British Airways - 2
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'Scuse my ignorance but what is the link to Chengdu? Is there a common industry out there that requires the link?
Not knowing all that much about the Chinese market, I can't help feeling that with only PEK, HKG and PVG ops at present are there not other "bigger" Chinese destinations that might be higher up the list in terms of unsatisfied demand? Very ready to accept I'm wrong on this if anyone can give a bit more insight into this market?
Not knowing all that much about the Chinese market, I can't help feeling that with only PEK, HKG and PVG ops at present are there not other "bigger" Chinese destinations that might be higher up the list in terms of unsatisfied demand? Very ready to accept I'm wrong on this if anyone can give a bit more insight into this market?
This might prove useful in any discussion about a Chengdu route
List of the busiest airports in the People's Republic of China - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of the busiest airports in the People's Republic of China - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Just out of interest does anyone know what BA plans to do with the BMI Maintenance bases at Heathrow and East Midlands? I did read somewhere that the Heathrow hangar was being rebranded as a BA hangar. I see aircraft are still positioning to EMA for maintenance. I also remember reading that the current contract with a maintenance company in Sofia ends in January 2013 and that some former BMI engineers would then be needed in UK for maintenance work. Is this correct? It may be an idea to keep the EMA base as with an increasing fleet the capacity may be needed.
I know that BA opened a hangar at Prestwick to enable extra capacity for specific work in Airbus aircraft. Are there any plans to keep this going?
I know that BA opened a hangar at Prestwick to enable extra capacity for specific work in Airbus aircraft. Are there any plans to keep this going?
All the bmi engineering personnel at LHR have transferred over to BA. The bmi hangar is being rebranded to BA but no one is 100% certain what will become of it. It might just be a casualty hangar. The EMA hangar will be closed once the last A321 comes out after having it's cabin mod, then the staff will be made redundant.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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All the bmi engineering personnel at LHR have transferred over to BA. The
bmi hangar is being rebranded to BA but no one is 100% certain what will become
of it. It might just be a casualty hangar. The EMA hangar will be closed once
the last A321 comes out after having it's cabin mod, then the staff will be made
redundant.
bmi hangar is being rebranded to BA but no one is 100% certain what will become
of it. It might just be a casualty hangar. The EMA hangar will be closed once
the last A321 comes out after having it's cabin mod, then the staff will be made
redundant.
So does BA have sufficient MX capacity at CWL, LHR, LHR, GLA & PIK without the EMA facility ?
cs
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Most BA CC are not very good at doing one of the important elements of doing what they are hired for which is to look after passengers
In my experience (Gold card, frequent short and long haul travel)...
SOME BA CC are not very good at looking after passengers.
MOST BA CC are very good at looking after passengers.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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And I would say you are wrong
In my experience (a mere Silver card, frequent short and long haul travel)...
MOST BA CC are not very good at looking after passengers.
SOME BA CC are very good at looking after passengers.
In my experience (a mere Silver card, frequent short and long haul travel)...
MOST BA CC are not very good at looking after passengers.
SOME BA CC are very good at looking after passengers.
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Pwalhx, I think every airline has it's disgruntled passengers and others who don't recognise the same criticisms.
As a regular long-term commuter to the USA, and having sampled all of the American carriers, I will confidently recommend BA to anyone. Yes, you get the odd poor cabin member on BA but I've had the same experiences on Virgin but far more on Delta, American, United and US Air.
Where I really get steamed up over BA is their appalling excuse for a customer service helpdesk.
As a regular long-term commuter to the USA, and having sampled all of the American carriers, I will confidently recommend BA to anyone. Yes, you get the odd poor cabin member on BA but I've had the same experiences on Virgin but far more on Delta, American, United and US Air.
Where I really get steamed up over BA is their appalling excuse for a customer service helpdesk.
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I do not disagree at all about the American carriers and will conceed the BA are better then any of them, however that does not mean the service is good enough when compared to other carriers because quite frankly it isn't. You are right maybe I am disgruntled in that both legs to/from Chicago in October BA wanted to downgrade me, that hasn't helped my view but is a seperate issue.
I do not go westbound a lot and if I had the choice a lot less of my travel to the Far East would be on BA.
I do not go westbound a lot and if I had the choice a lot less of my travel to the Far East would be on BA.
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Little bit off topic, but I normally fly BA City Flyer to Ibiza, and I think the service is excellent. In every airline you get the odd crew member who has an attitude problem. I just hope that you wrote in or spoke to the cabin manager.
fr-
fr-
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Sliver card holder and regular BA customer short and long haul.
