Gatwick-2
Join Date: Jul 2006
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It does amuse me the rush to move to Lhr by certain airlines. Clearly the everyone else is doing it we better do it as well is well and truly alive at the top of many airlines. Follow the herd. You would think airlines would be managed by more intelligent people, but obviously not. I saw that RwandAir was to operate 1 service into Lhr, not Lgw. What difference will that make? China Airlines is making the move as well. If you want to fly to Tpe on CI, why would you use them because they are going from Lhr, not Lgw. I doubt they will be collecting many transfer pax. The same story applies to several other airlines, like some pax, a massive dose of snobbery at work.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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WW, I appreciate that holds true for some/many routes. But if, for example, RwandAir moves from Lgw to Lhr, why would they suddenly benefit from higher yield? They are the only carrier to operate direct to Kigali from London, so if you want to go there direct, they are the only option, so it should not matter whether it is Lgw or Lhr. Other than the ability of Lhr to operate almost in a monopoly position on LH routes(it looks like they are going to get almost 100% control again), why else would yield go up in the example I have given and there are others?
How many of RwandaAir's pax are originating/terminating in Kigali, and how many are connecting to somewhere else in the region - eg Burundi, Cameroon, Congo or Uganda ? Of those connecting pax, how many would see Ethiopian or Kenyan as a viable alternative airline ?
It does amuse me the rush to move to Lhr by certain airlines. Clearly the everyone else is doing it we better do it as well is well and truly alive at the top of many airlines. Follow the herd. You would think airlines would be managed by more intelligent people, but obviously not. I saw that RwandAir was to operate 1 service into Lhr, not Lgw. What difference will that make? China Airlines is making the move as well. If you want to fly to Tpe on CI, why would you use them because they are going from Lhr, not Lgw. I doubt they will be collecting many transfer pax. The same story applies to several other airlines, like some pax, a massive dose of snobbery at work.
Snobbery would be dropped sharpish if the numbers supported LGW.
Join Date: May 2018
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WW, I appreciate that holds true for some/many routes. But if, for example, RwandAir moves from Lgw to Lhr, why would they suddenly benefit from higher yield? They are the only carrier to operate direct to Kigali from London, so if you want to go there direct, they are the only option, so it should not matter whether it is Lgw or Lhr. Other than the ability of Lhr to operate almost in a monopoly position on LH routes(it looks like they are going to get almost 100% control again), why else would yield go up in the example I have given and there are others?
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Oban, Scotland
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If the BA connection is good, then fair enough. I'm not sure of the difference in time if using the train. Man to Euston, short walk to St. P, direct trains to LGW every few minutes; or U to Paddington and H express. Remember the difference in frequency between the plane and the train.
Join Date: Aug 2016
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As for the main issue, surely the situation is that BA owns a lot of slots at LHR which are a major asset on their balance sheet. They dare not lose them. So they are moving routes from LGW or leasing them to other airlines that can use them.
The slots at LGW are much less valuable and they reckon that they can get them back when they need them - they might have a deal with LGW.
The slots at LGW are much less valuable and they reckon that they can get them back when they need them - they might have a deal with LGW.
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As for the main issue, surely the situation is that BA owns a lot of slots at LHR which are a major asset on their balance sheet. They dare not lose them. So they are moving routes from LGW or leasing them to other airlines that can use them.
The slots at LGW are much less valuable and they reckon that they can get them back when they need them - they might have a deal with LGW.
The slots at LGW are much less valuable and they reckon that they can get them back when they need them - they might have a deal with LGW.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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If the BA connection is good, then fair enough. I'm not sure of the difference in time if using the train. Man to Euston, short walk to St. P, direct trains to LGW every few minutes; or U to Paddington and H express. Remember the difference in frequency between the plane and the train.
