Quote from the article:
'' The number of passengers flying long-haul in and out of Charles De Gaulle in Paris and Schiphol in Amsterdam increased by 5 per cent in the past year; numbers were up by 9 per cent in Madrid. By comparison, long-haul passengers increased by 3 per cent at Heathrow.
Mr Holland-Kaye (CEO
LHR): “New analysis shows that the UK’s European hub rivals are increasing their long-haul seats at twice the rate of the UK’s only hub last year — further evidence that demand at Heathrow is being met by our economic competitors.”
The issue is complex, as:
- 1. Airport charges at
LHR are significantly higher than
AMS,
FRA,
CDG, thus providing hub cost advantages to the Continental competitors.
- 2. Lack of
LHR runway capacity adds further advantages to
AMS,
FRA,
CDG where some capacity still exists.
- 3. This translates into a broader network of destinations for
AMS,
FRA,
CDG, providing further advantage to Continental hubs.
- 4. This results in significant Leakage of LON and UK traffic to the other hubs and
IAG is capitalizing on this by introducing
EI/
DUB as a competitior to
AMS,
FRA,
CDG.
Here are the summer 2015 airport statistics for the four EU
RO hubs:
AUGUST 2015 - Movements:
1.
AMS - 43.559
2.
CDG - 43.452
3.
FRA - 42.787
4.
LHR - 41.783
At present the ranking of the European hubs is completely re-arranged in peak summer months, a clear sign for future years, as every month
AMS continues to outgrow the other three hubs in movements, passengers and cargo.
