Leeds Bradford - General Thread

[Aviador]

Thanks Lbaspotter I didn't see that one.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Thanks folks, get a much better idea of possible scope for the future from these views, thanks for providing.

 

[empire]

From the Business Desk

INVESTMENT at Leeds Bradford Airport is expected to continue as the business eyes up new services to expand its offering.

The business, backed by Bridgepoint, said despite already investing heavily in terminal development and attracting new airlines and new business, investment will continue throughout 2014.

It also said it intends to put a new financing structure in place before May this year. Leeds Bradford has to refinance a £49.2m senior term loan, a £20.6m capital expenditure facility and a £11.3m terminal development.

In its results to the end of March last year, EBITDA came in at £3.7m, compared to £3.9m the previous year and the group reported a pre-tax loss of just under £11.3m, slightly less than the previous year of £11.9m, which includes net exceptional costs of £400,000 that relate to restructuring costs.

Full article:
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshir ... t+in+2014+

 

[Aviador]

It's disappointing, worrying even when after so much work has been done to transform the business it still isn't making a profit. The business grew last year at a fast pace, in-fact in percentage terms the airports growth outpaced 19 of the largest airports in the UK yet even after all that growth it only managed to make up £600,000 of lost ground from a loss of £11.9m the previous year. I just cannot imagine what the business can possibly do if it is ever to return a profit?

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I have highlighted on this thread the problems of the airport operator increasing its revenue stream, the strain on their resources will increase as they try to re finance, 10 years gilts are now at 3% today, its going to cost them more to borrow.
All is not lost at least LBA not in the top ten of this poll. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01 ... d%3D235306

 

[a300boy]

I was told yesterday that the incident with the Cessna Citation was nothing to do with bird strikes. I am unable to say more for potential legal reasons. I would expect there will be an investigation so if you guys and girls are interested keep you eye on the CAA Gasil reports.

 

[White Heather]

Interesting.....but lets not forget that it hasn't made a profit (in part at least) because of the investments made into the airport already. But perhaps those who still pour scorn on LBA for their car park and drop off charges will bear in mind these figures when they claim that Bridgepoint are ripping every one off. I very much doubt LBA will make a profit either until it has had a couple of years pulling money in without any major investment in the terminal or airfield facilities. The fact they are stating there will be further investment suggests that Bridgepoint are happy to stick around and are in LBA for the long haul. I imagine there will be one or two people who won't be very happy at that prospect!

 

[Aviador]

Yes the next few years will be interesting to say the least, even if it's not watching piling commence on the foundations of a shiny new terminal building. It's far from being an easy task running an airport and balancing the books these days as the airlines (most) squeeze every last penny in discounts out of them. The parking, including the pick-up and drop-off has become an essential part of the business and understandably so. It will inevitably continue to get criticism from essentially Ryanair passengers who have paid next to nothing to use the airport.

 

[ls27]

Leeds is not the only airport having to trade at a loss. Liverpool is £7m in debt and looking to refinance.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi all
it looks like air blue will pull off man-isb on 17 march, I wonder if this will put any pax our way??
:s_thumbsup
sm1

 

[a300boy]

Knowing our luck PIA will decide to operate two extra flights a week to Manchester from Islamabad to make up for the loss of seats !! Now where could you find an aircraft for two extra flights a week ???

 

[Bigman]

Sadly, I am with you on this one a300boy. Would be a convenient excuse to reallocate PK775/6 back to MAN and bang a 777/3 on.

 

[Aviador]

Interesting reading this article in the Doncaster press today.....

Leeds Bradford Airport introduces seven new routes for 2014

Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airports Aviation Development & Marketing Director, celebrates 7 route launches for Leeds Bradford in 2014.

Leeds Bradford Airport is preparing for another busy year, with seven route launches so far announced for 2014, offering an increased destination and airline choice for Yorkshire travellers.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will launch their first destination between Leeds Bradford and Copenhagen. Jet2.com and Eastern Airways will both introduce new destinations to compliment their existing schedules.

Read the full article here: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/new ... -1-6372329

I'm looking forward to reading the replies.

The first reads "A shame the Free Press has to report on Leeds airport getting new routes and not Doncaster. Maybe the paper should do some real journalism and try and find out why our airport continues to lose passengers and flights, while other local airports grow and flourish?"

