Liverpool John Lennon Airport (vi)

[Tony Sebo]

Everyone should do all they can to ensure this succeeds. The DP&E should have competitions for short breaks as should R Merseyside and R City.... instead we will no doubt suffer an overwhelming silence!

Of course the Chamber should be booking up tickets now for weekly jaunts... but will they?

[Liverpool8]

flyglobespan extending the service to NYC over the winter period 07/08 is old news. Remember all the fuss several weeks ago about the flights being routed via Knock etc and then someone pointed out that the website had uploaded ongoing daily flights to at least Jan 2008 ?

Wonder why this is being announced now? Perhaps it wasn't official before?

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by bluesnapper

Just shows how powerful the 'anti Liverpool' press is because its believed the extra security charge has been brought in when the truth of the matter it has not!

I do apologize if this is not the case but I cannot find anything to suggest otherwise.

Liverpool Airport introduces £2 security tax

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) has introduced a £2 security charge that will apply to each departing passenger.

The levy has been introduced in the wake of more stringent aviation security measures, in order "to help offset the cost of airport security and help keep passenger queues to a minimum".

According to the airport, security costs at JLA have almost trebled over the past five years and have now reached nearly £5 million per year.

Now passengers flying out of Liverpool will have to pay £2 to pass through a specially installed turnstile before they can board their plane.

A spokesman for the airport's owner, Peel Holdings, said that although JLA is continually expanding and bringing economic growth to the region, it is still yet to turn a profit. He explained that the charge would help to ensure the airport continues to run smoothly.

"Our aircraft are contracted to turnaround within 20 to 25 minutes of arrival and therefore our airlines need to depart on time," he said. "At present, 95 per cent of passengers queue at security for less than five minutes and this charge will help ensure these queues are kept to a minimum."

Low-cost airline easyJet has hit out against the fee, launching a campaign that calls on passengers to "'Say No' to the £2 security charge".

The carrier's chief executive, Andy Harrison, said that easyJet has a contract with JLA that includes all security services provided to its passengers. He accused the airport of profiteering, saying that it was "acting improperly by trying to double-charge the airlines' customers" for something that has already been paid for.

The airport spokesman maintained that the charge is "a small price for passengers to pay for the levels of passenger security now in place".

easyJet flies to many UK and European destinations from JLA, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Berlin and Madrid.

Original text here

[bluesnapper]

SMARTCITY,

Thats my point exactly. The media are quick to be negative to the city but are not quick enough (if at all) in redressing the balance.

Here is a article from the Liverpool Echo from last Tuesday, note the part I have put into bold.

***************************************

Should the public pay a security tax at JLA?

Jan 16 2007

Should passengers pay more to be safe when they fly? Deborah James reports

by Deborah James, Liverpool Daily Post


THE row over whether Liverpool John Lennon Airport should introduce a £2 security surcharge for departing passengers has stirred major objections from airlines. Both of the airport’s staple carriers, Easyjet and Ryanair, have lodged concerns about the proposal, the first of its kind in the country.

JLA says it needs to introduce a surcharge to make up the £5m annual cost of extra security checks since an alleged plot was uncovered to blow up transatlantic flights using liquid explosives last summer.

But Easyjet, which has based its success on offering low-cost “no-frills” flights, says the cost of security checks is already covered by the cost of passengers’ tickets.

It claims, under the terms of its contract with the airport, that any move insisting passengers pay additional costs could be illegal.

JLA confirmed it is now locked in talks with airlines over “two or three” options for how the scheme, which was meant to start in the New Year, could be implemented.

The airport says it hopes to introduce the scheme in some form within a few weeks. One alternative may be to offer a “fast lane” for any passengers who are willing to pay extra, leaving those who don’t pay up queuing longer for security checks.

But the airlines want to make sure the fast lane is a genuine choice for passengers, and the “slow lane” would not be so slow passengers would have no option but to pay the surcharge.

Another option, says JLA, would be to charge every passenger £1 for each passage through the airport, either departing or arriving.

**************************************

Another point is that has anyone noticed that other airports are lobbying Parliament re charges levied against them for extra Police due to the Governments heightened terror alert?

[westisbest]

went past the scene of the search and rescue vehicle crash before, totally written off and the remains of the car are there to be seen, the search and rescue was on way to JLA because of an EZY having to emergency land, obviously smashed into the white car and the woman driver was killled on impact, there are so many trees down, and the Met quarter has had some panels off the roof

[liverpolitan]

I'll beat Glasgowboy to it.

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html


Okay if you are a bank with offices in Canary Wharf and an outpost in a northern city, maybe - but it was never going to be a great route for Liverpool. Gatwick or Heathrow is where the link needs to be. I'd never get on one of those little planes VLM use, they don't look strong enough to hold together in a storm.

[Liverpool8]

VLM is essentially an airline that connects London City to the Low Countries and one or two others. The planes they use are just not acceptable in this day and age - they're noisy as hell and get blown every which way by the wind. They probably won't last much longer at JLA. I think this is the second time they have tried to make a success of a route to London from Liverpool. Obviously not meant to be.

See ya VLM - ok choice of free booze shite cakes and sarnies. I was the one who broke the brandy optic in the business lounge

Next.

[liverpolitan]

Originally Posted by bluesnapper

The airport says it hopes to introduce the scheme in some form within a few weeks.[/b] One alternative may be to offer a “fast lane” for any passengers who are willing to pay extra, leaving those who don’t pay up queuing longer for security checks.

But the airlines want to make sure the fast lane is a genuine choice for passengers, and the “slow lane” would not be so slow passengers would have no option but to pay the surcharge.

But haven't Easyjet introduced an add-on when you book, so you can be in the "first to be called" group regardless of when you check in? How hypocritical of them to criticise an airport for allowing people to buy their way out of queues, when they do it themselves.

