Gatwick-3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Not so many places currently
Age: 60
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
in the jet2 diversion case this was a medical emergency that required immediate medical intervention - STN might only be up the road but so too is EMA it’s final destination. The flight deck must have deemed it serious enough to get straight on the ground otherwise surely 10mins more and they could have been at EMA. There are also a lot more factors to consider in a medical divert and going to a base where there is no Jet2 ground staff is again not advised unless in an emergency and clearly this was.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Italy
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The other week several of us on here were debating possible long haul contenders at LGW.
We discussed several possible candidate's including China Southern Airlines which we eventually dismissed.
How things change in such a short space of time.
China Southern Airlines announces Zhengzhou to London Gatwick.
Effectivel 12 December 2023 and operated twice weekly by B788.
CZ653 CGO 14.00 LGW 17.20 days 26 788
CZ654 LGW 20.20 CGO 15.00+1 days 26 788
Meanwhile Sri Lankan Airways want to add an additional three flights between Colombo and LHR. The airline currently operates the route on a daily basis but wants to increase it to 10 weekly.
The airline has recently stated in the travel media that those extra three flights might be difficult to obtain at LHR due to a lack of available and suitable slots.
Debating the topic again, could Sri Lankan Airlines be a possible future contender for LGW. Of course, it would be a service resumption for the airline. Air Lanka which the airline was previously known as flew to LGW from 1979 to 1991.
We discussed several possible candidate's including China Southern Airlines which we eventually dismissed.
How things change in such a short space of time.
China Southern Airlines announces Zhengzhou to London Gatwick.
Effectivel 12 December 2023 and operated twice weekly by B788.
CZ653 CGO 14.00 LGW 17.20 days 26 788
CZ654 LGW 20.20 CGO 15.00+1 days 26 788
Meanwhile Sri Lankan Airways want to add an additional three flights between Colombo and LHR. The airline currently operates the route on a daily basis but wants to increase it to 10 weekly.
The airline has recently stated in the travel media that those extra three flights might be difficult to obtain at LHR due to a lack of available and suitable slots.
Debating the topic again, could Sri Lankan Airlines be a possible future contender for LGW. Of course, it would be a service resumption for the airline. Air Lanka which the airline was previously known as flew to LGW from 1979 to 1991.
Looking forward to seeing their 787 here. Still no word on Cathay Pacific returning to Gatwick though 
Hoping they will come back as well. With Sri Lankan Airlines, I could see them potentially doing what Air Mauritius have done and move over to LGW, provided that available slots and timings work for them.
Excellent news RE. China Southern Airlines coming to Gatwick Looking forward to seeing their 787 here. Still no word on Cathay Pacific returning to Gatwick though Hoping they will come back as well.
With Sri Lankan Airlines, I could see them potentially doing what Air Mauritius have done and move over to LGW, provided that available slots and timings work for them.
Looking forward to seeing their 787 here. Still no word on Cathay Pacific returning to Gatwick though Hoping they will come back as well.With Sri Lankan Airlines, I could see them potentially doing what Air Mauritius have done and move over to LGW, provided that available slots and timings work for them.
Nonetheless great news for LGW.
I sort of agree with your assumption regarding Sri Lankan Airways but I have to admit that I'm not as optimistic as you are regarding the immediate return of Cathay Pacific Airways. But then again it was only a few weeks that I remember that we both agreed that LGW would probably not see China Southern Airlines.
I think none of us on here ever expected Saudia to announce LGW. We were all excited to see the eventual return of Delta. But in my opinion I would be extremely surprised if Delta actually resumed JFK-LGW for summer 2024.
As I mentioned in my previous post, things can change so quickly so you never know who will be the next long haul candidate to LGW or for that matter the next long haul airline to leave LGW.
With LGW it almost seems as one long haul airline leaves another announces service to LGW. That's why the list of overseas long haul airline's at LGW always hovers to around 12 at anyone time.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My personal view is that Virgin will not be back for the foreseeable future.
As for Cathy Pacific, I think that will depend on the continued recovery of the London to Hong Kong market.
As for Cathy Pacific, I think that will depend on the continued recovery of the London to Hong Kong market.
