1st May 2005
Leeds Bradford Airport needs to smooth out those pockets of turbulence
David Parkin - www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk
BACK from two weeks' holiday, I've had a couple of chances to sample Jet2's services from Leeds Bradford Airport.
Heralded as the first low-cost airline to operate out of this region, the operator has been lauded for its efficient services.
Hit and miss is how I would describe my experiences.
One Friday lunchtime flight to Malaga Airport (AGP) was easy check-in, on time and very smooth all the way.
However, flights to and from Nice last week proved more problematic for a variety of reasons. I can't blame Jet2 for all the problems.
Servisair, which operates its check-in facilities at the airport, is a culprit while one of the key issues which Leeds Bardford Airport must address is its chronic inability to communicate. Picture the scene: Six o' clock on a Monday morning, the spacious new check-in area for Jet2 at Leeds Bradford and passengers for three of the airline's flights due to depart to different destinations around 7am.
Two check-in desks are being operated by Servisair for Jet2.
It doesn't take a genius to work out that the queue was equally long at 6.30am and 6.45am.
Not surprisingly many passengers were getting very twitchy, particularly latecomers who assumed they could head towards the front of the queue, only to be told that those waiting to check in were either on the same flight as them or even earlier ones.
Finally, extra check-in staff materialised but not in time to prevent all three flights departing up to 90 minutes late.
No announcements were made during this period to keep passengers informed of what was happening. A Jet2 representative said three requests to the airport to make announcements on its PA system had been ignored.
I also experienced Leeds Bradford's Marie Celeste qualities on my return. Quickly disembarking our flight from Nice, we made our way to the baggage reclaim area only to stand waiting for our suitcases for 45 minutes.
After 40 minutes some cretin finally decided to announce over the PA system that the bags had been delayed – no apology or explanation. We were the only flight arriving at that time so it's not as if the baggage handlers were busy elsewhere. Probably on their lunch break.
I recount these experiences not just for a moan, but because the whole attraction of travelling Jet2 from Leeds Bradford is speed and convenience.
Once you remove these, then Yorkshire travellers might as well drive to Liverpool or Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
Or probably, in the very near future, to Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield. I've said several times that Leeds Bradford must avoid complacency if it is to compete with the new kid on the block.
Yes, the South Yorkshire airport has had a few early teething problems, but once its owner Peel Holdings gets these ironed out and starts adding extra services then you have a credible contender to its more established rival.
It has the advantage of being commercially driven rather than the stultifying council-run feel of its West Yorkshire rival.
While we're on the subject of Jet2, while waiting for my delayed flight I was able to read in the Yorkshire Post about its latest service from Leeds Bradford to Tenerife Airport.
Chief executive Philip Meeson said that the "low cost airline" was launching flights in the autumn "starting from £71 one way". So if my CSE grade one maths services me correctly, that means the cheapest flight to the Canary island will be £142 return. Not low cost in anyone's language.
And Mr M, can you make sure that you stock enough sarnies to feed passengers in rows 14 to 16. Poor old Barry from Leeds was left starving on both his flights last week.
