Airport Consultative Committee [Questions & Responses]

[rmac]

The CEO confirmed that attracting new airline business and new routes is governed to a considerable degree by the airport product available to airlines, and, in a nutshell, at peak times, LBA is at over-capacity right now at these times. This can and does influence carriers who are approached by the airport. The terminal development will, when completed, improve this situation considerably, as will the proposed rail and road links to the airport. Nevertheless, LBA management are continuing to talk to new airlines at route conferences and have visited countries such as Pakistan with a view to securing a return of the Islamabad route in the future.
White Heather wrote the above in her Report and this makes sense. I visited the airport last week when travelling north by car and wanted to see the improvements, etc. The 1 hour Free car park is excellent and this was time to walk up to the terminal. Even in mid afternoon the place was fairly busy, a constant stream of arriving and departing passengers, -good to see. The open glass front, with the extended café is much better. I did note the Check in A was very crowded, the Bag Drop section in particular and a general feeling that many were somewhat confused as to what to do next, where the Check In desks etc. This made me think that airlines thinking that maybe they could operate services out of LBA may conclude, yes but not now. Lets wait until the new arrivals hall is open, then the extended check in area. Hopefully there will be few delays and the "new terminal" facilities welcoming arrivals from Munich, Lisbon, Istanbul, Islamabad, etc.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Excellent report WH but I feel once the 757’s go over to MAN that's the end of the NY route from LBA.

Why?

Like the A330's this year, and the 757's from all the other years, they'll simply position them in to operate that specific flight and then position them back out once the flight has arrived back from USA. Not having a 757 base at GLA, NCL, EMA, BFS (BHX and STN when they did a season there) never stopped them operating the flights.

 

[Finger66]

Three things that will happen if LBA to NYC flights don't happen in the future:
A proportion of the business will go to other carriers even if indirect
A proportion will go to other destinations altogether, although probably means Jet2 have a good chance of retaining that business to one of their other destinations
A proportion will go other UK airports to still fly Jet2 to NYC.
Put into figures this could, not necessarily will, mean:
33% fly BA via LHR or EI via DUB for example
33% fly FR to TFS for example as an alternative
33% go to NYC with LS probably from MAN
1% just don't bother at all
So in a worse case it could prove a costly decision to stop NYC from LBA. I actually do think they will continue because they have built a massively strong brand at LBA and PM has clearly shown he is switched on to market trends

 

[oldendays]

As Jet2 has large bases at both Leeds Bradford and Manchester, it's quite likely that the airline pays minimal or nil landing and parking fees at either airport. So that's possibly two operating costs zapped. ATC navigation charges, fuel and crew pay are a different matter.

As it stands, Jet2 routinely repositions its aircraft from base to base on non-revenue dead legs so moving 757s between Manchester and Leeds Bradford would be a fairly inconsequential matter.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Just out of interest how much fuel and cost would a 757 use from MAN to LBA?

 

[Aviador]

Just out of interest how much fuel and cost would a 757 use from MAN to LBA?

Probably less than 230 passengers would driving across in their car.

 

[White Heather]

I think though, that we are forgetting that LBA management are (as I reported) speaking to Jet2 about A330 ops at LBA in the future, when the terminal is re-developed and better able to handle an aircraft of that size. If that is the case then the A330 on New York in the future is likely. Jet2 would be unlikely to axe the route due to the absence of the 757 base at LBA, and then re-introduce it again when the A330 can be used. They would surely keep it going in the interim (which would be just one winter).

 

[LBA4EVER]

Im aware the A330 has very good takeoff and landing performance but clearly jet2 would want the aircraft full so how would it perform on LBA 2250m long runway with heavy loads? What I always find interesting when say at Manchester airport is that whether its a Ryanair 737 or a pia 777 they always seem to lift off at the same point down the runway and a lot the time the big jets lift off earlier, I guess bigger aircraft, more powerful engines!

