One hub or none: Heathrow's view on UK air capacity

UK's Heathrow stated (15-Nov-2012) new research from Frontier Economics shows the lack of capacity at London Heathrow Airport is already costing the UK up to GBP14 billion p/a in lost trade and this figure could rise to GBP26 billion p/a by 2030. The figures form part of a new report, 'One hub or none', published by Heathrow which marks the airport's first contribution to the aviation capacity debate since the establishment of the Government's Airports Commission. The report explains why a hub airport is different and uniquely valuable to the UK. It also sets out why two hubs or ideas for a split hub like 'Heathwick' would not work, and concludes the UK's connectivity needs can only be met by a single UK hub airport, "which means either expanding Heathrow or replacing Heathrow with a new hub airport". Details include:

• Heathrow capacity: Heathrow operates at 99% capacity, it said, adding, "There is no room to fit in new trade routes to the emerging economies which are important for future economic growth. That lack of capacity is affecting the UK's competitive position". Heathrow said there are 1532 more flights to the three largest cities in mainland China from Paris and Frankfurt than there are from Heathrow. "The UK's connectivity gap with China has also widened in terms of destinations. UK businesses cannot fly directly to seven destinations in mainland China - Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Nanjing, Shenyang or Qingdao - that are now served by other European hubs," it added. Heathrow continued: "Daily, direct flights bring in twenty times as much trade as routes which are not direct or as frequent. Only a hub airport can provide these links. Hub airports use transfer passengers to pool demand from different countries to support direct and daily long haul routes that would not be viable using local demand alone. Point to point airports, which rely on local demand, cannot support these routes";
• Regional airports: Heathrow welcomes the growth of point-to-point and regional airports but noted, "the expansion of point-to-point airports is not going to solve the UK's connectivity problem". Heathrow believes "only a hub airport can provide the range and frequency of long-haul direct services that UK air passengers want";
• Dual hubs: On the dual hub concept, Heathrow said: "Hubs rely on the 'home carrier' to support them. The UK only has one major network carrier, British Airways. A dual hub using Heathrow and Gatwick was tried by BA in the 90s. It didn't work. BA has since taken every opportunity to consolidate its operations at Heathrow, where it can reap the synergies of single-hub operation and use the transfer traffic to support routes. Without a major network carrier at a new, second hub other airlines won't locate there since they won't have the home carrier's short-haul network and transfer passengers to support their long haul operations". The company added, "A split hub will not work either. Hubs must have an efficient - and quick - way for passengers to transfer between flights. The best European hubs can transfer passengers between planes in 45 minutes. A link between Heathrow and Gatwick would mean passengers spending 100 minutes moving between planes. That is simply too long for a 'Heathwick' type solution to be competitive. And that is before looking at the additional complexities of how to transfer bags reliably or the cost of the link". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II] [more - original PR - III]