Announcement by GB Airways
I will leave the interpretaion of this annoucement to others with more knowledge than I have. The following is taken from the GB Airways website:
Franchise partner joins BA Connect at Manchester
British Airways’ franchise partner GB Airways is to fly under the new BA Connect brand from Manchester from September 1, 2006.
The airline has enjoyed a highly successful franchise partnership with British Airways for 15 years and currently flies to 35 destinations from Manchester, Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
However, with the launch of BA Connect, the wholly owned British Airways subsidiary flying from 14 airports in the UK, GB Airways has decided to fully become part of the regional operation.
Its flights from Gatwick and Heathrow are unaffected
The move to become a BA Connect franchise partner means that from September 1 GB Airways flights from Manchester will offer:
• A single class cabin on all aircraft.
• High-quality, buy on board, hot and cold catering.
• Year-round, changeable, one-way fares
• A new offering for business and frequent flyers called ‘BA Connect Plus’.
Restricted and non-changeable tickets disappear, all tickets will be changeable, no matter how little they cost*. British Airways’ Club Europe brand will no longer feature on the GB Airways services from Manchester.
There will be two ticket types:
• ‘BA Connect’ - a non-restricted and changeable ticket*. Travellers will also accumulate BA Miles on every fare.
• ‘BA Connect Plus’ – a non-restricted and changeable ticket with airport lounge access and instant seat selection at the time of booking included in the price. Travellers will be able to earn Executive Club frequent flyer points and BA Miles.
All customers will be eligible for membership of British Airways’ Executive Club, as well as having access to on-line check-in, on-line boarding pass printing, and self-service check-in.
The GB Airways BA Connect service will takes to the air on September 1, 2006. Bookings will be made through the ba.com website from June 6 as well as through travel agents and the British Airways telephone reservations centres.
Prior to the official move to BA Connect GB Airways customers may continue to make reservations through the normal booking channels**
The aircraft livery and staff uniforms will remain unchanged.
Kevin Hatton managing director of GB Airways, said: “This is a natural and strategic business move for us and will avoid any confusion for passengers travelling from Manchester. There will be a consistent and high quality product offering across the BA Connect network with the distinctive British Airways brand and the wide range of benefits associated with a full service airline at competitive prices.”
David Evans managing director of BA Connect said: “In the five weeks since BA Connect was launched we have had some very favourable feedback from our customers who are enjoying new low fares, quality food and drink to buy on board and the same quality services. These include on-line check-in, home printed boarding passes and the ability to buy fares that give them access to the Terraces Lounges and seat selection at time of booking.
"GB Airways customers will also be able to enjoy all these benefits in future and I'm sure their customers will be equally impressed. I wish them all the very best in their new venture."
*Changes to tickets will incur a competitive £30 administration fee per transaction, with the exception of the highest level, refundable ‘BA Connect Plus fare’, which will be exempt from administration fees for changes.
** Customers with existing Club Europe bookings, or making new bookings before 6 June for flights from 1 September will have the opportunity to change to the new fares or claim a refund without penalty