BA capacity increase SUM '05

[mattredd]

Seems as if a few routes will have a nice increase in capacity over the next summer. All the data is from here :-

http://www.britishairways.com/flightTimetable.servlet

YVR goes from 7x weekly to 10x weekly
HKG goes from 17x weekly to 21x weekly
IAH goes from 9x weekly to 13x weekly (excluding via ORD frequencies)
LAX goes from 14x weekly to 21x weekly

How does BA achieve this increase in capacity without receiving any new LH aircraft?

[Caslance]

Errr.... by reducing the frequency on other long-haul routes, maybe?

[TheOddOne]

Or...

Maybe bring back some more LH flights to LGW???

The new Pier 6 will be open then, just the thing for some more premium quality flights.

We live in hope...


The Odd One

[mattredd]

But where Caslance?

[Caslance]

Other Heathrow flights, I suppose....you know, flight A goes from 10x to 14x weekly, while flight B goes from 10x weekly to 6x weekly.

Same level of aircraft and crew utilisation, but different allocation of aircraft to routes.

[mattredd]

The only flight that I can think of that has it's frequency cut in the summer is CPT, are there any more?

[thegoaf]

Yes, it looks like DXB and ANU are also being reduced. But I suspect that they have also rescheduled some maintenance. That would enable them to scrape by until they can get additional 777's. Has anyone heard whether BA are going to get the 777's that were on order by Delta? There are 5 of them all Rolls powered.

[mattredd]

I haven't heard anything about BA taking up Delta's 777s, but I do remember that they had 16 options on the 777 that they never took up, probably due to 9/11.

What will BA do if they get extra rights to India and China? That must surely mean that they will have to order or lease additional aircraft?

[TopBunk]

Guys

Remember also that BA are converting 4? SH 767's to LG configuration early 2005. This will release some other LH hulls (74, 77) to the plan. Also, at the moment there are still a few RB211's awaiting repair from bearing problems that has probably removed a couple of 747's from the operational plan. Add to that the fact that 2% has been taken out of the flying programme this winter for robustness while EWS is made to work and you can begin to see where by next summer some capacity can be made available.

[no, no, no]

I've looked at the BA timetables for next May on their website and none of these changes are showing????? LHRIAH is still just daily via ORD and LA still 17 per week.
To be honest if BA were considering going direct to IAH surely they wouldn't increase frequency at the same time - a direct would increase capacity alone.........

[mattredd]

Sorry no, no, no the IAH additional frequencies I mentioned are from LGW. Most of the changes I put in my first post only start in July.