British Airways - 2
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Why would you do this if you support LHR expansion? especially as Boris has back-tracked and now supports STN expansion.
In reality your actions would depend on (1) how safe your seat was, (2) whether you have any skeletons in your cupboard, (3) your ability to resist pressure from the whips' office, and (4) your relationship with your local party (for reselection purposes).
In reality your actions would depend on (1) how safe your seat was, (2) whether you have any skeletons in your cupboard, (3) your ability to resist pressure from the whips' office, and (4) your relationship with your local party (for reselection purposes).
Even for Tories in a safe seat in the areas surrounding those airports, they don’t really have much room to support expansion anyway…
Besides, the only reason I would be a MP would be support their policies anyway, not to be under the hand of a Whip…
What Labour government? Jumping the gun a wee bit here aren't we?!
Also, the Lib Dems will suffer badly in 2015, UKIP is taking more and more of the Tory vote (not good in marginal seats…) and their plan to cut the number of MPs is looking increasingly unlikely…
For them to win in 2015, the following must happen:
1: There is an economic miracle on the scale not even Thatcher could achive in the next 2 years (and that’s if Greece stays in the Euro and America gets a move on with fixing the budget crisis)
2: They would have to do a deal with UKIP (not an easy task)
3: Boris will have to be leader and make the most of his personality
4: They really have to criticise the Lib Dem’s and do policies that make them stand out from their partners in government
5: Ed Milliband and is fellow cabinet members are exposed as doing something really stupid (expenses, links to terrorism or child abuse…)
I am sure even Maggie in her prime would have a hard task ahead of them, I have a lot of doubts if Dave could pull it all off…
You don't know much about the modern Labour party do you? Thanks to Blair, Mandelson and co., it is now just a party of the metropolitan elite and the chattering classes, as very well illustrated by their present leader.
You're clearly not a student of government and politics are you!
You're clearly not a student of government and politics are you!
However whatever (remember, many of the creators come from the North and Scotland…) New Labour has done, it’s still a fact that Labour is still strong in the North of England and Wales and only the SNP (which a similar polices bar the issue of independence) is bigger in Scotland (once they lose all of those areas, they are in serious trouble), despite the fact New Labour does not reflect this in term of polices, in London + SE, their presence is smaller when compared to the Tories…
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BA on the likes of LHR-DSA/HUY will never happen. There isn't the market there to provide enough bums on seats with very good and frequent rail connections. Also, with UK APD and heavily taxed domestic flying, I doubt the fares would be attractive enough to attract pax away from AMS.
Kind regards
Mike
Kind regards
Mike
Its not like Hull/Doncaster/Sheffield are 1-2 hours away from both airports
Would it be posibble if there was less APD?
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You can argue all you like , however fact is IAG are not short of slots now or were they before October 2012 compared to competitor Hubs.
And its a myth to say BA can't operate short haul/domestic feeds at a similar rate to others.
They have chosen not too for their own commercial imperative !
No other airline operates anything like multiple daily rotations to NYC/BOS/LAX/IAD/ORD plus daily flights to a further eleven US cities.
PLUS the metal neutrality with AA.
Its an eggs in one basket approach - when times are good and US/UK financial sectors in good fettle profits are high , however soon as the economies take a shower BA does too.
As for Iberia the IAG merger acquired considerable CASH from Iberia, it didn't come with debt !
And its a myth to say BA can't operate short haul/domestic feeds at a similar rate to others.
They have chosen not too for their own commercial imperative !
No other airline operates anything like multiple daily rotations to NYC/BOS/LAX/IAD/ORD plus daily flights to a further eleven US cities.
PLUS the metal neutrality with AA.
Its an eggs in one basket approach - when times are good and US/UK financial sectors in good fettle profits are high , however soon as the economies take a shower BA does too.
As for Iberia the IAG merger acquired considerable CASH from Iberia, it didn't come with debt !
