Long Haul Expansion
When BA/IAG purchased BMI, all the talk was of new long-haul destinations. However, we've only seen 4 new routes by my count (AUS, KUL, Seoul, Chengdu) + a few frequency increases. BA itself also has routes now that it didn't used to operate but BMI did (Almaty, Beirut) but these aren't truly "new". 4 routes in 4 years is hardly break-neck expansion, so why is this?Slots (or lack of) is less of an issue for LH, and BA have plenty anyway. A daily rotation only requires 1 slot-pair, there are plenty of them they could find from their vast SH network. Maybe a lack of suitable aircraft/crew? 787 and A380 deliveries have been almost like-for-like replacements for 747/767 frames. Maybe the reduction in fuel price offers opportunities to delay retirements, freeing up aircraft for new routes?
Finally, maybe there just aren't that many opportunities. Is there really a list of 5-10 cities BA could launch immediately? Slow and steady growth with the odd new route here and there might be the only way. Realistically where could they fly?
SJC and MSP have long been rumoured in the US and will surely happen soon, SCL & BOG in South America, maybe Durban, Guongzhou, Manila?