We are not talking about the budget sector nor are we talking about holiday charters. When talking about LHR we are generally talking about scheduled services to cities worldwide. Many of which will never be viable from a single regional airport
- That’s the narrative spun by HAL and some politicians but runs against many of the models in the industry.
- HAL absolutely want access to the Flexible fares and Leisure business why do you think they are courting Easyjet !
- BTW contrary to popular believe the majority of footfall is leisure based right now and one thing that I can’t denigh is a significant amount of that leisure traffic is INBOUND O&D into one of the planets largest holidaying destinations just a few miles east!
There is not the infrastructure in the north to support this. Hence taking a shuttle flight to LHR onto a dedicated runway with a good connection setup works better for a large part of the north than slogging it over to MAN. We know people are currently doing just this via AMS instead of travelling through Manchester.
- The Northern Power House project of the former Chancellor was an attempt to evaluate reason identify and address many of the inequities associated with having a range of high hills through a relatively small area of the North of England and the negative effects that has on opportunity and investment in the wider economy.
- I can’t dispute the M60/M56 are almost as poor as the M25/M4 corridors and for many similar reasons - they are orbital roads round major conurbations dominated by local traffic.
- The rail connections are a mess due to incompetence by Network Rail and Grayling and vast over spend in the south east.
- Just as the debate around the London Orbital needs sorting irrespective of R3 so do the similar issues around Manchester - These issues are for the DFT and will cost millions anyway
- As for the last part couldn’t care less if some in Yorkshire or Northumberland feel that a flight via Amsterdam is more convenient that a trek over the moors. The number are actually quite small in the scheme of things and it’s their choice how they spend their money . A comparison to consider through Leeds/Newcastle/Durham/Doncaster and Humberside combined for the year 2016 handled 888, 000 combined on the Amsterdam route whilst Manchester handled over million alone in the same period.
With the modern rail network being built and connected to LHR it is the only sensible option. To build Crossrail, HS2 and the western rail link to LHR and then expand LGW instead would be absurd. My view is we should expand both as they both cater for different markets but if it has to be only one then it should be LHR.
Huge investment in a small corner of the UK, ignore the great pupulus at your peril thats why Brexit happened. HS2 is underway for sure (well least phase one) however how does dumping northerners and midlanders in Old Oak Common really benefit them significantly.
The Elisabeth line is more about getting the great unwashed from Essex into Central London and similarly those in Berkshire into the City oh and by the way the major Rail Station that is Euston connects to neither right now.
I generally support the HS2 long term project it will eventually relieve pressure on the existing rail corridors however its far more about the domestic connectivity than enhansing global options. It doesn’t even connect to HS1 directly
What test? The new runway is not built yet. The BA regionals are always the first to be canned when it stacks up at LHR so it isn't accurate to gauge interest in a project that isn't functional yet. I used to use this weekly to get back to Leeds and there were many people using it then and praising it. A handful of flights don't make a hub however.
The test is BA have provided those in Yorkshire an opportunity to connect to the world over Heathrow and yet they aren’t using it period stop