Sorry, for the sake of BHX mgt, I should have added:
f) Allow each London area airport to grow to capacity within its existing footprint (permit new terminals but no runways). As each one fills up, the low cost flights mover further and further out. Compared to (e), this might see 50mppa @ LGW & STN, 20mppa @ LTN, 5mppa @ LCY, anything towards 100mppa at LHR with mixed modes and larger fleet usage.
Eventually, as growth expands outwards, MSE becomes attractive again, LYX can take 2-10mppa, OXF, SOU & CBG handle the smaller aircraft, and Wizzair buzz off to EMA.
Somewhere in this plan, all of the high yielding business traffic that can't quite afford LHR's now exorbitant PSCs decide to decamp to BHX, rather than LGW.
I can't quite see it, can you? Unless:
g) Continue HS2 in a tunnel under Euston, then calling at Tottenham Court Road (X Rail interchange), Bank and Canary Wharf. Also divert alignment to serve BHX terminals directly. Use PSC to cross-subsidise operation, so BHX passengers can travel to and from London for free. Operate "worm train", with luggage check in and security performed on board, so passengers enter the BHX shopping mall ready to shop. Scrap Old Oak Common interchange (as that benefits LHR), giving Euston to BHX time of 30 minutes.
Now would people use BHX as a "London" airport? Still not seeing it, given that the Gatters Express also takes 30 mins.
And of course, the train from Fantasy Island to central London will also take, errrrrrrrrrrrrrr - about 30 minutes!
Last edited by jabird; 12th Jul 2012 at 19:27.