London Banter - View Single Post - BAA still making plans to resurrect dead runway

Paul Terry[_2_] · June 13th 10, 02:42 PM posted to uk.transport.london

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writes

So what about Luton? It came to be known in the '70s and '80s as the
home of charter flights for cheap holidays in Spain etc., but what
were its origins?

It was opened in 1938 and used as an RAF fighter base in WW2. Charter
flights started in the 1950s but only became big business in the 1970s,
when air travel became relatively cheaper.

I can't help wondering if the move from Gatwick to Heathrow by
Continental a couple of years ago was related to the forced sale of
Gatwick by BAA. Are BAA offering some sort of incentive to airlines
to move to the airports which it will continue to own?

No, Continental had always set its sights on Heathrow, but were
forbidden from using it by the Bermuda II agreement. As soon as that
agreement came to an end in 2008, and free open competition became
possible, they seized the opportunity to move to Heathrow.
--
Paul Terry