point for airport passengers. It is a little further, but any new park and ride would allow the development of a proper bus stop and it would not involve the problem of getting out of Horsfoth Station to turn right up Station Road. Anyone who has tried it at busy times will know what I mean!!
4. The new car park is soon to be completed, bringing the total long stay spaces to 3,500.
5. The only new route confirmed is Sofia by Balkan for winter 2010, but the Directors are attending a global route conference shortly in Canada.
6. Passenger figures from the commencement of the summer season (end of March until the Volcanic Ash Cloud grounded flights), were up 28% on the same period in 2009, mainly courtesy of Ryanair no doubt.
7. There were no discussions on the tram train link other to confirm the overall commitment to it in the future. Such a development is 10 years away from fruition - minimum. This is however seen as the way forward by the airport and Metro
8. The security and screening area of the terminal has been re-configured
to provide more space and will now enable the installation of newer equipment and processes.
9. Jet2 were praised for their efforts in re-patriating their (and other) passengers during the volcanic ash crisis.
9. PIA are to fly to MAN using the 777-300 for a further week as LBA cannot handle this aircraft. However it was confirmed that a switch to the 777 (presumably a 200 series) remains on the cards, but no date has yet been given by PIA. The A310 will be back 2nd week in May.
10. During the volcanic ash closure LBA took the opportunity to completely re-paint the runway markings - work that was programmed to be done at a later date originally.
