Originally Posted by cstleon
I had a feeling that LH was doing this in FRA years and years ago
The only towing being done (besides pushback, of course) is that of repositioning planes between parking spots and maintenance facilities.
Originally Posted by newt
Would it not be better to fly great circle routes direct to destination instead of using airways designed for aircraft using VOR/DME?
All across Europe we move away from those routes since quite some time, replacing them with straighter RNAV routes. Plus, Eurocontrol helps unify the skies above Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
Originally Posted by newt
Then get BAA to sort out the problem of gates and slots and you could save even more!!
AFAIK, a slot helps saving fuel already. What costs less fuel, sitting at the gate with engines off – or airborne racing around ugly holding patterns?