Heathrow-3
 

So EasyJet Europe turned down for 98 LHR slots for summer 2021.
maybe if others restrict schedules or fall by the wayside it will get reviewed.

Reason old GB Airways slots I heard, if not grandfathers rights a very distant relation!
Surely would have been sold when EZY purchased GB Airways?

The slots application was a considered request & further applications will be pursued given opportunities say EZY.

GB Airways LHR slots were excluded from the EZY sale and were sold (for a high sum) in separate transactions (I believe some to an ME3 carrier and some to a US carrier, I think Continental at the time). Smart move. The whole GB Airways sale (just ahead of 2008 financial crash and high oil prices) was great timing and value for the Bland Group (even if a bit of a fluke).

As well as the new applicants, how many of the operators who have started operations this winter (Eastern, China, Rwandair. etc) have got slots for the summer?

Menzies
 

Does anyone know the best way (or have a contact?) to submit a commendation for a Menzies LHR team member? Tried ringing them but it just rings & rings and can’t find an email to email in either.
Any suggestions?

Of airlines flying/announced/pending for LHR this winter, they received the following for Summer 2021:

Blue Air - nothing
China Airlines - nothing
Loganair - nothing
Ukraine International - nothing
Spicejet - nothing
Eastern Airways - nothing
Vistara - nothing
Cargojet - nothing
Rwandair - nothing

The only airline to receive more slots in S21 than they had in S20 were Shenzen Air.

Jetblue also didn’t get slots at LHR. They have secured slots at LGW & STN.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29...es-out-on-lhr/

I could get something through to the team, still have a number of senior contacts

I never thought I would see the day that LHR started charging a drop off charge but we live in very different times.
I imagine they will make more than a few quid from that!

https://travelweekly.co.uk/articles/...e-for-vehicles

Heathrow are just continuing the practise of the last 35 years. 'Slice the price into small pieces ...' I do understand they don't want thousands of cars to come back to their inadequate facilities and this will keep some people away. I have to drop someone off in a few weeks time and will have to weigh up the Long Car Park drop off option.

It will be interesting to see what queues and arguments develope and where they are going to put the toll booths. They will want to move to only on-line but that will take a while to establish the practice. Some folks will get hit by fines saying they did not see the signs.

This isn't about inadequate facilities - this is about an airport which has seen revenues collapse over the last 9 months and wanting to make some more money

True, but their location and historic layout places huge constraints on access. They have used the Green flag to reduce traffic into the central area. Which, given the space, is reasonable.

Use the Hatton Cross tube, to the terminals,save time - simples.
Unfortunately, the large numbers of diesel HGV's delivering and leaving the freight section, and catering trucks are not affected - yet.

commit aviation

They are also abolishing the free transit zone. Which is a shame... was a great service and much better than the awful Hoppa.

Suspended because TFL are COVID19 related destitute; central government told them to retain maximum service through the spring and early summer and the Mayor obliged .
Indeed went as far as suspending revenue collection for some time .

When TFL subsequently presented the bill to the DOT they laughed and offered something of a derisory settlement . Result marginal operations and benefits are being cut including the Heathrow free zone.

Traffic picking up rapidly at LHR. Back to dual ops Monday.

More in anticipation, I think - currently average daily movements are around 425, compared to about 1300 this time last year, so still a long way to go.

With London moving into Tier 3 tomorrow, what restrictions will there be on retail at Heathrow during these times?
I'm catching a connecting flight in Terminal 5 with BA on Thursday...can I expect most places to be closed?

Rutan16

The Heathrow free zone was paid for by Heathrow. They have suspended subsiding it. It was not a saving by TFL. https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...e-travel-zone/

Interesting radar processing bug, courtesy of Heathrow's WebTrak system:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b91230a068.jpg

The Supreme Court has decided that the Airports National Policy Statement is not unlawful. In practical terms this means Heathrow can now re-commence work on their Development Consent Order in reliance on the ANPS policy. The reality may be somewhat slower given the economic situation.

Available to watch the judgment here;

Watch live - the Supreme Court

Although there is a discussion on the British Airways page with regard slot retention, I though it more relevant to Heathrow overall. There is an article in Simple Flying about the 80-20 rule the main points being;-The Worldwide Airport Slot Board would like to EU to accede to the following;

• Airlines that return a full series of slots by early February to be permitted to retain the right to operate them in northern 2022 summer;
  
• A lower operating threshold for retaining slots the following season. In normal industry conditions, the rule is 80-20. The Worldwide Airport Slot Board wants to amend this to 50-50 over the northern 20201 summer; and
  
• A clear definition for acceptable non-use of a slot. For example, force majeure as a result of short-term border closures or quarantine measures imposed by governments.
  