This is the sole reason why BA is forced to choose between extensive networks in terms of:
1: Loss-making (but useful) short-haul connections
2: Very profitable medium/long-haul networks to the North America
3: slightly less profitable medium/long-haul networks to South America, Asia and Africa
LH/LX/OS/SN and AF/KL have none of these problems, they have enough space for extensive connections to all 3 sectors
Both airlines (with their American, Asian European partners) have vast networks from North America from Europe (like BA/AA) AND vast networks to Africa, South America and Asia (unlike BA/OW)
Nothing to do with “commercial imperatives” if BA had the space (why do you think they bought BMI?) they would be launching flights to many more destinations in Africa, South America and Asia because they know that they cannot rely of flights to America (due to the fact they still recovering from the worst economic crisis in 70-80 years and the rise of the BRICS), but they cannot due to the lack of expansion at LHR
Now if LHR had 4 runways, BA can catch up with their rivals in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and if it had 5-6 runways (which there is space for) then it would give them a massive advantage over it rivals (the ones in Europe have the same issues with further expansion), with the massive O&D and the chance for vast numbers of short-haul connecting flights to be possible…
This is what the unnecessary commission needs to sat, we need a LHR with SIX runways and nothing else, then we can have a world-class airport and a world class route network, which would serve the UK very well…
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Yet another very good reason for LHR expansion.....
Not neccessarily, it may be a private arrangement between two carriers: it could be a sale, it could be a lease. There are enough carriers with LHR slots who are in dire financial straits, for example, could be anyone.
I am looking towards Gulf Air and SAS as the most likely candidates to be the first to sell their LHR slots (any others?)
Who knows? It doesn't have to be a deal with another Skyteam member, although it's probably more likely. If VN is serious about the route longterm, they may want to move from LGW to LHR-4, it would be a natural progression as it is/was with other carriers. VN gets access to a Skyteam hub by being at LHR-4.
Yes, skipness, this college term does appear to have started early!
Not really, I am doing this at home…
BALHR - 14 of the last 15 posts on this thread are by you. Might I suggest taking a bit more of a back seat ? You're in danger of monopolising the discussion and making the thread seem like your own personal soapbox
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BA are not going to divorce from IB however much you would like the idea. Much in the same way your list of destinations in East Asia there may be a possibility the odd one or two on your list could sustain a direct flight. If it can it may be on BA's radar however I do not see any of them coming to fruitaion in the short term.
Of course it’s not likely unless they buy a lot more LHR/LGW/LCY slots and later LHR becomes much bigger…
As for a BA-IB divorce well the trouble is that IB is facing a fight for survival in a country that is in a poor economic state and is facing a uncertain future (politically and economically), not only that buts its losing ground in its main market (Europe-Latin America) to its rivals and even one of its own OW partners (LATAM)
BA on the other hand is doing fairly well, but still faces the problem of strong competition between its rivals in Europe, North America and the Middle East
In other words, both airlines have different needs, are quite distant to each other (unlike AF-KL and LH/LX/OS/SN) and don’t have too much in common (bar OW membership and having A320s as the main NB type)
That is why I have called for a separation, so that IB can have the financial resources and survive the hard time and BA can focus on better competing with its rivals…
BALHR -
No.
That's what IB is for
No.
That's what IB is for
Also IB doesn’t have a good reputation in terms of premium passengers and is facing financial problems of them own, along with the fact they are cutting connecting flights to the rest of Europe and located in a country which is facing major Economic and Political issues
BA is better off launching flights to Latin America out of London with a codesharing partnership with LATAM…
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... and that's what Oneworld is for in other regions. Technically BA serve 750 destinations worldwide in 150 countries.
Edit: And how would BA divorcing IB exactly help in those destinations? How many people would want to travel from the UK, especially with Spain's heritage within Latin America.
Edit: And how would BA divorcing IB exactly help in those destinations? How many people would want to travel from the UK, especially with Spain's heritage within Latin America.
Its is also cutting its European route network out of MAD (not good for the many Latin Americans who visit other nations in Europe, like Germany)
BA can serve the region via LHR, who also have a fairly extensive European network and have a good reputation when it comes to premium passengers (unlike IB)
Also does the figure include only flights out of LHR/LGW (thus not including OW member LAN) and exclude Qantas (who have "divorced" BA and gone to bed with EK) and Air Berlin (who are already getting closer to EY/AF/KL and Skyteam...)
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BALHR - 14 of the last 15 posts on this thread are by you. Might I suggest taking a bit more of a back seat ? You're in danger of monopolising the discussion and making the thread seem like your own personal soapbox
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Frank
Do you think BA would agree to serve all those UK airports for say 10 years if they got the extra runway (s) at LHR?
they'd really strengthen their case politically
But of course they won't - what they want is more interlining long haul passengers
Do you think BA would agree to serve all those UK airports for say 10 years if they got the extra runway (s) at LHR?
they'd really strengthen their case politically
But of course they won't - what they want is more interlining long haul passengers
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Indeed you may have been absent but there really isn't a need to reply to every single post since you were last on here!!
Last edited by adfly; 5th Jan 2013 at 11:37.
