British Airways has reportedly revived plans to abandon Gatwick, Britain’s second-biggest airport.
The Telegraph said airline bosses have launched a review into concentrating the national flag carrier’s operations at Heathrow.
“It is understood that the review of Gatwick follows an order from IAG, BA’s FTSE 100 parent company, which is fearful that it could lose lucrative take-off and landing slots at Heathrow,” the newspaper reported.
There were reports last year that BA was considering quitting Gatwick, after it suspended flights from the airport at the end of April 2020. The doubts about BA’s future at Gatwick resurfaced in October
The Telegraph reported: “Given Heathrow’s popularity, take-off and landing slots are highly sought after and can be traded by airlines for tens of millions of pounds.”
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has issued a waiver of “use it or lose it” rules for the slots.
But if this is not extended, BA may need to focus on airports such as Heathrow where the slots are worth the most so that they do not lose them, added the newspaper.
It said BA declined to comment.