Believed to be the biggest scale operation of its kind worldwide, the new system will enhance the efficiency of handling operations and lower the potential for flight delays by ensuring the availability of equipment when aircraft arrive on the stand. This, in turn, will benefit airlines, ground handlers and passengers, and help to reduce congestion on stand.
Full implementation of the initiative across all stands is expected to be completed by the end of May, with each stand receiving brand new, state-of-the-art GSE as part of the programme. This includes aircraft steps, ground power units and belt loaders, in addition to other ancillaries such as chocks, cones and passenger guidance.
Liam Bolger, Head of Airside at Luton, commented on the initiative. “LLA’s work with its ground handlers in this area is a real industry first; no other airport in the world has taken the concept of equipment sharing to this level. As our redevelopment project continues and we welcome more passengers to the airport, efficient airside operations will be of paramount importance. We’re excited to see the improvements the new system will bring to handlers, airlines and passengers alike.”
TCR’s UK Operations Director, Harvey Sawyers, said that the company was proud to have been awarded the ground-breaking contract by London Luton airport. “This is the first pooled equipment contract of its type in the UK and we’re confident that it will bring real benefit to the airport’s operations as we roll the project out in the coming months,” he added.
Alongside the new pooling initiative, Luton is in the process of an ambitious transformation project, which will see annual capacity increase by 50% to 18m by 2020. This includes expansion of the terminal building to accommodate more aircraft stands, as well as upgrading existing facilities, such as the security and retail areas.
Plans for a new £200m light rail link between Luton Airport Parkway station and the airport terminal have also been submitted, which offers to reduce the journey time between Luton airport and central London to less than 30 minutes.
