name some airlines who have left Lhr and where slots have become available, not one or two but a decent number. There has been a lot of new services announced recently to China, where have all the slots come from?
Last 10 years-ish
Adria
Air Jamaica
Air Seychelles
Arik Air
Bellview
Blue1
BMI - BA had to give up a load of the remaining slots
BWIA
China Airlines
Cyprus Airways
Kingfisher
KTHY
Luxair
Olympic
Pulkovo
Sabena
Transaero
Varig
Yemenia
Airlines come and go and capacity has been increased by ATC closer seperation as well as landing more than the occasional flight on the departure runway.
In terms of new flights to China, slots returned to the pool are given out in favour of new destinations which explains :
JD TAO-LHR A330 x 2 weekly
CZ WUH-LHR A332 x 3 weekly
GS TSN-XIY-LHR A332 x 2 weekly
GS TSN-CKG-LHR A332 x 2 weekly moving from LGW in Aug
This may also, I say *May* explain why CA's new CTU-LON service is at Gatwick, it was a BA LHR route 'til recently. There is no doubt in my mind Air China will look to move this to LHR and we know China Airlines are trying to get back to LHR as well. I love Gatters, I really do, but it is what it is IMHO. There are loads of cheap deals to be had out of LGW btw, Norwegian and BA are in a price war!