LHR slot shortage has distorted competition in the UK for decades, bmi was run into the ground by inept management and an owner who knew the real value of the airline rested on its access to LHR not the number of passengers it carried or profitability
A four runway solution at LHR unconstrained by slot restrictions would result in lots of new entrants to the transatlantic market that BA dominates. Prices would fall, yes of course brand BA would do well, but BA cost base is well above EKs
It is the airlines and pilot groups in the US that are up in arm about foreign carriers and that is protectionism pure and simple, not stilts, thankfully so far the DOT has seen through this.
Lets see how they handle the Norwegian route application ?
Re EK fortress, well true enough, but your not suggesting we fly there to fly to the US, its the threat to Europe-USA routes
Manchester is interesting, it seems that it might be on the threshold of a break through on long haul, but its still a do it your self hub and that as you know only to well is what Norwegian are after at LGW rightly or wrongly ??
