More airport expansion
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Well, well - here's another airport in the south-east that's looking to expand. Their proposal for 57% growth will be rushed through public consultation in just 4 weeks. They are promising to continue to be a "good neighbour". They say that the impact on the environment noise and road traffic flows will be "fully evaluated".
They even say that they will be submitting a planning application. Ahem. Nudge, nudge. Wouldn't it be nice if all airports had planning permission?
Following the BBC news item below, you will find a report from the trade press which talks about "6.5 million passengers" creating "6,000 jobs". This mythical golden ratio of 1,000 jobs per million passengers should be familiar to regular readers of this blog.
And who's peddling these wildly optimistic numbers? The propeller-heads' favourite number-mongers – York Aviation. Step forward, take a bow and your customary large cheque.
Luton expansion plans
Luton airport - the UK’s 5th biggest – has announced a 4 week consultation on its plans that will start on 6th February. It has plans to increase the annual number of passengers.
It would handle 18 million passengers a year under the plan, up from 11.5 million. Work “can be achieved within the airport’s existing boundary and using the existing runway”. Once the consultation ends, the airport hopes to submit a planning application in April. The airport says:
“Impacts on the environment, noise and road traffic flows will be fully evaluated as part of the process.”
The airport announced plans for road improvements in November to reduce anticipated congestion at the time of the Olympics. Some of the work is paid for by public funds.
AirportWatch 16th Jan 2012
London Luton Airport hopes to boost passenger numbers
Luton airport has announced plans to boost passenger numbers by nearly seven million a year. [18 million would be more like 9 million over the 2010 figure].
Proposals released by London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) aim to also create 6,000 jobs. The airport, the UK’s fifth biggest, would handle 18 million passengers a year under the plan, up from 11.5 million. [Highest was 10.2 million in 2008. Down to 8.7 million in 2010].
Its 57% growth bid comes after claims of an air travel capacity shortage in south east England, by 2020. A four-week public consultation will begin on the 6 February and will include a series of public exhibitions around the region.
The project, known as “futureLuToN:Optimisation”, has already been introduced to the airport’s consultative committee, which represents local residents, councils and community groups. In a statement, LLAL said the growth “can be achieved within the airport’s existing boundary and using the existing runway” and it will consider what modifications and improvements will be required.
LLAL Chair, Councillor Robin Harris said the airport needed to be ready to “embrace market demand in the future” but it would “listen carefully” before submitting a planning application.
“The benefits that will flow from the airport’s development will be realised in the local, regional and national economies. We are committed to ensure the airport will continue to be a good neighbour and any growth in passenger numbers is managed in a responsible manner. Impacts on the environment, noise and road traffic flows will be fully evaluated as part of the process.”
LLAL has said it intends to submit a planning application for consideration in or around April, at which time a further statutory consultation will be undertaken by Luton Borough Council as planning authority.
BBC online 16th Jan 2012
Luton Airport to expand to 18mppa
London Luton Airport has announced “ambitious plans” to optimise capacity at the gateway by around 57% so it will be able to handle at least 18 million passengers a year by 2020. The gateway said that plans to increase capacity by an additional 6.5 million passengers would take shape using the existing runway and within the airports current boundaries.
According to the airport owner – London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) – the gateway’s current maximum capacity is 11.5 million passengers with 9.6 million expected up to the end of March 2012. In the calendar year for 2012 the airport is expecting to handle 10.2 million passengers.
The expansion project seeks to optimise the capacity of the existing airport and LLAL will consider what modifications and improvements will be required. This will include looking at the aircraft taxiways, aprons, piers and parking stands, the road network, airport car parking and the passenger terminal. Meanwhile, LLAL has estimated that the plans could create up to 6,000 new jobs and generate millions of pounds of investment.
The project – called ‘futureLuToN:Optimisation’ – was introduced today (January 16) to the airport’s consultative committee representing local residents, councils and community groups. A pre-planning application public consultation will begin on Monday February 6, when plans will be presented in Luton and around the wider area. The four-week consultation process will run until March 5 and will include a series of public exhibitions around the region.
A dedicated website – www.futureLuToN.co.uk – will also be launched for interested parties to view proposals and provide their feedback on the airport’s plans. Robin Harris, chair of LLAL, said:
“We’re at the very beginning of a journey that builds on the tremendous success we have seen through the last decade and will ultimately bring huge benefits to Luton and the wider region – with jobs and much-needed income. We will consult actively and listen carefully ahead of submitting a planning application to enhance this important people’s asset but we must be ready to embrace market demand in the future.
Our plans that will go out for public consultation in February are ambitious. While we will have to work hard to meet our aspirations, I am encouraged by the vast majority of people and businesses in Luton and the wider region who believe strongly that the airport is a terrific asset for job creation and our biggest wealth creator.”
London Luton Airport is the UK’s fifth biggest airport. It is a headquarters for easyJet and is a major base for Wizz Air, Ryanair and Monarch.
Luton Airport added that it would also consider expanding the airport further to be able to handle 30 million passengers a year but added that “this does not form part of the proposals being consulted on in February”.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that Luton will drive an additional 440 direct on-site jobs for every extra million passengers that pass through the airport, and as a result, an estimated additional 1,750 indirect jobs will be created by the airport’s plans for it to increase capacity to 18 million passengers per year, according to York Aviation.
London Luton Airport is operated by Abertis-owned London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL).
Airport World 16th Jan 2012
Luton, York Aviation
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