Feb 11, 2021, 1:37 pm
Last edit by: alexwuk
September 2021 update:
Suspensions of all remaining LGW short haul services further extended to 26 March 2022, with the exception of: one daily MAN-LGW-MAN rotation (BA2509/BA2508) and one daily GLA-LGW-GLA rotation (BA2511/BA2512)
Many LGW short haul routes will continue to operate from LHR in the meantime; exceptions are ALC/CGN/DBV/GOA, which have been suspended until 26th March 2022 ie these destinations will not operated by BA this Winter.
Suspensions of all remaining LGW short haul services further extended to 26 March 2022, with the exception of: one daily MAN-LGW-MAN rotation (BA2509/BA2508) and one daily GLA-LGW-GLA rotation (BA2511/BA2512)
Many LGW short haul routes will continue to operate from LHR in the meantime; exceptions are ALC/CGN/DBV/GOA, which have been suspended until 26th March 2022 ie these destinations will not operated by BA this Winter.
BA at Gatwick 2021
Apr 30, 2020, 10:13 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
..................I also have seen some messages and information from BA and to me it doesn’t seem like they’ve said Gatwick may not open again. It seemed to be, we don’t know when we will be able to resume operations again (aka when will this be over). Probably more of a story to get readers.
A story to get readers ........
How else - other than a clear indication of the very real possibility that BA’s services from LGW may never return - should we interpret these words ;
In the memo to Gatwick's staff, the company says: "As you know, we suspended our Gatwick flying schedule at the start of April and there is no certainty as to when or if these services can or will return."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52489013
Apr 30, 2020, 10:23 am
#32
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
The airline sent an email to all Union reps for all areas with the same messages (albeit with different points on job losses, T&Cs and so on). All emails had this line:
To me it's not quite the same thing as saying "LGW to close"?
Unfortunately, there are no clear signs of improvement in air passenger demand. In the last week we operated fewer than 5 per-cent of our normal operating schedule. Our Gatwick and London City operations are now closed and there is no certainty as to when these services can return. We have not ruled out suspending the remainder of our Heathrow operation. EasyJet, Ryanair and Virgin have ceased passenger operations and other major competitors have announced permanent structural cuts.
Apr 30, 2020, 10:44 am
#33
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
This is what I saw, and to me doesn’t indicate closure.
Apr 30, 2020, 11:06 am
#36
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,507
That makes no sense at all. Anyone at Gatwick who can get into LHR will be going for THAT. Gatwick remains an overflow, a waiting room. There was only one place with any business case for the new runway, LHR, which was what the independent review said.
Apr 30, 2020, 11:27 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Avis President
Posts: 438
So its a gamble on the economics of the project...in 20 years time...or less if a Carillion scandal ensues...
Chris
Apr 30, 2020, 12:01 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: South Glos, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver/OW Sapphire
Posts: 1,157
Many of Gatwick’s routes are to bucket & spade destinations so if they all move to LHR, fares will rise as the costs are higher. Will customers pay higher fares, or will they just stay with the LCCs remaining at Gatwick?
Apr 30, 2020, 12:19 pm
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Apr 30, 2020, 12:29 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: BA Silver, Virgin Gold
Posts: 197
Would expect significant route trimming
Apr 30, 2020, 12:59 pm
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
The issue then won’t be physical distancing-, but simply that most of the leisure market will be too impoverished even for those with a job for holidays overseas. This is going to be a deep but also long recession. So why would BA serve a market that has shrunk so much?
WFH and zoom etc will kill large chunks of the business travel market - where its fares were absurdly above acceptable (I recall a BA corporate rate three times higher than the United rate to NYC, but since the head of that division flew BA so he had points to take the kids to Dubai BA got the fare. That just won’t happen anymore when internal audit questions any high priced travel.)
So it seems reasonable that The golden goose of long haul J BA has milked for years will be much smaller. It’s behaviour on refunds has likely p1ssed off its leisure markets who will book much later in future, if at all, so much reduced demand, collapsed market share means what’s left probably does all end up at Heathrow.. worse, assume the AA/BA jba is not permitted to repeat again by the CMA then even on US routes BA is toast compared to the AA product. Now imagine the grinning beardy jumper goes bust and JetBlue buy virgin’s Heathrow slots and BA has got a huge problem and will probably all fit in T5A.
So, what replaces it at Gatwick will be interesting- my money would be on Wizz - who have the costs, brand and fares that might still work for what will become, after a hard brexit, a middle income nation in decline.
Apr 30, 2020, 1:18 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,233
The issue then won’t be physical distancing-, but simply that most of the leisure market will be too impoverished even for those with a job for holidays overseas. This is going to be a deep but also long recession. So why would BA serve a market that has shrunk so much?