Originally Posted by
Boxkite Montgolfier
I am beginning to wonder what is in the tea served at BA Board Meetings in recent times?
Announcements of large scale B737 Max orders, hard rumours of removing First Class, potential changes to historic Staff arrangements, Pension mismanagement etc
As described by others, BA Board did not order the aircraft, they are ordered by IAG and allocated as later seems appropriate, expected to be to the various Low-Cost arms; Vueling, Level, and BA Gatwick.
Did you see IAG also ordered 14 A321XLR the previous day at Paris ?
Every time for a generation or more a large BA/IAG order has been placed there are comments about "they are going all Boeing which is why Airbus lost", "they are going all Airbus which is why Boeing lost", "they deliberately try to keep it 50-50", and so on, selected to match the circumstance.
First Class is generally on its way out, worldwide; Business Class now is better, especially for seating, than First was a generation ago (when it was nothing more than larger, somewhat-reclining 2-abreast seats). Revenue per square metre of cabin floor is falling below that for Business. A notable proportion of F occupancy is not paying the full whack at all, but upgrades, mileage redemption, toadying to CIPs/VIPs on lesser tickets, etc.