Gatwick-3

[True Blue]

I see from the BA site, when I have been considering some bookings, that the A321 is appearing on routes out of Lgw.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Is BA EuroFlyer actually getting it's own AOC and callsign? Maybe by next summer?
When was the last summer BA had 28 based short haul
aircraft at Gatters?

[vectisman]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

Is BA EuroFlyer actually getting it's own AOC and callsign? Maybe by next summer?
When was the last summer BA had 28 based short haul
aircraft at Gatters?

I believe in Summer 2019 during peak times up to 32 Airbus aircraft were operating from Gatwick.
There is enough snack in the short haul fleet with relatively few aircraft retirements, new deliveries and still some in storage. It all depends on the timeframe being considered.
Likewise with slots they have enough when you consider those temporarily leased out to others. At the moment they appear to be using about 52 slot pairs daily next summer( mainline and Euroflyer). They potentially have 80 to 90 slot pairs available when leases to others are taken into account.
I believe A321 aircraft are due to start operating from Gatwick for BA from next February.

[USERNAME_]

Originally Posted by vectisman

I believe A321 aircraft are due to start operating from Gatwick for BA from next February.

That will be fun. There are barely enough fit/legal/rested cabin crew to get 3 on a 319, let alone 5 on a 321.
I suppose Heathrow will come to the rescue once more.

[vectisman]

Originally Posted by USERNAME_

That will be fun. There are barely enough fit/legal/rested cabin crew to get 3 on a 319, let alone 5 on a 321.
I suppose Heathrow will come to the rescue once more.

Actually recruitment is going quite strongly for next Summer.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by vectisman

Actually recruitment is going quite strongly for next Summer.

It's holding onto them that's proving the problem as it's mainly hard days of there and back with next to glamorous nightstops. They have a staff retention problem I understand.

[USERNAME_]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

It's holding onto them that's proving the problem as it's mainly hard days of there and back with next to glamorous nightstops. They have a staff retention problem I understand.

Exactly that. Recruitment isn’t an issue. In fact, they are churning out a few new entrant courses per month. The problem is, for both first time flyers and experienced crew, is that that after a month or two of flying, most of them decide it’s not the place for them.

[Buster the Bear]

Originally Posted by USERNAME_

Exactly that. Recruitment isn’t an issue. In fact, they are churning out a few new entrant courses per month. The problem is, for both first time flyers and experienced crew, is that that after a month or two of flying, most of them decide it’s not the place for them.

I guess remuneration factors highly?

[USERNAME_]

Originally Posted by Buster the Bear

I guess remuneration factors highly?

That certainly play a part in it. The schedule doesn’t help, and according to most, that plays a larger part it in. The scheduling is dire, but progress is being made, even if painfully slow.

[LGS6753]

Gatwick has been intermittently closed due to snow today. Diversions have gone to Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Manchester and Liverpool.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

One inch of snow.
Gatwick Airport completely closed.
Twitter account wrongly says "unforecast snow".
TAF and airline forecasts disagree.

This country no longer plans for even basic contingency. Every single thing is shareholder value. See also "British" Airways and Manchester "Airport".

[ZFT]

Lack of deicing vehicles doesn't help the situation either.

[Vokes55]

A lack of snow removal equipment might be a justified excuse given how rarely they are needed, but aircraft need to be de-iced more mornings than not for about three months of every year.

It’s pathetic, but alas no longer unexpected in this country.

[WHBM]

Part of the issue is that runway/ramp clearance is down to the airport operator, who only lose landing fees if cancelled, and thus in the financial equation it seems not worthwhile to spend on kit and training. The big financial loss is to the airlines, but they don't make the decisions. There's nowhere else that Easyjet or the others can practically or commercially go to if they want to serve the market, and the airport owners and investors know that.

[FlyboyUK]

There’s plenty of snow clearing equipment. It’s been sitting out ready for weeks off the end of pier 6. But not sure exactly what went wrong yesterday, presumably not enough people to operate it, just like the de-ice trucks

[SWBKCB]

Originally Posted by WHBM

Part of the issue is that runway/ramp clearance is down to the airport operator, who only lose landing fees if cancelled, and thus in the financial equation it seems not worthwhile to spend on kit and training. The big financial loss is to the airlines, but they don't make the decisions. There's nowhere else that Easyjet or the others can practically or commercially go to if they want to serve the market, and the airport owners and investors know that.

I think the airport operator might point out that the airlines get what they pay for.

[UnderASouthernSky]

Originally Posted by WHBM

Part of the issue is that runway/ramp clearance is down to the airport operator, who only lose landing fees if cancelled, and thus in the financial equation it seems not worthwhile to spend on kit and training. The big financial loss is to the airlines, but they don't make the decisions. There's nowhere else that Easyjet or the others can practically or commercially go to if they want to serve the market, and the airport owners and investors know that.

The airport operator also potentially misses out on passenger retail spend and car parking revenue, depending on how and when flights are being cancelled relative to STDs and customers pushing for refunds.

[pabely]

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

I think the airport operator might point out that the airlines get what they pay for.

So what is their excuse to Emirates for diversion of A380 to AMS? Do they pay LoCo landing & handling fees?

[SWBKCB]

Originally Posted by pabely

So what is their excuse to Emirates for diversion of A380 to AMS? Do they pay LoCo landing & handling fees?

"Airlines" - collective, and between them they don't pay enough to keep the airport open 24/7 in all weather conditions

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

What % increase in airport charges would allow a major airport like LGW to remain open 24/7/365? It would be pennies over a year?