Who is on the 30 strong waiting list for Heathrow?
#16
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
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Also, as those who've read the T5 security is a total disaster! thread over on the BA forum will know, for various reasons (incompetance? unofficial industrial action? not caring?) Heathrow is currently unable to deliver a fast+effective security experience with just 2 runways. Given how bad it is with 2 runways, if they added a 3rd and the additional flights that go with that, you're going to need to be turning up the day before to get through security in time...
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,141
There really is very little point is just building a 3rd runway at LHR and then filling it with flights.
Part of the issue with LHR is that it is running at 98% of capacity compared to 75-80% at FRA, AMS and CDG which gives very little flexibility when there are any sort of problems. It might also improve the on-time records of airlines too (though of course not all on-time issues are down to the airport most are with the airlines and their passengers)
There probably needs to be another terminal as well - perhaps a mega one serving US flights only that could (obviously with Governmental approval) offer pre-clearance
So yes use some of the new capacity for slots for new routes - and they must be for new routes only and especially to places line India, China and South America and if an airline can't make that route work then they have to give them up and not just swap them to another one. That might spur some actual competition between existing and new airlines.
Part of the issue with LHR is that it is running at 98% of capacity compared to 75-80% at FRA, AMS and CDG which gives very little flexibility when there are any sort of problems. It might also improve the on-time records of airlines too (though of course not all on-time issues are down to the airport most are with the airlines and their passengers)
There probably needs to be another terminal as well - perhaps a mega one serving US flights only that could (obviously with Governmental approval) offer pre-clearance
So yes use some of the new capacity for slots for new routes - and they must be for new routes only and especially to places line India, China and South America and if an airline can't make that route work then they have to give them up and not just swap them to another one. That might spur some actual competition between existing and new airlines.
#19
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
Assuming HS2 eventually gets built, if you included a link to Heathrow and ran a sensible number of trains there with through ticketing much like TGVAir offers, there's probably then another 20 slot pairs available for current domestic flights which'd be under 2 hours by high speed train.
It would need some joined-up thinking, some copying of the French, and some pragmatism, so I can't see it ever happening
You could buy a British Airways or Virgin Atlantic ticket from Leeds to Los Angeles, jump on a fast train from central Leeds straight into LHR and check in for your flight.
However a third runway would be cheaper and quicker to build than a decent high speed rail network. Although I think Britain deserves both, it probably wont get either. Our politicians are far too short sighted for grand projects like this.