Olympic jets

It has been confirmed that during the airspace restriction period of the London Olympics, 14 July to 15 August, Heads of States' aircraft will gain no privileges with slot bookings as the events are not deemed 'State' occasions.

The Foreign Office estimates 150 aircraft visits at that level and say at this stage there have been few bookings.  All non-scheduled traffic will be banned into Heathrow.

The real challenge for all executive aircraft is the road journey to the London Olympic venues with Battersea the nearest helicopter operation and London City, for fixed wing, very limited both with slots and size of aircraft.

Biggin Hill is typical.  VIP arrivals, but only those who are part of the Olympic 'family' have the choice of a road journey of around 30 miles (or at least an hour) to Stratford, or Ebbsfleet (20 miles) cross country trip connecting with the Javelin shuttle, and a further 10 minutes on the train.  The airport says it has been allocated 21 slots per hour during the Olympic and Paralympics period.  Currently it has received getting on for 400 bookings including from Australia and 14% North Atlantic inbound.  About one-third are for the larger types including the ATR and BAe 146 series. www.bigginhillairport.com

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