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Old 20th Aug 2009, 09:17
  #341 (permalink)  
 
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This is not a new rumour - it's been bandied about since I came to LGW around 1995.

Last time I heard that rumour was in my daughter's school playground, from a pilot from another airline, with info from "near board level".

So why introduce new routes in LGW longhaul if there was no aeroplanes to feed them?
WW stated,the last time he came down here, that LGW longhaul was the only area of the company actually making money at the moment(3 months ago).

One of the best reasons I can think of, is that there is no way WW would give Easyjet and Ryanair free reign.
In BA, cash is king at the moment. However, our ability to project ahead has not been squashed either.
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 09:26
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We were always told in the 'BA' regions how valued we were and our importance to the business as a whole, which is why I operate from LHR now.

I do, however, feel that LGW as a base will be safe................ but, perhaps only for long haul
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 10:04
  #343 (permalink)  
 
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How many aircraft will BA have based at LGW for next winter? Will they all be 737?
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 10:45
  #344 (permalink)  
 
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We'll have 737s, A319s and 777s. How many changes on a weekly basis, so can't give you a figure...

The rumour about BA quitting Lgw has been around for so long, that we just roll our eyes and say "what? again?" every time.

Gg
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 10:52
  #345 (permalink)  
 
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This is a new rumour, and is based on insider talk....sounds entirely plausible that BA will focus on LHR. (Shrinking Ship!)
Well there's no room at Heathrow so I assume you mean BA are downsizing by seven B777s and over thirty 737 / A319s? Given that LGW long haul is allegedly the only part of the airline still in the black and also that's a whole lot of redundancy payments. BA's major problem is bloated costs and outdated working agreements and most of them are at Heathrow. Gatwick is a much leaner ship.
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 11:49
  #346 (permalink)  

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Usual inability to think outside the box, glamgirl. BA staff complacency in the past has been staggering. It seems to remain so.And Skipness, look at the situation from a business point of view, not a spotter's.

Downsizing is the name of the game in a struggling company. Nothing to do with types of aircraft. Or redundancy payments. Those are one-offs and a normal part of £££write-downs. Tax efficient too.

BA will need to be smaller and more efficient if it is not to go the way of Sabena, Swissair and others. It will likely be reconstructed to survive like Alitalia, hardly a pleasant example.

And all other UK BA bases have been down-sized to almost nothing, MAN, BHX and GLA being good examples.

OH well, I don't want to pick a fight here, so I'll stay quiet and watch developments. With my head out of the sand.
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 12:13
  #347 (permalink)  
 
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RoyHudd

There's a difference between thinking outside the box and dismissing the facts.

Is that picking a fight or just responding in a similar tone your previous post?
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 12:34
  #348 (permalink)  

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The headline is wrong on this thread. You need a ? rather than a !

Perhaps people won't get fooled then.
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 14:02
  #349 (permalink)  
 
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BA staff complacency in the past has been staggering
Rubbish. BA at Gatwick have been on more realistic terms and conditions for ages. No long haul / short haul split in the cabin crew for example. The contract BA want at LHR was trialled and introduced at LGW. For that alone LGW was worth hanging on to.

And all other UK BA bases have been down-sized to almost nothing, MAN, BHX and GLA being good examples.
Right...you do know that there are NO other UK bases outside LHR and LGW? The bases in the regions are all gone.
By all means get involved but it doesn't sound like you're well informed at all.

And Skipness, look at the situation from a business point of view, not a spotter's.
Capital investment to replace the B734s has been delayed. Hence payed for 734s can be flown for a few more years to see if LHR ever does get Runway 3. Leases have already been extended. There isn't room for the LGW long haul program at LHR anyway.
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Old 20th Aug 2009, 16:21
  #350 (permalink)  
 
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Just sounds like an unsubstantiated load of gossip to be honest. Care to elaborate on your trusted sources or where you got this "insider talk"? You obviously aren't a BA employee otherwise you would be more than aware of the network they operate. So you are either from a different airline, stirring, or a very ill informed spotter than needs to do more homework. Other than that it just sounds like a malicious attempt to stir up trouble at worst or just an easy way to make yourself look stupid at best.
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Old 21st Aug 2009, 06:24
  #351 (permalink)  

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Oh my word!

Hmmm. Well I'm not a BA employee, I got the info from a senior selection person at BA, I fly A330's, I am not a spotter, and I can certainly be stupid but not malicious.

