And Easyjet now circling Heathrow IF of course it gets RW3 although with emergence of UKIP, who are against expansion and some animosity in The North which has emerged since the enquiry started the whole thing is back in the melting pot.
If LHR is ever in a position where slots are freely available and delays and aggravation caused by operating at 100% capacity are eliminated, it becomes logical that U2 would be interested in LHR ops:
(1) it helps it to chase business travellers;
(2) it can take on BA at LGW
and LHR;
(3) it can use the availability of an LHR move to drive a better deal with the LGW managers.
Think a small U2 operation at LHR is highly likely if expansion takes place, and this would be in addition to LGW, not instead of. Wouldn't expect the likes of FR to be doing likewise.
As for "
some animosity in The North" that maybe more to do with the lack of infrastructure expenditure generally, especially on the railways. There are also many in the north (and other parts of the country) who want LHR expansion so that their areas can once again be connected to the UK hub, and, in some cases, for their local airports to survive and thrive.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8596d4c2-6...#axzz3JWZzfxRK
Interesting story.....
Increase in charges based on RW" at LGW would wipe out profit !
also
"We are in confidential discussions with Gatwick and Heathrow.”
No wonder LGW is pushing hard, as I have said before with a glut of slots you could shut LGW down.
Story appears to be behind a paywall.
Have often stated that it is very likely that the exodus from LGW to LHR (the "waiting room", VS and BA longhaul) would be compensated at least in part by an exodus from the likes of LTN and STN, unless LGW does something stupid like hiking its charges over the odds. This being the case, the requirement for a second rwy at LGW becomes less urgent.
Are Heathrow still arguing, as they were last year, that a second Gatwick runway "could lead to the decline or even closure of LHR" ?
Well it would, wouldn't it! Entirely to be expected.
No insider knowledge here, but surely it's obvious why Easy prefer LHR R3 to LGW R2....?
LHR gets new runway.
Many carriers move from LGW to LHR.
That frees up lots of spare capacity at LGW for Easy to expand into and increase their punctuality, all without paying for it.
It's what I'd want, if I was them!
Indeed, and as mentioned above, the opportunity for U2 to start LHR ops.