Originally Posted by
galaticos
mate - point is that LHR is a huge international airport...any problem runs losses into millions...4-5 million pound investment to avoid that is well worth it...you cant say that this now a one in a million event as they have had this problem each year for the past 3 years...and whatever the arguement - 5 inches of snow shouldnt create this mess...read the other post about Gatwick clearing and operating a near full schedule today - same amount of snow, same tempratures - but they were proactive...its a management mistake...
The difference between how well LGW and LHR has handled the weather is curious considering both are managed by BAA. Obviously LHR is much larger with four terminals and two runways compared to two terminals and one runway (technically two but they're too close together for simultaneous use) at LGW. However, this difference seems to be much more than airport magnitude given that there were apparently more proactive measures taken at LGW. Is this a difference in local management style with poor oversight from upper BAA management, or are there also other infrastructure differences accounting for the divergence in successful operation?