The vast majority of BA crew are great and consistently deliver a great service - Certainly looking forward to what they will offer on A380 and 787!
If you want bad service try AA!
The vast majority of BA crew are great and consistently deliver a great service - Certainly looking forward to what they will offer on A380 and 787!
If you want bad service try AA!
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pwhalx
I share your view on BA Cabin crew, and would extend it to include their staff in T5 lounge the last time I was there (2 years ago). Also agree with the previouse posters view on American carriers, and we only use them on internal US flights when west bound. Unlike your good self, after the debacle 2 years ago of lost luggage, staff attitude, broken ICE, broken seat, poor food we said as a company (and personaly) enough in enough, and have not flown any of my staff (or myself) with BA since. Like you, most of my travel is not to the land of the free, and is mostly Far East, Africa, South America so do not have to put up with US carriers. However having bounced round the mid west in early spring this year courtesy of Delta, I am very glad I do not have to !. Now use Lufty,SQ,EK and have not had any issues yet. Outbound to Saigon on Friday am with EK and I am not expecting any problems, could not say the same over my last flights with BA which were more of a lottery.
Mrs Mac however continues to fly the flag on her trips to DC, as US carriers only option from NW UK at the moment, and not direct. Her reports on her 9 trips in 2012 also include the same issues as I reported at variouse times, and bags have failed to arrive back at Man on 4 trips (being delv by Mr Reg later in the day with whom my wife is on first name terms !)
All of our flights are Business class, so if BA Business Class is like that you, have to wonder what its like in the back.
I share your view on BA Cabin crew, and would extend it to include their staff in T5 lounge the last time I was there (2 years ago). Also agree with the previouse posters view on American carriers, and we only use them on internal US flights when west bound. Unlike your good self, after the debacle 2 years ago of lost luggage, staff attitude, broken ICE, broken seat, poor food we said as a company (and personaly) enough in enough, and have not flown any of my staff (or myself) with BA since. Like you, most of my travel is not to the land of the free, and is mostly Far East, Africa, South America so do not have to put up with US carriers. However having bounced round the mid west in early spring this year courtesy of Delta, I am very glad I do not have to !. Now use Lufty,SQ,EK and have not had any issues yet. Outbound to Saigon on Friday am with EK and I am not expecting any problems, could not say the same over my last flights with BA which were more of a lottery.
Mrs Mac however continues to fly the flag on her trips to DC, as US carriers only option from NW UK at the moment, and not direct. Her reports on her 9 trips in 2012 also include the same issues as I reported at variouse times, and bags have failed to arrive back at Man on 4 trips (being delv by Mr Reg later in the day with whom my wife is on first name terms !)
All of our flights are Business class, so if BA Business Class is like that you, have to wonder what its like in the back.
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Sorry, i disagree about AA, am an AA platinum card holder and while the service offered is not what it used to be, especially in coach on domestic routes i find the majority of flight attendants to be really nice and offer good service. I fly BA a few times a year and find service is either great or poor, not really inbetween and this is due to flight attendant attitude.
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Quote: "'Scuse my ignorance but what is the link to Chengdu? Is there a common industry out there that requires the link?
Not knowing all that much about the Chinese market, I can't help feeling that with only PEK, HKG and PVG ops at present are there not other "bigger" Chinese destinations that might be higher up the list in terms of unsatisfied demand? Very ready to accept I'm wrong on this if anyone can give a bit more insight into this market?"
Chengdu is in one of the up and coming areas of China. The extraordinary growth in China in recent years has largely been in the east, now there are attempts to develop the interior.
By the way, there is also a China Southern link to Canton from Heathrow.
Not knowing all that much about the Chinese market, I can't help feeling that with only PEK, HKG and PVG ops at present are there not other "bigger" Chinese destinations that might be higher up the list in terms of unsatisfied demand? Very ready to accept I'm wrong on this if anyone can give a bit more insight into this market?"
Chengdu is in one of the up and coming areas of China. The extraordinary growth in China in recent years has largely been in the east, now there are attempts to develop the interior.
By the way, there is also a China Southern link to Canton from Heathrow.
Last edited by Fairdealfrank; 26th Nov 2012 at 22:29.
I suspect the talk about Chinese routes may be significantly overstated.
The two principal commercial centres in China are Beijing and Shanghai. Nowhere else comes close. And yet BA cannot even justify a daily service currently to either, they are only six a week to both places. Virgin Atlantic also has not been able to work their Shanghai route up to daily yet. I would expect at least a daily service to both before lesser places start/need to be exploited.
