British Airways to scrap Gatwick short-haul flights

British Airways said it was scrapping most short-haul operations at London’s no.2 airport Gatwick, blaming pilots for rejecting a plan to set up a new low-cost unit to better compete against easyJet (EZJ.L) as flying returns after the pandemic.

BA, owned by parent IAG (ICAG.L), shifted most of its flying to its main hub at Britain’s biggest airport Heathrow during COVID-19 as the pandemic decimated its revenues.

It had said it would only rebuild its European network from Gatwick, where easyJet is the biggest airline, if it could make it profitable.

The airline could now sell its portfolio of short-haul slots at the airport. Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air (WIZZ.L), for example, has long stated its interest in building a bigger presence at Gatwick, south of London.

BA said on Thursday it was disappointed that pilots union BALPA had rejected its plan for the subsidiary, which would have been British Airways branded.

“After many years of losing money on European flights from the airport, we were clear that coming out of the pandemic, we needed a plan to make Gatwick profitable and competitive,” BA said.

BALPA said despite its best efforts, it was unable to agree revised terms that were acceptable to its members.

“BALPA remains open to future negotiations with British Airways to address our members’ concerns with the proposal for LGW short-haul or about any other part of the business,” Acting General Secretary Martin Chalk said.

Shares in IAG were trading down 2 per cent at 171 pence.

British Airways and rivals like Air France and Lufthansa face a slower recovery from the pandemic than low-cost operators because demand for long haul remains far behind short haul.

BA said its operations at Gatwick would be limited to a small number of domestic services connecting to long-haul flights.

“We will pursue alternative uses for the London Gatwick short-haul slots,” it said.