V-Flyer

Rumours on other sites from 'insiders' at BA suggest that, following today's announcement of the new EZY/LGW investment plan, EZY will soon be operating from one terminal at LGW.

In order to achieve a one terminal EZY operation, BA are set to move to the south terminal. The south terminal operated flights by EZY will move over to the north with VS also making the move.

The rumour first surfaced about six-seven weeks ago saying that BA was going to move to the south and be replaced by EZY. Today has seen further rumours that as part of the move VS will go as well. Whether there is any weight behind these rumours remains to be seen. A BA/EZY swap seems likely. I guess VS being part of the move has surfaced partly because it would make sense for BA to have the whole of Zone A, given the number of flights operated.

Note there was no talk about terminal moves in the EZY/LGW press release about the investment plan.

Well that's definitely an interesting rumour ... is it really feasible though? I'm sure I saw on a TV show about Gatwick a year or two back that BA had a considerable amount of input into the design and build of the recent extension to the North Terminal.

Would BA really be willing to give that up for a much older, more crowded facility? To help a rival? Unless of course LGW have promised them the earth in terms of rebuilds, financial sweeteners etc.

What is this place, Gatwick, of which you speak?

Hope there's no move on the cards.

The south terminal with all the latest investment is now a very nice terminal to use and along with the many millions of investment VS made 4 years ago in their new Clubhouse, it wouldn't make a lot of sense. (But who knows ....)

David.

gumshoe wrote:Well that's definitely an interesting rumour ... is it really feasible though? I'm sure I saw on a TV show about Gatwick a year or two back that BA had a considerable amount of input into the design and build of the recent extension to the North Terminal.

I guess as BA have scaled back LGW short haul their clout with the airport operator has also diminished??

I'd say from LGW's perspective it probably makes sense to keep Easyjet (their largest operator) happy by allowing them to consolidate in one terminal.

Article here also

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... al-gatwick

I think VS will stay at the south terminal considering the clubhouse, new ticket desk, premium check in area and crew check in area.


Seems strange to invest then move.

Do established airlines really consider playing a game of musical chairs ? It all sounds very chaotic ......,

declansmith wrote:I think VS will stay at the south terminal considering the clubhouse, new ticket desk, premium check in area and crew check in area.


Seems strange to invest then move.

And not to forget the other Virgin Group facility, the V-Room....

I heard about this rumour a few weeks ago, however I also heard on the radio this morning that EZY also said that IF a 3rd runway were to be built at LHR they would consider moving there (good luck with that!!! )

Now, if it turns out that EZY were to consolidate all their LGW ops to North and VS were to move as well, this would not happen overnight. Maybe with the commencement of the W13/14 schedule at the very earliest. It would be easier for EZY as they already have a North terminal presence so they could possibly move over in stages.

Plus, I think VS, given their investment on the CH, VH on the V-room would seek recompense from LGW in order to facilitate the move. Now I haven't flown on BA from LGW in a very long time so have no idea of the quality of their lounges but I would imagine that VS would need/want the lounges to be of CH quality and standard before a move took place.

It will be interesting to see how this could play out.

I cannot imagine BA being too happy about that seeing as they invested a lot in the North Terminal. And as the North is seen a more 'posh' I can't imagine they will be too happy with that being taken away from them.

I have always thought it would be much easier for mainly scheduled airlines to depart from the North (so BA, VS etc) and the purely seasonal and low cost (or mainly seasonal) to depart from the south (so TOM, TCX etc).

I think a lot of scheduled airlines like to sell their product as something a bit extra to the norm and I think the NT fits in well with that.

Mind you I can't see BA and VS being to happy with sharing.

This situation is interesting as it will illustrate whose has the most leverage with LGW. Easyjet has over 120 flights per day, so in addition to it making operational sense to have all operations in one terminal as well as financial cost savings they also have the clout with with airport. BA with 55 to 60 daily ops with more planned in the future (2 x 777's) moving across due to an increase in long haul ops would appear also to be in a strong negotiating position. How've VS with only 6 or 7 daily ops would be in a weaker postion should LGW decide this has to happen

I've only just found the Hilton Executive lounge.
Please If I have to go to the North Terminal is there a hotel with a walk through?
Dick D

PaulS wrote:This situation is interesting as it will illustrate whose has the most leverage with LGW.

Presumably there's a lot more to it than simply the sheer number of flights though.

Yes, VS is a minnow at LGW compared to BA and Easyjet but I would have thought your typical VS passenger is worth more to the airport than an Easyjet one - pax flying long haul on a full service airline are likely to arrive earlier and spend considerably more in the shops, restaurants, car parks etc.

And of course as an LCC Easyjet will be fighting for the lowest landing fees it can get whereas BA and VS are likely to be willing to pay more.

Not to mention the fact that, with LGW now fighting tooth and nail to be seen as a serious rival to LHR, it needs the kudos of long haul, full service airlines like BA, VS and Emirates to avoid it ending up like Stansted, seen only as an LCC airport.

So while Easyjet will undoubtedly have clout, LGW does need to keep the likes of VS and particularly BA sweet. If Easyjet's approach to the negotiations is simply "we're your biggest customer, give us what we want or else", LGW's owners will have a difficult problem on their hands.

Dickdotcom. The sofitel has a covered walk walk and I am not sure of the Hampton.

As for passenger spend I doubt the 2500 VS daily passengers could get anywhere near the 15,000 Easyjet (if you allow for 81 present yields). The problem that the full service airlines is they need to be at LGW where the Llc continuously move hubs if Ist suits there business model.

gumshoe wrote:
Yes, VS is a minnow at LGW compared to BA and Easyjet but I would have thought your typical VS passenger is worth more to the airport than an Easyjet one - pax flying long haul on a full service airline are likely to arrive earlier and spend considerably more in the shops, restaurants, car parks etc.

Why? I rather think the opposite to be true. Passengers on full service are less likely to spend time buying provisions for the flight, and a certain % who fly the premium cabins will spend absolutely nothing in the airport as they are fully catered for on the ground. And having spent time in Stansted observing the Easyflyer, don't kid yourself that they are any less monied than than the family off to Florida.

One thing I find strange with Easyjet is that if you are dropping off bags they normally only allow this 2 hours before TO. As they also try to hustle you to the gate as early as they can it always seems my time with Easyjet at the airport always seems to short.

Must say never had any real issues with Easyjet myself.

As a family of 6 who fly easyjet most years to Cyprus I know I'm lucky to get away with spending less than £100 by the time breakfast and a few bits for the flight have been bought

If you read about this elsewhere it would seem it is a done deal. Having said that it is the South terminal that has just had a massive overhaul and is coming up in the world, so to speak.

At the end of the day this wouldn't be a bad deal for VS. Last week I managed to get from the Sofitel to BA's first lounge in only ten mins. Fast track is as good as VS in LHRT3 and you don't get fed into duty free like many airports. So if VS were to take over the BA lounges and refurb them it could be a winner for VS