British Airways

[BasilBush]

For the record the CAA's latest (2013) survey data shows that LHR's business share was 29.5% while LGW's was 13.3%.

And the connecting share was 36.7% at LHR and 7.3% at LGW.

The CAA's methodology would indeed pick up self connects such as TrueBlue.

Details at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/81/2013CAAPaxSurveyReport.pdf

[vectisman]

Canberra
I believe you are being too harsh towards Skipness. His posts are usually well researched and he has stated before he has nothing against Gatwick as such. To use the word hate is a bit over the top. However I do agree that quite a number of BA passengers do pay for their tickets too at Gatwick.


Basil Brush I took my figures from the Heathrow and Gatwick websites for 2014. I am not claiming that they are exact but rather to demonstrate the point that leisure and O&D passengers are important to both airports.




V.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by BasilBush

For the record the CAA's latest (2013) survey data shows that LHR's business share was 29.5% while LGW's was 13.3%.

The CAA's figure sounds OK for Heathrow, but suspiciously low for Gatwick. The latter's own website confirms Vectisman's 20%.

Facts and Stats | Gatwick Airport

[canberra97]

Vectisman

He may do his research and he may think he has the answer to everything and on occasions I have to admit I agree with some of his factual comments but don't stick up for him in the way you have as he is harsh against Gatwick at EVERY opportunity, in a typical arrogant Scottish attitude may I add!

I have been using the airport as well as Heathrow since 1972 but I have to admit I do and always have had a 'soft spot' for Gatwick and like to stick up for the airport when ever I can, sure it's not perfect in any way as I experienced on my last visit and it's not like the BA experience at LHR Terminal 5 but all said and done I enjoy the airport experience and appreciate the wealth of flights on offer from BA at LGW whether it's using AVIOS or 'cash'.

Hate may be a harsh word to use but I am sure we wouldn't get on at all especially after reading his continuous abuse of LGW.

BTW I have been to 92 countries and 376 destinations worldwide but I have never visited Scotland and I have no intention of doing so, there is a reason for that!

SEAN

[pax britanica]

Thanks for the comments about the LON-BDA flights. It went to LGW when it was swapped from L1011 to DC10 most if not all of which were based at Gatwick. Bda isnt like the Caribbean Islands and has limited O&D/Leisure travel but a great deal of business (and a lot of rich people who can afford BA F) .

LHR was preferred because of better onward connectivity for business travellers .

The performance stats issue may just be due to having had a few cancellations all together recently and it seems the flight is pretty much routinely operated by just one or two of the BA T7 fleet so over the coming months it may all even out again,.

I know there may be some older T7s around but recent trips have seen a pretty shabby version used -I realsie some older a/c may have been through a major check and refurbished and so look newer than younger aircraft which have not yet reached that oppotunity for a 'deep clean'.


BDA has always suffered from an anomalous location not being in either N America or the Caribbean and various major companies struggle to find the right place for it in their business structure whereas some Bermudians feel it is worth a 'Region' of its own.

Thanks for the info and the main thing is to keep the route actually running anyway

[Skipness One Echo]

typical arrogant Scottish attitude may I add!

This is a blatantly racist post, rare on pprune, hope the mods leave it up.
My words are there for all to read, usually with a reason behind them. I use LGW as much as LHR, you're just making yourself look foolish with your post.

Is that really all you can say?

No one cares if you and I might get on Sean, these boards are for discussion of the aviation business, not for you to lump national stereotypes together simply because you lack the wit to refute an argument put forward by every leading industry professional who isn't employed by GIP or trying to avoid NORWEGIAN doing a Laker. #amateur Take it to Jet Blast where the Victor Meldrews of the boards are medicated together.

LGW-Bermuda is (allegedly) a licence to print money as it's a monopoly for BA and a high end one at that, this is Bermuda was so pleased when Zoom took them on. Alas that did not last. To be clear, BA do maintain LGW partially for AVIOs redemption, the short haul holiday routes may not always make good money on their own but they help buy Club loyalty out of LHR. Paid for CLUB out of LGW, is not nearly as high as it needed to be on short haul which is why BA see LGW as a leisure airport. This is also why the First Lounge may not even make an appearance when they move South in 2016, TBC. The service is being "enhanced". (allegedly).

