Quote: "I was not surprised when he ignored everything I had suggested. Later, he won an award for 'investing in people'. Fantastic!"
Quote: ""Investors In People', I remember that, whatever happened to that, Ted?
Well Dougal................"
IIRC my notification of redundancy letter had the "investors in people" logo on it.
Quote: "I'd be very interested to see what happens to LGW in particular IF the Davies commission recommends a 4 rwy hub (either at an expanded LHR or newly built somewhere else)
It would be logical for BA to consolidate all their southern operation at that one location (wherever it is), pulling out of LGW completely. Not sure how that would leave LGW, seeing as EZY are concentrated mostly at LTN and RYR at STN. Is there enough periphary traffic to sustain LGW to the level it would need/want?"
Think the effect of a 4-rwy LHR would relieve LGW of the immediate need for another rwy as there would be no capacity constraints at LHR and the associated delays and congestion should disappear.
One can see the logic in BA, and VS for that matter, moving their LGW operation to consolidate at LHR and save a pile of money. Most of the longhaul at LGW would also almost certainly move as well as most it is presently there while waiting for LHR slots.
Very much doubt if it would be the same for an estuary airport, irrespective of the number of rwys.
That would leave LGW as a busy mainly shorthaul, point-to-point airport with a mixture of legacy and no-frills carriers, and holiday charter companies. It would probably remain the second busiest UK airport. It might be necessary to rethink the policy of squeezing out smaller (BE-type) aircraft with higher charges.
BTW, U2 now has a much bigger base at LGW than at LTN.
Quote: "As for BA at MAN, it would seem to make some sense for them to base some a/c there post-LGW. Would depend on how the numbers stack up, which of course they didn't when BA were there 20 years ago, but wouldn't be at all surprised to see it especially given the massive investment that is going into MAN"
Think that if BA could be convinced that there is money to be made from a MAN (and/or BHX, GLA, etc..) secondary hub, they would be in there like "a ferret up a drainpipe". Has anything changed in 20 years? is there now sufficient premium business?