Following hot on the heels of the recent Cabinet approval for Heathrow Expansion, including a third runway, the anna.aero-RABA HubLAB Heathrow Connectivity Conference took place at the third British-Irish Airports EXPO on 12 June in collaboration with the 40 UK airports of the Regional And Business Airports Group (RABA). The EXPO, which was hosted by Heathrow at London Olympia, was attended by more than 3,095 visitors from 12-13 June. Speakers at the Heathrow Connectivity Conference included ministerial representatives from the UK and Scottish governments, key airlines with Heathrow ambitions (and over 100 airline delegates) and UK and European airports keen to make their case for access to an expanded Heathrow.
The headline presentation was given by easyJet’s Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer Robert Carey who laid out the LCC’s plans for a potential base at an expanded Heathrow. This included 18 possible domestic connections including 12 UK airports currently without Heathrow links and a further 61 markets in Europe, 45 of which are not served from Heathrow at this time. Carey also suggested that easyJet could bring competition and lower fares to existing routes at Heathrow. Joining Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye on the platfrom, the UK Aviation Minister, Baroness Sugg, suggested up to 15% of the new slots made available at an expanded Heathrow should be ring-fenced for domestic services.
Read more about the expo here.