Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
Jul 21st 2007 | 7:10 am
#1
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Posts: n/a
Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article2788626.ece
Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
By Cahal Milmo and Martin Hickman
Published: 21 July 2007
As millions of holidaymakers seek to escape Britain's miserable summer
by flying abroad this weekend, a perfect storm of delays,
under-investment and environmental protest is brewing over Heathrow
airport.
Today, the world's busiest international airport will open its doors
to the first of 10 million passengers who will pour through its
terminals in the coming crucial eight-week period, amid warnings of
renewed travel chaos and reeling from the departure of its chief
executive. Tony Douglas, who left his post a month after admitting
Heathrow was "bursting at the seams" , leaves behind an airport that
is the subject of growing criticism from airlines and passengers over
delays caused by security checks and the slow modernisation of its
creaking infrastructure by its owners, British Airports Authority
(BAA) .
One senior airline executive told The Independent: "The blunt truth is
some of the facilities at Heathrow are now world-beatingly bad.
Terminal 2 is a shambles and money is not being spent fast enough. The
airport is in danger of sending out a message it is not fit for
purpose. And it is the passengers, the airlines and the UK economy
paying the price."
The problems for BAA will be intensified when a protest camp is set up
next to Heathrow aimed at highlighting the environmental impact of
aviation and the threat to hundreds of homes from a proposed third
runway. Organisers have vowed direct action next month to maximise the
impact of their demonstration but deny it will affect passengers.
BAA described any plans to disrupt the airport as "extremely
irresponsible".
But with Heathrow receiving 68 million passengers a year, half as many
again as its intended capacity of 45 million, it is far more likely
that delays will come from within the airport itself as it battles to
maintain morale.
The Independent has been told that Mr Douglas, who also said the
airport was "at times ... held together by sticking plaster" is one of
four senior executives to have left BAA's Heathrow team in the past
year, along with a significant number of middle-ranking managers.
Up to 220,000 people a day will pass through the airport in the next
two months, putting massive pressure on its ability to process baggage
and security-screen passengers.
British Airways said yesterday that it had cleared a backlog of 20,000
bags caused by recent bad weather and security alerts. Meanwhile, the
weather created more chaos yesterday as the airport said it had
cancelled 141 flights because of the torrential rain that swept across
the UK.
The airline, Heathrow's biggest operator, admitted it was vulnerable
to further difficulties because hand luggage restrictions mean it is
carrying 15 per cent more baggage in the holds of its aircraft.
Despite the Government's intention to increase the baggage allowance
to two bags, it could still be months before the measure is
introduced.
Stringent security checks imposed last summer after the alleged bomb
plot using liquid explosives brought Heathrow to a grinding halt.
Despite recruiting 500 extra security staff, the airport is not
meeting its target to process all passengers in security lanes within
five minutes. BAA said 97 per cent of passengers during its last
holiday peak in Easter were processed within 10 minutes but Mr Douglas
said he could not guarantee another " extraordinary event" would not
cause chaos.
Passenger groups said the lack of any spare capacity at the airport
meant it was disproportionately vulnerable to such incidents.
A spokesman for the Air Transport Users Council said: "It is tough
every summer at Heathrow and it just gets harder with the security
problems. I think all passengers can really do this year is hope
nothing happens outside the airport and everything runs smoothly
inside. There is no leeway when things go wrong."
BAA said yesterday that it expected many of Heathrow's problems to be
eased with the opening next March of the £4.2bn Terminal 5, which will
handle all BA flights and relieve congestion at the four other
terminals. BAA, which was bought for £16bn by the Spanish group
Ferrovial, has earmarked a further £6bn for revamping those buildings,
including the demolition or refurbishment of Terminals 1 and 2 to
create a new hub with a capacity of 30 million. But the new facilities
will not be finished before 2016.
BAA is pressing its regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, to allow
it to maintain the fees it charges airlines to use Heathrow. It has
warned that the airport's capacity problems it fills 98.5 per cent
of its flight slots means it risks losing its dominance to
competitors such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol in Amsterdam,
which run at about 70 per cent capacity.
Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
£620m last year.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said: "We have some sympathy for the
owners but, compared to other airports, there is chronic
under-investment despite BAA making substantial profits year after
year. They have not kept up with the development of other airports."
