Gatwick-3
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Skipness, I am sure Gatwick will cope with 79 EasyJet. Don’t forget BA have about 12 less SH aircraft for 2022, Norwegian’s presence is less plus Thomas Cook is gone. Overall total based aircraft from all airlines will be similar to 2019. I am sure Gatwick is happy to have the ‘problem’ of so many based aircraft after the past two years.
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It’s also not a new problem to Gatwick, by virtue of the fact that it’s always been an airport where the majority of flights are with based aircraft that start and end the day there. There will always be not enough gates in the morning and too many during the day.
Even back to pre-EZY days in 2002/3, when the airport was full of the larger 757/767s that would leave for the Med every morning. At least 8 different charter airlines were based in Gatwick, which would’ve added up to a fairly similar number as EZY have today. Perhaps a little less noticeable because many of the charter airlines back in those days would come in at 2230 and go out again an hour later. Alas, the arrival of EZY and EU261 largely put a stop to the round the clock operation. Nostalgia.
Even back to pre-EZY days in 2002/3, when the airport was full of the larger 757/767s that would leave for the Med every morning. At least 8 different charter airlines were based in Gatwick, which would’ve added up to a fairly similar number as EZY have today. Perhaps a little less noticeable because many of the charter airlines back in those days would come in at 2230 and go out again an hour later. Alas, the arrival of EZY and EU261 largely put a stop to the round the clock operation. Nostalgia.
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Pier 6 Extension
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Gatwick Airport Limited put on hold the construction of the North Terminal Pier 6 extension which would have allowed for up to severn extra gates with airbridges. If and when this project resumes or more to the point if it had been completed would it have been enough to have accommodated those extra flights planned by easyJet that are scheduled for the South Terminal.
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With the 79 based EZYs, do they all overnight in LGW, or does that figure include any that night-stop overseas or utilised overnight with a first wave arrival?
Considering FR does a similar sized operation from STN by volume with only 45-50 based (due to there being a lot more non-based flying), this does seem cripplingly inefficient from a LGW perspective.
Considering FR does a similar sized operation from STN by volume with only 45-50 based (due to there being a lot more non-based flying), this does seem cripplingly inefficient from a LGW perspective.
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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
If the people managing the hotel don't know...
https://www.yotel.com/en/contact-us
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With the 79 based EZYs, do they all overnight in LGW, or does that figure include any that night-stop overseas or utilised overnight with a first wave arrival?
Considering FR does a similar sized operation from STN by volume with only 45-50 based (due to there being a lot more non-based flying), this does seem cripplingly inefficient from a LGW perspective.
Considering FR does a similar sized operation from STN by volume with only 45-50 based (due to there being a lot more non-based flying), this does seem cripplingly inefficient from a LGW perspective.
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South Terminal
Fantastic to see this finally confirmed! On my recent visit to LGW, I was in South terminal very briefly and it was awful seeing it deserted and devoid of life compared to when I last flew out from there with CX to HKG in February 2020
So it'll be good seeing it come to life again later next month!
The terminal page at LGW has also been updated with all South-based airlines moving back, but is missing Scoot; are they likely to be remaining in the North terminal or move South when BKK/SIN recommences?


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Freebird. The carrier had planned a twice-weekly Antalya service from Gatwick commencing in May 2022, but will now offer this four times a week following promising early sales.
Flights will operate on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Freebird will also launch a twice-weekly service from Gatwick to Bodrum, also commencing in May, operating on Tuesday and Friday.
This will complement the existing Antalya services from Manchester, already operating twice weekly.
Carl Denton, UK sales representative, said: “Following our launch during the restrictions of the pandemic, we are now very encouraged to see consumer confidence return and bookings pick up.
“In reaction to this we are pleased to have secured the necessary cleared slots at Gatwick to ensure we can meet this demand and grow back the capacity to Turkey.”
He added Freebird was happy to work with agents. “We are keen to engage and encourage travel agents to offer Freebird flights to their clients and also discuss technical solutions to ensure they have the best access to the flights Freebird offers from the UK.”
https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/more-t...ing%20Bulletin
Flights will operate on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Freebird will also launch a twice-weekly service from Gatwick to Bodrum, also commencing in May, operating on Tuesday and Friday.
This will complement the existing Antalya services from Manchester, already operating twice weekly.
Carl Denton, UK sales representative, said: “Following our launch during the restrictions of the pandemic, we are now very encouraged to see consumer confidence return and bookings pick up.
“In reaction to this we are pleased to have secured the necessary cleared slots at Gatwick to ensure we can meet this demand and grow back the capacity to Turkey.”
He added Freebird was happy to work with agents. “We are keen to engage and encourage travel agents to offer Freebird flights to their clients and also discuss technical solutions to ensure they have the best access to the flights Freebird offers from the UK.”
https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/more-t...ing%20Bulletin
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Traveling through Gatwick this evening. You’d have thought that, given the misery that the industry has been through that the airport would be pulling out the stops so that now that people are flying again it would be a pleasant experience. So why were there massive queues at security with the x-ray machines repeatedly stopping for several minutes? When we eventually got through I heard one passenger comment “Gatwick’s back to its crappy self”. Difficult to sympathise with airport management complaining about the inconvenience to passengers of the likes of passenger locator forms when they are failing to effectively manage the things they can control.
Traveling through Gatwick this evening. You’d have thought that, given the misery that the industry has been through that the airport would be pulling out the stops so that now that people are flying again it would be a pleasant experience. So why were there massive queues at security with the x-ray machines repeatedly stopping for several minutes? When we eventually got through I heard one passenger comment “Gatwick’s back to its crappy self”. Difficult to sympathise with airport management complaining about the inconvenience to passengers of the likes of passenger locator forms when they are failing to effectively manage the things they can control.
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Maybe there was a fault with the machinery. Generally Gatwick has a good reputation for security queues so maybe your experience was just unfortunate. I personally do not believe
managers deliberately keep queue times up or down.
In the context of the present situation in Europe maybe a wait at security is the least thing to moan about.
I must stress this is just my personal opinion and no offence intended.
managers deliberately keep queue times up or down.
In the context of the present situation in Europe maybe a wait at security is the least thing to moan about.
I must stress this is just my personal opinion and no offence intended.
Last edited by vectisman; 28th Feb 2022 at 08:02.
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Things will probably improve when South Terminal re-opens on March 27th. At the moment North Terminal is operating above capacity
on some days especially during the half term period.
on some days especially during the half term period.
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Any news on China Airlines - London to Taipei service returning to Gatwick?
Not heard any news about Scoot pulling out, but nothing on their website from London is bookable.
I guess it was always inevitable, the long haul routes would be harder to restore than the European ones, and carriers would be focusing on restoring capacity to LHR before LGW, which acts more as an overflow.
Not heard any news about Scoot pulling out, but nothing on their website from London is bookable.
I guess it was always inevitable, the long haul routes would be harder to restore than the European ones, and carriers would be focusing on restoring capacity to LHR before LGW, which acts more as an overflow.