Sorry to have ruffled feathers but this is a rumour network, and it is for pilots. I wonder if my detractors actually qualify?

(Incidentally I use the term "base" to describe an airport into which BA currently operate, which is not strictly correct. The point I was making is that BA have been contracting in the UK geographically over many years.) Happy now, pilots Skipness and Glamgirl?
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Old 21st Aug 2009, 07:52
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Roy, I'm not!

Still reckon the question mark is needed in the headline.
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Old 21st Aug 2009, 16:17
  #353 (permalink)  

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? better than ! ?

Fair enough. Can't seem to edit the title though.
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Old 21st Aug 2009, 16:36
  #354 (permalink)  
 
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You ruffled feathers are you were not listening to the responses you were given. People are not being blase; they have heard years' of rumours along the same lines and, as yet, no substiation to those rumours. It is a useful rumour to keep staff on their toes, hence nobody from up on high denying the rumour...for over 15 years.

Gatwick is a useful project / testing ground that even generates cashflow for the business. That is about as concrete a fact as you will get on a rumour network, so use your grey matter and process the information you are given!
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Old 22nd Aug 2009, 21:06
  #355 (permalink)  
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Wonder what the WaterWorld bean counters load onto LGW (or EOG, remember?) for centralised functions? Be interesting to see what the core operational profit loss account looks like

Accountants can make anything look good or bad as directed.

Funny how another LGW operator recently did the same, and made much of the "profits". Turned out to be a 'pullover the wool over the eyes' though.

Sir George Cayley

ps Just remembered that the threat to Ground Services at the start of the pay talks was that if they didn't agree, the BA Cargo LGW would have to go. Could that be behind this rumour? Apparently the response from the mainly LHR voters was "Wad evorrr!!"
 
Old 22nd Sep 2009, 17:29
  #356 (permalink)  
 
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LGW Shuttle shut 28 Sep - Summer 2010

Re the shuttle train betwen North and South terminals

From the BAA site

Gatwick prepares for new Shuttle

17 September 2009
The inter-terminal transit system at London Gatwick Airport, installed in 1987, is about to be replaced as part of the airport’s £1bn investment programme.
The existing transit, which has now completed more than two and a half million miles, will be removed from service on 28th September this year with the two new Shuttles coming into service in May and July next year. The new Shuttle service will be fully operating at the start of August 2010.
Whilst this work is undertaken, a replacement bus service will operate from the upper forecourt of both terminals every three minutes during the day (0400hrs-1800hrs) and every six minutes at night.

Passengers and staff using this service should allow 20 minutes for their journey beteen terminals.

As the transit stations will be closed, access between South Terminal and B staff car park and South Terminal and local buses will be via alternative routes.
A number of trials will be carried out during September, using the replacement bus service. These will take place over the weekend of 19-20 September and on 23, 24 and 25 September.
During its time, the inter-terminal transit system has used around 600 tyres and 16,000 power pick-up shoes The car doors have opened and closed in the region of 3.8 million times. The 2.5 million miles it has travelled is equivalent to 100 times around the earth of 5 return trips to the moon.
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Old 30th Sep 2009, 16:21
  #357 (permalink)  
 
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Easjyet to start LGW-DUS (and FCO-DUS) in February 2010:

EasyJet baut Düsseldorf aus - Netzwerkplanung - Verkehr - airliners.de

(sorry, in German only).

So let the bloodbath begin - wonder if the route will sustain two airlines.
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Old 9th Oct 2009, 16:43
  #358 (permalink)  
 
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Signs of recovery at Gatwick

BAA have just announced September 2009 traffic figures. Despite overall figures at Gatwick down by 0.5 %, both domestic & European traffic is up by 5.8 % and 8.7 % respectively. Best since May 2008. Encouraging after most long haul buggered off to Heathrow leaving a dent in pax numbers at LGW.
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Old 11th Oct 2009, 19:59
  #359 (permalink)  
 
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Looks like DL are leaving LGW too

Just had a call to say that my booking for a DL flight from LGW to ATL on December 5th is no longer available, and that I must rebook on a flight ex LHR. That leaves only US Airways at LGW, who will undoubtedly be moving their CLT in the near future.
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Old 11th Oct 2009, 22:26
  #360 (permalink)  
 
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Signs of recovery at Gatwick

something to do with EZY?
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