Heathrow in figures
£620m BAA profits last year
68 million Passengers received per year
45 million Intended capacity
500,000 passengers this weekend
10 million Passengers estimated for the next 10 weeks
500 Extra security staff
Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
By Cahal Milmo and Martin Hickman
Published: 21 July 2007
As millions of holidaymakers seek to escape Britain's miserable summer
by flying abroad this weekend, a perfect storm of delays,
under-investment and environmental protest is brewing over Heathrow
airport.
Today, the world's busiest international airport will open its doors
to the first of 10 million passengers who will pour through its
terminals in the coming crucial eight-week period, amid warnings of
renewed travel chaos and reeling from the departure of its chief
executive. Tony Douglas, who left his post a month after admitting
Heathrow was "bursting at the seams" , leaves behind an airport that
is the subject of growing criticism from airlines and passengers over
delays caused by security checks and the slow modernisation of its
creaking infrastructure by its owners, British Airports Authority
(BAA) .
One senior airline executive told The Independent: "The blunt truth is
some of the facilities at Heathrow are now world-beatingly bad.
Terminal 2 is a shambles and money is not being spent fast enough. The
airport is in danger of sending out a message it is not fit for
purpose. And it is the passengers, the airlines and the UK economy
paying the price."
The problems for BAA will be intensified when a protest camp is set up
next to Heathrow aimed at highlighting the environmental impact of
aviation and the threat to hundreds of homes from a proposed third
runway. Organisers have vowed direct action next month to maximise the
impact of their demonstration but deny it will affect passengers.
BAA described any plans to disrupt the airport as "extremely
irresponsible".
But with Heathrow receiving 68 million passengers a year, half as many
again as its intended capacity of 45 million, it is far more likely
that delays will come from within the airport itself as it battles to
maintain morale.
The Independent has been told that Mr Douglas, who also said the
airport was "at times ... held together by sticking plaster" is one of
four senior executives to have left BAA's Heathrow team in the past
year, along with a significant number of middle-ranking managers.
Up to 220,000 people a day will pass through the airport in the next
two months, putting massive pressure on its ability to process baggage
and security-screen passengers.
British Airways said yesterday that it had cleared a backlog of 20,000
bags caused by recent bad weather and security alerts. Meanwhile, the
weather created more chaos yesterday as the airport said it had
cancelled 141 flights because of the torrential rain that swept across
the UK.
The airline, Heathrow's biggest operator, admitted it was vulnerable
to further difficulties because hand luggage restrictions mean it is
carrying 15 per cent more baggage in the holds of its aircraft.
Despite the Government's intention to increase the baggage allowance
to two bags, it could still be months before the measure is
introduced.
Stringent security checks imposed last summer after the alleged bomb
plot using liquid explosives brought Heathrow to a grinding halt.
Despite recruiting 500 extra security staff, the airport is not
meeting its target to process all passengers in security lanes within
five minutes. BAA said 97 per cent of passengers during its last
holiday peak in Easter were processed within 10 minutes but Mr Douglas
said he could not guarantee another " extraordinary event" would not
cause chaos.
Passenger groups said the lack of any spare capacity at the airport
meant it was disproportionately vulnerable to such incidents.
A spokesman for the Air Transport Users Council said: "It is tough
every summer at Heathrow and it just gets harder with the security
problems. I think all passengers can really do this year is hope
nothing happens outside the airport and everything runs smoothly
inside. There is no leeway when things go wrong."
BAA said yesterday that it expected many of Heathrow's problems to be
eased with the opening next March of the £4.2bn Terminal 5, which will
handle all BA flights and relieve congestion at the four other
terminals. BAA, which was bought for £16bn by the Spanish group
Ferrovial, has earmarked a further £6bn for revamping those buildings,
including the demolition or refurbishment of Terminals 1 and 2 to
create a new hub with a capacity of 30 million. But the new facilities
will not be finished before 2016.
BAA is pressing its regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, to allow
it to maintain the fees it charges airlines to use Heathrow. It has
warned that the airport's capacity problems it fills 98.5 per cent
of its flight slots means it risks losing its dominance to
competitors such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol in Amsterdam,
which run at about 70 per cent capacity.
Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
£620m last year.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said: "We have some sympathy for the
owners but, compared to other airports, there is chronic
under-investment despite BAA making substantial profits year after
year. They have not kept up with the development of other airports."
