Future Infrastructure Developments

[Aviador]

We wont know that until the airport decide to press ahead with phase 2 when they will probably need to make amendments to the original planning application.

 

[Aviador]

I totally agree mode1 although the illistrations show a clear walkway as opposed to walking straight into fixtures and fittings which is the case with the current Alpha shop.

Current Alpha shop

Source:LBIA website http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk

New World Duty Free shop

Source: LBIA website http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk

 

[Aviador]

I still have no images of the check-in area. Basically the girders are still showing but they have now been painted white. Ducting is currently being installed presumably for air-conditioning or ventilation units. Temporary lighting is installed throughout the check-in hall whilst the work is done. At the moment the hall appears much brighter than before and hopefully the lower ceiling will ensure this remains the case when the permanent lighting fittings are installed.

 

[tleeds]

It is a slight improvement I suppose, rather than like it was before with the Alpha Duty Free.

I also found the height of the ceiling very though there as well, with myself and my dad being close to 6'5, we'll both be grateful for the extra height!

Looking good with the progress mind, I am keeping my reservations 'closed' until I see what the finished product looks like though!

 

[Moo2009]

Contractors were doing some ground drilling today at stand 14 where the covered walkway will be

 

[Seasider]

Frequent flyers will tell you that all major airports have passengers walking through the retail area before they get to the lounge/gate. The retail area is a big money spinner for the airports (hence LBA are increasing their's a great deal) as income from airlines is reducing. I don't mind walking through the retail area as long as there is a clearly defined pathway. You have to remember that for leisure passengers who fly once/twice a year, a little bit of "retail therapy" is part of the holiday.
In the last 12 months I have flown from Geneva, Zurich, Stuttgart, Belfast, Heraklion, Manchester, Dubai and East Midlands (in addition to LBA) and they all have passengers walking through the retail area to get to their departure gate.
Don't forget, you don't have to buy anything.

 

[wawkrk]

I agree Seasider that walking through a retail area is the norm, even in hi-tech airports like Singapore and Hong Kong. In major airports only Tokyo Narita I seem to remember being a bit different and because of the lack of shops a bit of a miserable place.
I don't mind the retail area at all, always brightly lit and smelling nice with perfume.
Just imagine no shops at all like some drab old Soviet airports,I don't think these are better at all.

 

[White Heather]

Its precisely to tempt those who are determined not to buy, that they make you walk through duty free, just in case you spot something that you just have to have. Seeing other people buying also tends to encourage people to do likewise even though they don't realise it. Its just a curiosity factdor. If you just walked into the departure lounge and never saw duty free, it is far less likely that you would ever be tempted. to even look, let alone buy. Its the same with the bar - see it, and people drinking and you are more likely to do the same. It is a pretty standard marketing approach to tempt people by ensuring that they have to see the shopping area.

With regard to the celing height, one thing to bear in mind is that the higher a ceiling is, the more noisy an area is, as there is a tendency for noise to echo off the ceiling. Go to a noisy, high ceiling Italian Bistro and you will know what I mean. The panels on the ceiling are going to be sound absorbent, so that, together with the low(ish) ceiling height should help surpress a lot of the noise.

 

[User0001]

It's an interesting paradox that when you ask people what they'd like to see at LBA, it's generally more services to a greater choice of destinations and better facilities. Few people though are happy about paying for any of this it seems. If you pass through the airport and don't spend in the car park or the shops, the airport are loosing money on you - almost guaranteed.

Don't be too shocked to see a new terminal layout which will try and minimise the number of loss making passengers

 

[Aviador]

Latest Update:

Not my usual source but apparently the area where gate 9 and 10 is will be closed from Monday to facilitate the refurbishment. For those not familiar with gate 9 and 10, this is the area that used to overlook the check-in hall prior to the works. Also, the new floor space is now being marked up with where the new retail units and "circulation" zone will go.

