BA Narrowbodies - 737/A320 Fleet History
Hoping there are some people who can share their knowledge of BA's narrowbody fleet history:
Starting with the 737-200s (I think as Trident replacements). The first batch was G-BGDA through BGDU delivered 80-81. One little curiosity: anyone know why GBGDA (youngest line number) was delivered in 81, after BGDB-DU? Then there was BGJE - BGJM leased 82/83 for Airtours.
Then there was the lease of a batch 737-200s (BKYA-BKYP) as an interim measure in part to replace Tridents. They were one-year rolling leases from 84/85 as BA didn't want to commit to a new generation narrowbody (A320, 737 Classic, or MD) until the privatisation issue was dealt with. This explains why BA were taking -200s in 84 when everyone else was ordering the newer models. In the end those 1-year rolling leases of -200s lasted decades of course meaning BA was operating -200s in to the new millennium!
The first Classics were a few -300s leased from other airlines in 88-90, but BA's own -400s weren't ordered until 91/92 with the G-DOCA-DOCX series. Dan Airs -400s joined the fleet in 92 followed by some other leases in 93.
10x 500s were leased in 2000, I think to go to Gatwick. (G-GFFA-GFFJ). Then some more -300 lease in 2000/2001 G-LGTE-GTI.
The large A320 series order came in 1998, just a 6 years after they started taking 737-400s.
Think all of the above is correct from my own understanding, but if anyone else could shed some light on the narrowbody orders that would be interesting.
In particular, it seems BA delayed the new generation decision from 83 until the 90s - when they opted for 737 Classics and then A320s within a few years of each other?