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British Airways has reportedly launched an investigation to shut down operation at Gatwick Airport due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The flag carrier, a subsidiary of FTSE 100 firm IAG, is looking into consolidating its operations at Heathrow, the Telegraph reported.
Such a move would be yet another blow to the UK’s second-largest airport, where daily departures and arrivals have fallen by 92 percent over the past year, making it the European airport hardest hit by the pandemic.
Virgin Atlantic has already withdrawn from Sussex airport due to the pandemic, as has Norwegian, which has recently exited a restructuring process.
A year ago it was announced that BA might not reopen its operation at Gatwick after the pandemic.
It is clear that the airline is now concerned about the prospect of losing its lucrative Heathrow landing spots.
At the moment, normal slot rules, which require airlines to use or lose 80 percent of their allocation, have been suspended.
But if transport secretary Grant Shapps chooses not to renew the current exemption, it could force BA to focus on Heathrow, which has the most valuable slots.
Last month, CEO Luis Gallego told analysts:
Gatwick is an important decision for us to make as a group. It is true that we have the problem with the slots.
Gatwick has some strategic value, but we need to be competitive there. This crisis is going to change the profile… of demand. That is why we analyze the different options.
A British Airways spokesperson said: “Up to the end of October, most of our short-haul flights will continue to operate from Heathrow. This enables us to ensure smooth, uninterrupted and efficient operation of our business at a time when demand is not yet returning and international travel restrictions remain in place.
“We still fly some of our long-haul flights from Gatwick”.
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