GATWICK

[anothertyke]

I don't understand why increasing the capacity of a slot constrained airport is to the advantage of the incumbent monopolists. 50% of the new slots have to go to new entrants (as defined). BA's current 62% slotholding will be diluted to around 50%. Surely R3 is more likely to be pro-competitive than a second runway at Gatwick. Where am I going wrong?

[kcockayne]

You aren't. But, Heathrow will soon fill up again !

[Fidel Castro]

Anyone know what the low flying twin loitering at the end of 26L was doing today?

[nigel osborne]

Clearest signal yet that the Govt are to give LHR the nod for a 3rd runway.

The PM has selected a committee to look into the findings of the Airport Commission report that favours LHR.

He has left out all MPs that are opposing the 3rd LHR runway and had secret talks behind the scenes with Boris Johnson on the topic yesterday ...

PM says he will announce his final decision before this XMAS after his committee reports back.


Nigel

[Fairdealfrank]

Clearest signal yet that the Govt are to give LHR the nod for a 3rd runway.

The PM has selected a committee to look into the findings of the Airport Commission report that favours LHR.

Not convinced, sounds like more dithering and indecision, the old "do nothing" scenario. The Airports Commission has done the "heavy lifting" over the last three years.

Would make more sense to do the announcement over the summer recess then use the national infrastructure procedure and get it built.

He has left out all MPs that are opposing the 3rd LHR runway and had secret talks behind the scenes with Boris Johnson on the topic yesterday ...

That makes sense but do we need yet another committee? What a waste of public money!

PM says he will announce his final decision before this XMAS after his committee reports back.

the long grass beckons.

[CabinCrewe]

...Heathrow long grass

[LadyL2013]

Lots of delays of about 2-3 hours today. Why? Summer getaway volumes?

[davidjohnson6]

Anyone care to comment on Easyjet opening Gatwick-Friedrichshafen for the 2015-16 winter ski season ?
With BA, Easyjet and Monarch all operating the same route, is it perhaps becoming over served ?

[LAX_LHR]

Emirates will go all A380 from Jan 1st.

EK seem to have gotten a growth spurt at LGW to go from all B77W to all A380 within a short time frame.

[vectisman]

I believe all three will be ok on Friedrichshafen route. It is likely tour operators will use the scheduled services more than the charter/IT services used previously. BA can probably rely on avio redemptions and frequent fliers. Easyjet and Monarch probably more in competition with each other.
V.

[toledoashley]

Freidrichshafen is a good alternative to Innsbruck and Zurich for Western Austrian and Eastern Swiss Ski resorts. People don't mind too much as long as the transfers remain on the reasonable side.

[strawberry Ribena]

Lax lhr any media release for that? Booking system still showing 777 and 2 a380s

[AMM626]

Emirates Plans All-A380 Operation to London Gatwick from Jan 2016

[Charley B]

Great News
Another rotation in the afternoon, if so busy would be nice!!
Sure EK can fill up 4 a day here!

[canberra97]

BA to Valencia?

I was just doing a dummy booking for London to Valencia on British Airways for the 18th to the 22nd March 2016 and found that there are direct flights with BA from LGW during that period.

I was expecting a transfer flight in Madrid but was surprised that BA were offering a schedule to Valencia, although I have not seen any press release regarding the resumption of LGW to VLC.

BA last flew to Valencia under the GB Airways Franchise and if so this route is long over due especially during the period I wanted to go to Valencia it is 'La Fallas' weekend.

Anyone have any more information regarding the resumption of BA flights to Valencia in 2016.

[bjones4]

I've not seen any press releases but they're starting out at 4 weekly for now and that increases to 6 next summer, current schedule is:

BA2794 LGW-VLC 09:00-12:20 320 x23xxxx
BA2795 VLC-LGW 13:30-15:00 320 x23xxxx

BA2794 LGW-VLC 06:45-10:05 319 xxxx5xx
BA2795 VLC-LGW 11:10-12:40 319 xxxx5xx

BA2794 LGW-VLC 07:25-10:45 32S xxxxxx7
BA2795 VLC-LGW 13:30-15:00 32S xxxxxx7

[canberra97]

BJones4

Thanks for the quick response, that is the schedule I saw so BA are returning to Valencia, I have always thought it was a city missing from their Spanish network so I am very pleased to see it's return.

I did dummy bookings for the 18th to 22nd March 2016 and tried BA, Easyjet and Ryanair and BA came out the cheapest once you added baggage and reserved seats on the latter two so I am booking it later with BA.

Sean

[nigel osborne]

Crikey where is all the EK freight displaced from 77Ws going from MAN and LGW unless they are adding more 77Fs at LHR ?


Nigel

[cornishsimon]

I suspect we will soon see a dedicated Ek freighter service to one of the MAG airports, either STN or MAN.



cs

[LAX_LHR]

In a recent interview to air cargo world magazine, the UK and Ire head of EK cargo said that LHR, LGW and MAN would be all A380 by next summer (2/3 stages of that plan is now complete), that there would be a dedicated cargo flight to either MAN, LGW or STN, and that as most of EK's cargo is South East bound, London was the preffered option.

He also said that Until next year, cargo space on the B777's at BHX/GLA and NCL would be maxed out.

Given STN's superior cargo handling ability, my bets on STN.