Post by Roland PerryPost by Peter LynchIf transit passengers were sent elsewhere, to an airport with more
capacity,
But that's exactly backwards. Transit passengers need an airport with a
good choice of onward flights. Have them all arriving at (say)
Birmingham, and that choice is vastly reduced. So they'll transit in a
different country.
Yes, have them use a different country. I forget the numbers, but doesn't
Schipol have 4 or 5 runways, and CDG a similar number. How about having people
from southern europe transiting via. Madrid? Makes more sense than having
them come through London for their final (international) destinations..
Post by Roland PerryWhat you actually need to do is persuade as many as possible of the
*non* transit passengers to use whichever other airport might serve
their required destination.
Post by Peter Lynchthen the slots freed up would bring in people who spent more money
either as tourists or on business.
Why do they spend money - they are trying to leave the place as quickly
as possible.
Eh? A person flying from (say) Istanbul to New York, via London will buy
a burger and chips while waiting for their onward flight. If that passenger
capacity was available to a tourist (or business person) instead, they'd
spend money on a hotel, meals out, sightseeing etc.
Post by Roland PerryPost by Peter LynchThey'd still need the same number of low-paid ancillary staff (for the
same number of passengers - natch) but by catering to people who
actually want to come to Britain, rather than merely pass through it,
the whole economy - at least in the S.E. would benefit.
A lot of those transit passengers are actually heading for domestic
locations! (For example 75% of the people on BA's Manchester flights).
Doesn't matter. If you're going from Birmingham to (e.g.) Cape Town, or vice-versa
it makes no difference to you if you change planes at LHR or CDG. I.e. Birmingham
to London to Cape Town, rather than Birmingham to Paris to Cape Town. However
if you change at Heathrow, you're using up capacity that denies a visitor
(not a transit passsenger) a flight into London.
--
. Pete Lynch I have learned from my mistakes and
. Marlow ... I am sure I can repeat them exactly
. www.pete-lynch.com --- Peter Cooke.