Quote: "
Makes you wonder how a LBA-LGW would do now, either on BE metal with the BA flight code or a twice daily on a BA aircraft to offer onward connections through the LGW longhaul network.
BA will have lounge in place at LBA, as well as ground handling, fuel etc, so why not make use of the station to offer flights into both of the BA mainline London airports ?
Same applies to ABZ, NCL etc etc etc
cs"
BA used to run several UK domestic routes to/from LGW. They've been steadily reduced over the last few years. Where there are two "London" destinations, it tends to be LHR and LCY rather than LHR and LGW now.
Quote: "
BE haven't really been expanding in LGW and one major reason is the flat-rate pricing policy of the airport operator which disadvantages smaller aircraft in favour of larger ones. For example, the 2011-12 fees and charges (sorry, link to 2012-13 seems to be broken) shows that a peak-time landing will cost about £1350 (independent of aircraft size) which is a bit steep if you're trying to fly a route which only needs a 78-seater or a 118-seater."
As a matter of interest, would BE pay similar at LHR, or is it a lot higher?
If it's similar, maybe it's the eye-watering costs of slots that would keep them (and similar shorthaul carriers) out of LHR?
It seems a strange policy for LGW management to try and squeeze out an important tenant. Perhaps LGW management think that BE has nowhere else to go. To an extent, they're right.