Originally Posted by
rationalfunctions
Don't underestimate this type of transfer passengers - they help to sustain the economic viability of many routes. Or put another way, if due to additional costs/taxation for these pax it is more profitable to operate routes through other European hubs the UK may lose some of their US and European connectivity.
Spot on...this is not an excercise in building infrastructure.....there are serious dollars involved. Heathrow brings in a lot of money to the economy, and the last thing they want is to push lucrative traffic and SLF elsewhere.