BA Cityflyer

[gilbertmchris]

Line training? Have you guys been recruiting or just upgrades?

C

[DutchBird-757]

No new entries. New skippers are all (3) f/o's getting command upgrade. Everyone should be linechecked I reckon by mid OCT.

[Rusland 17]

Originally Posted by RB311

Just seen an advert on the telly for british airways flights to edinburgh using the brand new fleet of aircraft from London City Airport, accompanied by pictures of said new shiny aircraft....

I thought I was going to be flying on one of the "new shiny aircraft" from Zurich to London City, too, but turned up at the gate to find that the flight was being operated by some charter outfit called Titan Airways on BA Cityflyer's behalf. Packed plane, no Club Europe seating, no cabin trolleys permitted, no apology, no compensation. It'll be Swiss for me next time.

[DutchBird-757]

I'm sorry, and with all due respect, but that's an unnessasary comment. What would you rather have? Being put on the next BA flight a couple hours later or go on/close to scheduele but on a different plane?

The bottom line is that BA made a big effort, also financially, in getting you to London asap. They could have just taken the easy option and re-booked you and left it at that. But purely the fact that they wet-leased an aircraft to get you all home shows commitment to their operation/promise.

Yes it's not a shiney new Embraer but the bottom line is that you get from A to B on scheduele. Over the past weeks I've seen numerous Swiss cancellations due to tech aircraft. That rarely happened but it seems more common nowadays. So to be honest, I wouldn't put my money on Swiss nowadays.

I hope you still re-consider flying BA next time and can also see the effort being made by BA to get you home.

P.S. I believe the reason behind subcontracting Titan was that some crewmembers (incl stanby crew) went sick.

[ajamieson]

I'm sorry but that's an unnessasary comment. What would you rather have? ...the bottom line is that you get from A to B on scheduele.

Oh, come on. BA clearly sells itself during the booking process as a product defined by service and comfort as well as schedule. The fact that BACF cannot get its own act together to have enough of its own aircraft and crews to provide the promised (and paid for) service is an inexcusable failure and to fall back on 'well, we got you there' beggars belief.

But I do agree with your comment about Swiss. Lamentable punctuality in my experience, stressful (mis)connections in ZRH and inflexible onboard service. Sounds like these carriers are as bad as each other...

[DutchBird-757]

Oh, come on. BA clearly sells itself during the booking process as a product defined by service and comfort as well as schedule. The fact that BACF cannot get its own act together to have enough of its own aircraft and crews to provide the promised (and paid for) service is an inexcusable failure and to fall back on 'well, we got you there' beggars belief.

We clearly have a different view on it. For me the bottom line is always the scheduele.

[Lord Molton Brown]

Rusland 17

I can see your point and also DB 757's. I assume you bought a Club Europe seat, in which case you ought to be entitled to a refund or some compensation, however if you bought a Traveller ticket, well, at least BACF got you to your destination, albeit by another carrier, but you got there. You refer to Titan as being some charter outfit, I can assure you, that they well respected in the business.

BACF does indeed have a brand new modern, reliable fleet of e-Jets, whether you choose to use them is up to you and frankly I could not care one bit, who you fly with, but I get irritated by posts such as yours. I would suggest you write to BACF, if you have not already done so.

I would like to add that I am not empoyed by any BA company or Titan, so I have no interest in either company.

Molton Brown

[airferries]

I see CJ8711 from EDI was diverted this morning, persumably to STN. It was a bit foggy but everything else got into LCY. Is there another reason for the diversion?

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by airferries

I see CJ8711 from EDI was diverted this morning, persumably to STN. It was a bit foggy but everything else got into LCY. Is there another reason for the diversion?

I live about 1 nm from City, and can tell you there must have been at least 4 or 5 missed approaches between 0700 and 0900 this morning, passing overhead my house. Always very distinctive. Couldn't see them because the base was right down at decision height and fluctuating wind as well. Not quite sure where the "everything else got in" comes from.

[airferries]

Well, from a certain flight tracking website I can see only two diversions, both BA Cityflyer Embraer 190s from EDI.
The diversions caused numerous delays to BA Cityflyer's schedule today. Could the ILS be upgraded from CAT I? I'm sure the airlines and passengers alike would appreciate it if it was.

[PAPI-74]

With a 1200 fpm ROD on the approach - unlikely. If the wind allows, Runway 09 can be used allowing a lower minima (430') but it is still a bit off of a CAT I.

[WHBM]

Well I can tell you that by the engine noise a couple of the missed approaches at least were propeller aircraft. Perhaps your "certain flight tracking website" isn't quite up to commercial aviation standards.

[airferries]

Or perhaps the propeller aircraft landed on a second approach. I would be appreciative if anyone had the figures for how many diversions there were from LCY this morning. But judging from the tone of WHBM, mabye I should just wait until the CAA statistics are released.

[dhc83driver]

several missed approaches by everyone including emb due to cloud base being at minima. Some got in on the second go but massive delays in the local area with lots of aircraft trying to get in. Thames was very busy!. Sometimes you can only hold for so long!. some disruption and titan came in to help later to recover the schedule. (Not many other airlines doing that to keep there passengers flying!)

[Expressflight]

On the matter of LCY diversions, I doubt many will use SEN until January as their ILS is withdrawn till then due to work on their runway extension.

[frankdjs]

Is BA still having issues today? Just saw a Titan 146 on final approach, as I was walking east from CW to Wapping.

Was around 11:00hr

[RJ100]

Something the rumour mill at BACF has been talking about for the past few months.

BA eyes E-190 options

British Airways is looking at exercising options for Embraer E-190s to meet growing demand for services at London City Airport.
BA director of strategy Robert Boyle says the last of 11 E-Jets it ordered in late 2008 for its CityFlyer unit will be delivered in November and BA has an imminent deadline in exercising options. The original deal with Embraer included six E-170s and five E-190s plus options for three E-190s.
Currently CityFlyer operates six 76-seat E-170s and four 98-seat E-190s. All of the E-190s have been received this year.
"We got one more [delivery] in November and then after that we have some options," Boyle says. "We're looking at the question now. We haven't quite finalised it yet."
He says the CityFlyer E-Jet operation is "going well" and a fleet of more than 11 aircraft may be required given current market conditions. "It's a market that is very focused on the financial market so it took a big hit in the credit crunch but it's really bouncing back now," Boyle says.
BA's London City operation consists of CityFlyer E-Jets on European routes and two mainline A318s which are used on the all-business class service to New York. CityFlyer previously operated BAE Systems Avro RJs but retired the last of the type in July.
Boyle says while the New York service which was launched last year is doing well there is currently no consideration of expanding the A318 London City operation to include more routes. "I don't see anything imminent there," he says.

[Leading_Edge_190]

Hi Guy's,

I noticed a few pages back people talking about training and people being upgraded and recieving their command. Does anyone know if their is likely to be any FO recruitment in the near future?

Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I have a UK JAA ATPL with 1000+ on the Ejet and my fingers firmly crossed hoping that cityflyer will need so additional hands soon.


Cheers and safe flying to all

[BAladdy]

E190SR options + CPH

Have heard that an announcement is to be expected by December at the latest.

I know it has only been operating for a week or so but does anyone know how well the CPH route is doing??.

[dhc83driver]

CPH is running and that`s a start, it normally takes a good few months for the loads to start picking up. Its all about proving it runs reliably to attract the business

I just hope they get more crew if we get the extra airframes!