On Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:47:07 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:



"Recliner" wrote in message
...
tim... wrote:


"Recliner" wrote in message
...
tim... wrote:
posted without comment

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9160851.html

Of course Tim Clark has an axe to grind, just as Willie Walsh does. For
quite different reasons, it would suit both of them if the runway is
never
built.

you need to explain that because that article says that he wants more
slots
in Heathrow and wont get them without the new runway

Heathrow is a hub that competes with Dubai,

Really

People fly from e.g. SE Asia via London to other parts of Europe in droves?
Don't see it personally.

That used to be the Qantas model: they flew people into LHR, from
where they flew all over Europe on BA. EK snatched that deal, moving
Qantas's hub from London to Emirates.


I can see that they will use London for East Coast USA, but I don't see that
option needs any strengthening. It's already strong enough

West Coast USA is usually better reached Trans-Pacific

Only from East Asia. South Asia is better through Europe.


and he doesn't want it to be
strengthened.

With six A380 flights a day, EK has far more seats available on the
LHR-DXB
route than all the other airlines combined. It also has three EK A380
flights a day to Gatwick, and two 777 flights to Stansted, so there are no
fewer than nine EK A380 and two 777 flights a day on the LON-DXB route.
BA,
Virgin and Qantas combined only have a fraction of that capacity.

It also has direct flights from five regional UK airports — Birmingham,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle — and can easily get more
regional slots if it needs them.

Yes, I know all that I did read the article (and in any case DXB is a
popular routing for people who join me on my holiday choices from non-London
starting points, and I'm doing it myself on the next but one holiday -
because I've added in the stop over - but only the once).

EK has a competitive advantage by operating flights direct from five UK
regional and three London airports to its Dubai hub. For example, someone
from the UK regions can get to, say, Sydney with only one stop with EK,
but
would need two stops using any European airline.

So how is a bigger hub at LHR going to change that?

If LHR does get 50% more slots, preference will be given to new airlines
without an existing presence, probably followed by other local carriers.

you think?

That's the stated plan. It's why IAG is so against the third runway.


You really think that there will be enough new (to the airport) carriers who
want slots?

Of course! What an amazing question to ask!


I see them being handed out (well presumably sold to) already established
airlines with few slots each.

You can see whatever you like, but that's not the stated plan.