Rubbish.
If they were a silly herd then easyJet and Ryanair would be at LHR and Wizz would be joining them.
You keep banging this drum, it’s insane. Do you really think Delta, US Airways, Air New Zealand, Air China, Phillipine Airlines, China Eastern, NWA, American, Delta, Virgin Atlantic etc, all of whom have moved out of LGW to LHR and are in a position to compare like for like revenue and profitabilty on London-XYZ didn’t have a genuine view that LHR is the better option for their operation? And likewise LGW is better for FR, EZY etc?
LHR is not stopping anyone opening long haul at LGW. It’s simply LHR has a critical mass of connections that makes it a better bet for many airlines. Long haul at LGW is one of three things.
1) Long haul point to point leisure
2) Long haul LHR overflow, i.e. Cathay Pacifi, China Airlines, Air China and China Eastern
3) Emirates and Qatar, with EK flying less F and more high density A380s.
The proposed DL/VS new services fell into pot 1. They’re not going to happen now. Perhaps Delta should close LHR and move to LGW if they get a good deal? In your concept, that would work, except there’s no way that’s going to happen as a large % of the base would stay at LHR and fly with someone else. It’s a clearly identifiable attribute in the specific London market and has been since LGW opened. I mean Adam Thomson said as much!!!