GATWICK

[TartinTon]

If so that's a big loss for BA...a very capable and formidable lady...pushed or walked? PS or AK are the replacement? I think her nads were bigger than either!

[Omnipresent]

PS is Silla Maizey's replacement.

[NABLAG]

This is interesting.

FlyBe complaint about Gatwick Airport charges, in summary Flybe have lost.

Investigation under Section 41 of the Airports Act 1986 of the structure of airport charges levied by Gatwick Airport Limited -CAA decision
17 JANUARY 2013

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/5/S41GatwickFlybeDecision.pdf

What effect are the extra costs having on the Flybe operation out of Gatwick. Is there now a possibility that they will withdraw Dash 8 ops ?

[Aero Mad]

You will note that in the report, it says that Flybe has shifted services from E-195s to Dash 8s as a cost-saving measure. I assume that this is because they fall under the same fees class and reduced load factors justify it. But we probably won't see the end of Dash 8 ops at LGW unless we see the end of Flybe ops at LGW.

[FRatSTN]

I think now that from Gatwick, EasyJet serve the Isle Of Man, Aer Lingus serve Belfast-City and there are Aurigny and BA flights to the Channel Islands, Gatwick wouldn't be too bothered if they lost FlyBe as they don't really bring much unique to Gatwick and serve routes that others do in a less efficient way.

With Stansted under new ownership very soon, I really wouldn't be too surprised to hear some major news regarding FlyBe's London operations. Come to think of it, FlyBe did say a big announcement was coming along next month. We shall wait and see what unfolds.

[JobsaGoodun]

I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that BE are the third largest slot holder at LGW after BA and EZY so I can't imagine it would be good business sense for LGW to loose them.

Also, you have to remember that BE have served LGW for many years and their routes are only now becoming inefficient due to the revised charges imposed at LGW, but maybe that's just business.

It's just a shame that domestic routes once forced out of LHR may also now find the same fate at LGW.

[globetrotter79]

What Gatwick Airport seem quick to forget is the connecting passengers that come off the BE domestic flights and into the BA and VS long haul leisure routes. Yes there is EZY on Inverness and Isle of Man, but no Interline possible and therefore your average travel agent in Inverness cannot (and likely will not) make a booking on LGW-MCO or whatever...either because they cannot see an INV connecting flight in their system or they know full well that there is an EZY service to LGW but will not recommended their clients use it as they'll earn zero commission and will instead book flights via MAN or AMS or something.

Sure, LGW isn't like LHR, AMS, CDG etc...no-one is pretending that it is. But it does still function as a hub (mostly for leisure traffic) in its own way and the Airport Authority doing their best to kill off small aircraft feeder services is also going to cause harm to (what's left of) their long-haul business.

[davidjohnson6]

Goodun - I can see a publicity reason as to why effectively forcing Flybe to cut links to Inverness would be bad as it kills connectivity to Scottish islands. I can also see a reason as to why squeezing out a smallish airline will make other airlines thinking of flying to London wary of Gatwick. Being heavily reliant on one (orange) customer is never good for business.

I can't follow your argument about turfing Flybe out of Gatwick not being good business sense. By moving a slot pair from a Dash 8 to an A319, the airport ca n double the number of passengers, paying airport fees and double the number of people spending at the shops - ie doubling the revenue per slot which is good (albeit hardnosed) business sense.

[EI-A330-300]

I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that BE are the third largest slot holder at LGW after BA and EZY so I can't imagine it would be good business sense for LGW to loose them.

Flybe have lose 71 weekly slots since start of November.

[Skipness One Echo]

Gatwick has large periods where movements are rare, it's not as busy out of peak times as many imagine. Sure they can screw flybe as somehow they need to claw back their frankly enormous investment.

Quite how should be interesting.
71 is only ten a day, that seems remarkably low given BHD, GCI, INV, JER are all still going.

[BAladdy]

How well do BA compete on those leisure routes to say IBZ and AGP? Obviously during the summer there's high level of cheaper competition from ZB, TOM, EZY, FR, TCX from LGW and the other London airports. I'd say if they're opening up further routes to TFS and ALC, they're doing fairly well on these routes?

BA dow very well on the LON-IBZ route. BACF began operating a 2 x weekly service ex LCY at the start of W12. This is the first time BA have served IBZ out of season. Demand for S13 seats is high. So much so that BA will offer more flights than ever before from LON to IBZ and they will for the first time serve the island from it's 3 LON airports. They will operate up to 29 (17 x LCY, 10 x LGW and 2 x IBZ) flights a week during S13

[cornishsimon]

Gatwick has large periods where movements are rare, it's not as busy out of
peak times as many imagine. Sure they can screw flybe as somehow they need to
claw back their frankly enormous investment.

Quite how should be
interesting.
71 is only ten a day, that seems remarkably low given BHD, GCI,
INV, JER are all still going.

And NQY 3 daily


cs

[vectisman]

Flybe also continue to fly to Newcastle and the Isle of Man from Gatwick, 3 and 4 times daily. A summer service is also operating to Bergerac. On most days there are 26 departures a day from Gatwick planned this summer.

V.

[bunatern]

turkish airlines

turkish airlines to add a third daily IST flight starting 3rd may 3xweekly raising to daily from 1st june but this flight from SAW.

[Fairdealfrank]

QUOTE:"Goodun - I can see a publicity reason as to why effectively forcing Flybe to cut links to Inverness would be bad as it kills connectivity to Scottish islands. I can also see a reason as to why squeezing out a smallish airline will make other airlines thinking of flying to London wary of Gatwick. Being heavily reliant on one (orange) customer is never good for business."

Indeed not, that's the trap STN fell into, 70% FR, isn't it?

[FR-]

Ryanair might have 70% of the passenger traffic, but where would Ryanair move a/c to in the London area? If STN was to put its charges up to try and make get back some of the £1.5billion investment.


fr-

[racedo]

Ryanair might have 70% of the passenger traffic, but where would Ryanair move a/c to in the London area?

Why do you assume they would move them in the London area ?

[FR-]

Just don't see them wanting to give even more of the London market to another airline.

fr-

[fjencl]

Titan Airways @ Gatwick summer 2013

I see that Titan Airways is looking for crews to work at Gatwick from April/May until 31st October.

Does anybody know what aircraft they will be using here and for what airline will they be operating for.......?????

Thanks.

[TSR2]

May not be of help, but previously reported that Titan will operate a B757 for Jet2 but based at Manchester.