Slots can be lost if an airline consistently fails to meet departure timings. How much does a slot at Heathrow cost? Perhaps as much as your aeroplane.
Being late on the departure has a number of knock-ons as well. That inbound aircraft wanting your gate, those ground handlers seeing you out need to be elsewhere. It isn't just about you guys in the pointy end, it's about the team getting the flight out on time, and the next one, and the next one...
You may think that the punters don't care about departure time, but they know a flight out late is likely going to arrive late. Even if you promise to make it up, you are only trying to meet their expectations, not exceed them. Please, remember your customers, if you want to make them happy then you have to exceed their expectations consistently. They will love you to bits.
But of course Safety does come first.
Last edited by ExXB; 24th August 2013 at 21:48.