BRITISH AIRWAYS - THERE IS LIFE NORTH OF WATFORD IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT NOTICED
Why is it that BA have failed to successfully operate long haul services from Manchester?
In the 1970’s they operated two services across the Atlantic, one to New York, and one to Canada (Toronto) using a 707 and a VC10. The 1980’s saw the appearance and disappearance of Los Angeles, whilst the Islamabad service which flew in the late 1990’s was chopped earlier this year. Now only New York remains (767).
So, with such a track record of reducing scheduled long haul services from Manchester, it would be reasonable to assume that the trend is across the board with other carriers, right?
Wrong!
The following carriers now operate scheduled long haul services, most on a daily basis, some with more that one destination:
American
Continental
Delta
US Airways
Air Canada
Cathay
Singapore
Malaysian
PIA (both Islamabad and New York)
Air India
Emirates (wow – a BA codeshare)
Virgin
Air Mauritius
Air Seychelles
Plus coming soon British Midland.
Interestingly QANTAS used to fly from Manchester until BA bought a share in the company. Then they stopped.
So, the conclusion is that the BA strategy is to fly everyone through their overcrowded hubs in London. Sorry, BA, but people are not stupid. They do not want the inconvenience of an inferior product when there is a better alternative in the north of the UK. For the benefit of BA board members, that is the area above Watford on the map where everyone eats black puddings whilst wearing knotted handkerchiefs on their head.
[This message has been edited by chihuahua (edited 27 September 2000).]
[This message has been edited by chihuahua (edited 27 September 2000).]
[This message has been edited by chihuahua (edited 27 September 2000).]