 

[Seasider]

Mode1
You have heard from at least 2 frequent travellers who have said that they can cope with walking through the retail area. Dare I suggest you book a flight this summer, when the works are completed and ask passenger opinion on the retail area.

 

[Aviador]

Update:

The through route between the new retail area and the main lounge has been opened up. It isn't complete but seats have been placed there temporarily now the gate 10 and associated seating area is closed.

 

[Crescent]

Evening.
I work for a Structural Engineering firm and we've had some involvement in the airport refurb. Work should be starting imminently in the departure lounge area outside the Danby Bar directly adjacent the escalators......A new 2 Car Enclosed Glass Lift will be installed following the forming of openings in the Ground and First Floors.

 

[lbaspotter]

An interesting VIDEO filmed from behind the sences at Leeds/Bradford with Tony Hallwood been interviewed has appered on the Yorkshire Post website today.

Video: Behind the scenes at Leeds Airport’s new extension

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news...es_at_leeds_airport_s_new_extension_1_4298289

Published on Wednesday 29 February 2012 16:08

BOSSES at Leeds Airport today unveiled the soon-to-be-finished extension to the terminal building.

The new areas will include an enhanced duty free shop, new bars and an all-weather terminal to take passengers from the departure lounge to their flights.

Airport chief executive John Parkin admitted last year that passenger facilities were “unacceptable” and that improvements were needed to cope with a hoped-for increase in passenger numbers from 2.95m to five million a year.

He said the building programme, to be completed by summer, was an “important milestone” but the long-term aim is to attract more airlines, increase the frequency of flights and the range of destinations.

“We want to attract more airlines – to do that we have to have the capacity and the facilities. Last summer the passenger experience through our airport was unacceptable and it’s time to fix it.”

The airport operates direct services to over 70 destinations in 22 countries but the aim is to add at least another 30 destinations.

He said “big gaps” in the destinations being served, particularly Germany, needed to be filled. An airport spokesman said the £11m was part of a phased investment plan of £70m over 10 years, announced in 2008.

Councillors welcomed the £11m investment when it was announced, but some called for better transport links to the site at Yeadon.

Councillor Dawn Collins, who represents Horsforth on Leeds City Council. She said: “The transport links to the airport are totally inadequate. If we’re going to see more people using the airport we need to see better road and rail links. The airport needs to consider what it can do to improve these links, while minimising the impact on local people, if it wants to increase passenger numbers.”

Guiseley councillor Paul Wadsworth added: “If the airport is serious about becoming one of the UK’s major airports, and attracting big international airlines, it needs to work with the council, and central government, to get better infrastructure.”

 

[Seasider]

It sounds good, looking forward to my trip through the airport in 3 weeks.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I found the video interesting.

Sensible to do the expansion in 'bite-sized chunks' which was how I think Tony Hallwood described it.

 

[wawkrk]

Usual waffle from councillors implying the airport should provide better transport links after they failed to do anything for the last 40 years. They even allowed new houses to built close to the main roads so they cannot be widened.
The luddites in the city live on.

 

[Aviador]

Usual waffle from councillors implying the airport should provide better transport links after they failed to do anything for the last 40 years. They even allowed new houses to built close to the main roads so they cannot be widened.
The luddites in the city live on.

I couldn't agree more. The Leeds Ring Road is a perfect example.

The YEP video provides a much better view of how the work is progressing but here's the latest picture so far as above the check-in area goes.

The image looks across where Gate 10 used to be. The contractors are in the process of removing the bordering windows that used to overlook the check-in area.

 

[Huddy]

They havent hung around in stripping it out!

Impressed!

 

[JakeS]

Found a feature on the Real Radio Yorkshire website. They had been to take a look at the works to the terminal and first picture I've seen on the check in area with new lowered ceiling.
Link here.

http://www.realradioyorkshire.co.uk/new ... /aci29rgc/

Thanks for sharing this. Even after consultations, masterplans and artist impressions being use to lots of ceiling height it’s still strange to see development come to fruition… a picture of Check In Hall A with a lower ceiling