Originally Posted by
Skipness One Foxtrot
Given LHR is higher cost and MCO and high volume leisure destination with comparably limited business traffic, why add further costs by opening LHR. It's adding nothing but further costs to an existing LON-MCO rotation. Traditionally you move a long haul route to LHR to easier sell the front cabin, but I don't see much of a marginal difference on MCO vs LGW.
They are probably looking to attract passengers from North Greater London who prefer Heathrow. I know a relative who last year used Heathrow to go to Orlando via Charlotte with American rather than go to Gatwick. He and his family live in Watford. Also Heathrow is more convenient to get to from the South West and southern Wales and the Midlands.