Forum Topic

Monday April 6 Heathrow to close one runway

"Heathrow will close one of its runways next week as air traffic continues to fall globally amid the coronavirus pandemic. The London hub will operate its landings and takeoffs from one strip from Monday April 6 to “increase resilience and safety for staff, passengers and cargo” throughout the Covid-19 outbreak" I have to say that much of the air traffic in wide bodied planes over our skies right now is a big increase in cargo only flights and cargo adapted planes run by deicated cargo carriers which the need for has grown very quickly. But its pretty quite most days now

Julian Pavey ● 2407d15 Comments

Nothing yet about this on the Heathrow website, but the airport are quoted on BusinessTraveller.com as saying:"Under this new operation, we will alternate which runway we use on a weekly basis and publish a new alternative schedule that will continue to provide local communities with respite periods."Further details are promised on heathrow.com/noise

Richard Jennings ● 2407d

Just looked at https://www.flightradar24.com.Only one aircraft in the air, BA LHR to Gibraltar.

Ken Munn ● 2407d

Most of the cargo traffic has been going into East Midlands for a few years now.
flightradar is interesting in that Gatwick has allocated 'callsigns' to some of its ground vehicles and the 'tracks' they leave are quite funny (going round and round in circles) (God, tjis proves how bored I am).

N V Brooks ● 2407d

A major blessing at the moment is the reduction in air pollution around the Heathrow area. Now is the time for the NO THIRD RUNWAY campaigners to get their testing equipment out and do some "filthy air" recordings"  and to publicise the results.

Jim Lawes ● 2407d

And with my own eyes...and without binoculars...I can see,at this moment, a view across Heathrow and pick out the high radio mast at Sandhurst/Camberley ...some 20 miles away.In addition the airport looks parked with redundant aircraft. No parking space?

Jim Lawes ● 2406d

I haven’t seen or heard any planes going over so far today and none yesterday. Heavenly!So now proved that we can manage with only one runway why do we need three?

Rima Jones ● 2406d

Thats like saying that shopping is quite nice once inside at the moment,why do we need two entrances and a free for all entry

Julian Pavey ● 2406d

Because the front entry free for all is for pedestrians who are only picking up enough for them to carry home and not trolleys full to take to the car park.

Rima Jones ● 2406d

Ah,but i like it the way it is just like Heathrow. But it will revert back to two entrances and free for all entry like heathrow will revert back to two runways. If the airline industry can ever recover back to its normal levels then the 3rd runway in time will be back on the table. A big IF i must add.

Julian Pavey ● 2406d

Tax Justice.UK“ Along with Greenpeace and dozens of others, we argued that any bailout of the airline industry should come with stringent conditions on tax, workers rights and the environment.”

Rima Jones ● 2406d

Heathrow have now published the revised runway alternation schedule.  From Monday, one runway will be used for all operations for the whole week, and then the other runway will be used for the whole of the following weekThe initial schedule is as follows:Week beginning Monday  6 April:  Northern runway (27R)Week beginning Monday 13 April:  Southern runway (27L)Week beginning Monday 20 April:  Northern runway (27R)Week beginning Monday 27 April:  Southern runway (27L)and so on, alternating every week. The above runways are for use during westerly operations.  During easterly operations, the same runway will be used in the other direction.The full schedule is available inthis PDF file

Richard Jennings ● 2406d

For pollution levels at Heathrow today see heathrowairwatch.org.ukAll areas low!

Rima Jones ● 2406d

Oh my goodness. I have just seen a plane going over in a wonderfully clear blue sky. Don’t know whether it was coming or going but it was up there looking like a big white bird.Bringing pharmaceuticals to us?

Rima Jones ● 2405d

Never before in the modern age have we ever had it so quiet. ...especially if you are wedged between Heathrow and the M4.

Jim Lawes ● 2404d

Do you mean the haven of green belt land in Feltham where Heathrow wants to build Europe's largest immigration detention centre plus courts etc?

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2404d