Financially for me there is very little difference between both methods of travel, it's more that as soon as I drop my bags at Manchester I don't see them again until I reach my destination. Using the train means I have to find space on a crowded train to London, then cart it either down the road to St Pancras or down into the tube and again find space on a (less) crowded train. But that's just my experience. For others it could be an hour+ rail journey just to get to an airport with a domestic connection so the railway is more viable...
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Slots; I believe there is dispensation granted until the end of the year. About 60% of the slots will need to be used. However, the document originating from the EU is more an advisory but I should think the airlines will jump at that.
Join Date: Jul 2017
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You do know you could alight at Milton Keynes avoid the whole town mess, cross platform and get to East Croydon on the Southern service, from their same platform every few minutes down to Gatwick .
it’s pretty painless . However why are you so interested in using a London Terminal from Manchester anyway .
Vast majority indeed far MORE European routes originate quite locally and COVID aside prime US cities were serviced frequently and frankly anywhere else go via Amsterdam .
If it’s a sort of national loyalty to an airline branded British again why its a Pan- European business with the largest single investors being an Qatari sheikh!
it’s pretty painless . However why are you so interested in using a London Terminal from Manchester anyway .
Vast majority indeed far MORE European routes originate quite locally and COVID aside prime US cities were serviced frequently and frankly anywhere else go via Amsterdam .
If it’s a sort of national loyalty to an airline branded British again why its a Pan- European business with the largest single investors being an Qatari sheikh!
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Being reported that the LGW-BGI route will move to LHR from the end of the coming winter season. Whilst of course this could be an individual route move in reaction to the Virgin introduction of LHR-BGI.....since it is such a core anchor route for BA Gatwick long haul, is this a sign BA are going to pull up stumps entirely at Gatwick??
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Being reported that the LGW-BGI route will move to LHR from the end of the coming winter season. Whilst of course this could be an individual route move in reaction to the Virgin introduction of LHR-BGI.....since it is such a core anchor route for BA Gatwick long haul, is this a sign BA are going to pull up stumps entirely at Gatwick??
Personally I do not believe any shift from Gatwick for all services will be permanent. Gatwick is a lower cost airport to operate from than Heathrow. Furthermore the leisure market may well recover more quickly than the business market and the former is Gatwick’s strength. Willie Walsh said recently it is the kind of market BA needs to retain right now. Not all the 6 million customers BA flies from Gatwick will follow them to Heathrow or be prepared to pay the Heathrow premium especially in lean times. You only have to compare the prices on duplicate routes to see this. BA holiday prices from Gatwick are also very competitive when compared to Heathrow based departures. Many of those passengers will migrate to EasyJet, Ryanair. Tui etc... and maybe permanently.
i think a lot will depend on bookings for Summer 2021. Summer 2020 is a write off and Winter 2020/2021 will be very tough.
The fleet and network may well contract for a couple of years but go completely I’m not sure.
I am no expert just my thoughts.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Forgot to say the move of one daily flight may also be in response to Virgin starting Barbados from Heathrow. In addition they are hoping for connecting passengers from Europe, They need to replace those connecting passengers from Europe for their decimated USA services too.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Just seen on another forum that BA long haul from Gatwick has been profitable for years and Gatwick short haul since about 2014. Of course this means nothing in terms of the future. However as I said above the airport is cheaper to operate from and has a lower staff cost for BA than Heathrow. BA also see Gatwick management as more realistic than that of Heathrow. Well we shall see.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Does amuse me the idea that Lhr is the best airport because of higher yields. I think that some of those who laud those higher yields forget that higher yields for airlines=higher fares for passengers. Not a problem if a big expense account is picking up the cost, different if it is the passenger himself paying or a small business.
Join Date: Sep 2019
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Qatar Airways update
Some good news... Qatar Airways is bringing forward the resumption of LGW-DOH to the 20th August, instead of late October as previously planned. Will be operating once daily. Hopefully this will mark the start of a (slow) recovery to long haul at Gatwick.
Source: https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/t...twick-flights/
Source: https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/t...twick-flights/