Great news and highly anticipated. Definitely a great addition to the airports long haul airline portfolio.
I ask this question every time a new long haul airline is announced at LGW.
Who's next 🤔
I await the response from JW95, I'm sure he will be excited with this latest addition to LGW.
I ask this question every time a new long haul airline is announced at LGW.
Who's next 🤔
I await the response from JW95, I'm sure he will be excited with this latest addition to LGW.
"TAAG Angola to start 16th December 3 weekly with 773ERs"
avoid....................................
avoid....................................
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Italy
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great news and highly anticipated. Definitely a great addition to the airports long haul airline portfolio.
I ask this question every time a new long haul airline is announced at LGW.
Who's next 🤔
I await the response from JW95, I'm sure he will be excited with this latest addition to LGW.
I ask this question every time a new long haul airline is announced at LGW.
Who's next 🤔
I await the response from JW95, I'm sure he will be excited with this latest addition to LGW.
Apologies for the lack of my replies recently (owing to illness over the last couple of weeks).That is fantastic news regarding TAAG Angola. A nice addition to the long haul airline and route portfolio at LGW- will look forward to seeing their livery on the 77W at Gatwick soon
With regards to Cathay Pacific returning, I agree with you, although am still hoping they will resume service to Gatwick sometime in 2024. Cathay are actually reverting to an all, 5 daily 77W operation at LHR from early March, and I expect this to continue going into S24 schedules. With this in mind, capacity to HKG is definitely on the rise, so hopefully a sign that the market is recovering. London has also always been a key market for Cathay, and they won't be able to expand further at LHR due to slot constraints etc. So I'm hopeful that we will see Cathay's A350 back at Gatwick soon, perhaps initially at a lower frequency before gradually increasing. The airline is still aggressively targeting a full 100% pre-Covid capacity by close of next year, although I am unsure if they plan on resuming some of the "thinner" long haul routes that were introduced under Rupert Hogg during 2016-19, including Gatwick.
With VS- I too agree that we won't be seeing them back at LGW for some time to come sadly
Does anyone know if they still control their slot portfolio at LGW, or did they end up having to return it? I think a return will largely depend on whether VS decide to target increased leisure route expansion, which was traditionally kept at LGW while the more business-orientated routes were consolidated at LHR. If they do decide on opening up and/or increasing capacity on the "bucket and spade" routes, then I think they may have another look at moving the leisure network back to Gatwick (or at the very least some of it), as this would also maximise their slot utilisation at LHR. At least we still have Delta here servicing JFK, even though this has now been reduced to a seasonal operation.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am of the opinion that in the longer term Virgin may regret stopping all their operations from Gatwick. In their absence BA and Norse have increased
their presence in North America and the Caribbean. Furthermore other operators are beginning to use the slots that are favourable for transatlantic flights.
In addition there has to be a limit to how many new destinations and frequency increases Virgin can add at Heathrow owing to slot availability.
BA were relatively quick to move Orlando back to Gatwick after the pandemic and haven't moved Tampa to Heathrow after Virgin began their Heathrow to Tampa service.
Maybe these destinations do better from Gatwick in terms of the market they are trying to attract. We shall see.
I also believe BA will increase their long haul Gatwick 777 fleet back to at least 15 aircraft again in the medium term as more new long haul aircraft are delivered to Heathrow.
It will also be interesting to see how Virgin respond if Gatwick manages to bring its Northern runway into routine use before the 3rd runway is built at Heathrow, which I personally feel will happen.
BA are watching this closely too as they commented at their last results meeting for the 3rd quarter.
their presence in North America and the Caribbean. Furthermore other operators are beginning to use the slots that are favourable for transatlantic flights.
In addition there has to be a limit to how many new destinations and frequency increases Virgin can add at Heathrow owing to slot availability.
BA were relatively quick to move Orlando back to Gatwick after the pandemic and haven't moved Tampa to Heathrow after Virgin began their Heathrow to Tampa service.
Maybe these destinations do better from Gatwick in terms of the market they are trying to attract. We shall see.
