British Airways - 2

[jabird]

This might be one for Jetblast, but I take my hat off to WW for his performance on BBCQT last Thursday:

Susan Pompous (Lib Dem) Kramer: "I remember that Christmas when flights were stopped in the bad weather, I don't remember you resigning".

Walsh: "That's because I don't run the airport".

I'd have given her a Red Dwarf response: Susan - reason one why I didn't resign is that I run BA, not BAA. And reason 2 is that I run BA, not BAA. Just such a key point that I felt I should mention it twice.

[crewmeal]

jaibird Another good example that proves politicians are so out of touch with reality.

[WHBM]

I saw that on the television on the BBC as well, and was just longing for Willie Walsh, having received that nastily-spiteful but completely incorrect comment, to continue "..... and I would have thought that having recently been the MP for Richmond, of all places, for five years recently, Mrs Kramer, you might have some understanding of how the aviation, which a significant proportion of your constituents must actually work in, and a handful of self-appointed whingers continually complain about, is organised .....".

It's programmes like this that make you realise how competent those high up in industry can be, and how completely inept those who have pushed themselves into politics are in comparison.

[clareview]

BA fleet

Has anyone heard anything about an order for 10-12 A320 family? If so is it for extra capacity, to replace some older Airbus frames or the long awaited phase out of the LGW 737's?

[cornishsimon]

Rumor has it that it's 10 A320s for LHR, this will allow some current LHR frames to be cascaded down to LGW and replace some of the older 734s


cs

[Skipness One Echo]

Saw that elsewhere, however LGW getting LHR second slops does not tie in with an RFP for LGW fleet replacement that needs to be done soon. Unless they're just going to muddle through as before.....

[cornishsimon]

Wonder where you saw that skippy


cs

[Skipness One Echo]

I saw it in a place where people have demanding first world type problems and I enjoy reading for the sheer comedy value.

DYKWIA indeed.....

[cornishsimon]

And what of my first world problems !!!!!


cs

[Currock Base]

Skippy - I agree with your comments regarding the LGW RFP. The decision isn't made. The 10 are either replacements for BA A320's with leases coming to an end, replacements for the older UUA series or replacements for some of the ex BMI hulls which are non standard. I understand from an Airbus Capt that some ex BMI hulls can't accept ACARS as the wiring looms weren't included in the build.

BA are very good at understanding their options, so they may do a trade off for LGW looking at the incremental cost of extending Airbus leases vs other new aircraft. I don't think that decision has been made yet.

[BAladdy]

Another rumour that has surfaced is that BACF will add E195's for a new LGW operation

GATWICK ROUNDUP 09-10-12 - UK & N.Ireland - Aircraft Movements and Sightings - Aviation Forums - Flightglobal Airspace

IAG currently hold 15 E-Jet options

I personally think in the next few weeks that IAG will confirm that they have ordered E195's as part of a fleet replacement program for LGW with the rest of the fleet being made up of A320's. The flights are likely to continue to be operated by LGW's Single Fleet operation

[goerring]

Dont forget the 16 C Series ordered at Paris last year by " major European carrier".........operated by Cityflyer at LGW ?.....cuts fuel costs, cuts labour costs....

[Omnipresent]

BACF ordering E195s for the LGW operation is at odds with no business plan for fleet renewal at LGW being approved by either BA or IAG.

Don't forget that due to scope clauses the E195s are currently limited to less than 100 seats which works for LCY but I don't think such a configuration would work for a LGW operation.

[TURIN]

E195s?

Surely the training/logistics costs would be too much for LGW. At least with the 320 series all the in house requirements already exist. EG Crewing and Engineering.

[Skipness One Echo]

Don't forget that due to scope clauses the E195s are currently limited to less than 100 seats which works for LCY

Mainline operating ERJ195s would mean no SCOPE clause and seat restriction required. CFE are prevented from operating from LGW and LHR under SCOPE so there would be an industrial dispute, and a serious one at that if BA renege on that. The whole BA pilot community would be seeing their future outsourced.

Surely the training/logistics costs would be too much for LGW

Would they need to be maintained by BA or could the CFE support and third party operation help? SCOPE only prevents flight and cabin crew I think.

[cornishsimon]

Would they need to be maintained by BA or could the CFE support and third
party operation help? SCOPE only prevents flight and cabin crew I think.

Dont Cityflyer aircraft get maintained by BA at either GLA or EDI ? im thinking GLA ?

If im right surely they could just do line MX at LGW and cycle the aircraft through GLA ?


cs

[EI-BUD]

Dont forget the 16 C Series ordered at Paris last year by " major European carrier".........

BA were looking at C Series, and representatives went ot Belfast to look at the assembly of the wings etc, so they certainly were looking, as one would expect, but dont know if they were the mystery order.

Lets not forget, depending on CityJets future BA may be in the fold, they would seem like the logical buyer, if they would be in a position to adsorb it so close to the challenge and cost of bmi integration, thats a different matter!

Another rumour that has surfaced is that BACF will add E195's for a new
LGW operation

Cant see 195's being ordered for LGW for 2 reasons
- Increase costs per seat at LGW lends itself to using larger aircraft
- Easyjet continued focus on business and frequency and hence cost per per seat as above

[Omnipresent]

IAG has ruled out making a bid for CityJet.

[Skipness One Echo]

CFE have their own engineering support at LCY and from memory GLA too, however this is not British Airways Engineering. Heavy maintenance is flybe at Exeter.

BA do B737 and Airbus maintenance at the Glasgow hangar with B744 and B777s at CWL.

[Calmcavok]

Don't forget that due to scope clauses the E195s are currently limited to less than 100 seats which works for LCY but I don't think such a configuration would work for a LGW operation.

BACF don't have E195s, nor is the 195 steep approach approved or equipped. Would seem like an odd aircraft for BACF to order. Mainline at LGW with CS300s is a different matter, though I'd reckon some A319/20 NEOs being the most likely.