Leeds Bradford: Infrastructure & Construction Updates

[Finger66]

Indeed I do. Appreciate these things take time, especially to ensure they are right. And when you have to right previous wrongs that does take even longer. Management are making all the right noises, we now need to see that proactive action to match............

 

[White Heather]

In these times of scratting around to find some positive news to come out of LBA just now perhaps this thread is just that. The proposed terminal changes make good sense. The difficulty is undoing all the itty bitty here and there improvements (used loosely) that were undertaken by Bridgepoint. These latest changes do at least look meaningful. The big thing for me though is still aircraft parking stands. We are hindered to accept more based aircraft so now rely on W patterns. So I was perhaps hoping that the creation of the new long stay car park, which is well away from the terminal and apron may just allow existing car park space, albeit with huge "fill" needed to create more apron space. There are promising signs around extra terminal capacity, transport and parking but it's no damn use if you have nowhere to park the aircraft that are going to carry these extra passengers. That said, no use having extra aircraft parking if the rest of the infrastructure is at full capacity. My point being though is that these things need to run hand in hand now and avoid further delays in attracting new services.

Finger66, the locations for additional apron space are already identified and shown in the new Masterplan. All are between the current apron, and taxiway, and do not require any space currently used as car parking. From memory the Masterplan shows 3 separate possible apron extensions, the first of which is due in place within the next couple of years.

 

[Finger66]

Excellent, thanks for that. There still has to be a fairly small limit on the extra stands possible though doesn't there, without major "fill". Unless they start demolishing and go the other way?

 

[Seasider]

Why not build a new Terminal on the eastern end of Multiflight with direct access to the new link road.

 

[Aviador]

Heather, is it possible to obtain some image renders of the new layout to post to the forum if possible? I'm sure they will be gratefully received by all on here.

 

[White Heather]

Excellent, thanks for that. There still has to be a fairly small limit on the extra stands possible though doesn't there, without major "fill". Unless they start demolishing and go the other way?

No, there is actually quite a lot of expansion space either side of what used to be runway 28. Just imagine everything from the terminal to around half way up to the runway being concrete.

Why not build a new Terminal on the eastern end of Multiflight with direct access to the new link road.

If you built a new terminal on the South Side, there is also a requirement for a huge new apron area on that side too unless you intend shuttling all passengers from the current aprons to the terminal across the main runway! There isn't the space to do that without getting too close to the runway. Despite the arrival of our new, better off owners, I think the chances of a new terminal are nil. AMP have just approved the programme of works outlined in the Masterplan, which is based around the existing terminal and the works I mentioned a couple of days ago. If a new terminal were ever to be built, the place to do it is where the lower tier of the short term car park is now

. Not only would this enable us to have a double deck terminal (arrivals downstairs, departures upstairs), but with the old terminal gone, there would be a considerable amount of ground left which could become extended apron space. I cannot see it happening in my lifetime though unless all the passenger targets are hit and exceeded. That in itself will take some doing - we have just had a graphic illustration as to how volatile the aviation industry is and how badly LBA is impacted by the proximity of MAN when the going gets tough.

Heather, is it possible to obtain some image renders of the new layout to post to the forum if possible? I'm sure they will be gratefully received by all on here.

I wouldn't know where to start Aviador, but the plans are there to see in the Masterplan, which are there for all to see on the Airport Website.

 

[Finger66]

Wish list and reality are too different things altogether! What I will say is that AMP seem to be looking logically at the infrastructure. Yes we are probably going to see a short term downturn in pax numbers but if the infrastructure is to be improved in the ways suggested then exceeding 4m pa and beyond should happen very quickly. It is tricky relying on 1 or 2 carriers for the bulk of the pax but to be worried about an LS or FR mishap is misguided. BRS are probably worried about an EZY mishap - but again it won't happen. The bubble hasn't burst, it's just stopped expanding - for now at least!

 

[Aviador]

Just been through the masterplan and there are no renders/visuals on how the new layout will look.

