I'd buy into that if AA and BA weren't so insistent on the need for practically hourly shuttles to JFK. If the regions have to make do with a daily service, then LHR should make do with 4 or 5 A380s. The freed up slots can then be used for the "new and emergent markets". And given this is NATIONAL boost, don't forget that when someone sneezes at LHR, BA decide to wipe out the domestic links. A surefire way to help the UK's regions, don't you think?
Frequency is key putting large aircraft on routes may well increase numbers but drive down profit on such key routes.
There is no restrictions on regional services and airline would increase if they felt it was worthwhile, there is an element of LHR vacuum but if there was demand for higher frequency regionally it would appear.
It's like cutting key Euro routes to 2 daily A380's, all it will do is drive passengers to other hubs to catch connections.
Without doubt, despite the nonsense LHR spout about the spread of benefits across the nation, an expanded LHR will damage development at regional airports and enhance the gap yet further between the SE and the rest of the country.
What exact developments is their to damage, LHR is more less closed for new business and will be for the foreseeable yet regional airports are not capitalizing on it. Why is that, very few seem to be able to come up with a logistical answer?
I assume LGW wouldn't damage any regional developments?
Hopefully the politicians will remain scared to death of making the call on their watch, then maybe the Northern powerhouse may stand a chance in terms of aviation.
Come on runway or not, not a lot will change in the NW, may get a couple of big names but they would of gone to MAN anyway in time.
MAN is just up the road from LPL, and in the interest of the NW / North I'd rather support growth there than supporting a new runway at LHR just so LPL can get shuttles to LHR.
So you want to dictate to passengers where they should fly. great for competition.....
There wouldn't have been any point in Davies recommending that, which is why he didn't (or one of the reasons, at least).
There was not point in the first place, just about everybody knew LHR would come out on top. the commission was just a formality to strengthen the decision
Birmingham has just invested 200m and is under utilised.
If management invested such sums of money in the hope of LHR not getting a runway then it should be bye bye to them. Given a runway would be a long way off BHX will probably need more investment regardless.
As for some conservative ministers would they really trigger by elections and lose their jobs and likely hand seats to other parties. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Cameron will clear it at some stage, isn't he resigning once by 2020.