Leeds Bradford International Airport - Thread 2

[SmartCity]

Jet2 have just announced that they are to fly to Gran Canaria twice weekly winter 07/08. The route although operated through the summer months as a charter, was lost during the winter a couple of years ago when Thomsonfly pulled the route to concentrate on Doncaster. The announcement will be well received by many who have had to travel by road elsewhere.

The flight operates Monday and Saturday's departing Leeds at 15:00 arriving in Las Palmas at 19:30. The return departs Las Palmas at 20:30 arriving at Leeds the following day at 01:00.

[Val Verde]

Good news regarding Grand Canaria from Jet 2. On other stuff has there been any announcement on anyone who will take on the BMI service to Paris CDG that was axed a couple of months ago yet? Surely Jet2 could expand on this surely popular route or perhaps Air France could operate LBA-CDG for business flights and on a hub-spoke route where further international flights could go through CDG similar to those that go through Schiopal with KLM from LBA or on an off chance FlyBe could take on this route?

Also are Shaheen still starting flights to Pakistan later this year and is there going to be any announcement of anyone to start transatlantic flights from LBA and will there be any more launches from any airlines this year?

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Good news regarding Grand Canaria from Jet 2. On other stuff has there been any announcement on anyone who will take on the BMI service to Paris CDG that was axed a couple of months ago yet? Surely Jet2 could expand on this surely popular route or perhaps Air France could operate LBA-CDG for business flights and on a hub-spoke route where further international flights could go through CDG similar to those that go through Schiopal with KLM from LBA or on an off chance FlyBe could take on this route?

Also are Shaheen still starting flights to Pakistan later this year and is there going to be any announcement of anyone to start transatlantic flights from LBA and will there be any more launches from any airlines this year?

Lots of noise not much action at the moment with respects to your question about Shaheen and possible transatlantic flights, but don't rule them out just yet. As far as the Paris flights go, Jet2 are still operating to Paris daily. Also BMI have made it quite clear that they are still trying to obtain slots to Frankfurt. Watch out for more winter destination announcements over the next couple of weeks from Jet2. Sharm El Sheikh and Cyprus are hotly rumoured but Jet2 are good at springing other surprises!

[Leeds rules]

Hi All

Ryanair have announced there second low cost Irish route from Leeds/Bradford Airport. The airline will commence a 3 times weekly Shannon route from November with flights operating every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturdays.

Timetable:

Tuesdays & Thursdays
FR1362 Departs Shannon 12:45 Arriving LBA at 13:50
FR1363 Departs LBA 14:15 Arriving Shannon at 15:20
Saturdays
FR1362 Departs Shannon 10:50 Arriving LBA at 11:10
FR1363 Departs LBA 11:35 Arriving Shannon at 12:40

Here's the press release from the LBIA website.

Ryanair Launches New Route From Leeds Bradford To Shannon
31 May 2007

£20 OFF ALL RETURN FARES

Ryanair, Europe’s number one low fares airline, today (31st May) announced a new 3 times weekly scheduled service from Leeds Bradford to Shannon, gateway to the West of Ireland commencing on the 8th November.

Today’s news in Leeds Bradford is part of a new routes announcement by Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO. This expansion includes Ryanair’s first domestic route from Shannon and brings the number of destinations offered from the airport to 31.

Announcing the new route, Ryanair’s Deputy UK Marketing Manager, Elaine Duff, said “Ryanair is delighted to add this additional route from Leeds Bradford which will deliver 40,000 passengers in the first year. Since commencing operations at Leeds Bradford in 1996, Ryanair has carried in excess of 1.9 million passengers on the Dublin route.

Our new service brings Ryanair’s total annual passenger numbers at LBA to 310,000, generating a visitor spend of £32 Million and sustaining 310 jobs in the region.

Shannon provides the perfect doorway to Ireland’s Western corridor including the beautiful Counties Clare and Tipperary and the cities of Limerick and Cork.

“The new route to Shannon goes on sale today and to celebrate we have slashed £20 off all return flights and we urge passengers to book today on www.ryanair.com as these bargains will sell out soon.

Ed Anderson, Managing Director of the airport said, “Today’s announcement will complement Ryanair’s existing service to Dublin, and shows their commitment to expansion from Leeds Bradford Airport. The new Shannon flight comes at an exciting time as LBA enters a new era under the ownership of Bridgepoint Capital and what we hope will be the start of further new route announcements'

ENDS

For enquiries regarding this story please contact:
For further information contact
Elaine Duff – Ryanair Tel: 07 900 575 284

Flights are now bookable by clicking onto the www.ryanair.com website

[SmartCity]

Additional flights to Geneva

Jet2.com have announced that they are to fly to Geneva year round. This should be hugely successful with both business and leisure travelers and is testament to the success of the route.

