@flygatwick That's just a spotter's wishlist, and nothing wrong with that in principle, BUT you're missing the commercial background and context. Would it be lovely if Gatwick looked like a mini LHR? MAN has the same view, but LGW long haul always needs to be viewed through a LHR lens. What cohort of airlines would simply move to LHR leaving LGW forever if they could vs. those who do well at LGW and are better suited there. The latter set in my view is Air Transat, Westjet (one flight stuck at T4 all alone seems odd IMHO), Norse, BA's Beach Fleet (would they move if they got a third LHR runway?) and TUI. Emirates and Qatar also seem happy to serve LGW in a complimentary fashion to LHR. The Chinese carriers would move out tomorrow if they could get slots, as would Air India and Singapore's A380 retirements drove a need to grow using frequency, they may well get another LHR slot and shift across.
Air Peace and Turkmenistan are bit players barely worth a mention cos they fly heavies. The London market has some strong drivers that will continue to make LGW long haul a challenge to hang onto over the longer term. There is natural churn to LHR over the medium term for anyone not in the second set above.
Last edited by Skipness One Foxtrot; 14th Apr 2024 at 20:21.