Originally Posted by
Prophead
Is that a joke? I wouldn't be surprised if there is an extra 5 year delay in a decision being made let alone all the extra planning approvals and further consultations.
Nor would I be surprised, if indeed LHR R3 goes ahead at all. But with no R3, the Commission forecasts an even steeper decline in the number of domestic routes.
The AC can say what it wants
Yes, that's the great thing about forecasts - anyone is free to agree or disagree with them, and only time will tell who got it right.
it is the airlines who will decide and an expanded LHR open to SH traffic will be very attractive to the regionals
Yes, it's the airlines and not the airport who decide what routes and destinations they will serve. But a route only makes sense if it's profitable and that's partly dependent on the airport's user charges, particularly on regional routes and those flown by LCCs. Heathrow getting an adequate ROI on a third runway isn't EasyJet's problem.
plus LHR will also want a large flow of people through its 'shopping experience'.
See above. Airlines don't start routes just to help the airport sell more duty-frees.