I also believe BA will increase their long haul Gatwick 777 fleet back to at least 15 aircraft again in the medium term as more new long haul aircraft are delivered to Heathrow.
It will also be interesting to see how Virgin respond if Gatwick manages to bring its Northern runway into routine use before the 3rd runway is built at Heathrow, which I personally feel will happen.
BA are watching this closely too as they commented at their last results meeting for the 3rd quarter.
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: London
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am of the opinion that in the longer term Virgin may regret stopping all their operations from Gatwick. In their absence BA and Norse have increased
their presence in North America and the Caribbean. Furthermore other operators are beginning to use the slots that are favourable for transatlantic flights.
In addition there has to be a limit to how many new destinations and frequency increases Virgin can add at Heathrow owing to slot availability.
BA were relatively quick to move Orlando back to Gatwick after the pandemic and haven't moved Tampa to Heathrow after Virgin began their Heathrow to Tampa service.
Maybe these destinations do better from Gatwick in terms of the market they are trying to attract. We shall see.
I also believe BA will increase their long haul Gatwick 777 fleet back to at least 15 aircraft again in the medium term as more new long haul aircraft are delivered to Heathrow.
It will also be interesting to see how Virgin respond if Gatwick manages to bring its Northern runway into routine use before the 3rd runway is built at Heathrow, which I personally feel will happen.
BA are watching this closely too as they commented at their last results meeting for the 3rd quarter.
their presence in North America and the Caribbean. Furthermore other operators are beginning to use the slots that are favourable for transatlantic flights.
In addition there has to be a limit to how many new destinations and frequency increases Virgin can add at Heathrow owing to slot availability.
BA were relatively quick to move Orlando back to Gatwick after the pandemic and haven't moved Tampa to Heathrow after Virgin began their Heathrow to Tampa service.
Maybe these destinations do better from Gatwick in terms of the market they are trying to attract. We shall see.
I also believe BA will increase their long haul Gatwick 777 fleet back to at least 15 aircraft again in the medium term as more new long haul aircraft are delivered to Heathrow.
It will also be interesting to see how Virgin respond if Gatwick manages to bring its Northern runway into routine use before the 3rd runway is built at Heathrow, which I personally feel will happen.
BA are watching this closely too as they commented at their last results meeting for the 3rd quarter.
The floated Barbados regional service needs this feed to work as described.
The point to point operations may well remain at Heathrow .
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Italy
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am of the opinion that whilst Virgin Atlantic (mainline) aren’t returning anytime soon. Virgin International may yet with a small 333 base to operate to Barbados and tags beyond.
The floated Barbados regional service needs this feed to work as described.
The point to point operations may well remain at Heathrow .
The floated Barbados regional service needs this feed to work as described.
The point to point operations may well remain at Heathrow .
Virgin closed their hangar and the base and the Clubhouse. I think it's better to look forward than back, makes no sense to open LGW as a new base. Without a Clubhouse the loyal customer base won't be pleased and they still have the option of using the one at LHR and connecting on DL on whatever route was shifted to LGW. So there's a fair bit of new fixed costs before that's likely IMHO.
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: gatwick
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On the flip side though, VS may determine that the costs of re-establishing a small base at LGW with relatively few weekly frequencies may make a return to Gatwick less feasible (e.g. hiring ground staff, setting up a Club House etc). Don't get me wrong, I would love nothing more than for VS to return to Gatwick, as they have history here, but they may just opt to consolidate at LHR (for now) and save £££ by not re-opening their LGW base. Assuming they still have slots at LGW, they will need to make a long-term decision on this sooner or later, especially now with other airlines expanding (Norse Atlantic, BA, JetBlue).
They do still have their Head office for the airline and Virgin Atlantic Holidays in Crawley,
it will be interesting to see if Delta return for summer 2024.
Atlantic Airways to resume flights to Vagar in the Faroe Islands in summer 2024
https://check-in.dk/kort-nyt/
I'm guessing Easyjet's route to Tel Aviv that was due to start later this month might be deferred a bit
https://check-in.dk/kort-nyt/
I'm guessing Easyjet's route to Tel Aviv that was due to start later this month might be deferred a bit