As someone has said previously, it shouldn't be a problem doing Paphos, Larnaca or DLM etc. No doubt SSH is gonna be the only problem but just a small one at that really.

On a positive note, and I've got my fingers crossed, it should bring a bit more reliability for the pax of NCL. There's been numerous occasions of huge delays, this summer and previous summers too, so here's hoping we get one of the newly delivered ones (risky proposition, it can be, I know).

On bad days any flights over 4.5 hours will struggle. We will definitely need to have a new sharkletted one because a 15 year old one wont do it without an even bigger hit.

They wouldn't have switched like this if it was never gonna get off the runway with more than 20 people on, but I think that bringing them straight in like this could perhaps be the wrong decision. I think they should have tried 1 A320, 1 A321, 1 757 first, but. I'm sure they know what they're doing. I hope the A321NEO is built with 757-esque overpoweredness.

The A321 has loads of problems. Engine power, although the most powerful in the family render it relatively underpowered, wings are the same as the rest of the family and thus a bit stubby. Also it's (obviously) a bigger plane, which due to it's length and the same landing gear means a shallower rate of climb during the first few hundred feet which, with a hill at the end of the runway isn't ideal.

I like it when A/C use all of the runway though so I don't mind :D but I hope we get those 2 extra LS 757's to compensate.

'The big hill at the end of 25' often gets a mention on this thread.

Can somebody explain which hill it is, and in layman's terms what the effect on operations is?

I have been to Banjul in a TCX A321 from Manchester before which is around six hours, plane was full as the subbed two A321 for a B767, not sure if runway length made the difference there though?

Tcx
 

The NCL-SSH flights will have a limit of 196 pax. That will ensure the aircraft will be able to operate non stop.

However if the trouble out there stops and bookings pick up again and they decide to start selling more seats on the plane then a fuel stop will be required somewhere

Yes the hill does cause a few problems but I'm sure that these new sharklet airbuses won't have a problem.

The fast rising ground just off the end of Rw25 effects the engine out calculations. Each aircraft has to be able to maintain a sufficient climb gradient with one engine u/s to clear terrain by a set height. Under high weights some types can struggle to do this with the rising ground off runway 25.

Hi, SWBKCB.

The hill is the one which the bridleway is placed on and although not massive, it does have an effect on 25 takeoffs as previously mentioned. It also effects 07 landings but not much.

YL-LCL is down again ! 3 hour delay to TFS yesterday then was meant to position to alicante on TCX6017 but instead headed to NCL and is being covered by YL-LCE , bit late in the season now.

Is there any confirmation yet on Easyjet taking over the LGW route? Or Norwegian? Or British Airways? Or Thomas Cook? Or Thomson? Or Emirates? Or ANYONE?!?!

Hoping against hope someone picks it up and that it arrives at LGW by 06:00. Either that or it's an overnight taxi to Stansted, Heathrow or Gatwick, for £250 because getting to London by any other means in order to catch a 7am flight is absolutely impossible!

Anyway enough of my ranting does anyone know if easyjet will take it over?

Even if someone did I doubt it would get to LGW by 6am.

Its all gone very quiet again....as well as Gatwick we are still waiting to hear if there will be new routes/additional aircraft from Jet2 (apart from the "NEW" routes to Krakow and Prague.....still no sign of Cork for summer 2014.

Bit of a random thought, but how about travelling down the night before and finding somewhere to stay? A crazy idea I know, but it might just work.

Otherwise, agree with ASH if/when somebody takes it over they'll not be getting to LGW for 6am

EK77WNCL - You have never ever, or ever will, get a flight that gets down to london to catch a 7am flight!
Its a night stop or over night taxi!

Plane.....train.....or bus down night before stay over and leave fresh!

There is at least one good, not too expensive hotels at Gatwick for an overnight, cost two of us £60 for the night.

Offer
 

I'm a bit short of cash..will take you down for £125 ?

Offer
 

And forgot to add.. I will throw in some packets of quavers and wine gums for refreshments?

Just checked my booking on Fly Thomas Cook for June 2014 Newcastle to Ibiza aircraft changed from 757-200 to 321-220

Yeah... I was very doubtful. I cant go down the night before because I have arrangements on the Friday night, but need to be in Rhodes by 17:00 on the Saturday. Earliest I can get there from NCL is via LHR and MUC arriving at RHO at 18:25.

Highwideandugly... I may take you up on that offer. I'll let you know closer to the time. Still 9 months to go.

I do hope 2014 is a good year, LGW and 2 more 757's from LS, I would class as good. A new, more affordable route to CDG would make it a very good year and somewhere exotic like Iceland or Morocco would make it outstanding.

G-LSAE tech delay in PFS for LS516. 18 hour delay, as it stands.

Think you mean PFO.