As for witholding releases, it wasn't easy when you got conflicting responses from Thames radar and the flow control / traffic manager. One saying there were no delays, the other saying MDIs of 5 mins and then us having to get in the queue for EGSS EGGW and EGMC deps !!!!!!!!!!
You'd start an a/c being told " Yes, we'll get him away " only to be told he can then expect 10-15min delay when it's put on request, this a/c in particular was fuel critical. One flight even had to be shut down to be re-fuelled because it waited so long.........
There was no ramp space, and up to 4/5 were holding along the taxiway and with LCY's money-orientated scheduling things can only get better ;-)
Bring on the winter schedule !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!