[JOliver]

Originally Posted by SMARTCITY

Additional flights to Geneva

Jet2.com have announced that they are to fly to Geneva year round. This should be hugely successful with both business and leisure travelers and is testament to the success of the route.

That's great, flew twice there in recent years and both times from Manchester.

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by JOliver

That's great, flew twice there in recent years and both times from Manchester.

Passengers have been requesting this for the last year at least. I'm sure it will be a success especially with the amount of business passengers that are already using the service during the winter months.

[regybear]

hi does anybody know if there are any plans to fly to berlin from LBA?

[SmartCity]

I often hear people say "are there any plans to fly to.....?" The airport is planning to fly to ALL major European cities and parts of Canada, America and Asia. The problem is commitment from airlines and the willingness of the people of Leeds & Bradford to use any new service over existing services that already operate from Manchester. People will always suggest why doesn't the airport get British Airways or American Airlines but it just isn't that simple.

Having now got a very proactive and progressive Leeds based airline Jet2.com, we may well see some of these destinations coming to fruition. So far the airline has made it quite clear that they are willing to try business and leisure destinations, Dusseldorf & Malaga are good examples.

Now the airport is owned by Bridgepoint, things should start to move reasonably quickly. Terminal developments are likely to commence during the quieter winter period to increase capacity for summer 2008. It is likely that additional work will go on into 2009. The company is looking to greatly increase the retail offer which is now one of the main sources of income for most airports since the advent of low cost airlines.

[SmartCity]

Leeds Bradford International Airport

Updated destination list...


Destinations served by Leeds Bradford International

Aberdeen
Acapulco - Mexico (Cruises Only)
Almeria
Alicante - Costa Blanca
Amsterdam
Arrecife - Lanzarote
Barcelona
Belfast City
Belfast - International
Bergerac
Bergen (Day Trips Only)
Bristol
Bridgetown – Barbados (Cruises Only)
Brussels
Bourgas
Bodrum
Chambery
Cork
Corfu
Copenhagen NEW scheduled service now operating!!
Cyprus – Larnaca
Dalaman
Dublin
Dusseldorf
Edinburgh
Exeter
Evens (Day Trips Only)
Faro
Fuerteventura
Galway
Geneva NEW year round scheduled service!!
Glasgow
Heraklion – Crete
Ibiza
Isle of Man
Inverness
Innsbruck
Jersey
Kitilla - (Lapland Day Trips and One off Departures only)
Krakow
Las Palmas - Gran Caneria NEW Scheduled service!!
Lille - France NEW now operating!!
London – Heathrow
Malaga - Costa Del Sol
Malta - Luqa
Mahon - Menorca
Milan – Bergamo
Murcia - Costa de Caldia
Newquay
New Orleans (Cruises Only)
Nice
Palma de Mallorca - Majorca
Paris – Cdg
Plymouth City
Pisa – Florence
Prague
Reykjavik - Iceland (Day Trips Only)
Rome – Fiumicino
Reus - Costa Dorada
Rhodes
Rovaniemi - Lapland (Day Trips and one off departures)
Tenerife – South
Toulouse
Salzburg
Shannon - NEW Starts November!!
Sicily (One off Departure)
Southampton
Varna
Valencia
Venice - Marco Polo
Zakynthos – Zante

Here's some pics of some of the airlines using LBA...

[regybear]

Originally Posted by SMARTCITY

I often hear people say "are there any plans to fly to.....?" The airport is planning to fly to ALL major European cities and parts of Canada, America and Asia. The problem is commitment from airlines and the willingness of the people of Leeds & Bradford to use any new service over existing services that already operate from Manchester. People will always suggest why doesn't the airport get British Airways or American Airlines but it just isn't that simple.

Having now got a very proactive and progressive Leeds based airline Jet2.com, we may well see some of these destinations coming to fruition. So far the airline has made it quite clear that they are willing to try business and leisure destinations, Dusseldorf & Malaga are good examples.

Now the airport is owned by Bridgepoint, things should start to move reasonably quickly. Terminal developments are likely to commence during the quieter winter period to increase capacity for summer 2008. It is likely that additional work will go on into 2009. The company is looking to greatly increase the retail offer which is now one of the main sources of income for most airports since the advent of low cost airlines.

wow..... a simple yes but not yet would have done! lol............but great infomation, do you work for LBA?

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by regybear

wow..... a simple yes but not yet would have done! lol............but great infomation, do you work for LBA?

Oops!!

Sorry, got carried away there, but airports are my subject. The answer to your question is AT not FOR the airport.

[Columbus]

SMARTCITY- It's good to hear that Bridgepoint are taking an active role in the airport but are there any plans for a new terminal rather than just an extension of the diabolical building that's there now. With all these new flights surely it must already have exceeded capacity? I remember when i was there last there were about 4 Jet2 flights all going at the same time and the terminal was unbearable. If there had been a delay as well it would be like a cattle shed. What happened to the master plan, is it still there now that the airport is under new owners?