Heathrow in figures
£620m BAA profits last year
68 million Passengers received per year
45 million Intended capacity
500,000 passengers this weekend
10 million Passengers estimated for the next 10 weeks
500 Extra security staff
Jul 21st 2007 | 7:32 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
> Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
> its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
> made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
> £620m last year.
Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space. According
to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car outlets, a
software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing capsule", a
bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least fifty
cafés/restaurants.
Is Heathrow an airport or a shopping centre with a runway? I've noticed that
nothing ever goes smoothly there in terms of just getting on a flight and
leaving on time.
news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
> Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
> its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
> made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
> £620m last year.
Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space. According
to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car outlets, a
software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing capsule", a
bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least fifty
cafés/restaurants.
Is Heathrow an airport or a shopping centre with a runway? I've noticed that
nothing ever goes smoothly there in terms of just getting on a flight and
leaving on time.
Jul 21st 2007 | 9:27 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>
> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
----------------
Is it really possible to be
A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
and
B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
at the same time ??
Sounds like a contradiction.
news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>
> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
----------------
Is it really possible to be
A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
and
B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
at the same time ??
Sounds like a contradiction.
Jul 21st 2007 | 10:00 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>
>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
> ----------------
> Is it really possible to be
> A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
> and
> B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
> at the same time ??
> Sounds like a contradiction.
Not really.
In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you have
little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
--
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>
>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
> ----------------
> Is it really possible to be
> A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
> and
> B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
> at the same time ??
> Sounds like a contradiction.
Not really.
In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you have
little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
--
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.
Jul 21st 2007 | 10:55 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"William Black" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
>> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>>
>>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>> ----------------
>> Is it really possible to be
>> A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
>> and
>> B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
>> at the same time ??
>> Sounds like a contradiction.
> Not really.
> In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you
> have little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
>
> --
> William Black
----------
So what about those many in transit ? I've used Heathrow many times but
never for a trip to/from U.K
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
>> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>>
>>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>> ----------------
>> Is it really possible to be
>> A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
>> and
>> B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
>> at the same time ??
>> Sounds like a contradiction.
> Not really.
> In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you
> have little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
>
> --
> William Black
----------
So what about those many in transit ? I've used Heathrow many times but
never for a trip to/from U.K
Jul 21st 2007 | 10:57 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
William Black <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
> > news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
> >> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
> >>
> >> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
> > ----------------
> > Is it really possible to be
> > A: The world´s least favourite airport
> > and
> > B: The world´s busiest international airport
> > at the same time ??
> > Sounds like a contradiction.
>
> Not really.
>
> In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you have
> little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
I don't care which airport I fly through, but LHR (or any LON) has never
been my choice of hub airport on price since I left London in 2002.
--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Pres. Blair- May, 2007
> "Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
> > news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
> >> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
> >>
> >> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
> > ----------------
> > Is it really possible to be
> > A: The world´s least favourite airport
> > and
> > B: The world´s busiest international airport
> > at the same time ??
> > Sounds like a contradiction.
>
> Not really.
>
> In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you have
> little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
I don't care which airport I fly through, but LHR (or any LON) has never
been my choice of hub airport on price since I left London in 2002.
--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Pres. Blair- May, 2007
Jul 21st 2007 | 11:22 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
DVH wrote:
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>
>
>>Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
>>its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
>>made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
>>£620m last year.
>
>
> Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space. According
> to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car outlets, a
> software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing capsule", a
> bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least fifty
> cafés/restaurants.
Do you think BAA made over 600 million pounds from leasing space to the
establishments you just named?
Surely most of the money did not come from there. I doubt WHSmith is
paying millions of pounds per store in rent.
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>
>
>>Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
>>its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
>>made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
>>£620m last year.
>
>
> Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space. According
> to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car outlets, a
> software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing capsule", a
> bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least fifty
> cafés/restaurants.
Do you think BAA made over 600 million pounds from leasing space to the
establishments you just named?
Surely most of the money did not come from there. I doubt WHSmith is
paying millions of pounds per store in rent.
Jul 21st 2007 | 11:27 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:27:33 GMT, "Lennart Petersen"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>
>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>----------------
>Is it really possible to be
>A: The worldŽs least favourite airport
>and
>B: The worldŽs busiest international airport
>at the same time ??
>Sounds like a contradiction.
>
B leads to A. Similar at ORD, STL, JFK and LAX.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/
latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>
>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>----------------
>Is it really possible to be
>A: The worldŽs least favourite airport
>and
>B: The worldŽs busiest international airport
>at the same time ??
