View Full Version : How come BA doesn't use Airbus aircraft for Longhaul?
shon7
20th Mar 2002, 21:05
Most European Carriers have at least some form of Airbus Aircraft for their Longhaul, and there is speculation that soon they will have all airbus fleets.. .. .However, BA seems to be an exception? Why so?. .I thought UK was an integral part of the Airbus Industrie?
Hand Solo
21st Mar 2002, 03:17
Probably because they didn't offer them at the right price, or the range/payload profile wasn't right for the routes BA had in mind, or because they want to continue playing Boeing and Airbus off against each other to get the best deal. Still, I live in hope of that elusive A330 deal. Also BA are privately owned, not state owned, so the fact that UK industry plays a large part in Airbus is irrelevant. As it happens UK industry plays in a large part in Boeing aircraft too.. . . . <small>[ 20 March 2002, 23:21: Message edited by: Hand Solo ]</small>
747FOCAL
21st Mar 2002, 18:58
And Scarebuses are slow gas guzzlers compared to a 777 or a 747-400. They don't carry as much either. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
eeper
23rd Mar 2002, 19:46
I read a Business Traveller article some years ago that suggested that passengers tend to prefer Airbus for shorthaul aircraft, but Boeing for longhaul.... .. .Personally I'm surprised that they even notice what plane they're in.
M.Mouse
24th Mar 2002, 00:58
747focal. .. .I stand to be corrected but LHR - HKG I believe that on average the fuel burn is about 60 tonnes less in an A340 compared to a 747 - 400.
chippy63
24th Mar 2002, 15:52
M Mouse,. .. .I wonder how that translates into fuel burn per seat, if the A340 has 250 seats, and the 400 has up to 390? These figures taken from Lufthansa's configurations as shown in their timetable.
Dan Winterland
24th Mar 2002, 19:23
B747-400:10 tonnes an hour fuel burn. A340-300: 6 tonnes. 390 x 60% = 250ish. All depends on how many punters you expect to carry.
Lucifer
24th Mar 2002, 21:16
Yes, but that negates any cargo carriage.
Unwell_Raptor
25th Mar 2002, 01:31
I don't know the details (and we no longer have The Guvnor to advise us) but I am under the impression that there is more to choosing aircraft than the day-to-day economics. Mainly there is the sticker price, and you then have to factor in the credit terms, spares deals, guaranteed buybacks, part exchanges, and other details that we should not talk about (!) Arthur Daley would be quite at home in the airliner market.