Definately A319. There are only A319s based at Gatwick, and the few 737s that are based around the country (mainly LTN) are being slowly retired.

Dan, i personally wouldnt say definatly A319. A) LGW also has 320s and 321s based there. And they will be there for a while longer. B) The brand new EZY ordered 320s begin arriving in 2009. I dont think they are arriving as early as January, but there is every possibility the route could be operated by 320. I dont think that is the case though, and i agree with you, that i believe it will be 319;)

Josh

Great report mate

I was in Egypt last year, and i also did a trip to Cairo. Although ours was a 2 day trip, and that ment we had an 8 hour coach journey each way between Taba and Cairo. But it truely is a beautiful city. Nile Cruise was good? I found mine alright, my least favourite part of the trip. And, did you go in the Pyramid.

It also seems you are following my tracks, this summer i went to Bodrum. Well, Altinkum to be exact, but its the same place to me! That part of turkey is great, if you would like some recommendations on some tours, don’t hesitate to drop me a PM

Again, great report, with nice pics!

All the best
Josh

Im hopping that FraPort continue to bid, i really would love to see what they can do for our shopping center!!

Josh

Jono mate, how come you never told me your going on a date:rolleyes:

Have a good time though mate, but dont go to the cinema, you must have been everyday this week allready…..oh and every day last week, and week before….etc etc:p

What do i suggest…..Meh, i dunno…Play cool, and use as many of your randomly funny jokes you have…they make me laugh!

Place wise, how about a meal? I dunno what my “elders” prefer, but i know youngsters such as i prefer to go out clubing(not my ‘scene’) and places like that…

Anyhow, hope it goes well mate….and let me know how it all goes!

Josh

ps…..Is (s)he from that dating website you signed upto while on the phone to me….If so, i withdraw any negative comments i may have made about them…

Great shots Peter

easyLand really makes them stand out! And nice catch on the Kuwait A300!

Additionally, LHR is well renowned as one of the world’s largest hubs. It makes sense for some carriers to move to LHR – to offer maximum connectivity and as such, ease to passengers (seeing as LGW is not a hub). Although this is somewhat of a catch 22 scenario – what purpose does LGW serve if everyone is at LHR 🙂

I totally agree with you. Everyone would prefer to be at LHR, because LGW is owned by the same company, so the airports are not competing with one another. If they where not owned by the same company, they would be more competition between the airlines, and im sure that when LGW is eventually sold to whoever, there will be a couple of carriers move over from LHR, the smaller ones that operate less frequently. Perhaps airlines like Kenyan, Ethiopian, Bellview, China Eastern could all move ops to LGW, because they would be getting a better deal. Only reason most carriers are at LHR in my opinion is because most others are there.

About, the distance thing, LGW may not be within M25, but it is still alot quicker to reach the center of London, via the Brighton-Bedford Train line, on a normal train this takes around 40 minutes to get from Gatwick to London Bridge, and that includes stops at two or three stations. If you remove those stations, and put it onto High speed trains like the Gatwick Express, then LGW becomes more convinient. I personally havnt done the journey from LHR to London Bridge or Canary Wharf, but i am certain that from LGW it is alot lot quicker.

And interesting thing about LAS too! Sounds like a plan!:D

I was talking with good old forum member Cloud_9 earlier, and i said to him what i will say here too.

Personally i would love to see VS purchase LGW. In my honest opinion, BAA has really begun to let down LGW, by increasing costs too much, we have lost lots of business. In this year alone we have lost Wizzair (who only started in Jan!) AA, first time in something like 60 years(correct me please), Lost lots of DL flights, CO too, as well as NW. All because they wanted LHR, again BAA owned. They could have offered them a better deal to stay at LGW, but because they are too LHR orientated they didnt. They really dont give a damn about LGW. To them its sort of like the child….that was a mistake. They really have no interest in it. I cant remember the last time we have any “expansion”. And im not talking about new runways or stuff like that, but apron space etc.

What benefits would VS bring?

In my opinion, an awful lot. If they are serious about putting in a bid, then it indicates that the airline does still also have an interest in Gatwick. Therefore if they were too put in a bid and it was accepted i could see them moving all there ops over from LHR. Selling there slots from there and making an awful large amount of money (perhaps even enough to cover to costs of buying LGW!). Once all there ops are moved over to LGW, i imagine they would operate from the South Terminal only, Perhaps they would develop the parking stands along the right hand side of the main pier and have them for themselves and also have the satelite for themselves. Now i know many of you will say “oh but they would rather use LHR as it is a better place for connecting” etc etc…This is true, but in reality VS are not in any alliance. So there would be no real loss. And for the people travelling into London, Virgin could also offer them highspeed train serves on Virgin Trains, who currently operate frequently from the airport station. This would also get customers into London alot quicker? I say this because it is only 30 minutes on the Gatwick express to London Victoria, and i believe that London Bridge is close. From London Bridge and Victoria they could easily offer bus connections to the main parts of the city, ie Canary Wharf.

Now, with this movement that i think is possible. I believe that BA wouldnt be too happy, and this would cause them to possibly move all LH flights over to LHR. Leaving them at LGW with there obismal network, which could also decrease? This could then open up opportuities for VS to move BA over to South Terminal, clearling space for themselves to move all of there ops into the more modern complex at the North Terminal.

Another way this could make more sense is that VS last year purchased the maintenance hanger on the terminal side of the airfield. If they had all there London ops at LGW they would be able to repair aircraft alot lot quicker. It would also mean that they would not have to position aircraft in from LGW to LHR if a plane went tech at LHR, or the other way around.

And yet another point is that VS are currently operating a mixed airport operation crew wise. Not sure what the professional expression is but they are currently operating crews over the two airports, moving them around with the frequent VS crew bus. If they used just one airport this would not be needed and would alow crews more time before they have to leave there homes to go to work.

Now, what can VS do for LGW? I personally think they would develop it to meet the customers needs. Sure they would open up more of there chain brand in the airport. But who cares, Virgin Records is just as good as HMV etc etc. But i know for a fact they would not close down all the outlets. Chains such as McDonalds, Frankee and Benies etc, there is nothing in the Virgin group similar to these therefore they would stay.

Anyway thats just my views and how i see things…So yeah, you can comment, but my views wont change;)

Josh