>Sounds like a contradiction.
>
B leads to A. Similar at ORD, STL, JFK and LAX.
Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/
latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management
Jul 21st 2007 | 11:50 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"Alan S" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:27:33 GMT, "Lennart Petersen"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>>news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news.. .
>>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>>
>>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>>----------------
>>Is it really possible to be
>>A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
>>and
>>B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
>>at the same time ??
>>Sounds like a contradiction.
>>
> B leads to A. Similar at ORD, STL, JFK and LAX.
>
> Cheers, Alan, Australia
O.k for that. Smaller airports have to my experience usually been better,
less crowded and more efficient. A record for an international connection
was a 5 min transfer incl. checked luggage at Sandefjord,Norway. It was
the time to exit the plane walk through the terminal incl. security and to
the departing gate.
But my favourite was Brisbane with an indoor garden,large sofas and plenty
of space.
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:27:33 GMT, "Lennart Petersen"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>>news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news.. .
>>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>>
>>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>>----------------
>>Is it really possible to be
>>A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
>>and
>>B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
>>at the same time ??
>>Sounds like a contradiction.
>>
> B leads to A. Similar at ORD, STL, JFK and LAX.
>
> Cheers, Alan, Australia
O.k for that. Smaller airports have to my experience usually been better,
less crowded and more efficient. A record for an international connection
was a 5 min transfer incl. checked luggage at Sandefjord,Norway. It was
the time to exit the plane walk through the terminal incl. security and to
the departing gate.
But my favourite was Brisbane with an indoor garden,large sofas and plenty
of space.
Jul 21st 2007 | 12:37 pm
#10
Glasgow
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 72
From: Glasgow
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
Cant say I'm shocked as its an awful airport. I'm just Glasgow I live in Glasgow and can travel anywhere in the world wideout stepping foot in the hell-hole that is Heathrow.
Jul 21st 2007 | 1:10 pm
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"NotABushSupporter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]. ..
> DVH wrote:
>
>> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
>> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>>
>>
>>>Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
>>>its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
>>>made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
>>>£620m last year.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space.
>> According to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car
>> outlets, a software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing
>> capsule", a bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least
>> fifty cafés/restaurants.
>
> Do you think BAA made over 600 million pounds from leasing space to the
> establishments you just named?
>
> Surely most of the money did not come from there. I doubt WHSmith is
> paying millions of pounds per store in rent.
Don't know about the specifics of the London airports, but retail frontage
is a major cash cow stateside. Personally, I hate it. If I wanted to go to a
damn mall, I'd go to a damn mall. I really hate it when the gates are
further apart, for no apparent reason other than to make everyone walk down
the rows of non-travel-related stores.
If I was benign dictator of the world, airports would have a good selection
of real-world-priced food, newstands, and maybe a few shops selling a small
selection of things useful to people stuck on long and/or unexpected
layovers. (barbers, shoe repair, Drugstore/walkin clinic,
overnight-in-hotel-without- luggage kits, underwear and socks, unisex tee
shirt/scrubs/jogging suits that you could wear on plane next day if previous
days clothes were simply too nasty, and of course a gym bag to haul said
nasty clothes home in.) And free wi-fi, of course- none of this
8-bucks-a-day nonsense.
But they wouldn't be frigging malls.
aem sends...
aem sends....
news:[email protected]. ..
> DVH wrote:
>
>> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
>> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>>
>>
>>>Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
>>>its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
>>>made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
>>>£620m last year.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space.
>> According to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car
>> outlets, a software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing
>> capsule", a bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least
>> fifty cafés/restaurants.
>
> Do you think BAA made over 600 million pounds from leasing space to the
> establishments you just named?
>
> Surely most of the money did not come from there. I doubt WHSmith is
> paying millions of pounds per store in rent.
Don't know about the specifics of the London airports, but retail frontage
is a major cash cow stateside. Personally, I hate it. If I wanted to go to a
damn mall, I'd go to a damn mall. I really hate it when the gates are
further apart, for no apparent reason other than to make everyone walk down
the rows of non-travel-related stores.
