Donkey Duke
The problem with Heathrow is the lack runway and stand capacity, which is cronic to say the least but I think "mess" might be putting it a little strongly, if I may say. At Heathrow we have to extract every ounce of capacity there is and that means being as efficient as possible.
About 7 years ago I went on a visit to Chicago. The boss there told me they did about 35 per hour off 4 of the available 7 runways, totalling 140 per hour. At Heathrow we only have 2 runways available to us and we get up to 90 per hour off them, about 45 off each. The nature of Heathrow is significantly longhaul and so a high percentage of traffic is Heavy which does impact the rates.
I think what I am trying to say is that if Heathrow were a mess we wouldn't be able to shift the traffic we do. (Actually I think we do okay, generally.) Our country is tiny compared to yours and our politicians won't give us what we have to have until they absolutely have to which means we are always behind the game. It then falls to we ATCOs to squeeze everything we can out of this inadequacy so that the passengers aren't too inconvenienced.
One little thing that drives us CRAZY. It is called BovingDon not Bovington!!!
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Looking forward to welcoming you sometime soon.
Nine Left