BA Franchise
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BA Franchise
Hello everyone,
Just wondering about a rumour that i heard flying about, concerning a certain Willie Walsh buying back the Franchises of BA... Namely GB, Bmed and GSS?
Can anyone shed any light on this, dont think its in his short-term plan but more of the long-term... Anyone else heard anything?
Thanks
Just wondering about a rumour that i heard flying about, concerning a certain Willie Walsh buying back the Franchises of BA... Namely GB, Bmed and GSS?
Can anyone shed any light on this, dont think its in his short-term plan but more of the long-term... Anyone else heard anything?
Thanks
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Im not so sure, GB hold 17% of Gatwick's slots - without BA, these would have to be released and Gatwick would be Orange within weeks, dont imagine WW wants that to happen !
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From very high source
Walsh is going to pay off GB and BMed but leave GSS alone (sort of)
GB and Bmed will be offered cash for the remaining term of their franchise or be allowed to operate until the end of it then lose all routes.
GSS will be forced to have 75% BA Captains or lose their contract well.
Not bothered about LGW slots. Thats next to go.
NN
Walsh is going to pay off GB and BMed but leave GSS alone (sort of)
GB and Bmed will be offered cash for the remaining term of their franchise or be allowed to operate until the end of it then lose all routes.
GSS will be forced to have 75% BA Captains or lose their contract well.
Not bothered about LGW slots. Thats next to go.
NN
Last edited by normal_nigel; 25th Aug 2005 at 22:42.
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NN - how can they "lose all routes" - they don't belong to BA? There are no route rights within the EU and for the rights for non-EU routes belong to the franchisees. At the very least Willie could be faced with trying to compete against the former franchisees flying in their own colours and with much lower costs than his or, even worse nightmare, flying against them as, say, VAA franchisees? I suspect he's got a lot more problems much closer to home than worrying about something that actually works and is to the benefit of all parties.
I'm sure GB would be delighted if they held 17% of the Gatwick slots, but their figure is nothing like it! It is actually 6.18% for the year to 31Mar05, the last for which figures have been published.
GB Airways and BMed both operate services using their own slots, allocated to them via the normal slot process. Normal Nigel's statement is simply untrue.
Why on earth would WW want to spend a pile of cash either buying franchises; or paying compensation to the franchise operators for early termination of their contracts with BA? It is a rather barking idea unless he thinks that by transferring flying to lower-cost franchise bases, he will save more in operating costs from BA than he has to pay out to buy the franchises in the first place. It's one hell of a high-risk strategy and it also wouldn't help to reduce the costbase of whatever core of BA would be left after you had done this - ergo most unlikely.
GB Airways and BMed both operate services using their own slots, allocated to them via the normal slot process. Normal Nigel's statement is simply untrue.
Why on earth would WW want to spend a pile of cash either buying franchises; or paying compensation to the franchise operators for early termination of their contracts with BA? It is a rather barking idea unless he thinks that by transferring flying to lower-cost franchise bases, he will save more in operating costs from BA than he has to pay out to buy the franchises in the first place. It's one hell of a high-risk strategy and it also wouldn't help to reduce the costbase of whatever core of BA would be left after you had done this - ergo most unlikely.
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Indeed Flightrider - and the strategy worked so well iro Dan Air, Cityflyer and BRAL etc that I'm sure he'd love to do more of the same - not!
NN - to my knowledge, where actual route licenses exist, they all belong to the franchisees - not to BA.
NN - to my knowledge, where actual route licenses exist, they all belong to the franchisees - not to BA.
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Good wind up right enough -- who is the high-up source -- the LHR caterer's ??
A little while ago Branson was spotted getting friendly with the GB owners down in Morocco -- Along the lines of first refusal if the franchise wasn't renewed -- It was -- If it wasn't he fancied resurecting Virgin Sun bringing GB in tow.
A little while ago Branson was spotted getting friendly with the GB owners down in Morocco -- Along the lines of first refusal if the franchise wasn't renewed -- It was -- If it wasn't he fancied resurecting Virgin Sun bringing GB in tow.
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Just look at where WW flew to as soon as he took over at Aer Lingus, FAO, AGP, PMI, TFS. All good money making routes. Never were even contemplated under the old regime only on a charter basis.
Only clouds for GB is if he decides to bring the routes in-house. But BA would probably cock it up and couldn't operate at the lower cost bases within the franchises.
Only clouds for GB is if he decides to bring the routes in-house. But BA would probably cock it up and couldn't operate at the lower cost bases within the franchises.
