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Old 18th Jan 2021, 18:23
  #2792 (permalink)  
OzzyOzBorn
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SYD
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One factor which we need to keep in mind regarding future demand for airport capacity is that the key metric for runways required is the number of aircraft movements. It is so easy to focus solely on passenger throughput stats. Taking the example of LGW, we may find that the runway there quickly returns to a 'fully subscribed' status but with a far greater emphasis on A320/A321/B738 no-frills ops at the expense of higher-capacity widebodied long-haul ops. Also, increased demand for executive charter as business travellers and HNWI's wishing to avoid crowded airliners could result in greater demand for runway slots at gateways such as LTN, SEN, STN, FAB, BQH and others. Whilst overall passenger throughput may face a substantial drop from 2019 levels for a number of years, the fall in demand for runway access may be rather less pronounced. We need to factor in a changing traffic mix in terms of a resurgence of smaller types using runways, rather than to presume that movements and passenger throughput stats will fall in lockstep.
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