ZitatQantas eyes Europe after UK runway back flip
Qantas has warned that it will be seeking new hubs in Europe and thus new travel destinations because of the UK’s recent decision to halt further runway development at London Heathrow and Gatwick on environmental grounds.
Speaking exclusively to ATW's Eco-Aviation Today, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline, while not ruling out other destinations in the UK, is now eyeing Berlin and Madrid as hubs for future growth. “Certainly the UK is important but we have to look for other gateway opportunities, and with Air Berlin joining oneworld Berlin will be a natural fit,” he said. “We are also looking at Madrid with British Airways to build its operations there with the pending merger with Iberia. Airlines are now making decisions around these new environmental taxes and restrictions such as runways,” he noted.
QF has four slots into Heathrow and will move to an all-A380 operation as soon as aircraft are delivered. It also is looking at other southern European hubs for its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar from next year. Another part of the equation is the UK's distance-based Passenger Duty Tax, which disadvantages Qantas against operators such as Emirates that hub from Dubai.
In July last year, the Dutch government was forced to abandon its deeply unpopular "eco tax" on passengers of €11 ($14) for intra-EU flights and €45 for intercontinental flights from all Dutch airports. The tax was introduced on July 1, 2008, in the face of strong protests by airline and airport groups and resulted in a significant drop in passengers through Schiphol, with most opting to fly to their intended destinations from Belgian or German airports.
Quelle: atwonline.com