The two principal commercial centres in China are Beijing and Shanghai. Nowhere else comes close. And yet BA cannot even justify a daily service currently to either, they are only six a week to both places. Virgin Atlantic also has not been able to work their Shanghai route up to daily yet. I would expect at least a daily service to both before lesser places start/need to be exploited.
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I suspect the talk about Chinese routes may be significantly overstated.
The two principal commercial centres in China are Beijing and Shanghai. Nowhere else comes close. And yet BA cannot even justify a daily service currently to either, they are only six a week to both places. Virgin Atlantic also has not been able to work their Shanghai route up to daily yet. I would expect at least a daily service to both before lesser places start/need to be exploited.
The two principal commercial centres in China are Beijing and Shanghai. Nowhere else comes close. And yet BA cannot even justify a daily service currently to either, they are only six a week to both places. Virgin Atlantic also has not been able to work their Shanghai route up to daily yet. I would expect at least a daily service to both before lesser places start/need to be exploited.
Bear in mind, though, that secondary Chinese airports (and their associated regions) are throwing subsidies at European carriers as though money was going out of fashion. Having a Western flag carrier provide direct service from your airport is very prestigious. For example, here's a French report from earlier this year about the subsidies for AF's CDG-Wuhan - it suggests the airline is being paid €30,000 per flight for the first year. Even if "flight" is journalistic shorthand for "round trip", that's still €4.7m of annual subsidy.
Chengdu
Passenger stats at Chengdu and ranking in mainland People's Republic of China
2006 16.3 million, 6th busiest
2007 18.6 million, 6th busiest
2008 17.2 million, 6th busiest
2009 22.6 million, 6th busiest
2010 25.8 million, 6th busiest
2011 29.1 million, 5th busiest
The stats indicate consistent passenger growth of about 12% per year or doubling in just 6 years
The only airports which beat or nearly beat Chengdu are Beijing, the 2 Shanghai airports, Guangzhou which is not very far from Hong Kong and Shenzhen (right on the border with Hong Kong)
Chengdu has a population of about 14m people.
For reference, Zurich managed 24.3m passengers in 2011
2006 16.3 million, 6th busiest
2007 18.6 million, 6th busiest
2008 17.2 million, 6th busiest
2009 22.6 million, 6th busiest
2010 25.8 million, 6th busiest
2011 29.1 million, 5th busiest
The stats indicate consistent passenger growth of about 12% per year or doubling in just 6 years
The only airports which beat or nearly beat Chengdu are Beijing, the 2 Shanghai airports, Guangzhou which is not very far from Hong Kong and Shenzhen (right on the border with Hong Kong)
Chengdu has a population of about 14m people.
For reference, Zurich managed 24.3m passengers in 2011
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 27th Nov 2012 at 11:37.
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Quote: "From a passenger demand point of view, you are absolutely right.
Bear in mind, though, that secondary Chinese airports (and their associated regions) are throwing subsidies at European carriers as though money was going out of fashion. Having a Western flag carrier provide direct service from your airport is very prestigious. For example, here's a French report from earlier this year about the subsidies for AF's CDG-Wuhan - it suggests the airline is being paid €30,000 per flight for the first year. Even if "flight" is journalistic shorthand for "round trip", that's still €4.7m of annual subsidy."
Quote: "KLM already fly there. Presumably they saw a reason why"
Exactly, BA need to be there! Take the subsidy and go, for Pete's sake. Look ahead and long term for once.
Bear in mind, though, that secondary Chinese airports (and their associated regions) are throwing subsidies at European carriers as though money was going out of fashion. Having a Western flag carrier provide direct service from your airport is very prestigious. For example, here's a French report from earlier this year about the subsidies for AF's CDG-Wuhan - it suggests the airline is being paid €30,000 per flight for the first year. Even if "flight" is journalistic shorthand for "round trip", that's still €4.7m of annual subsidy."
Quote: "KLM already fly there. Presumably they saw a reason why"
Exactly, BA need to be there! Take the subsidy and go, for Pete's sake. Look ahead and long term for once.
Exactly, BA need to be there! Take the subsidy and go, for Pete's sake. Look ahead and long term for once.
Even if we leave aside the well documented problems with UK visas for Chinese visitors, and the restrictions imposed by the China/UK bilateral, £30K subsidy per rotation isn't going to make much difference if the route isn't seen by BA as profitable in the short-term, and they would rather use the slots to fly somewhere more lucrative.