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BALHR
I have some questions for you, is it your contention that if BA was to offer all the domestic connections you suggest that people would cease to use the European or Middle Eastern hubs and switch to going via LHR?
Or have you considered that people outside the South East may not wish to fly via LHR.
Finally, how many times have you flown on BA and their competing airlines, how do you think the service on board compares?
I have some questions for you, is it your contention that if BA was to offer all the domestic connections you suggest that people would cease to use the European or Middle Eastern hubs and switch to going via LHR?
Or have you considered that people outside the South East may not wish to fly via LHR.
Finally, how many times have you flown on BA and their competing airlines, how do you think the service on board compares?
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The reason why I am suggesting that BA offers more domestic connections so that people from the rest of the UK (like yourself) have a alternative from using European or Middle Eastern hubs, which would be better for the economy
I can see why however why there are some that don't want to use LHR (not that good a airport for connections then AMS/DXB), which is why I want it to be improved
As for who I have traveled with, well I have traveled with several airlines (only in Economy however...), I would say that BA and VS are reasonable, but EK/SQ is better, U2 are alright and FR are rubbish for example...
BA does need to improve its service so that it can better compete with the likes of EK however...
I can see why however why there are some that don't want to use LHR (not that good a airport for connections then AMS/DXB), which is why I want it to be improved
As for who I have traveled with, well I have traveled with several airlines (only in Economy however...), I would say that BA and VS are reasonable, but EK/SQ is better, U2 are alright and FR are rubbish for example...
BA does need to improve its service so that it can better compete with the likes of EK however...
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What would help the industry as a whole is the removal of APD (however we know that is not going to happen).
What would help people like myself is the removal of APD to allow more services from the regions, as I have mentioned before Manchester has lost potential flights to Dublin because of APD.
Your beloved BA has for it's own commercial reason abandoned direct flights from the regions, so forgive us for choosing to use foreign carriers that will.
As for your argument that we all fly on British carriers via London is better for the UK economy, that dismisses the fact that foreign carriers bringing foreign nationals into the regions is good for the economies of the regions of the U.K.
Whatever class you fly on BA I agree the service is not as good as other carriers, so BA should be looking at improving that service and that will encourage more people to use them.
For your benefit I speak from experience as someone who flew over 60 times last year including, for the benefit of travelling with colleague from the South a lot of flights via LHR.
What would help people like myself is the removal of APD to allow more services from the regions, as I have mentioned before Manchester has lost potential flights to Dublin because of APD.
Your beloved BA has for it's own commercial reason abandoned direct flights from the regions, so forgive us for choosing to use foreign carriers that will.
As for your argument that we all fly on British carriers via London is better for the UK economy, that dismisses the fact that foreign carriers bringing foreign nationals into the regions is good for the economies of the regions of the U.K.
Whatever class you fly on BA I agree the service is not as good as other carriers, so BA should be looking at improving that service and that will encourage more people to use them.
For your benefit I speak from experience as someone who flew over 60 times last year including, for the benefit of travelling with colleague from the South a lot of flights via LHR.
Last edited by pwalhx; 5th Jan 2013 at 12:18.
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Which flights were these exactly?
The vast majority of uk regional passengers are consuming BA services in the same way they are consuming foreign ones, which is to fly from A to C via B. I'm sure it's great news for the small numbers that want to get off in Doha, Atlanta or Philly but most don't. Even Emirates is 80% connecting, so for most people they are not offering a direct service.
What would help people like myself is the removal of APD to allow more services from the regions, as I have mentioned before Manchester has lost potential flights to Dublin because of APD.
beloved BA has for it's own commercial reason abandoned direct flights from the regions, so forgive us for choosing to use foreign carriers that will.
Last edited by North West; 5th Jan 2013 at 12:56.
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Been a few months since it was discussed but certainly one was an additional JFK service, I will have to trawl the records but I am pretty sure the other was CLT.
Whilst your point about transferring is correct but also what about destinations like Orlando, New York, Karachi, Barbados, Toronto.
Personally I would rather transit Dubai than Heathrow as the A380 to Dubai is a superb aircraft, the service on EK is better than BA and I prefer DXB to LHR. Which was my point I prefer the choice of where I want to fly to/from via.
Whilst your point about transferring is correct but also what about destinations like Orlando, New York, Karachi, Barbados, Toronto.
Personally I would rather transit Dubai than Heathrow as the A380 to Dubai is a superb aircraft, the service on EK is better than BA and I prefer DXB to LHR. Which was my point I prefer the choice of where I want to fly to/from via.
Last edited by pwalhx; 5th Jan 2013 at 13:09.