 

[Aviador]

The A330 can operate with full loads out of LBA @fight2win

 

[White Heather]

The A330 can operate with full loads out of LBA @fight2win

We have had fairly full A330s in at LBA in the past operating varying length holiday charters - one that springs to mind was Air Luxor, and although it wasn't flying even half the distance it is to New York, I am told by airport management that the A330 is OK for LBA - provided they have the ground handling equipment to cater for it - which they are not going to have unless they know that such aircraft are going to be fairly regular.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Yes we have had a number of A330s in the past inc Onur air and Monarch. They seem to have a very good takeoff and landing performance, bit like the 757 but widebody! As LBA is the 2nd busiest jet2 base with double daily services in summer to the likes of alc and agp it might make sence to have 1 daily flight on an A330?

 

[oldendays]

The ground handling equipment for wide body aircraft would need to be supplied by the airline and/or handling agent, not the airport operator. At LBA, there are towable dollies for moving the baggage ULDs about. These used to be owned by LBA but may be Swissport property now. Swissport also owns at least one serviceable Hi-loader for lifting the ULDs into the aircraft. All these are routinely used for servicing the BA narrowbody Airbuses. I'm not sure about Swissport's aircraft steps capabilities. Jet2 has no equipment for the aforementioned purposes at LBA.

 

[LsS27]

Didn't Aer Lingus also bring one in on a demo flight for civic dignitaries?

 

[LBA4EVER]

Yes an aer lingus A330 landed once,I believe it was to promote their new service to New York from Dublin, at the time I heard that when it landed they were injuries onboard due to extremely heavy braking? anyone else hear this?

 

[Aviador]

Nah that's rubbish.

 

[Bigman]

The Aer Lingus was a 200 series. Most now operate the bigger 300 series, which I believe means more operational issues.

 

[White Heather]

Yes we have had a number of A330s in the past inc Onur air and Monarch. They seem to have a very good takeoff and landing performance, bit like the 757 but widebody! As LBA is the 2nd busiest jet2 base with double daily services in summer to the likes of alc and agp it might make sence to have 1 daily flight on an A330?

We have certainly had one Aer LIngus (I believe it was the first A330 to land at LBA), plus the regular Air Luxor flights on Sunday mornings, which I think were from Faro, plus the Monarch flights to Paderborn on trooping flights. I don't think Onur Air operated the A330. They used the older A300 , such as TC-OAO, pictured landing at LBA. View attachment 13666

 

[White Heather]

Today was the latest Airport Consultative Committee meeting, so although there wasn't a great deal of information we don't already know, here is my report.

Airport company staff/organisational changes.

Various changes in staff, the most notable being that Jim Wylie, Head of ATC, has left in order to return home to Scotland and concentrate on his own business pursuits outside aviation. He was part time, and LBA are now recruiting a replacement, which will be a full time post. Andy Shaw has joined LBA as Head of Risk and Safety Assurance; Joanna Wilde was confirmed as the new Chief Commercial Officer; Paul French has left his role as Chief Finance Officer and a replacement is being recruited.

Terminal development update

As I have tried to explain several times before, the planning application approved by Leeds City Council did not mean that the actual terminal building would be built immediately. Whilst ground works have been undertaken, thereby ensuring that the approval will not lapse, and whilst the architects had produced a 'fly through' video of how the terminal might look, the final design of the interior was not completed. The arrival of the new CEO also led to him wanting to review the proposal to ensure that it met all requirements and that LBA didn't end up with a new terminal extension that was already inadequate by the time it was built. It was confirmed today that with this in mind, LBA referred the matter to a company called AIQ, who are experts in airport terminal requirements, having done similar work at various other airports. They have been working on a complex but necessary model to examine traffic flows, peak demands and other relevant information, with a view to ensuring that the development provides adequate infrastructure to cover all requirements, in particular baggage re-claim (ie number and size of belts) and border force facilities. The report was confirmed as taking longer than hoped due to the complexity (no doubt not helped by the current ups and downs of the aviation industry), but it expected by late October. This will allow LBA management and the design team to adjust the design of the terminal as required. Only when this is completed can the design team undertake work to design tinterior layout, Mechanical & Electrical requirements, and then when the final design is completed, go out to tender. It is hoped that at the next meeting in December, LBA will be in a position to provide the committee with a full presentation as to what will be built, and when it will commence, but this will definitely not be until some time in 2020.

