Forum Topic

Fewer flights?

Working in the garden this afternoon when the 1500 switch  to the N runway happened. Got the distinct impression that there were fewer planes than usual. Is there a way to check this?

Ken Munn ● 2431d21 Comments

Dont have to check Ken,fewer flights indeed. Empty gates and BA planes on remote stands. American Airlines im told for the first time last week had all 4 allocated gates empty at the same time which is rare. Oh yes,according to twitter the last ever Airbus A340-600 variant used by Virgin flew out today empty for another life so thats that. Most likely a new paint job and off to some airline in Africa somewhere

Julian Pavey ● 2431d

From today's NY Post (granted its a Murdoch rag):Controversial regulations forcing UK airlines to fly empty https://nypost.com/2020/03/09/why-airlines-are-running-ghost-flights-amid-coronavirus-panic/And today's NY Times:Virus could slow efforts to cut emissionshttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/climate/covid-19-climate-change.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Climate%20and%20Environment

David Lesniak ● 2431d

Thanks David. Almost defines 'daft'.

Ken Munn ● 2431d

Found this..."On Friday last week, British Airways filed major cuts to their European flights. From London City, there are cuts of up to 57 flights per week, Gatwick was up to 67 flights per week lighter and at Heathrow up to 295 flights, per week! "

Ken Munn ● 2431d

Transport Minister has written to European Commission asking for the rules on slot allocation to be relaxed during the outbreak. Until they relax these rules, then empty planes will continue as the airlines have to fill 80% of their allocated slots otherwise they are removed.

Julie Morse ● 2431d

Having their planes in the wrong places can also be a problem but not so daft as running empty flights when travel could be increasing the spread.

Philippa Bond ● 2431d

Webtrak will display histograms for the numbers of flights (arrivals + departures) in each hour for any day.https://webtrak.emsbk.com/lhr4The Heathrow Operational Reports will provide daily summary data - but there is a delay in reporting it.https://www.heathrowoperationaldata.com/daily-operational-data/The most recent one that was available when I looked was for 23rd February and showed a typical 639 arrivals/ 635 departures.

Tim Henderson ● 2431d

Comparing this morning with Tuesday morning last week, Webtrak had these numbers of flights for hour 9 , 10 and 11.          3rdMarch  10th MarchHour 9    367        255Hour 10  355        240Hour 11  391        236(I'm guessing hour 9 runs from 0900 to 1000 - but could be wrong)

Tim Henderson ● 2431d

A sense check on the figures shows that these are too high to be purely Heathrow movements (around 1350 a day) and must include other flights to other airports passing over the Webtrak area. So it is unreliable to assume the degree of reduction at Heathrow from them.

Tim Henderson ● 2431d

Maybe this should be a new thread?  If others want, I will move it to "New Post"Regarding Heathrow flights and runways now the 3rd runway is under dispute - I saw this on the Chiswick Calendar Newsletter today:-"Ruth Cadbury is the MP for Brentford & Isleworth and has just been reappointed to the Transport Select Committee.My take is that they will now go for this option as their way of getting more flights in, without the hassle & cost of another runway. This will mean we lose the current night flight regime, which effectively means we currently have no flights between 11.30pm – 4.30am and only 16 flights 4.30-6.00 am.  We would also lose the alternation regime, which gives those living under the existing flight paths eight hours respite (for the 70% of the time the planes are landing on Westerly operation).‘So we must continue the fight by saying “NO Expansion” for all the reasons we have been opposing the third runway; climate change, additional noise, additional communities affected, more road congestion, more air pollution……‘Meanwhile; consultations on night flights and and Aviation White Paper are still awaited’For more information, the AirportWatch website is full of up-to-date information.www.airportwatch.org.uk"Not keen on that scenario living under the incoming flight path in Grove Park!!!

Jennifer Selig ● 2430d

Well if you can catch coronavirus from someone sitting two rows behind you on a flight then perhaps more people should consider using teleconferencing and using Facetime etc.  It does seem that you are more likely to catch it when you have to spend hours in the plane with someone who has it.  https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2020/01/heres-how-coronavirus-spreads-plane-and-safest-place-sit

Philippa Bond ● 2429d

Luckily my work visit to Cairo for four days in a couple of weeks has been cancelled as never fancied going anyway

Paul Fisher ● 2429d

Id rather be more worried getting on a budget plane from anywhere is europe if the plane had not been cleaned to certain standard over just rubbish removed and back out in 1.5 hrs.

Julian Pavey ● 2429d

You'd think that they would increase the cleaning - even our heavily maligned TfL is doing that!

Philippa Bond ● 2429d

Maybe they are. The fact that your typical Ryanair from say Cologne to stansted would have landed at Cologne from Bari which landed in Bari from Cagliari and so the planes last 4 days is like a european trip of 20 destination.

Julian Pavey ● 2429d

I read yesterday that EU has relaxed the rules where around 75% of planes must keep flying, empty or otherwise, in order to preserve the slots for the airlines.

Claire Moran ● 2429d

Yes, that's right.  They wont have to fly empty just to keep a slot.

Philippa Bond ● 2429d

" catch it when you have to spend hours in the plane with someone who has it. "Aircraft Aircons are much safer than Aircons in buildings

Steve Taylor ● 2429d

Yes, aircraft have far stronger filtration systems than hotels, offices or shops.

Adam ONeill ● 2427d

bumped

Ken Munn ● 2425d

Why the bump, Ken? What question do you still need answered?

Steve Taylor ● 2425d