Gatwick-3

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by FlyboyUK

And presuming things go to plan there will be some orange tails parked up at the south terminal this summer too.

Hang on, the whole point of shifting BA out was to ensure easyJet could be under one roof. With traffic still well down on 2019, why would easyJet need to be split over two terminals?

[vectisman]

Skipness, I have heard from several sources that easyjet will be operating some flights from South Terminal this Summer. I believe they will be the series numbered 6xxx. I think it is because they are increasing their based fleet to some 79 aircraft. With other airlines based in North planning a return or increased frequencies there probably is not the capacity for North to take all the extra flights. BA have also leased some slots to easyjet, so maybe operationally easier to operate these from South, I don’t know for sure.
I am also not sure which destinations are operating from South, maybe some of their summer seasonal services.
I also believe easyjet are leasing in aircraft from Smartlynx and maybe Titan.
​​​​​​.

[Vokes55]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

Hang on, the whole point of shifting BA out was to ensure easyJet could be under one roof. With traffic still well down on 2019, why would easyJet need to be split over two terminals?

Traffic levels at Gatwick, in terms of number of flights, are scheduled to be on par with 2019 this Summer. The majority of Gatwick traffic is short haul leisure or VFR, so I don’t see any reason at this stage why this won’t be the case.

[vectisman]

I also think a lot of the Gatwick leisure airlines are reporting very heavy bookings for Summer 2022 for Gatwick departures.
Sorry Vokes55 our posts crossed.

[vectisman]

I agree with vokes55 regarding the recovery of the short haul leisure and VFR market. Gatwick suffered a great deal when the pandemic affected this sector but the upside is that it will recover quite quickly as this market is now improving rapidly.
British Airways have also hugely expanded their Heathrow short haul leisure this year capture some of that market. It’s been a while since BA operated 4 or 5 flights daily to Malaga, Palma, Faro etc… from Heathrow,
I also hear bookings at BA Euroflyer are doing well.
I also have been told that the BA Mainline long haul from Gatwick is doing well in all cabins to leisure destinations.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Scheduled flights /= passenger volumes, I'd be surprised if we're back to pre COVID levels in only four months time. Capacity is on sale but until masks and testing ends, the uncertainty will continue to suppress travel demand.
However my question was, even at 2019 peak, EZY was in one terminal. Why would that change if South re-opens and Virgin have no flights this summer and WestJet are moving YYC to LHR? Seems odd, anyone know?

[JW95]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

Scheduled flights /= passenger volumes, I'd be surprised if we're back to pre COVID levels in only four months time. Capacity is on sale but until masks and testing ends, the uncertainty will continue to suppress travel demand.
However my question was, even at 2019 peak, EZY was in one terminal. Why would that change if South re-opens and Virgin have no flights this summer and WestJet are moving YYC to LHR? Seems odd, anyone know?

I'm confused at this as well.. Once South Terminal reopens and BA, along with EI, FR, BT, UX, VY, KM, GR, IB, TK and others typically based in South move back, surely there will be enough space for EZY to fully accommodate their flying programme in the North terminal? They (along with passengers) weren't keen with the split-terminal operation pre the 2017 airline moves programme, so they'd undoubtably prefer to remain consolidated in the North, as all their check in/bag drop and crew rooms are there.

Also, has there been any word on VS possibly returning to LGW?

[davidjohnson6]

Those of us travelling to/from Gatwick by train would far prefer as much flying as possible to be in the South terminal... even if it means having to check whether a particular route is in North or South

[JW95]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

Those of us travelling to/from Gatwick by train would far prefer as much flying as possible to be in the South terminal... even if it means having to check whether a particular route is in North or South

Very much agree, plus I generally find the South Terminal the nicer of the two at LGW; the departure lounge definitely feels more spacious with a lot more natural light compared to the North.

[vectisman]

We can question it as much as we like but that is what is planned. Wizzair will also have a much greater presence in the Summer 2022. I am not sure what terminal in which they will be based.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by vectisman

We can question it as much as we like but that is what is planned. Wizzair will also have a much greater presence in the Summer 2022. I am not sure what terminal in which they will be based.

No net new fleet additions coming so a loss of 4 aircraft from Luton it seems.

[vectisman]

I meant a greater presence at Gatwick.

[Vokes55]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

Scheduled flights /= passenger volumes, I'd be surprised if we're back to pre COVID levels in only four months time. Capacity is on sale but until masks and testing ends, the uncertainty will continue to suppress travel demand.
However my question was, even at 2019 peak, EZY was in one terminal. Why would that change if South re-opens and Virgin have no flights this summer and WestJet are moving YYC to LHR? Seems odd, anyone know?

Passenger numbers aren’t the factor here, it’s the fact that easyJet are going to have 79 based aircraft, all of which will be departing within a 2-3 hour period in the morning. Add 13 TUI short haul aircraft, that is 92 based aircraft compared to 23 at South (BA/VY/W9). It’s a huge imbalance.

easy were actually planning a small South operation in Summer 2020, so it’s not a totally new phenomenon.

As for whether we will be back at pre-Covid levels in four months, time will tell. But short haul leisure and VFR are the two markets bouncing back quickest, and that’s what’s currently in the schedule for LGW. This morning TUI reported stronger sales for this summer than 2019, and whilst they’re only a small
part of the Gatwick operation, it is a bellwether for the state of the outbound leisure market.

[vectisman]

Things do seem to be on the up.
https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/bu...s-fair-3557916
[img]blob:https://www.pprune.org/35ca02c0-79e9-4e62-9b95-daa2200a99ec[/img]

[JW95]

Originally Posted by vectisman

We can question it as much as we like but that is what is planned. Wizzair will also have a much greater presence in the Summer 2022. I am not sure what terminal in which they will be based.

EZY have also publicly confirmed the (re)introduction of South terminal operations from late March as per the link:

London Gatwick with easyJet | easyJet

Very interesting. I wonder what zone they'll be based in? From memory, they had zone C before BA took over..

[vectisman]

BA Gatwick based fleet looking to be about 30 aircraft at moment. 18 Airbus A319/320 for short haul plus about 12 777s. Up to 4 Iberia Express available too.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by Vokes55

easy were actually planning a small South operation in Summer 2020, so it’s not a totally new phenomenon.

That's the missing piece of information right there.

When BA were at their peak bussing from the 130s and 140s was common, but all check in and facilities were in one terminal. Now it seems that easyJet are too big for one terminal (and let's reflect how impressive that is and how dominant they are at LGW) then the option of processing through one terminal and bussing would still be there, but why make use of South too?
There's roughly 39 pier served gates on the North Terminal on Piers 4,5 and 6, and arriving heavies will be taking their place when the first wave departs. If easyJet have 79 based aircraft then good luck Gatwick, that doesn't sound like fun.

[azzbo]

Thanks all, do you think the Yotel will reopen soon then? Don't want to book something else outside the terminal if it's on the cards.

[JW95]

Originally Posted by azzbo

Thanks all, do you think the Yotel will reopen soon then? Don't want to book something else outside the terminal if it's on the cards.

My guess is that it will reopen nearer to the time of the South terminal reopening in late March, maybe a few days beforehand

[davidjohnson6]

Perhaps you could contact Yotel and ask them when they intend to reopen ?
If the people managing the hotel don't know...
https://www.yotel.com/en/contact-us