  The full article can be found at EU Seeks To Reintroduce Airport Slot Rules - Simple Flying
  

R3
 

Maybe LHR can run a lottery on the first date westerly landing, first westerly departure, first easterly landing, first easterly departure in correct order. Maybe help to pay for the runway 😂

Very few were using it now but TfL hiked substantially the charge for it.

Still, at least LHR mgmt don't have to waste any more time planning for R3. As previously mentioned, it will never be built. Never was going to be built, for different reasons.

They've literally just won at The Supreme Court.
The legislation has passed all Parliamentary hurdles and gone all the way to the highest court in the land. The planning process now begins in earnest. In all honestly, in 18 months time, COVID should be a memory we're all travelling again to forget.
Don't write it off just yet.

Playamar2

Except the U.K. won’t be in the EU in 2 weeks time regardless of Brexit talks.

Rutan16

And then Boris blames Sadiq Khan for bankrupting TfL!

Major blow to Heathrow and indeed Gatwick Luton and Stansted, all non essential travel is now banned into and out of the South East from midnight, as indeed is travel to these airports from outside. It will be interesting to see how this will be enforced and indeed how airlines react. This week end has been one of the busiest for a while but many of the routes don't neeceesarily appear to be business related.

For R3: Those opposing it have won several hurdles, they won't stop now. I think we will find that 2021 is going to be so bad in the airline world that this will get pushed further down the road. That will be the first reaction, postponing due to money shortage.

this will go all guns blazing once things settle down... I expect it to be firmed and up and running within next 10 years. Id be interested to know of the complainers how many had flown, and how many had flown specifically and enjoyed the benefits from LHR?

Let me repeat:

• I believe in R3
• I think it should have been built 20 years ago
• I think there may well be a need for it in the future
• I doubt it will ever be built
• I shall be happy to be proved wrong.

CabinCrewe

Even allowing for the fact that some of the preliminary work has already been done, 10 years is a very ambitious timescale. The T5 planning and construction process, overall, took the best part of 20 years, and that was without the requirement for wholesale airspace design changes.

DaveReidUK

Has this detailed design not even been done yet ?

I've seen plenty of plan iterations since the proposal was first mooted, but none has been described as definitive.

AFAIK, it hasn't even been decided how R3 will get over the M25 - motorway in a tunnel?, runway on a ramp/bridge?, you name it ...

Ditto whether there's to be a T6 or just some additional T5 satellites.

The way things are going LHR won't need any runways let alone a 3rd.

CabinCrewe

So I must be a complainer. I have lived close to Heathrow since 1973, no T4,T5, no tube access, and cross runway still in use. Present when PI crashed. Worked there for 6 years. The expansion since 73 has been suitable/acceptable.
The expansion for R3 is not now required. This includes the sea change in business methods of communications. Tourist pax numbers will be less, they are already accommodated by BA and the opposition. The land grab, movement of local roads is extraordinary. Rail links, tube and rail and roads are not being funded by Heathrow. The impact of noise on new communities is ignored.
Have I used Heathrow? Yes for business use within the UK, Ireland, and worldwide, both with BA and many different carriers when cost is relevant, since 1973. Also as a tourist pax, but used all other SE airports.
Heathrow is only a small hub for the UK. All major cities in UK have access to all points east and south, via ME points. Traditionally pax would transit through LHR, now flights from USA/Canada fly over the UK on route ME/Asia/China. Twins have extra range and economics.
There is no need now for R3.

If you were right, then it will stand empty once buit. There would be no willing queue of airlines ready to pay a premium to pay for it. In truth, there has been a pressing need for a runway 3 since 1977 when LHR was declared full. The overflow concept to Gatwick and Stansted has failed to replicate in any way the long haul connectivity and economic engine of the original London Airport.

The opportunity for job creation and employment is, I believe huge. There is going to be a green cost which modern engine technology and carbon offsets will be required to be brought to bear, but the notion that there's no need is an odd one. Even the Greens say the need is there but we should not put economic growth before environmental concerns. Frankly if we went to be able to pay our way in the world and get out of the hole we're in then it's essential to press on and provide the infrastructure for economic growth, within an agreed environmental framework. Just be honest and say you just don't want aeroplanes flying over the house you wanted to spend a quiet retirement in. That's a fair and honest arguement, with respect, claiming there's no need, is not backed up by anyone serious who has looked at this. Even David Cameron, the man who cancelled this last time, recognised this in the end. His review was a way of doing the right thing late and keeping his hands semi clean.
We need to stop pretending LHR is like any other private business, it's a key part of UK PLC that arguably should not have been sold to the private sector, the costs of the infrastructure redevelopment should not be borne soley by HAL, much would be required anyway. The public / private split of the funding will be a battle but it's a public / private partnership so that's wholey reasonable and outwith the newspapers has been recognised as such.

If this is correct, MAN should be closed and houses built. Should we close MAN? Er...no.

er well yes Skip.

Unless support is forthcoming from "Wishi Washi" both airports are in trouble and need support.