Future Infrastructure Developments

[leedslad]

To be fair to them you'd almost not notice works ongoing. The new stairs are oddly huge...

 

[Tarn Spotter]

On our last visit both the toilets by the Premier Lounge and those by the top of the escalators were closed and you had to walk back to use the toilets at the start of duty free or at the bottom of the escalators.

 

[leedslad]

Ah yes the new stairs down must have replaced the toilets

 

[B737]

There aren't any new stairs, if you are referring to ones left of the escalators and after the Saltaire Bar ends, they have always been there and have been accessible to the public for atleast the last few years, that's how people get to the Smoking shelter.

 

[KARFA]

There aren't any new stairs, if you are referring to ones left of the escalators and after the Saltaire Bar ends, they have always been there and have been accessible to the public for atleast the last few years, that's how people get to the Smoking shelter.

I was going to say! I haven't been through in 3 weeks but I had no idea a whole new set of stairs had appeared. Was looking forward to finding them on Saturday

 

[leedslad]

Oops I'd never noticed them! Are they newly signed maybe? Or I've not been paying attention.

 

[Britannia94]

Anyone with any picture updates? Been a couple of weeks now. Love to see how the new lounge area is looking from upstairs and the new Cargo shop.
Has the ceilings gone in yet around the sports bar?

Don't have any pictures but the ceiling is now in downstairs, you can see them some of the main support beams and some wiring so it would appear it needs completing off but the basics are in.

 

[quik123]

As far as I know there won't be a ceiling downstairs. What you see now is pretty much the finished article. Obviously some tidying up to do but the main beams you can see in the old Gate 4/5 area are going to remain exposed.
I think it's a good decision. To put a false ceiling there would just make it feel too claustrophobic. I've seen plenty of other public spaces where the beams and aircon. ducts etc remain in view, sometimes disguised by lighting and sometimes painted black. I saw the space above this last week and it looks huge! The window seats will have a great view across the airfield.

 

[B737]

Photos as requested.View attachment 5663 View attachment 5664 View attachment 5665

 

[lbaspotter]

Thanks for the updated pics "B737" it's always good to see what's happening behind the scenes. Like you I agree that the most likely outcome is the be no suspended ceiling going in, just because it could make it look dark down there without the right kind of Lighting.

For sure departing LBA will be a much better experience for us passengers when it's all up and running. The upgrade has been needed for a while, for sure it I'll be nice and empty come winter and busy next summer.

In my book it's still failure by the previous airport management not to have had this completed for peak summer..

 

[Bigman]

I just had to laugh at the report on the YEP website that was put on last night. The new boss is suggesting that we could at some point handle an A380. Thoughts ladies and gentlemen please!!

 

[michael]

I thought he'd got his figures wrong and he meant an A350, then I read it again.......................!

 

[Britannia94]

Here's a thought, even if we could accommodate this large aircraft, would the bridged part of the runway be able to handle such a heavy load or would it need adjustments made to it to handle such weight?

 

[Aviador]

I can only imagine he was probably actually referring to B777 and A350 ops and in true YEP style the reporter adds the usual spin to the story to ridicule the new LBA boss. In anycase last year saw zero sales of the A380 so the aircraft is most definately consigned to the "has been" category.

 

[White Heather]

As far as I recall, all airports handling the A380 had to have their runways, taxiways and aprons strengthened to take the weight. No airport is going to do that unless they are assured of a regular stream of the type and even if we could accommodate one economically on our runway, which is highly doubtful, we would never see them as a regular. In short, my view is it will never happen. That was (and still is as far as I know) the view of LBA who have repeatedly said they can not/will not handle anything bigger than a 777 200. 'The future' for LBA is based around the older 767, 777, A350 and B787 as far as wide body and long haul is concerned.

 

[lbaspotter]

I want some of what Daivd Laws has been either drinking or smoking!

Agreed with most on here that I also had a right laugh reading last night's YEP article, A380 or B744 no way will that happen.

But I could see further A332 & B767 visits, especially after the ongoing winter works to repair the runway who knows it hopefully will be good enough for A350, B772 & B788 operators.

The real question the airport management should be asking is:
At this time of summer (peak season) could the arrival hall and parking spron handle a widebody aircraft without some major developments been needed?

 

[imagineif]

787 & 737 MAX are the perfect aircraft for LBA! Too many performance limitations for anything else with the exception of the 777-200 but this is now an older generation aircraft and the economics of the 787 and MAX surpass it.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The TUI 788s are operating out of BRS to Florida and Mexico non-stop from a shorter runway than the one at LBA.

 

[imagineif]

The TUI 788s are operating out of BRS to Florida and Mexico non-stop from a shorter than the one at LBA.

Indeed - so it's entirely feasible but my feeling is that TUI doesn't want to dilute it's NCL and MAN loads which is a shame because there is no doubt in my mind that LBA could fill a 788 to MCO or SFB every week.

 

[Aviador]

Indeed - so it's entirely feasible but my feeling is that TUI doesn't want to dilute it's NCL and MAN loads which is a shame because there is no doubt in my mind that LBA could fill a 788 to MCO or SFB every week.

Totally agree with that comment. It leaves LBA is a difficult position where it has to seek an airline operator that doesn't have management with the same mindset of sticking to the big 5 airports for long haul ops.

The Jet2 A330 trials at Manchester could be a sign that they intend to go down the same route as TUI and Thomas Cook limiting long haul to selected airports.

As Leeds Bradford airport continues to grow its passenger numbers it will become a more attractive proposition for airlines seeking to expand once passenger numbers serpass the 4 million milestone.