Swiss to replace Concorde?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Swiss to replace Concorde?
Strong rumours abound that a certain Swiss VIP operator is applying for LHR slots to operate the Barbados route that BA's Concorde has obviously stepped down from.
Understand that the application goes in today?
Is BA taking this invasion lying down?
Anyone else heard anything more concrete?
Understand that the application goes in today?
Is BA taking this invasion lying down?
Anyone else heard anything more concrete?
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Middlesesx
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hardly see BA breaking into a sweat over a once a week replacement flight operated in the winter only. Swiss would seem to have a significant number of problems without getting involved in any further follies.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Camp X-Ray
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In so much as a slot can 'belong' to an airline, then the slot still belongs to BA. It relates to the aircraft movements at LHR, not BGI (which is hardly slot constrained). Given that BAs board have stated that acquring slots at LHR is a strategic objective, it is highly unlikely that they would relinquish that particular slot simply because of the retirement of Concorde. The winter schedule starts today and I suspect there will be an additional service already scheduled to utilise that slot.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Sussex
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With respect, folks, discussion about slots is academic. Rupetime has made the decisive point here. A Swiss airline operating from the UK to Barbados is fifth freedom (or seventh freedom if you are a real stickler - assuming they're not operating from Switzerland to the UK first) - and that just won't happen. A wet lease to a UK carrier is something else, but then again this is open to challenge if it goes beyond (say) six months.
