Man Flex talks about GB flying on 'BA Licensed Routes'.
For those that don't know:
The international route licences are awarded by the respective governments to GB Airways - not to BA because they are not BA routes.
All routes are GB routes (although a few of these routes have been flown by BA in the past, sometimes by BA itself under contract to GB ).
The slots are, and have always been, GB slots.
The aircraft are owned (plus some leased) by GB.
The capital to support the operation is provided by the owners of GB.
The crews and ground support are GB.
The engineering is done by GB (with some aspects contracted out to BMI and BA).
Handling is done by GB (with some contracting out to Iberia, TAP, BA etc, BA contracted to handle at LGW and LHR).
GB has been flying since 1931, it is not some fly-by-night dodgy little outfit.
GB pays a large commercial fee to BA for the right operate on certain agreed routes as a BA flight number in BA livery providing a BA standard service. This is a fixed sum which GB has to pay whether making a profit or a loss. GB pays an additional fee for each ticket bought through BA.com etc. Clearly it is a huge advantage to GB to market a flight under a world famous name that is renowned for safety, reliability and excellence (BA carry out regular audits of GB performance including check rides in the cockpit). Most routes would be unprofitable without big name clout.
The franchise comes up for renewal in Oct 2008. If the BACC force Rod Eddington to make a future renewal unworkable for GB, I think GB would align with another major carrier - lufthansa, easyjet, there would be plenty to choose from. GB would not just disappear.
It would be disastrous for BA at LGW - loss of traffic flow, check in jobs, presence etc. And for BA pilots hoping for a slice of the action at GB? They will have blown it, especially for themselves and their company, big time.
Last edited by fiftyfour; 19th Mar 2004 at 10:45.