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barfly · #1 25-12-2006, 15:03

Heathrow delays-nothing to do with fog!
Telegraph | Comment | Heathrow's problems hidden by fog

steve@thaib · #2 25-12-2006, 16:54

If planes can't take off and land safely then they can't take off and land safely. The Heathrow ATC had to double the time inbetween aircraft using the runway, which very effectively halved it's capacity.

There clearly are other issues, but to say it was nothing to do with fog is being mischievous.

The trouble we have in the UK is that every piece of infrastructure we have, be it an airport, a train station or a hospital, is operated at as close to 100% capacity for as much of the time it is working as is possible. So when something breaks or goes against them it has a massive impact.

Heathrow is crying out for the new terminal, which opens next year, and at least one new runway. There are only two runways at Heathrow, Amsterdam Schipol has five.

Nanook · #3 25-12-2006, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

Heathrow is crying out for the new terminal, which opens next year, and at least one new runway. There are only two runways at Heathrow, Amsterdam Schipol has five.

Yes, we have 5 runways, but due to all kind of environmental laws, they cannot use them all the time.
That is the price we pay for being such a small full country where so many people live in the same area. Also because of some laws we have where one speaks against the other all the time. Our lawyers love it...

barfly · #4 25-12-2006, 18:04

Well, yes, there is certainly no slack in the sysyem at Heathrow but it sounds like they were very grateful for the excuse. 2 hours to get a bag from the plane to the belt is atrocious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

If planes can't take off and land safely then they can't take off and land safely. The Heathrow ATC had to double the time inbetween aircraft using the runway, which very effectively halved it's capacity.

There clearly are other issues, but to say it was nothing to do with fog is being mischievous.

The trouble we have in the UK is that every piece of infrastructure we have, be it an airport, a train station or a hospital, is operated at as close to 100% capacity for as much of the time it is working as is possible. So when something breaks or goes against them it has a massive impact.

Heathrow is crying out for the new terminal, which opens next year, and at least one new runway. There are only two runways at Heathrow, Amsterdam Schipol has five.

steve@thaib · #5 26-12-2006, 05:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfly

Well, yes, there is certainly no slack in the sysyem at Heathrow but it sounds like they were very grateful for the excuse. 2 hours to get a bag from the plane to the belt is atrocious.

I'm not defending them, but the weather was a major problem and there is no getting away from it. I did read the article and it just struck me as another pissed off journalist having a pop because he can.