- Filton, unlike Lulsgate can already handle all sizes of planes up to A380. BA will soon take delivery of its first A380s. I guess the current plan is for them to be maintained at Heathrow. However, with BA already having a maintenance base at Cardiff, it may be handy if some of the ferry flights can be diverted to places to Filton, freeing up extra slots on the runway at Heathrow. Cargo - Filton could handle a small amount of cargo. The Royal Mail terminal for Bristol is already on site at Filton. In the future this could be used again to relieve slots on the busier airports in the UK. Manufacturing - Filton is already used to fly out A400M wings. This could continue, and with a future, Filton may prove capable of attracting more work. As for being viable, Filton has just posted a profit for the second consecutive year. 1.2 million in 2010, 0.5 million in 2011. That seems quite viable for an airfield that is being choked to death in order to sell it for houses, lego and traffic jams. Etc. So I believe that Filton is viable, and should be given a future. It is true to say that Lulsgate is good as a passenger terminal, but it is shocking at all the things Filton is good at - inclding GA. Soon, without Filton, there won't be anywhere in Bristol where pilots can train at all. Closing such golden assets is shocking. Truly shocking.