Originally Posted by
Reversethrustset
... with LGW not far away why would easy even consider the risk? What SOU management want in regards to the LCCs being based there is irrelevant, what is relevant is whether these airlines want to base themselves there. Time will tell.
If easyJet feel that they can use SOU as a relief for their LGW operation it might make sense. The concept of reliever hubs has never worked particularly well, but if easyJet's data shows that they have significant passengers from the SOU catchment area and easyJet are keen to add additional flights but cannot due to slot restrictions at LGW, SOU may be the next best thing. LHR R3 is easily a decade away, I wouldn't expect that to have an impact on decision for summer 2019/2020.