 

[Aviador]

I know it's probably inevitable at some point but it will be chaos when all passengers are required to process through B hall when the work is done, even if this is during the quieter winter period. New technology will likely reduce the need for large check-in halls and the associated queues but The Hall A area isn't very much bigger than the present area used for arrivals so I can't see when the capacity increase is coming from without further extending the terminal? Like I said previously, It would be good to see how the plans look on paper get a better idea of what it will look like.

 

[dmrodgers]

I know it's probably inevitable at some point but it will be chaos when all passengers are required to process through B hall when the work is done, even if this is during the quieter winter period. New technology will likely reduce the need for large check-in halls and the associated queues but The Hall A area isn't very much bigger than the present area used for arrivals so I can't see when the capacity increase is coming from without further extending the terminal? Like I said previously, It would be good to see how the plans look on paper get a better idea of what it will look like.

As White Heather said in her earlier post - 'All Check in facilities to be relocated to the NW end of the terminal, using the current Hall B and space within the terminal adjacent to Hall B'. So I don't think we will see all check-in desks sited within Hall B and that some from Hall A will be in the space where arrivals currently exit and where we had some food outlets/shops.

 

[leedslad]

Interesting and welcome changes planned for next year. Seems to me this will negate the need for any terminal extension for quite some time. Especially given the expense of doing these works you'd assume no extension planned for several years.

 

[White Heather]

Just been through the masterplan and there are no renders/visuals on how the new layout will look.

Aviador, sorry I thought you were wanting plans relating to apron extensions, which are in the Masterplan. If you are wanting plans to show the switch round within the terminal they don't exist yet - or if they do, they remain very much in their infancy and not yet shared with the public.

And just to confirm, the proposal given was to relocate all check in to the area currently occupied by Hall B and the areas of the main terminal adjacent to it - not simply to fit all check in facilities into the footprint of the current Hall B.

I think, that since these proposals are in their early stages, there is little point in querying the details as even if LBA do know the answers, they are not yet at the point of sharing them. Certainly I cannot answer any of the questions asked above. The details will, no doubt, be made available over the next 6 - 9 months. I would imagine that the hardest part of all of this will be making it happen whilst keeping the airport moving at the same time - and I am certain from my own project management experience that the planning for such a complex scheme will take quite some time. No doubt at all, the works will have to be done in phases.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks for that Heather, much appreciated.

It sounds like a daunting task given the layout of the terminal at the west end.

It's a long time ago I know but I can remember the current arrivals structure being built. I remember thinking it was silly building both the landside and airside stairwells the way they did as they obstruct future terminal expansion.

I could envisage the entire old 60's terminal structure as a check-in hall but I'm struggling to envisage the area they are planning to move immigration and arrivals to. The 80's terminal extension was built as a check-in hall for around 10 check-in desks originally. Similarly to the current arrivals facility the area is full of concrete pillars, a low ceiling and very little or no natural light. If the terminal re-configuration is to make a positive impact on the passenger experience they are going to have to be very very imaginative.

On a further note I would be interested to know if the airport has done an impact assessment on the airside road usage following the reconfiguration plan?

 

[mdobuk21]

with building work commencing on the new car park near the pub, can anyone tell me if the car park will be used for the general public/passengers or is it staff only?

 

[mdobuk21]

ah, thanks lbaspotter

 

[Britannia94]

The airport has started work on upgrading the baggage belt in hall b. Don’t know if it’s been mentioned on here that work is to take place, and if so what the work is.

 

[Aviador]

The airport has started work on upgrading the baggage belt in hall b. Don’t know if it’s been mentioned on here that work is to take place, and if so what the work is.

I would expect it could have something to do with the terminal reconfiguration work. I think Heather mentioned the fire station would be moving shortly to allow the area to be dedicated to baggage make-up.

 

[Bigman]

As a matter of interest, where is the fire station supposed to be moving to? Hopefully this will be to the South Side where the old fire station used to be, which presumably would have the advantage of having the existing utilities still in place, albeit probably in need of upgrading.

 

[lbaspotter]

Can't see it going to south side near to Multiflight. They have £8 million development plans for a new apron and hangar over there.

 

[Aviador]

Can't see it going to south side near to Multiflight. They have £8 million development plans for a new apron and hangar over there.

?? Where did that come from ??