If I was benign dictator of the world, airports would have a good selection
of real-world-priced food, newstands, and maybe a few shops selling a small
selection of things useful to people stuck on long and/or unexpected
layovers. (barbers, shoe repair, Drugstore/walkin clinic,
overnight-in-hotel-without- luggage kits, underwear and socks, unisex tee
shirt/scrubs/jogging suits that you could wear on plane next day if previous
days clothes were simply too nasty, and of course a gym bag to haul said
nasty clothes home in.) And free wi-fi, of course- none of this
8-bucks-a-day nonsense.
But they wouldn't be frigging malls.
aem sends...
aem sends....
Jul 21st 2007 | 1:13 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"NotABushSupporter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]. ..
> DVH wrote:
>
>> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
>> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>>
>>
>>>Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
>>>its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
>>>made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
>>>£620m last year.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space.
>> According to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car
>> outlets, a software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing
>> capsule", a bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least
>> fifty cafés/restaurants.
>
> Do you think BAA made over 600 million pounds from leasing space to the
> establishments you just named?
>
> Surely most of the money did not come from there. I doubt WHSmith is
> paying millions of pounds per store in rent.
I wondered about that so looked up BAA annual report (covering all their
airports not just LHR)
http://www.baa.com/annualreview07/ou...unts_final.pdf
It looks like the net income (not profit) from the retail outlets was £385M
for 9 months to 31 Dec 2006 plus another £310M for "World Duty Free" so it
is a good chunk of their income.
If WH Smith are paying an average £100,000 per unit rent (a total guess on
my part, but not unlikely I think) then that's £1.3M at LHR alone. And there
are many other retail outlets at LHR, and many more WHSmith at other BAA
airports.
Like an earlier poster I also get pissed off with the retail outlets
cluttering up the airport. In at least one terminal (T3 I think, which is my
usual one) it seems impossible to get from immigration to the gates without
passing through the zig-zag aisles of a duty-free alcohol and cigarettes
outlet, often crowded with shoppers - extra annoying if I am a bit late
after the tedious security check..
news:[email protected]. ..
> DVH wrote:
>
>> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> wrote in message
>> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>>
>>
>>>Airlines argue that BAA, which is also facing an inquiry into whether
>>>its monopoly of London's three airports should be broken, has already
>>>made enough money to fund the required investment. BAA made profits of
>>>£620m last year.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in part to cluttering up its concourses with retail space.
>> According to the website, there are eleven branches of Boots, four car
>> outlets, a software retailer, a "free-standing futuristic hairdressing
>> capsule", a bookmakers, three manicurists, thirteen WHSmiths and at least
>> fifty cafés/restaurants.
>
> Do you think BAA made over 600 million pounds from leasing space to the
> establishments you just named?
>
> Surely most of the money did not come from there. I doubt WHSmith is
> paying millions of pounds per store in rent.
I wondered about that so looked up BAA annual report (covering all their
airports not just LHR)
http://www.baa.com/annualreview07/ou...unts_final.pdf
It looks like the net income (not profit) from the retail outlets was £385M
for 9 months to 31 Dec 2006 plus another £310M for "World Duty Free" so it
is a good chunk of their income.
If WH Smith are paying an average £100,000 per unit rent (a total guess on
my part, but not unlikely I think) then that's £1.3M at LHR alone. And there
are many other retail outlets at LHR, and many more WHSmith at other BAA
airports.
Like an earlier poster I also get pissed off with the retail outlets
cluttering up the airport. In at least one terminal (T3 I think, which is my
usual one) it seems impossible to get from immigration to the gates without
passing through the zig-zag aisles of a duty-free alcohol and cigarettes
outlet, often crowded with shoppers - extra annoying if I am a bit late
after the tedious security check..
Jul 21st 2007 | 1:20 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "Alan S" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:27:33 GMT, "Lennart Petersen"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>>>news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news. ..
>>>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>>>
>>>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>>>----------------
>>>Is it really possible to be
>>>A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
>>>and
>>>B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
>>>at the same time ??
>>>Sounds like a contradiction.
>>>
>> B leads to A. Similar at ORD, STL, JFK and LAX.
>>
>> Cheers, Alan, Australia
> O.k for that. Smaller airports have to my experience usually been
> better, less crowded and more efficient. A record for an international
> connection was a 5 min transfer incl. checked luggage at
> Sandefjord,Norway. It was the time to exit the plane walk through the
> terminal incl. security and to the departing gate.
> But my favourite was Brisbane with an indoor garden,large sofas and
> plenty of space.
