GATWICK
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G-FBEC - Flybe E195 doing a rescue flight between LGW and Cagliari (and return)......I am pretty sure its on -EC. I don't think the plans have been scrapped and possibly going to be for a couple of weeks.
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If it`s there for a while, could we start to see a Flybe base at LGW. Be about time as it`s the biggest catchment area in the country ????
( bar LHR, and thats just way too pricey!).
( bar LHR, and thats just way too pricey!).
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I am not being critical of your suggestion but why would Flybe want to?
They are profitable as a regional operation, and would instantly be up against stiff competition. Crewing would be more costly as well for a Gatwick operation.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it is a mantra often ignored to the cost of many airlines. Flybe are profitable in their niche and Gatwick would be a hefty gamble with that profitability.
They are profitable as a regional operation, and would instantly be up against stiff competition. Crewing would be more costly as well for a Gatwick operation.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it is a mantra often ignored to the cost of many airlines. Flybe are profitable in their niche and Gatwick would be a hefty gamble with that profitability.
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Thats a very good question Aeromaniac, however as Whitehatter has said it would be costly for Flybe to set up a base as such. I believe operations at LGW may very well be increasing at some point as suggested in Mike Rutter ( 
) various interviews with media but I doubt very much they would make it a base.
) various interviews with media but I doubt very much they would make it a base.
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In their website news about bank holiday bookings, 4 out of the top 10 routes were ex LGW. very good, but currently they can only go to where they have a base, EDI, INV etc, what about the rest of Europe???
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I think there is too much competition for Flybe at LGW on European routes. Their expansion plans are really aimed at North East and Scotland, but not LGW. Also there are a lot of London passengers that commute down to Southampton and use Flybe services simply to avoid the chaos that can become LGW South terminal. I would like to see Flybe move over to the North but this has been rumoured before and I am still waiting 
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In their website news about bank holiday bookings, 4 out of the top 10 routes were ex LGW. very good, but currently they can only go to where they have a base, EDI, INV etc, what about the rest of Europe???
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Gatwick up for sale - Sky news reports
Sky reports that BAA is to put Gatwick up for sale a month after the comp commission told it to slim down.
Branson mentioned as potential suitor.
iX
Branson mentioned as potential suitor.
iX
LGW Sale
Well I hope Ryanair & Easy Jet are now verry happy. But doesnt that Mean when It sold that they Become unregulated and then they can charge what they like, Of course If any Airline atempts to buy them Isnt there a conflicts of Inerest.Bad day for the aviation busines.
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It does not necessarily mean that they will become unregulated - while that would be the optimal solution from an economic point of view, I do not believe that would be feasible for a number of years yet.
The sale of Gatwick is great news for the industry, as in the short term it will indeed permit development of the airport as a competitor to other airports, hopefully raising standards of service.
While Virgin ownership of Gatwick might be viewed to be negative for other carriers, it is not entirely uncommon for airlines to have significant ownership interests in, or close ties to airports - many in the Far East are an example.
They are unlikely to be permitted to charge differing access charges to different airlines, but they would be able to enhance their service standards to the detriment of others. However, with competition among airports, those airlines are free to move elsewhere - overall, I cannot see any particular negative impact of Virgin themselves owning the airport.
The sale of Gatwick is great news for the industry, as in the short term it will indeed permit development of the airport as a competitor to other airports, hopefully raising standards of service.
While Virgin ownership of Gatwick might be viewed to be negative for other carriers, it is not entirely uncommon for airlines to have significant ownership interests in, or close ties to airports - many in the Far East are an example.
They are unlikely to be permitted to charge differing access charges to different airlines, but they would be able to enhance their service standards to the detriment of others. However, with competition among airports, those airlines are free to move elsewhere - overall, I cannot see any particular negative impact of Virgin themselves owning the airport.
More bang for your buck
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A list of potential buyers: From Gatwick airport: The potential buyers | Business | guardian.co.uk
Virgin Atlantic:
Virgin has already declared an interest in buying Gatwick as part of a consortium.
Global Infrastructure Partners: GIP owns a 50% stake in London's City airport,
Macquarie Group: Its private equity investment fund, Macquarie Airports Group, owns 50% of Bristol airport and 24.125% of Birmingham International airport.
Hochtief: Hochtief AirPort, Co
Owns stakes in six airports: Athens, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Budapest, Tirana and Sydney . HTA is one of the world's biggest private airport managers with a portfolio worth 1.3bn euros (£1bn) at the end of last year.
Virgin Atlantic:
Virgin has already declared an interest in buying Gatwick as part of a consortium.
Global Infrastructure Partners: GIP owns a 50% stake in London's City airport,
Macquarie Group: Its private equity investment fund, Macquarie Airports Group, owns 50% of Bristol airport and 24.125% of Birmingham International airport.
Hochtief: Hochtief AirPort, Co
Owns stakes in six airports: Athens, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Budapest, Tirana and Sydney . HTA is one of the world's biggest private airport managers with a portfolio worth 1.3bn euros (£1bn) at the end of last year.
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So will this allow Gatwick to have it's second runway then?
Since the agreement not to build one was between the BAA and West Sussex Council. Dunno how it stands legally, but look at all that empty space to the South of the existing runway, then tell me it hasn't been planned for years.
IMHO, probably good news for LGW not to be owned by the BAA.
Since the agreement not to build one was between the BAA and West Sussex Council. Dunno how it stands legally, but look at all that empty space to the South of the existing runway, then tell me it hasn't been planned for years.
IMHO, probably good news for LGW not to be owned by the BAA.
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Hochtief is a good match... Hamburg has turned into quite a nice airport, and from past experience, Düsseldorf is just as good. Hochtief has extensive construction experience, so can draw on its own other divisions to make extensive improvements on the airport.
Virgin has always pointed out that they want to buy Gatwick as part of a consortium, not alone.
S.
Virgin has always pointed out that they want to buy Gatwick as part of a consortium, not alone.
S.
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But doesnt that Mean when It sold that they Become unregulated and then they can charge what they like,
Ironic, isn't it, that after BAA played very foul to have Redhill kicked into touch in 2003 as a potential feeder for LGW, but also a potential monopoly-breaker, and the Department of Transport - Alistair Darling - bowed to BAA's demands to protect their monopoly, BAA's new Spanish owners are now exploiting that to maximise the asset realisation values, of which Gatwick is only the first to be realised for cash from the highest bidder, regardless of who that will be.
We need to ask ourselves why it's Gatwick that's being disposed of first. A sale of Stansted may provide better competition for Gatwick and thus reduce its value. But a sale of Gatwick will not affect Stansted's already poor open-market value.
A sale of Heathrow can safely be put off until last without reducing whatever value it has now. It was only ever an exercise in buying some badly managed assets, adding some superficial value, or simply letting the value increase in a growing market, and selling to maximise the gain as a short-term investment.
Would the present perceived slow-down in growth have anything to do with the timing? Of course it would; BAA's owners could and would have ignored the Competition Commission's "recommendations" if it suited them.
I give it 5-10 years before we see the Spaniards marching off into the sunset with their cash, having continued the DfT's work of destroying any hope London ever had of a viable, prosperous and coherent airport system.