I think it's a good idea - people pay for airport lounges, and for better seats on planes, and for early boarding, so why not for a shorter queue for security as well?

One thing that puts me off flying is that the last two times I flew, from Gatwick, on each occasion I nearly missed my flight because of unacceptably long and lawless queues for security - they wont police the queues, and a lot of people won't queue and just barge in. The last time, I was still quite a way away from the x ray machine after 15 minutes in the "queue" (which kept forming new tributaries and branches as newcomers decided it was too long and they'd create a short-cut), and despite one of them refusing, I eventually persuaded (by threatening to report him to his manager) one of the staff to escort me to the front. "Just walk to the front" he said to me, initially refusing to go with me, as though that would be fine. Totally fuckwitted. I then had to run about a mile to the gate as it was closing and I'm not very fit. A total fucking nightmare. I would happily pay a small fee to avoid that, it was very stressful.

[SmartCity]

The airport says it hopes to introduce the scheme in some form within a few weeks. One alternative may be to offer a “fast lane” for any passengers who are willing to pay extra, leaving those who don’t pay up queuing longer for security checks.

Interesting point. Many airport already have a 'fast track' option, most are offered by the airlines for business passengers without any additional charge up front. In many cases the so-called 'fast tracks' themselves get rather busy at peek periods, speaking from experience.

[bluesnapper]

Originally Posted by liverpolitan

But haven't Easyjet introduced an add-on when you book, so you can be in the "first to be called" group regardless of when you check in? How hypocritical of them to criticise an airport for allowing people to buy their way out of queues, when they do it themselves.

Yes you are right, easyJet calls it 'Speedy Boarding'.

This is how its advertised from Liverpool;

Speedy boarding

Be the first to be called to board your flight for just £2.50 per person. You may be bussed to the aircraft for this flight. We cannot guarantee that Speedy Boarders are first off the bus.

Note the last line!

Doesn't say if you get your money back if you don't get on the aircraft first though.

[westisbest]

From nwan's annual review incase anyone doesn't know


Major renovations to the runway commenced in October, necessitating night closure of the airport. The work will see a major improvement to the runway and its shoulder area and taxiways and will also mean that the airport will again be able to accept 4-engined wide-bodies such as the Airbus A340 and Boeing 747s which have been banned for some years owing to the blast damage that can be caused to the runway shoulders.

[T0M]

Loving Webcam 1 at the moment Westi... very apt with JLA's 'Above us only sky' motto...

[westisbest]

Does anybody know now that its JLA - JFK, what airline will be used, and likewise for the HAM flight, i guess AA and FCA but i might be wrong

[bluesnapper]

Originally Posted by westisbest

Does anybody know now that its JLA - JFK, what airline will be used, and likewise for the HAM flight, i guess AA and FCA but i might be wrong

For the Liverpool to New York JFK, flyGlobespan will be using flyGlobespan just as it says on the packet.

As for the Liverpool to Hamburg flight the airport does not have a route to HAM.

[westisbest]

Sarcy ok LPL - YHM

does this mean FGS are buying some 752 aircraft?

[bluesnapper]

Originally Posted by westisbest

Sarcy ok LPL - YHM

You must learn some codes or say what you mean.

Reminds me of the time that an Italian airline filed to go from (if memory serves) Rome to Palma and ended up going to Parma.

Anyway, the answer is the same as the LPL/JFK route.

Originally Posted by westisbest

does this mean FGS are buying some 752 aircraft?

If you mean flyGlobespan (and not the FGS code for Elitellina of Italy) its maybe.

They look more likely to lease aircraft than to buy.

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by bluesnapper

Speedy boarding

Be the first to be called to board your flight for just £2.50 per person. You may be bussed to the aircraft for this flight. We cannot guarantee that Speedy Boarders are first off the bus.

Ryanair's Priority boarding is the same. Does this mean Liverpool doesn't have a 'Fast Track' channel to pass through security screening?

[bluesnapper]

Originally Posted by SMARTCITY

Ryanair's Priority boarding is the same. Does this mean Liverpool doesn't have a 'Fast Track' channel to pass through security screening?

The airport does have a 'fast track' but I only know of VLM advertising the fact.

Could be its their 'fast track'.

[majormystery]

More than 100 baggage handlers are to be made redundant at Liverpool Airport. Airport managers yesterday told ramp service workers 104 jobs would have to be cut as a contract to handle baggage for easyJet will not be renewed in April.

The airport provides baggage handling for the majority of its users, but easyJet wants check-in and baggage handling to be run by one firm, as happens at its other UK bases. A third party - believed to be Penauille Servisair - has won easyJet's contract to provide both services.

The airport will cut handlers employed by the Airport Company, owned by Liverpool Airport owners Peel Holdings, by 50% within nine months, and force airport chiefs to amend shift patterns and hours of work of many of the remaining 105 staff. It is hoped the 104 axed workers will be rehired by Penauille Servisair.

Neil Pakey, chief executive of Peel Airports, said: 'We are naturally concerned for those staff members affected by this decision. However we recognise that this change will bring a more seamless service for easyJet, bringing their Liverpool operation in line with other airports across their network. The airport will be doing all it can to help redeploy these staff with the ground handling operator appointed to provide this service and keep net job losses to a minimum.'

The GMB union - which represents the majority of baggage handlers - said its members were unhappy at the news. Union officials said they accepted a pay cut just over three years ago to prevent redundancies and remain competitive in a bid to help the airport prosper. But now they claim they face applying for the same job with a company which has worse terms and conditions. Talks between the union and the airport are planned for Monday.

[Metrolink]

Provisional Dec 2006 figures...

Year total 4962460, increase of 12.6% on previous year.

Dec 371040, increase of 8.4% on previous year.