V-Flyer

i have heard somewhere that virgin is coming into stansted along wiht british airways when they build the new runway, can anybody confirm this or have any infromation about it?

i thought that virgin and british airways didn't want a new runway at stansted and was very annoyed by this.

many thanks for all replies

Whilst the Airport White Paper clarified what the government is going to do over capacity in the UK, there are still amny questions that have to be answered. Stansted will be the first to expand (no real surprise) but the huge numbers of low cost flights that currently operate out of STN would need to have their contracts renogotiated to help provide BAA with money to expand. If STN becomes a big airport (similar to LHR or LGW as is planned)then I wouldn't be surprised if many of the major carriers operate flights out of there, however, this will be in the very long term.

I know that BA, VS, BMI and others all supported a further runway at LHR. This would make sense as they all have huge operations there and any moves to a new airport would be very expensive.

In the medium term I'm sure much of BA's efforts will be concentrated on their move to LHR T5 with the Oneworld partners. On this note I know BAA are in talks with the other alliances too over the terminals at LHR as Star especially want all their operators 'under one roof'.

I'd also heard that VS has also booked space in T5 at LHR [?] as T5 will be purpose built to handle to new A380 - even though T5 wont open until after the A380 comes into service.

Might be wrong here and I cannot remember were I'd read it either.

From the Evening Standard;

quote:Heathrow prepares for superjumbo
11 April 2004

Work has just begun on a £100 million project to enable a 550-seater superjumbo plane to use Britain's biggest airport.

Airports operator BAA has started the development of a pier at Terminal 3 at Heathrow in west London.

Due to be completed in December 2005, the pier will serve passengers on the first Airbus A380 to operate at Heathrow in spring 2006.

Pix

That's good to know....wow to be on the inaugral flight of Virgin's first A380, now that would be special!!!!!

Same piece appeared on Teletext (or was it Ceefax?)

I have the document (SERAS Consulation) that VS put together about the planned airport expansions for the UK (new airport in Kent, expanding at STN etc). They were very much in favour of LHR and LGW

Thanks,
Richard

Have to admit i'm very much in favour of Stansted - but that's mainly because i live where the M11 more or less starts and Stansted is a very simple 20 minutes up there! Of course the residents of towns and villages nearby don't feel the same way, but that's always the same old problem with airport expansion.

As pixuk pointed out, LHR are also preparing T3 for the A380.
I spoke to the T5 landside manager last week at a meeting and he was explaining that the apron between T3 & T2 may be removed to allow for bigger stands, and that they may join the 2 terminals together.

Part of T5 apron is already completed and is used to park aircraft using T3.

Alex

Regarding whingers who live near airports.

1) You moved near an airport, do you really expect air traffic volumes not to increase?

2) When you moved into your house, I bet you didnt whinge that it costs less being on a flight path.

3) Do you really need a 3?

Hehe sorry but this breed of whingers have no sympathy from me!

Onionz - We are obviously neighbours - I'm in South Woodford.... I remember the Halcyon days pre 911 when Continental flew to Newark from Stansted.... Nicer airport, easy to get to, shorter queues, shorter walks..... bliss!

It's just a shame the 380 won't be able to fly from City Airport!

Hi Snoz,

Yep - i'm in Ilford so we're more or less next door

There's certainly much to be said for Stansted's convenience, new buildings and generally pleasant design.