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by Columbus

SMARTCITY- It's good to hear that Bridgepoint are taking an active role in the airport but are there any plans for a new terminal rather than just an extension of the diabolical building that's there now. With all these new flights surely it must already have exceeded capacity? I remember when i was there last there were about 4 Jet2 flights all going at the same time and the terminal was unbearable. If there had been a delay as well it would be like a cattle shed. What happened to the master plan, is it still there now that the airport is under new owners?

Bellow is tomorrow mornings rush hour departures. The airport has a number of capacity issues that need addressing as soon as possible. The apron was at crunch point last summer, so an additional 6 aircraft parking stands have been built at a cost of around £4-5 million pounds to address this problem. This includes 2 wide bodied parking stands.

The next crunch point is within the terminal itself, particularly the passenger security screening area, where as many as 2000 passengers have to process through three security channels during the busiest period between 0500 and 0900. The airport hasn't officially announced its intentions, but as it stands, plans seem to be progressing quickly and the security screening area is looking like been the first job of a phased project. A project which could effectively double the size of the terminal.

The building is thought to be undergoing a complete transformation changing it out of all recognition. The terminal frontage will be drastically altered to straighten the terminal and extend it beyond the whole current public road and bus terminus area. The public road is apparently going to be re routed though the short stay car park where they are also looking at building a new multi-storey car park. Again, I must stress that we will need to wait for the plans to be officially released before we start to get excited.

Tomorrow's rush hour flights.... Wednesday is traditionally the quietest day!

LS271 ALICANTE.................0545
LS227 PALMA.....................0600
KL1540 AMSTERDAM............0605
BD411 HEATHROW...............0645
T34711 ABERDEEN...............0645
T34700 SOUTHAMPTON........0650
BD611 BRUSSELS................0655
BD8131 RHODES.................0700
LS185 MALAGA...................0700
LS201 AMSTERDAM.............0700
LS323 BELFAST INTL...........0700
BD403 EDINBURGH...............0705
BD292 GLASGOW................0710
LS251 FARO.......................0800

[SmartCity]

During the year the company acquired five Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The Boeing
757-200 is a versatile aircraft able to carry up to 235 passengers over 3,000
miles. Its overall performance is particularly suited to Leeds Bradford which is
a high airport with some operational constraints. The Boeing 757-200 allows the
company to offer a range of destinations from both Leeds Bradford and its other
bases that other aircraft cannot match. At the same time it is extremely
environmentally friendly in terms of noise, fuel efficiency and emissions. We
expect to increase our Boeing 757 fleet over the coming years and also to
operate similar, larger types which will allow our customers to explore an
expanding range of popular destinations at the lowest possible fares.

http://mwprices.ft.com/custom/ft2-co...b7ee0a54264%7D

So it appears that Leeds Bradford will shortly be seeing some regular wide-bodied services taking off to an ever increasing array of destinations further afield.

Here's the Boeing 767-200 "the similar, larger type" capacity around 290 passengers.

[Rob]

I didn't know Jet 2 had '767s, where are they based at the moment?
Do we know if they are going to operate out of LBA?

Cool photos a couple of posts back, by the way

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by Rob

I didn't know Jet 2 had '767s, where are they based at the moment?
Do we know if they are going to operate out of LBA?

Cool photos a couple of posts back, by the way

The jet2 logo is superimposed onto the Boeing 767-200 but rumour has it that they have already acquired 2.

It is perfectly suited for operations out of LBA. Thomsonfly based one of these types at Leeds a couple of years ago. The aircraft is quite capably of flights to America and Canada to the West and Pakistan and India to the East direct from Leeds Bradford. As for possible destinations, Sharm el Sheikh, Larnaca, Paphos, Bodrum, Toronto, New York and the Caribbean are all possibilities with this aircraft type.

[Rob]

Ah, it's an artists impression, looks quite convincing.

767s based here flying to New York would just make my day, that would put LBA into the proper league of international airports.

[SmartCity]

Speaking a proper league. I am told that planning work for the terminal development is complete and the plans have been sent to the design team. So we should have some nice shiny renders of the new look and greatly enlarged terminal shortly.

[Val Verde]

Originally Posted by SMARTCITY

Speaking a proper league. I am told that planning work for the terminal development is complete and the plans have been sent to the design team. So we should have some nice shiny renders of the new look and greatly enlarged terminal shortly.

So would this be an all new terminal similar to that which opened at Liverpool several years ago or would it just be a massive overhaul of the existing terminal buildings. Would guess it would be better to have a new large and airy glass clad terminal though especially as it would be better catered to future expansion as well as giving a sense of reinvention for Leeds Bradford Airport such as largely enhanced shopping, check in desks and other amenities at the airport.