LHR is Britains hub to the world like Schipol is to the Dutch

People can use BA in Europe, change at Heathrow for onwards connections.

The Lo-costs are digging into BA and they’re expanding daily! 9/11 hit the flag carriers hard but didn’t really hurt the lo-costs. The US market is no different Southwest is easily the most profitable of the main carriers, where are the flag carriers? most have filed or are on the brink of bankruptcy

Why did BA get rid off Connect? , well apart from the City Airport ops more and more people are using their cars as air fares go up (esp after 9/11). Also the Railways are taking more passengers, Virgin West Coast is rivaling with trains to Manchester, Birmingham and London with a more frequent flexible service and newer faster trains, no hastle for check-in and cheaper advanced ticketing.

Just my bit

H

Yes indeed trains really are becoming a much more viable competitor to the domestic airlines, especially as they go to the heart of the city, are cheaper and pretty fast and reliable too. When the west coast line upgrade is finished, I’ll be able to do Glasgow-London direct in around 4 hours. If you consider airport check in times, security checks and transfers you have to predict a rise in rail use over the next ten 5 years or so…