Hmm not sure I like them, they seem much bigger than on the ERJ?

Just an update on BHD – have been told today by a friend of a friend who works there that apparently there is a temporary suspension of all new routes pending the outcome of the Examination in Public there – a ludicrous situation if this is true but would explain the 6G withdrawal.

Doesnt make much sense unless BA are being forced to drop their new BHX service as well?

I think I need to visit a doctor tomorrow. My heart really shouldnt do that I dont think…

O&D is Origin and Destination ie non hub traffic.

In terms of another airport I think thats the general idea of the reasoning behind expanding Stansted with its new runway well before Heathrow. However Stansted is a long way behind Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and others in terms of offering a strong O&D market as well as hub capabilities. In my opinion by the time Stansted is at a similar stage to these airports, the hub traffic will have long moved onto the continent and sapped away the competitive advantage of the UK travel market.

Hopefully rdc1000 can elaborate on anything I’ve missed out or got incorrect as he is far more of an expert than me on this kind of thing.

sorry to be a “numpty” on the subject, but what are these economic grounds which make Heathrow so important at the expense of the rest of the country ,and seamingly rational developement of other airports.I’ve read somewhere that Heathrow would never be built today as the approach is over a too densely populated area. If this is true why increase the volme of traffic and hence the probabillity of an “accident”

Because the bulk of the origin and destination market from London passes through Heathrow. This market is essential to our overseas trade, as well as being beneficial to our internal trade. If Heathrow does not grow with our economy then the traffic will move to more competitive airports such as Frankfurt or Amsterdam which are able to absorb the demand.

Once the traffic starts moving that way it will soon turn to a torrent, as the O&D traffic at Heathrow is sustained by the huge hub system the airport operates. Once the hub system diminishes this downward spiral increases rapidly because of the nature of a hub airport The O&D traffic moves via other airports _AMS, FRA etc) making our economy less competitive.

This as well as the fact that as an independent economic entity it is responsible for employing much of West London…

Mark L wrote:

It has 3 runways, it has 2 parallel runways and a cross runway, but only 2 in operation

Danny

Incorrect. It has 2. The 3rd runway was officialy decommissioned last year. It exists purely as a section of Taxiway Alpha now.

I also saw Dunsfold was to be built over. Cant say I’d heard anything about that locally, but then I havent been “local” for a little while I suppose…