British Airways
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Middlesex (under the flightpath)
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Forgive me for being suspicious, but I am minded to think that if the passionate, but unplanned, do actually win on emotion in September, that this will remove any political need for BA to continue serving "outlying regions" of the UK north of the border which would allow them to reduce services from GLA, ABZ & EDI and reallocate slots at LHR to more lucrative routes. Scotland will become as far as BA are concerned, just another mildly interesting tourist destination on the fringe of Europe.
Overall, I would predict that if this happens, we'll get a service similar to that of Norway and BA will get over a dozen slots per day to re-allocate.
Overall, I would predict that if this happens, we'll get a service similar to that of Norway and BA will get over a dozen slots per day to re-allocate.
The traffic between LHR and ABZ/EDI/GLA will still be there, the oil industry still needs access to/from LHR, BA will still be the only carrier on LHR-GLA.
The only difference if Scotland separates from the UK will be arrivals using the common travel area route rather than the domestic one.
BTW, BA does not have a "political need for BA to continue serving "outlying regions" of the UK north of the border", these are served by BE on PSO arrangements. BA operates the major domestic trunk routes.
There is possibly an unspoken agreement between Govt / Dept of Transport and BA regarding connectivity to northern UK, N Ireland and engineering at Cardiff. Spreading the economic benefits of BA across the UK ensures no major objections by regional MPs when BA wants a favour from Govt. If BA had dropped Belfast when taking over BD, would someone high up in Govt perhaps have erected a few barriers to the takeover ? Was opening a new Leeds-Heathrow route the absolute best possible route for revenue compared to elsewhere in Europe, or was it partly to show BA as supporting Britain and remove objections from some people to a BD takeover ?
When Flybe announed they would drop LGW-INV, people with easy access to Downing Street made public their objections to reduced service on the London-Inverness route. Easyjet were very quick to announce increased service with an early morning flight out of Inverness, at which point all the political noise suddenly went quiet.
All very difficult to prove as if anything is done it'll be as a verbal gentleman's agreement, but when big business needs a favour around regulatory approvals, one should expect some sort of quid pro quo somewhere. There is a reason that Govt lobbyists exist. Michael O'Leary's mistake has been to ignore this concept and just sue instead.
When Flybe announed they would drop LGW-INV, people with easy access to Downing Street made public their objections to reduced service on the London-Inverness route. Easyjet were very quick to announce increased service with an early morning flight out of Inverness, at which point all the political noise suddenly went quiet.
All very difficult to prove as if anything is done it'll be as a verbal gentleman's agreement, but when big business needs a favour around regulatory approvals, one should expect some sort of quid pro quo somewhere. There is a reason that Govt lobbyists exist. Michael O'Leary's mistake has been to ignore this concept and just sue instead.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Leeds
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BA LBA to LHR route cut back
Hi
I just wondered if anyone had clue what was going on with the shuttle between leeds and London heathrow.
BA1344 has been canned, so you can no longer fly in and out of the capital in the same day.
I have spoken with BA and customer services declined to answer the question!
It would be a real shame for the flights to be cut back to the point they are no longer any use for anyone, I personally see the same people use the flight 2 or 3 times a week.
I just wondered if anyone had clue what was going on with the shuttle between leeds and London heathrow.
BA1344 has been canned, so you can no longer fly in and out of the capital in the same day.
I have spoken with BA and customer services declined to answer the question!
It would be a real shame for the flights to be cut back to the point they are no longer any use for anyone, I personally see the same people use the flight 2 or 3 times a week.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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BA1344 has been canned, so you can no longer fly in and out of the capital in the same day.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 5th Mar 2014 at 20:23.
Join Date: May 2005
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I wouldn't be surprised if they cut LBA full stop. The loads are horrific most of the times.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Potential lot sitter initially as they needed to de-duplicate a lot of flying that both BA and BMI undertook. It might stay but I suspect it can only be viable with a morning southbound into LHR.
It depends on how much feed it's generating into long haul as it's not really ideal for point to point without that early London arrival.
It depends on how much feed it's generating into long haul as it's not really ideal for point to point without that early London arrival.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 6th Mar 2014 at 10:55.
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Slot sitter initially as they needed to deduplicate a lot of flying that both BA and BMI undertook. It might stay but I suspect it can only be viable with a morning southbound into LHR.
It'll go when they need the slots at LHR for long haul
TBH the train is just as fast to Central London
TBH the train is just as fast to Central London
Clearly the train is just as fast to central London, but not all pax are headed for central London. For those headed to the Thames Valley and other parts in the south east, or flying elsewhere from LHR, LBA-LHR presents the best option.
Last edited by Fairdealfrank; 7th Mar 2014 at 20:56. Reason: spelling error
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
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Without a sufficiency of point to point passengers paying the fully flexible fare of £301.00 the LBA-LHR can not survive nor can any other domestic service.
You need a mix - They are NOT rather expensive cabs and you also need to avoid carrying too many alliance partner passengers at pence in the pound !
I do think Leeds risks disappearing again.
I also think that if pulled there are some in BA HQ that may take advantage to say -See regional really don't work and here is the evidence.
Fairdealfrank i know your avid supporter of the LHR expansion and believe its an opportunity to rebuild UK domestic feed.
Beyond the existing shuttle routes only Jersey and Inverness really have potential.
The rest are dead and buried.
You need a mix - They are NOT rather expensive cabs and you also need to avoid carrying too many alliance partner passengers at pence in the pound !
I do think Leeds risks disappearing again.
I also think that if pulled there are some in BA HQ that may take advantage to say -See regional really don't work and here is the evidence.
Fairdealfrank i know your avid supporter of the LHR expansion and believe its an opportunity to rebuild UK domestic feed.
Beyond the existing shuttle routes only Jersey and Inverness really have potential.
The rest are dead and buried.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
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Nothing is dead and buried if its cost effective, competitive and frequent.
The propensity to fly factor.
The propensity to fly factor.
And a cross party political consensus that such operations are environmentally damaging.
Empirical evidence suggests that for the most part ground travel always wins out over any journeys (irrespective of distance ) up to 3 hours long.
With the added security hassles this could be extended by a further half hour.
Just a brief look at air travel (domestic) suggest this holds up under scrutiny.
So London- Scotland remains strongly contested.
There are two other cross country route that also work NCL-BRS and MAN -Norwich.
Manchester -LHR remains solid because of corporates.
The only other internal flights are essential Island and Ulster connections.
So like i said Jersey and Inverness remain the only candidates currently un-served.
A differing matter however fact may well be that there are far to many regional airports across the UK and the likes of Tees side Bournmouth Humberside and Dundee are simply surplus to requirements.
When you work for one of the 2 operators and have access to that information.....