>
Picton in NZ's south island was well under 5 minutes for arrival as far as I
remember. I could grab my own bag direct from the small plane when they
opened the hatch maybe 1 min after the plane stopped, then wander about 20M
to the gate in the perimeter fence where the bus to town was waiting. I was
probably in the pub in town about 10 minutes after touch down. It is more of
an airstrip in a field than an airport. Very high on my list of favourites,
though maybe not if you have to wait there in the rain.
LHR and JFK fight it out for bottom place on my list.
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "Alan S" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:27:33 GMT, "Lennart Petersen"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
>>>news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news. ..
>>>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>>>
>>>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>>>----------------
>>>Is it really possible to be
>>>A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
>>>and
>>>B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
>>>at the same time ??
>>>Sounds like a contradiction.
>>>
>> B leads to A. Similar at ORD, STL, JFK and LAX.
>>
>> Cheers, Alan, Australia
> O.k for that. Smaller airports have to my experience usually been
> better, less crowded and more efficient. A record for an international
> connection was a 5 min transfer incl. checked luggage at
> Sandefjord,Norway. It was the time to exit the plane walk through the
> terminal incl. security and to the departing gate.
> But my favourite was Brisbane with an indoor garden,large sofas and
> plenty of space.
>
Picton in NZ's south island was well under 5 minutes for arrival as far as I
remember. I could grab my own bag direct from the small plane when they
opened the hatch maybe 1 min after the plane stopped, then wander about 20M
to the gate in the perimeter fence where the bus to town was waiting. I was
probably in the pub in town about 10 minutes after touch down. It is more of
an airstrip in a field than an airport. Very high on my list of favourites,
though maybe not if you have to wait there in the rain.
LHR and JFK fight it out for bottom place on my list.
Jul 21st 2007 | 1:45 pm
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
On Jul 21, 5:27 pm, "Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandetnews:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr @news...>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>
> > Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>
> ----------------
> Is it really possible to be
> A: The world´s least favourite airport
> and
> B: The world´s busiest international airport
> at the same time ??
> Sounds like a contradiction.
The fact that it is so busy makes it overcrowded, makes security and
passport control waits much longer, taxes its infrastructure, and
results in frequent delays, thereby making it people's least favorite.
Tokyo-Narita and New York-Kennedy are both massive hubs that are among
the busiest airports in the world...and among the most hated by
travelers.
For most destinations, it's too inconvenient to fly through a much
better, but out of the way airport, like Munich, Singapore or Atlanta,
and they don't have nearly the long-distance connections that
Heathrow, Narita or Kennedy do.
wrote:
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandetnews:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr @news...>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>
> > Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
>
> ----------------
> Is it really possible to be
> A: The world´s least favourite airport
> and
> B: The world´s busiest international airport
> at the same time ??
> Sounds like a contradiction.
The fact that it is so busy makes it overcrowded, makes security and
passport control waits much longer, taxes its infrastructure, and
results in frequent delays, thereby making it people's least favorite.
Tokyo-Narita and New York-Kennedy are both massive hubs that are among
the busiest airports in the world...and among the most hated by
travelers.
For most destinations, it's too inconvenient to fly through a much
better, but out of the way airport, like Munich, Singapore or Atlanta,
and they don't have nearly the long-distance connections that
Heathrow, Narita or Kennedy do.
Jul 21st 2007 | 1:46 pm
#15
Glasgow
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 72
From: Glasgow
Re: Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
"Lennart Petersen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>
>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
> ----------------
> Is it really possible to be
> A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
> and
> B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
> at the same time ??
> Sounds like a contradiction.
Not really.
In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you have
little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
--
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "lhr" <lhr@london's.hellhole.row> skrev i meddelandet
> news:57m4a3htvqkapik8dplgf820n7g60hb0qr@news...
>> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...cle2788626.ece
>>
>> Heathrow: The world's least favourite airport
> ----------------
> Is it really possible to be
> A: The worldÂŽs least favourite airport
> and
> B: The worldÂŽs busiest international airport
> at the same time ??
> Sounds like a contradiction.
Not really.
In many cases if you wish to fly from the UK on a scheduled flight you have
little choice unless you want to pay a great deal more money.
--
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.
Fly Emirates, Continental, KLM, American, Sigapore Airlines etc etc and you can see every destination in the world from airports like Manchester and Glasgow without going near London.