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Can't see them bringing GB or Bmed 'in house' unless BA Mainline buy them both out. They're cheap and not so tied up with daft union agreements that stem from the BOAC/BEA days. the Gatwick operation has been on the cards for a major shakeup for ages so there could be some warped truth in the rumour....
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Perhaps Bland Group will put in a bid for BA, and run it as a franchise of GB Airways.
And before you laugh that one out of court, just check out Bland Group's profit record over the last few years, and their asset-build . . .
And before you laugh that one out of court, just check out Bland Group's profit record over the last few years, and their asset-build . . .
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They're cheap and not so tied up with daft union agreements
Perhaps Bland Group will put in a bid for BA.......just check out Bland Group's profit record over the last few years, and their asset-build
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Actually it was a wind up. Who said rumours had to be true?
As for the BACC screwing your lot, why don't you ask some of your ex BA Captains how much pension they are on?
I can tell you that some of them are on pensions of around £120000 and they are still prostituting themselves in the LHS of a 744 for about £60000.
If anyone is keeping the salaries in GSS down it is these greedy b*****s who work for way below the market rate, whilst drawing training/management enhanced crystalised APS pension.
As for the BA guys there, if its not our work who's is it?
I quite agree that it should be done in house. However, far from TUPE, we should just get some freighters and cancel the contract with GSS. I'm afraid it wouldn't be your way in, as you so understandably desperately want.
I'm sure you will manage just fine without BA contracts and BA pilots.
We'd prefer it too. Everyone's a winner.
As for the BACC screwing your lot, why don't you ask some of your ex BA Captains how much pension they are on?
I can tell you that some of them are on pensions of around £120000 and they are still prostituting themselves in the LHS of a 744 for about £60000.
If anyone is keeping the salaries in GSS down it is these greedy b*****s who work for way below the market rate, whilst drawing training/management enhanced crystalised APS pension.
As for the BA guys there, if its not our work who's is it?
I quite agree that it should be done in house. However, far from TUPE, we should just get some freighters and cancel the contract with GSS. I'm afraid it wouldn't be your way in, as you so understandably desperately want.
I'm sure you will manage just fine without BA contracts and BA pilots.
We'd prefer it too. Everyone's a winner.
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Normal Nigel
First i must say I do not work for BA or a franchise or GSS, I work for another "Flag Carrier" In europe.
I find your selfish attitude breathtaking, the last part of your post suggested that you would prefer to see all of the GSS jobs come in house and the GSS pilots not to be integrated into BA, why is that? are you so much better?? I dont think so, but its people like you who give BA pilots such a bad name due to the Iam superior attitude. Surely it would be better for all if the GSS pilots were integated into BA on BA terms and conditions? Everybody wins then. When will you BA guys learn to work together with other pilot groups for a better life for all instead of trying to impose yourselfs on others and give nothing? (BACX is a another good example). We all do the same job, lets try and improve it for all.
First i must say I do not work for BA or a franchise or GSS, I work for another "Flag Carrier" In europe.
I find your selfish attitude breathtaking, the last part of your post suggested that you would prefer to see all of the GSS jobs come in house and the GSS pilots not to be integrated into BA, why is that? are you so much better?? I dont think so, but its people like you who give BA pilots such a bad name due to the Iam superior attitude. Surely it would be better for all if the GSS pilots were integated into BA on BA terms and conditions? Everybody wins then. When will you BA guys learn to work together with other pilot groups for a better life for all instead of trying to impose yourselfs on others and give nothing? (BACX is a another good example). We all do the same job, lets try and improve it for all.
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Surely it would be better for all if the GSS pilots were integated into BA on BA terms and conditions?
GSS is nothing to do with BA, except for the fact it does our freight work and we have some 744 P1 jobs for that fact.
Other than that the only ties are the ex BA prostitutes reducing the market rate for 744 P1's.
I don't see you criticising them?
Oh and its nothing to do with any "I'm superior" attitude. To suggest that shows your own petty insecurities. Its about BA pilots doing BA work.
Next time, before you post, try to find out the facts behind the post before you go off on a little rant.
Oh and if you'd bothered to check your facts, you would see that the GSS situation bears no resemblance to BACX (a wholly owned subsidiary).
The arguments for integrating them into BA do have merit.
Sorry to confuse you with some facts but you should try using some sometime.
Last edited by normal_nigel; 26th Aug 2005 at 09:43.