Aviation update

Not a great deal to report that we don't already know. The situation with Ryanair was confirmed, and the LBA understanding is that the reduction to 2 based 737s is a temporary reduction. LBA are in discussion with Ryanair and other operators with regard to 'backfill'. Although not mentioned today, it is clear that Jet2 have responded already by increasing their flights and aircraft size on a number of the routes suspended by Ryanair.

It was confirmed that LBA are in discussions with Thomas Cook and Nouvelair with regard to the continuation of the summer flights to Enfidha for summer 2020.

It was confirmed that LBA continue discussions with KLM with regard to possibly increase in capacity on the AMS route, and are engaged in regular discussions of a similar nature with BA regarding increased flights to LHR. It was stated that the route is doing well at the moment with improved commercial performance.

Confirmed that Eastern/Flybe will be increasing flights to SOU by 4 per week.

Confirmed Aer Lingus Regional (Stobart) will add a further 3 rotations to DUB weekly. These will improve connections to the US and Canada and allow connection to destinations that previously did not work. Bookings are doing well on the additional flights, which commence from this winter schedule.

Confirmed that Flybe will be continuing the flights to NQY, 2 x weekly.

Confirmed that the Accessorize and In Motion retail outlets are now open within the terminal and both are doing very well.

ITV documentary 'Yorkshire Airport'

The airport provided a de-brief on the subject of the recently completed ITV documentary series. It was acknowledged that there are lessons to be learned, and that on social media, the series attracted a lot of negative comment, although it was also stated that there was a perhaps surprising amount of positivity too, often with customers complaining that the series did not reflect on the airport they knew well and was not therefore representative of how it is really. According to ITV, the programme was extremely successful with an average 2.2m viewers per programme - approximately 13.2m over the 6 episodes. It was so successful, ITV want to do a 2nd series. However, this is unlikely to happen. On the positive side, the airport received a lot of positive comment about how good the airport and its facilities looked. The CEO took part in 'The Great phone in' which is better known as the Liz Green show on Radio Leeds, in the wake of the programme airing, and after an initial burst of negativity, this was stated to become mainly positive after listeners had listened to the CEO's responses.

Laser attacks

A presentation was given by a Police Officer from the National Police Air Service, which has its HQ at Wakefield (in space provided by West Yorkshire Police). They are a national organisation which operates 19 helicopters across the country at 13 bases and shortly 4 fixed wing aircraft, all of which will be based at DSA. All helicopters are now Eurocopter models. In response to reported laser attacks on aircraft, NPAS will go to assist aircraft (as they did with the recent incidents in Leeds) and will also do what they can to identify the source of the laser attack. Their helicopters can not only identify the area the attack is originating from, but the exact house, exact window, and the address. They can then arrange for the dispatch of the Police. Almost all laser attacks are directed from the windows, doors or gardens of homes.
New laws now mean it is an offence to shine a laser at any vehicle or aircraft where this might distract or dazzle the person in charge of the vehicle/aircraft. There is no requirement to prove that they intended to endanger the vehicle/aircraft. The law gives the Police power of entry without a warrant so if knocking on the offenders door doesn't get a response, they can enter forcibly and arrest the offender there and then. The offences can be dealt with via Magistrates Court (up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a fine), or can be referred to the Crown Court which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine. The action taken can be very successful - and to demonstrate, it was confirmed that the Leeds resident directing their laser at various Jet2 aircraft last month, was identified by the NPAS helicopter, arrested and has been to the Magistrates Court - and due to the nature of the offence, the case has been referred to Crown Court.

 

[LBA8098]

Thanks very much as ever WH. Greatly appreciated.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Excellent report once again. Was anything discussed about cargo, or is it well and truly buried?