The prime concern now must be to develop a London Airports system designed to serve demand inherent to the SE, both business and leisure derived.
Which puts UK PLC at a fundamental competitve disadvantage with our competitors, see AMS, CDG, FRA, ZRH also DXB, DOH,AUH etc. No one in the industry thinks that this should be the "prime concern".
Passengers will prefer the growing selection of non-stop flights from their own local airports, or the simpler routings these new services may offer where a change is still required.
Said the flyer when the first AA055 departed MAN-ORD in 1986. Seen Dubai lately?
Contrasting LHR with DXB / FRA as a hub choice is not a valid comparison. Apples and oranges.
It's invalid to compare LHR with FRA? Good point, Germany still has ambition.....
The cost is not justified by the potential reward. Even the CEO of British Airways - LHR's largest hub operator by far - argues against the project on the grounds of cost
Willie Walsh is terrified of his inflated prices being squeezed as easyJet are in first stage talks about using T4 at LHR post expansion. As head of IAG, he needs to do what's right for the IAG share price and artificially keep more competition out of LHR. It's a no brainer and all about keeping BA sweet, all about the context of who is the messenger once again.