tigertanaka

Yes of course it does. But the requirement to run 80% of winter 2020/21 slots at LHR would trump virtually all arguments to stay at LGW and would force BA to move more quickly. Alternatively, leasing LHR/LGW slots to non-competing airlines such as Aurigny, Eastern and Loganair who could provide some feed as well as keeping BA in control of LHR (and maybe limit others moving in to LGW).

rockflyertalk

Is there not a demand (whilst demand maybe challenging low) dynamic missing in that?

Such as BA LGW customers (myself) who live in the south east will choose the next best alternative that works departing LGW to avoid any slog across or around London , i.e EasyJet and Norwegian serve plenty of destinations that BA serve.

This is a part of the equation BA will need to think seriously about in order not loose any market demand to their competitors at LGW. No doubt EasyJet are getting a surge in LGW flight bookings now that the July 6th allows limited summer travel. Are BA already losing customers if customers know that their LGW operations are closed?

Times are changing drastically every week. Let’s stay positive for the staff and see what happens.

mikeyfly

I assume most customers have no idea and will book the many many flights currently on sale from LGW in August (as I have to AGP!) and if it gets switched to LHR they’ll just accept it. I’ll be hoping for it

rockflyertalk

Yes very true. We have done the same to AGP, however our aim is to retain status. So an anomaly I guess. The added component of getting to LHR we will have to stomach.

Bohinjska Bistrica

The demand is certainly there at LGW. Just booked up for Nice in August and we looked also at easyJet from LGW... a lot of their flights are showing as sold out. The prices for ALC (with BA) also seem to have doubled as well in the last few days.

We're going BA as the prices and times selected were similar, LHR is easier and I had a FTV to use.

lcylocal

Also applies to significant chunks of south and south east London which have good connections to LGW but fairy awkward ones to LHR.

rockflyertalk

Agreed. Sorry my reference to south east was very much south and east.

pauldb

I don’t think “sold out” flights should be taken literally - I think easyJet have taken them off sale in expectation of cancelling. As in the case of NCE, you wouldn’t have 3 sold out flights but be selling the flights in between for £45.

Likewise BA look to have ramped prices just to see if/how demand reappears this week.

PUCCI GALORE

So this is being chattered about in the US given the way that you spell Rumour?

I am of the opinion that there is an awful lot of hearsay and tittle-tattle being given the status of actuality. I worry for the Gatwick based staff who are being dangled on a bit of string and that unsubstantiated reports like this, as previously stated does nothing to improve their anxiety. Indeed I think of all the staff in derived demand services (Hotels, Car Rental and Parking come to mind) who must be worried sick.

One thing is certain is that everything depends on which countries open their borders and whether the UK drops this idiotic quarantine requirement. One thing that I do believe is that not many people from around the world are going to come knocking on our doors so most demand is going to be domestic. Our European airline industry had been very badly hit because there is not large domestic network such as have the USA.

I fear that speculation and personal opinion apart we are just going to have to wait and see what does transpire. If there is a second peak then all bets are off,

haroon145

So what’s the chances of LGW to RAK being cancelled on 23/7? I think it’s highly likely....

corporate-wage-slave

Yes, a high chance in my view. It's currently a Red country, though this may change by Wednesday when the list is published.

Akoz

Raffles

It is simpler than people think:

If BA needs to use its slots at Heathrow, it will move everything necessary out of Gatwick in order to achieve that

But .....
BA also needs to deal with distancing issues in Terminal 5. Having a massive empty terminal and lounge at Gatwick makes no sense either.

This is why the rumour - that long-hauls will continue from Gatwick (and may be supplemented by additional routes leaving Heathrow) whilst short haul will not makes some sense. You are maximising the slots used at Heathrow whilst also minimising the number of people using T5.

JerseyPilot

Huh? No Long Haul routes are moving to Gatwick so dumping a load of extra SH routes into Heathrow is hardly minimizing the number of people using T5, is it? It’s only minimizing the number of people using the South Terminal at LGW. I don’t quite follow that logic.

Having just said that Gatwick routes are disappearing from BA.com so there’s something afoot.

BAeuro

Yes there’s definitely something happening with LGW short haul. Now nothing seems to be available till 8th September.