Willie Walsh was unconvincing this morning about the reasons why he needs to reduce declared profits by £350m. The "expected fine" story might be partly true, but sure as hell it's not the whole truth.
Mind you he did a good job of clearing himself personally from any involvement in a cartel, just in case of a criminal prosecution.
BA announces a replacement of 14 of their oldest 737's
BA have announced the replacement of 14 737's with airbus 319's. Of course, these are old LHR aircraft, not new ones, the new airbus's go to LHR. This opens up a can of worms at LGW as there will, for some time, be a dual fleet operating alongside each other. Is it going to be a dual-base airbus fleet - which asks, bid-line or carmen? And presumably that would also mean all the few nightstops LGW has would have to be given to tours on the airbus?
British Airways has ordered eight new Airbus A320 family aircraft for delivery 2008-2010.
The airline said the move is the first step towards a single shorthaul fleet across British Airways’ network.
The airline will also upgrade the Gatwick shorthaul fleet by replacing the oldest 14 Boeing 737s with Airbus A319 aircraft.
Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive said: “We’ve made considerable progress at Gatwick, particularly on costs. Gatwick is an important part of our shorthaul strategy and replacing the older Boeing 737 fleet with Airbus aircraft will give us flexibility across both airports.”
British Airways will place a major order for replacement and growth widebodied aircraft later this year for delivery in the next decade.
British Airways currently has a shorthaul fleet of 67 Airbus aircraft. The order will boost the Airbus shorthaul fleet to 79 aircraft as a further 13 are on order and nine older A320s are due to leave the fleet in 2007-2008.
At Heathrow, the airline has the following shorthaul fleet: 33 Airbus A319 aircraft, 26 Airbus A320 aircraft, 8 Airbus A321 aircraft, 13 Boeing 757 aircraft and seven Boeing 767 aircraft.
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The interiors of many of the A319's are already tired and as someone stated will be even worst by 2010. It is a shame that LGW has been treated`as`second class again and probably the residue of aircraft will be more second hand from LHR. At least it appears to ensure some future.
So every penny they made from the fuel surcharge is going to pay the fine for introducing an illegally derived fuel surcharge, brilliant!
If they had just come up with an arbitary figure and applied it, all well and good but no, they have to ring around everyone else and find out how much the opposition is going to charge.
Maybe they'll finally get rid of one of the most stupid charges ever conceived after this. Fuel charge schmuel charge.
If I get a ticket on the train I expect it to cover the cost of train/track/station maintenance, staff costs, admin charges and the electricity/diesel used by the train. I don't pay for the fuel when I catch a cab, it's included in the fare. Why should aviation be different?
I could start an airline where you fly for free! Oh, of course I would charge a maintenance surcharge, a cabin crew surcharge, a pilot surcharge, a seat surcharge (refundable if you choose to stand ), airways surcharge, aircraft devaluation surcharge, security surcharge and a management bonus surcharge.
That'll be 350 pounds please. Oh, plus tax of course! But the ticket is free. Staff get 50% discount cause I'm nice.
Maybe the doubtless 'generous' severance packege pots for the two and perhaps any 'ex gratia' company money thrown into said pension pots could be recovered and go a little way to passing SOME profit share to those who have actually WORKED for the customers and a little cheer to shareholders?
So rumour has it.....GB will have an extra 17 hulls this time next year.... Add in IG which we've just got, and IH which will arrive next year to the 14 from BA, and we're only 1 different on numbers. Which isn't bad for rumour!
GB are still awaiting an announcement from management, which was quoted by the MD as 'commercially sensitive news'. This could be it.
Why would BA and GB both operate and Airbus fleet, crewed separately, maintenanced by different companies, handled differently etc etc??
Interestingly, our engineer in Malaga has done his A319 course.....
No doubt good news for BA crews in some way, and GB crews will get shafted. I look forward to my command going back by 20 yrs, and not getting the pay or perks that BA get!
Nice one! Can't remember if the guys who did the collusion lost their jobs or not. Whatever, hanging is too good for these muppets. 
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