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, 7:07 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
BA to close at Gatwick?
Just heard a snippet on the BBC news that BA will close its operations at Gatwick permanently - is this right, can't find a link to post yet? What about all the slots for leisure travel? That's all my holidays gone then!
BBC News has seen a letter from
@British_Airways
bosses warning its Gatwick operation may not re-open: "need to ensure our remaining operation is efficient, flexible & cost-competitive to enable us to survive in an increasingly lean & unpredictable industry” via
@TomBurridgebbc
BBC News has seen a letter from
@British_Airways
bosses warning its Gatwick operation may not re-open: "need to ensure our remaining operation is efficient, flexible & cost-competitive to enable us to survive in an increasingly lean & unpredictable industry” via
@TomBurridgebbc
Last edited by paulaf; Apr 30, 2020 at 7:18 am
Apr 30, 2020, 7:12 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 1,115
I think they are talking about 12,000 redundancies, and losing 25% of their pilots, so that will mean a lot of routes going, and reduced frequency on those that are left. They will be probably be able to operate all flights out of T5 Heathrow without the need for any flights from Gatwick. But some of the routes from Gatwick will continue and will just relocate to Heathrow, that's my understanding of what's been said.
Apr 30, 2020, 7:14 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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Posts: 31,452
The cancelling of holidays would really have been independent of Gatwick or not. Maybe they will operate from Heathrow but more likely anything for the next four months is in danger of being axed for a number of reasons.
Apr 30, 2020, 7:16 am
#4
Original Poster
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Posts: 2,345
Apr 30, 2020, 7:24 am
#6
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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OK, in the interest of trying to keep this as factual as possible, here is the actual story, there is a clear logical flaw coming up!
Originally Posted by BBC Business news website
British Airways has told staff its Gatwick airport operation may not reopen after the coronavirus pandemic passes.The admission came in a memo, written by the head of BA's Gatwick operation and seen by BBC News. BA's Gatwick operation, which is currently suspended, is roughly a fifth as big as its Heathrow hub.
In a separate letter to pilots, BA said it cannot rule out suspending the rest of its Heathrow operation. In the letter, it notes that some of its rivals abroad are facing tough competition. It adds that a quarter of BA's 4,300 pilots are set to lose their jobs. The letter from senior management says: "We need to ensure that our remaining operation is efficient, flexible and cost-competitive to enable us to survive in an increasingly lean and unpredictable industry."
In a separate letter to pilots, BA said it cannot rule out suspending the rest of its Heathrow operation. In the letter, it notes that some of its rivals abroad are facing tough competition. It adds that a quarter of BA's 4,300 pilots are set to lose their jobs. The letter from senior management says: "We need to ensure that our remaining operation is efficient, flexible and cost-competitive to enable us to survive in an increasingly lean and unpredictable industry."
Apr 30, 2020, 7:31 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: BAEC, VS Flying Club
Posts: 796
I wasn’t aware that was on the cards any time soon, but am happy to be proved wrong.
Apr 30, 2020, 7:49 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
OK, in the interest of trying to keep this as factual as possible, here is the actual story, there is a clear logical flaw coming up!
What a muddle. So 75% of Gatwick can fit into the spare capacity if 25% of Heathrow is cut. Still seems premature to say this when many European countries are saying their airports will open late June/early July, the destinations i am interested in Spain/Greece/Cyprus for example.
Apr 30, 2020, 7:49 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,427
Unless I’m missing something here but let’s say that Norwegian doesn’t survive, Richard doesn’t find a Virgin buyer and BA pulls out of LGW then we are left with EasyJet and Ryanair amongst a few other smaller players, every little long haul offerings so with BA surely they’d be better off staying put?
Or is this PR tactics for other on-goings such a staff redundancies and getting the Gov to step in in some form. Closing LGW really doesn’t make sense in my head but then again I’m not running an airline!
Or is this PR tactics for other on-goings such a staff redundancies and getting the Gov to step in in some form. Closing LGW really doesn’t make sense in my head but then again I’m not running an airline!
Apr 30, 2020, 7:53 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 1,115
I think we also need to factor in that with less flights, fares are going to rise. And if social distancing is required on flights, even more so. A lot of the Gatwick flights were based on the low-cost principle, and I'm wondering whether that will apply to the New Normal.
Apr 30, 2020, 8:04 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Kent, UK
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Posts: 61
Unless I’m missing something here but let’s say that Norwegian doesn’t survive, Richard doesn’t find a Virgin buyer and BA pulls out of LGW then we are left with EasyJet and Ryanair amongst a few other smaller players, every little long haul offerings so with BA surely they’d be better off staying put?
Or is this PR tactics for other on-goings such a staff redundancies and getting the Gov to step in in some form. Closing LGW really doesn’t make sense in my head but then again I’m not running an airline!
Or is this PR tactics for other on-goings such a staff redundancies and getting the Gov to step in in some form. Closing LGW really doesn’t make sense in my head but then again I’m not running an airline!
No doubt all scenarios are being run but at this stage but I doubt any major concrete decisions like that have been made.
Last edited by davehammer; Apr 30, 2020 at 8:05 am Reason: Rewording to be clearer
Apr 30, 2020, 8:09 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Berkhamsted, UK
Programs: EasyJet Flight Club
Posts: 127
It's not really what the memo said. They talk about not knowing when or if they can restart at Gatwick, along with ground crew and cabin crew contract changes. It was more of a 'we don't quite know what's going to happen, but we're going to prepare for it anyway' type memo.
Apr 30, 2020, 8:14 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Avis President
Posts: 438
Oh well...at least the good news is that this has all (very finally) put an end to the debate on whether or not a new runway should be built...looks like Boris made the right call.
Now if he could just make the same call and cancel HS2 he'll have £100bn plus to spend on the NHS and in particular the social service sector that been so starved.
Off topic I know...
Chris
Now if he could just make the same call and cancel HS2 he'll have £100bn plus to spend on the NHS and in particular the social service sector that been so starved.
Off topic I know...
Chris
Apr 30, 2020, 8:16 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Taunton, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,158
What's the slot situation like at Gatwick? We always hear about the valuable prized Heathrow slots, so would BA rather hold onto all their Heathrow slots and sacrifice Gatwick ones, or are some Gatwick slots worth saving too financially?
Apr 30, 2020, 8:21 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BAEC Blue, Flying Blue Silver, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 817
i doubt long haul at Gatwick will have to be dropped as BA holds a monopoly on a lot of the routes. It has quite an extensive short haul operation which i imagine where most of the cuts will come.