GATWICK

[Fairdealfrank]

Very interesting article, jabird, very interesting indeed.

Of course a while back GIP were claiming to have no intentions of building a second runway. It's easy to understand why: loads of hassle, loads of expenditure and loads of time, possibly for nothing. Doubtless they know that the economic benefits of an extra runway are greatest at LHR, and are familiar with the saga of LHR's third rwy: it's off, then it's on, now it's off again, but forever? not neccessarily, who knows?

If they were to get all the approvals and no aggravation from residents (unlikely), and if soon after this LHR does as well (again unlikely, but less so), it's one hell of a risk! In that event, much of LGW's business and potential payback would migrate to LHR, as slots once again become available and affordable. Such migrations have happened before and would almost certainly happen again, and LGW could be left with an underused second rwy and a massive bill.

GIP's first responsibility is possibly to their shareholders, they have to see a return on their investment. Maybe a business's first responsibility should be to customers and staff, but that is a different debate and not for now.

Obviously enterprise involves risks, but calculated risks. This is where the casino banks went wrong, also a different debate and not for now! Chasing after a second runway at LGW could be a risky option until LHR has it's third, if that ever happens.

As for a link to STN, it's irrelevant. The case for STN expansion is even weaker that that for LGW, so it's pointless wasting public money linking the two for the sake of it. Again we're talking about a major publicly funded transport option, something that is not required to expand LHR.

However, that is not say that the new Brighton mainline should not go ahead with a link to Stratford, that will stand or fail on it's own merits as a major improvement to the south-east's rail infrastructure. It is also a very long term consideration, look at the Crossrail example!

With reference to the excellent improvements at LGW mentioned by Skipness One Echo (although the domestic pier at LGW-south was still a disgrace last summer)!

The last line of the post says it all:

Quote: "I just wonder how much more they think they can charge easyJet for their use?"

To which only these words need be added...."and BE".