VARIG/AIR NEW ZEALAND Services out of Heathrow back in the late 70's

[al20a]

Hi All,
Can anyone tell me what VARIG/AIR NEW ZEALAND Services where out of Heathrow back in the late 70's. Can anyone tell me what the flights Numbers and destinations where and aircraft used for the years 1977/78/79.

Thanks
Albert

[The SSK]

I could look it up for you. I think at the time ANZ were not operating into LHR on their own account, they were flying AKL-LAX and handing over the DC10 to BA to operate the BA-branded LAX-LHR service.

[TheOddOne]

Albert,
From my recollection, Air New Zealand was operated by a DC10 in ANZ colours between LHR and SFO (or maybe LAX) by British Airways crew under a BA flight number. Sorry I can't remember the flight number from nearly 30 years ago but BA267 rings a vague bell.

Varig were likewise a DC10. Can't remember any other detail...

TheOddOne

desk jockey,
Sorry yes, you\'re right it was LAX.
This was considered by BA in Terminal 3 to be a prestige flight (Hollywood & all that, lots of 1st class pax etc)
TOO

[al20a]

Thanks,
Can you find out if Air New Zealand/BA Operated two DC-10's on the Sundays back in 1977-79.

Albert

[SLFguy]

Wow memories...I was an 'expat brat' in the Solomons at that time.. we used to join the ANZ flight at Nadi to Los Angeles, (stopped for fuel in Honolulu I think). The flight number and crew then changed in LA.

I always remember those little Tiki thingy's that came in the 'welcome pack'.

[The SSK]

Varig
1977
RG765 Wed 1935 D10 LON-PAR-RIO-SAO
RG761 Fri 2130 707 LON-LIS-RIO-SAO
1978
RG765 Wed/Fri 1935 D10 LON-PAR-RIO-SAO
1979
RG765 Wed 1915 D10 LON-PAR-RIO-SAO
RG763 Fri 2130 D10 LON-LIS-RIO-SAO
Forgot to note which PAR airport, presumably ORY

ANZ/BA
1977 BA599 Dly 1555 D10 LON-LAX
connex with TE555 LAX-HNL-AKL-CHC, twice a week add’l call NAN

1978 BA were using 747s LON-LAX-LON

1979 – this is curious – BA283 Dly LON-LAX-LON turnaround services were 6pw 747s and 1pw (Thu) DC10s. Where did they get the DC10? Even more curious, I was responsible for BA’s US route planning in 1979 and I can’t remember anything about a one-off D10.

[WHBM]

A bit more information (because I actually used to use these flights LHR-LAX.

The Air NZ DC-10 used to route Auckland - Honolulu - LAX - LHR, operating as a NZ flight as far as LAX and a BA flight on to London. There was a joint marketing agreement but no codeshare in modern style. I seem to recall BA 599 as a flight number. The LAX - London - LAX legs took just over 24 hours round trip, and if for any reason the westbound flight from London was cancelled (this happened a few times, this being a period of industrial unrest at Heathrow) then the eastbound plane was turned round at LAX, on the principle that NZ didn't hand an aircraft over to BA unless they were getting the previous day's one back. There was no other branding for BA on the service. The safety announcements were prerecorded tape in a notable Kiwi accent, which surprised some. Cabin crews were standard BA and flight deck SOUNDED Brits, so I guess BA crews got the DC-10 conversion.

In May 1978, in a week I was using the flight, it changed over to BA 747-200s on the BA London leg on most days as the -200s came on stream. I recall the 747 was all seats sold from the word go, the DC-10 had been well short of the demand for the flights. BA then started San Francisco flights as well.

When the 747s came along the DC-10s carried on for one or two flights a week and got used on other BA flights from London (I seem to recall Montreal was one). Remember at this time BA had no good mid-sized long haul aircraft, the L1011-500 hadn't come along yet.

There was an article in Flight magazine about the shared DC-10 op at the time which gave detailed information on how it was all organised.

[renfrew]

The London-Montreal flight number was BA075.
There were other DC-10 destinations at various times including Boston and Miami.
I actually flew on the last BA flight operated by an ANZ a/c which was BA177 LHR/JFK on 26Oct80.
I believe it was going to pick up spare parts stored at JFK and then continue empty to LAX for return to ANZ.
Ken.

[al20a]

Hi Ken,
So would you say there would mainly be just one flight of an Air New Zealand DC-10 out of Heathrow each day. I can't seem to remember if it was one or two DC-10's when I went on Sundays back in the late 70's. I've also found in an Old LAAS magazine that VARIG would alternate between 707's and DC-10's, but would there be two flights a day because again trying to think back if I would of seen a VARIG 707 as well as a DC-10 on the same day and again Im talking about Sunday visits to Heathrow back in the late 70's.

Albert

[TheOddOne]

The BA leg was definitely BA crew who went to AMS to do their DC10 conversion and 6-month check. I had a friend who was a skipper doing this operation.

Pity they didn't open their eyes more to the positive qualities of the DC10. It wasn't until they inherited the Cali 10s at LGW that they found out what this machine could have done for them. Too late, then, of course...

Cheers,
TheOddOne

[renfrew]

Albert,
It was a long time ago.I do have some old timetables but you cannot rely on them to be completely accurate.
A Varig winter 79 timetable shows DC-10 on Wed and Fri,707 on Sun and 707 freighter on Sat.
I think there were 2 ANZ DC-10s at one point,for example a 1978 timetable has it operating to LAX/MIA/YUL on various days but I cannot see 2 on a Sun.
Ken.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<Pity they didn't open their eyes more to the positive qualities of the DC10.>>

Am I having hallucinations, or did those DC-10s have two different colour schemes - BA one side and ANZ on the other? It was during my time at Heathrow Tower so I must have worked hundreds of those flights. They were Brit crews flying EGLL-KLAX - anyone remember Brian Leucaroti (sorry if spelling wrong) who used to fly them?

[al20a]

Thanks Ken,
I found a movements page in an old LAAS magazine from 1977 highlighting VARIG's movements over a three month period between Nov 1976- Jan 1977 and it looked like they alternated between 707's and DC-10's one flight a day.
Which I think is what it is today with the MD-11's.

Albert

[SLFguy]

HD..

All the one's I ever flew on were in all over ANZ livery.