Leeds Bradford: New Route Development & Rumours

[oldendays]

Correct me if I’m wrong. But If I remember correctly after reading elsewhere. I’m sure the next big investment is the watchman primary radar head getting replaced.

I'm quite out of touch with airport developments just now, however, the Watchman radar is coming up to 36 years old so age and parts availability will soon become concerns if they aren't already. The Watchman has outlived its ACR430 predecessor by at least a decade and it has been a solid servant for ATC. Time to call it a day and buy a new radar and perhaps an SSR head too. I could say Doncaster can have first dibs on the Watchman. But I won't say that.

 

[Aviador]

They said they werent actively canvassing wide- body business, my assumption was if an airline approached them they would consider it.

While it would be nice for spotters to see something different, it probably isnt worth the investment at this point to increase the available runway distances. That doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.

 

[HX3]

I must have missed the paused investment announcement due to new ownership. Is this just whilst the deal goes through? or is it possibly to redirect investment to the new terminal and invest there instead?

 

[LBA4EVER]

I must have missed the paused investment announcement due to new ownership. Is this just whilst the deal goes through? or is it possibly to redirect investment to the new terminal and invest there instead?

Makes two of us that missed the pausing investment bit and the halting construction of further aircraft parking stands, that i find abit odd esp as even with the 2 new stands that have just been recently constructed its still a tight squeeze on the apron for all the based aircraft and busy periods, unless of course the new owners have more exciting plans?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

What would be the alternative?

Presumably the work to redevelop the existing terminal (phase 2 project regen) will be completed?

I dont think that is in question

I must have missed the paused investment announcement due to new ownership. Is this just whilst the deal goes through? or is it possibly to redirect investment to the new terminal and invest there instead?

It was in the ACC report.

Makes two of us that missed the pausing investment bit and the halting construction of further aircraft parking stands, that i find abit odd esp as even with the 2 new stands that have just been recently constructed its still a tight squeeze on the apron for all the based aircraft and busy periods, unless of course the new owners have more exciting plans?

it was in the ACC report

 

[Snackbar]

For info - this is the shareholder briefing AENA sent to their investors re the LBA/NCL transaction…..As the briefing states the initial focus is to complete LBAregen etc, but their longer term aspiration is “Aena intends to leverage its global airport operating expertise,gained from managing more than 80 airports worldwide, to support the continued development of both airports, enhance
passenger experience, deploy its environmental experience and further strengthen air connectivity for Yorkshire, the Northeast England, and the wider United Kingdom”.
So very much a case of leveraging their investment to build more traffic into both airports….

https://www.aena.es/sites/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1576872947165&ssbinary=true

As with any takeover which in effect is what this is it is usual for the investor to review forward investments and strategy to ensure it aligns with their thoughts and approach…Given their credentials I reckon we can trust them to take the correct approach….

 

[752]

Looking at recent posted, NCL is boasting 17 new routes going forward and GLA 16 new ones, all seems quite on the LBA front, yes we have TLL, SHH & HRG with Jet2 and BCN new for S26 but apart from that, S26 seems slightly flat which is disappointing.

 

[Finger66]

@ZB757 you know what I was thinking exactly the same thing and was about to post similar. I appreciate it is usually a quiet time of year but as you say other airports do seem to be boasting about positive route developments

 

[752]

@ZB757 you know what I was thinking exactly the same thing and was about to post similar. I appreciate it is usually a quiet time of year but as you say other airports do seem to be boasting about positive route developments

Seems disappointing re the FR expansion that doesn't seem to have come to fruition.

(Obviously Blue Islands SOU x2 Daily route would of helped on pax figures and movements).

LPL has easyJet & Ryanair expansion
EMA has Sun Express & Some Jet2

GLA has done fantastic, along with NCL.

Hope we are not being left behind. Hopefully AENA / the route development team can pull something out of the bag.

 

[SierraHotel]

The fact that much of the airport is currently a building site, something which will only change at the end of this year, may well be significant in the very limited route development of late.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The fact that much of the airport is currently a building site, something which will only change at the end of this year, may well be significant in the very limited route development of late.

As per the ACC report, likely to be early Spring 2027.

 

[Finger66]

Will try and get some updates from VH himself at the upcoming community events early next month

 

[LBA4EVER]

@ZB757 you know what I was thinking exactly the same thing and was about to post similar. I appreciate it is usually a quiet time of year but as you say other airports do seem to be boasting about positive route developments

was thinking the same over a month back and commented on here about the lack of any new routes /airlines at LBA during 2026. Im afraid to say that this year is pretty much just a repeat of last year, and still cant get my head around the blue islands disaster as that was a juicy announcement!
As per usual just whats going on? Wizz and easy expansion , ryanair 4th based 737, a pakistan or saudi route, turkish operators.. Where are they all? crazy!

 

[Bigman]

We still have growth this year so I am not too concerned. And history tells us that so many strong rumours never happen and quite often it is a total surprise announcement that no-one has even mentioned that comes out of the blue. Let's just have another successful year

 

[lbaspotter]

I’m a little frustrated too, but It's to be expected whilst the airports terminal is under-going a major refurbishment program. Where you going to put all them extra passengers in the meantime?

Any airline can apply for slots, (like Ryanair did) but they don’t need to take them up and can hand them back.

The may not be new routes we all wanted but we still do have big growth by Ryanair already confirmed and we have a lot more EasyJet this summer. That along with extra Sun Express and a little more by Jet2 will all add up.

 

[LBA4EVER]

We still have growth this year so I am not too concerned. And history tells us that so many strong rumours never happen and quite often it is a total surprise announcement that no-one has even mentioned that comes out of the blue. Let's just have another successful year

Our out the blue announcement went t***up! Yes we have growth but its always from the usual 2, FR and LS, just for once it would be great to see a few new decent announcements.

 

[Finger66]

I think we all would, but better to have that growth than retraction. If nothing happens in 2027 then that may be the time to get worried. Hard as it is it looks like we are going to have to be patient through 2026

 

[dmrodgers]

I think we all would, but better to have that growth than retraction. If nothing happens in 2027 then that may be the time to get worried. Hard as it is it looks like we are going to have to be patient through 2026

And don't forget Roe is moving at pace with Doncaster opening in 2027 and pinching our airlines back. As the RyanAir advert say about introducing first class cabins "Pigs will Fly'.

 

[leedslad]

Does Lingus pulling US flights from Manchester bode badly for future LBA trans Atlantic potential, or is there something else at play there?

 

[HX3]

@leedslad - I think your average customer won’t be bothered, it is price, timings, transfer times that will drive decision's. People who follow the news, have an interest in airlines or employment conditions may be more descerning, but they will be in the minority. The Aer Lingus model for west travelling passengers does work, but some may question their morals after recent events. Either way, I doubt it will impact LBA loads or operations.