Originally Posted by
zaphod424
Surely the range issues of the 787-10 could be resolved by simply moving the longer LGW flights (MRU and BKK) over to LHR. There are a few Carribbean flights curretly at LHR which one would think could be swapped over to LGW, that way the 787-10 could just operate a LGW network of routes to the Carribbean and North America, with the longer 'bucket and spade' routes operating out of LHR.
Doubt it. There is a reason BKK will be restarted from LGW and the few Caribbean flights that operate from LHR operate from LHR. NAS/GCM moved to LHR way back in about 2000 and has stuck, with up gauges more frequencies. and BDA and BGI have the yield to justify LHR - if BGI didn't, it would have gone back to LGW post COVID. Didn't MRU do the opposite move relatively recently as well? Can't see any 787 going to Gatwick; as recent acquisitions, the LHR yield is needed to pay off the acquisition cost.
That said, my conclusion from the previous discussion is that something will have to give somewhere. My offer for the debate is a mixture of (a) extending the lives of *some* 772s to 35 years by putting them through another D check; (b) YMMR-U transferring to LGW; and (c) second hand, leased 2010s build 777s - presumably Qatar will be disposing of some of theirs when they start getting 779s.
It will be interesting to observe what happens, anyway.