Gatwick to Islamabad Suspended
Jun 4, 2022, 3:25 am
#1
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Gatwick to Islamabad Suspended
BA have suspended flights on the Gatwick Islamabad route with nothing available to book from 16 June to 21 November. Anybody hazard a guess as to the reason why? Seems odd dates too
Jun 4, 2022, 4:34 am
#4
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Jun 5, 2022, 1:00 pm
#5
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The route was only recently (I think Feb) increased to once daily after they withdrew from Lahore.
If they had low load factors don’t know why they scrapped the route entirely rather than reducing to the previous 3x a week. Especially with summer around the corner when the route is always busy.
Passengers with existing reservations are being rebooked onto QR as I understand
If they had low load factors don’t know why they scrapped the route entirely rather than reducing to the previous 3x a week. Especially with summer around the corner when the route is always busy.
Passengers with existing reservations are being rebooked onto QR as I understand
Jun 5, 2022, 1:13 pm
#6
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Jun 5, 2022, 1:16 pm
#7
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Sure but when you’re going out half full (as I’m being told they are doing these days) it’s not long before somebody think whether that bird shouldn’t be flying elsewhere. And it seems they already are, which is a shame in my opinion. That route should’ve stayed at LHR, perhaps with a 787. Utter and complete mystery as to why they thought that a high density 777 with basically only direct traffic and no longhaul to longhaul connections was going to work…
Jun 5, 2022, 1:35 pm
#8
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Sure but when you’re going out half full (as I’m being told they are doing these days) it’s not long before somebody think whether that bird shouldn’t be flying elsewhere. And it seems they already are, which is a shame in my opinion. That route should’ve stayed at LHR, perhaps with a 787. Utter and complete mystery as to why they thought that a high density 777 with basically only direct traffic and no longhaul to longhaul connections was going to work…
let me rephrase, maybe, despite full loads from LHR, the cost structure wasn't profitable, hence the move to LGW, thoughts being, even if they loose a few passengers, they will have lower costs and the P/L will improve.
As you say, this plane will be flying to the US shortly on a more profitable route
Jun 5, 2022, 3:06 pm
#10
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On my route (a completely different route also from Gatwick), BA has also pulled its direct service also until November. A friend who works for government had a meeting with BA to discuss why, and was told that during the pandemic BA had decommissioned quite a lot of aircraft and now that all restrictions have been lifted, new routes have been introduced and they are genuinely short of aircraft. This is why they have had to cut certain routes until November. I'm guessing that the Islamabad route is normally also flown by Gatwick 777's, so I'm guessing the same reason would apply.
Jun 6, 2022, 4:36 pm
#11
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There was speculation on Twitter that the reason behind this is that politcal issues have meant there is no guarantee of getting fuel for the return journey.
However, having seen that a similar move has been taken to suspend Doha, the load-factor/profitability/availability of crew/fleet answers sound more likely. Could be a combination of these of course.
However, having seen that a similar move has been taken to suspend Doha, the load-factor/profitability/availability of crew/fleet answers sound more likely. Could be a combination of these of course.
Jun 6, 2022, 4:44 pm
#12
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There was speculation on Twitter that the reason behind this is that politcal issues have meant there is no guarantee of getting fuel for the return journey.
However, having seen that a similar move has been taken to suspend Doha, the load-factor/profitability/availability of crew/fleet answers sound more likely. Could be a combination of these of course.
However, having seen that a similar move has been taken to suspend Doha, the load-factor/profitability/availability of crew/fleet answers sound more likely. Could be a combination of these of course.
Jun 6, 2022, 4:51 pm
#13
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Jun 7, 2022, 12:35 am
#14
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Jun 7, 2022, 11:15 am
#15
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I have made a similar comment on the LGW to Doha. One reason is the shortage of long haul cabin crew until later in the year.
New entrants have been recruited but do not start training until late August/early September. This is because priority at the moment
is being given to Heathrow training courses. This is why LGW to Islamabad will resume in late October.
I also have heard that Gatwick to Manchester has also been providing good connecting traffic to the other Gatwick long hauls as well as to Islamabad so it may or may not survive.
New entrants have been recruited but do not start training until late August/early September. This is because priority at the moment
is being given to Heathrow training courses. This is why LGW to Islamabad will resume in late October.
I also have heard that Gatwick to Manchester has also been providing good connecting traffic to the other Gatwick long hauls as well as to Islamabad so it may or may not survive.