 

[a300boy]

Might also ask why they are billing routes that have been dropped by other operators as " new routes " but that is the way the marketing guys make there bucks. We have lost as much as we have gained. As usual love to be wrong.

 

[Aviador]

The spin doctor is at work. All airports, not just Leeds are notorious for being good at it.

 

[752]

Well here is just a bit of positive news, looks like Leeds Bradford has won the best UK airport in the travel weekly awards last night in London. With Jet2 winning best short haul & Monarch winning best charter airline. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/ ... ealed.html

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Well done to all three.
Having visited 5 other airports in 2013 as well as Leeds, manchester, T5 Heathrow, Geneva, Ibiza and Malaga, people who complain about LBA should try these airports on a regular basis. Whilst it is no way perfect it has improved beyond recognition from the airport it was 5 years ago. We always fly out at the 7am rush hour, since the incorporation of the new x-ray machines in spring, we have sailed through and found seating without searching around, may be we were lucky once, however, we repeated it another 5 times, surely that reflects the state of play now happening. Have had issues on our return but these not the fault of the airport, but the staff making the wrong decisions, this is a training issue.
In respect of Jet2 can only judge them against BA as made 4 short term flights with BA against 10 with Jet2. For me Jet2 from booking in the arrival win hands down on the service they provide. BA for me always had a lot to learn I would never fly distance with BA preferring Cathy, Singapore or New Zealand, they understand the term Service Provider.
I made a decision 20 years ago never ever to fly with Monarch, my son due to price chose them last year and to be fair had no issues at all with the flights.

 

[Moo2009]

How come Emirates are advertising for cabin crew in Leeds any ideas?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

How come Emirates are advertising for cabin crew in Leeds any ideas?

Is it an open day along the lines of the one at Cardiff two or three years ago? Then I believe they were using the city during their recruitment process but it didn't mean a Cardiff base or route and none eventuated.

http://www.cabincrew.com/forums/emirate ... ff/45604/1

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Well here is just a bit of positive news, looks like Leeds Bradford has won the best UK airport in the travel weekly awards last night in London. With Jet2 winning best short haul & Monarch winning best charter airline. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/ ... ealed.html

Like Tarnspotter, I offer my hearty congratulations to all three. However, I can't help wondering what criteria the awards are judged on.

With regards to LBA, I was hoping to keep this to myself but, having read this and the comments thereafter, I feel it is an important contribution to the thread. I flew out to Dublin last weekend and returned from Belfast City. The last time I was in LBA departures, it was at the busiest time of the week and year and I found it incredibly overcrowded. There simply wasn't just a nice quiet place to sit and relax. I mentioned at the time that I was massively disappointed with the terminal "improvements" and, though the whole process from check in to boarding had vastly improved, the departure lounge was chaotic. In November, I sampled the arrivals process having flown from Heathrow and was left very cold by how poor the facilities were and how slow the bags were in arriving.

On my latest trip, obviously, the terminal was much less busy and I was able to take the time to have a bit more of a look around. I still find the whole area claustrophobic and chaotic and, sadly, I was taken aback by how shabby and unloved everything looked. Certainly, the overall appearance of the lounge since I was last there in August has deteriorated very much. I appreciate that it is a busy place and people will do what people do. But Heathrow is a busy place too and that was pristine (despite the ongoing building works). Again, the arrivals facilities were poor. The baggage hall is hopeless and there is very little signage to indicate your onward journey. Where are the buses? Where are the taxis? Bags arrived before the passengers on this occasion but, typically, I only had carry on luggage.

I don't want to knock it too much as it is a massively improved place from times of old and I want it to be the best in the UK. But is it? No.

I have no reason to disagree with Jet2 winning best short haul as they do provide a very good and friendly service. They have even sorted out their catastrophic delays, about which I was so vocal. Again though, I would be interested to know what criteria were used to decide the award as I am sure there are a few airlines scratching their heads. Jet2's continued use of hidden charges when all of their rivals are far more open about them combined with their overall higher fares than the likes of Flybe, Easyjet, Ryanair etc leave a bitter taste in the mouth however the service on board is far better than all of them.

I think, looking at the overall performance of charter airlines, it is hard to argue with Monarch receiving it but, again, I'm sure Thomson and Thomas Cook will be questioning it to some extent.