[compton3bravo]

I don't think Scotland would be too worried if Canberra 97 has never been there, he does not what he is missing. Unfortunately the gentleman - I use the word loosely - seems to have an enormous bag of potatoes on his shoulders at the moment ás the number of negative posts he has been posting over the last few days so let us just ignore the poor wretch as it is not worth concerning ourselves with his ridiculous comments.

[BasilBush]

Vectisman, your point is well made. It's too simplistic to regard LHR as being a hotbed of captains of industry flying to tiger economies, or to regard LGW as a hellhole full of chavs. UK air travel is dominated by leisure travel, and the only airports with a (bare) majority of business pax are LCY and ABZ, I think.

As for the precise percentages, I don't know where GAL gets its numbers from, but the CAA survey methodology at least has the merit of being consistent between airports, and of being established for many years.

[adfly]

Indeed I agree the whole 'all the business pax go to Heathrow' quotes that get regularly mentioned on here are rather exaggerated. I believe Southampton actually has a higher percentage of business passengers than Heathrow (40 something percent from what I recall)!

I agree it has been well proven that Heathrow is where airlines tend to make the most money but also think this tends to be a little over emphasised at times.

Back to BA, I'm curious to know how the remaining ~4 slots from the additional 777 at Gatwick will be utilised. Also, is there any confirmation of what exactly BA have done to improve the economy offering on its 789's. I've heard of slightly wider seats and narrower aisles and also a 32'' pitch throughout?

Also read on FT that a few economy rows of the 'Super High J' 747's will have their pitch reduced by 1-2'', seems a very risky move given the feedback on the 788's.

[True Blue]

What year did BA start flying Lgw - Orlando?

Thanks

TB

[Skipness One Echo]

Before 1990 from memory? Used to use G-BMGS, the oddball B747 via MAN from memory? Or am I making that up?

LHR is overwheingly leisure too however the premium down the pointy end is noticeably higher, which drives the yields higher.

[Ringwayman]

Flight number was BA239/238. Started in late 1987 with the MAN sector being pulled around Spring 1991

[Cazza_fly]

Also, is there any confirmation of what exactly BA have done to improve the economy offering on its 789's. I've heard of slightly wider seats and narrower aisles and also a 32'' pitch throughout?

The World Traveller seat design on the 787-9 will no longer be from Recaro. A different supplier is being used on these aircraft with a slightly slimmer armrests being one of the changes. The standard seat pitch will also be 32". I presume the Thales IFE system will continue to be used as per the -8 and refurbished 777s. Only the refurbished 747's have so far been confirmed to be using the newer Panosonic eX3 system.

[PAXboy]

Are those the seats where - to create a minimal amount of extra width - the arm rests do not go fully 'up'? That then makes it uncomfortable/impossible for two people to lean on each other, or to lie across two seats if you have the space. Someone's stupid idea.

[adfly]

Interesting, thanks for the clarification. The only 787 I have flown on is Norwegian's, the seats they use are very comfortable and show very little difference in width to a BA/VS 747. However where you do notice a squeeze is in how close to the walls and each other they are placed with the edges of the backrests almost touching, whereas on the jumbos there is usually a good inch or two's gap between them. It also had very narrow armrests, although I cannot remember if they went up fully or not.

[Cazza_fly]

Seats

.Are those the seats where - to create a minimal amount of extra width - the arm rests do not go fully 'up'? That then makes it uncomfortable/impossible for two people to lean on each other, or to lie across two seats if you have the space. Someone's stupid idea.

Yes those are the Recaro ones. I've never understood that idea either...

[BAladdy]

737 ops at LGW to end on 30th September

According to the post on the airlineroute.net website, Planned last British Airways’ Boeing 737-400 operation for each route during the month of September 2015 as follow.

London Gatwick – Algiers Last 737-400 flight on 24SEP15
London Gatwick – Amsterdam Last 737-400 flight on 15SEP15
London Gatwick – Cagliari Last 737-400 flight on 14SEP15
London Gatwick – Catania Last 737-400 flight on 25SEP15
London Gatwick – Faro Last 737-400 flight on 26SEP15
London Gatwick – Glasgow Last 737-400 flight on 21SEP15
London Gatwick – Ibiza Last 737-400 flight on 01SEP15
London Gatwick – Jersey Last 737-400 flight on 21SEP15
London Gatwick – Malaga Last 737-400 flight on 23SEP15
London Gatwick – Malta Last 737-400 flight on 27SEP15
London Gatwick – Marrakech Last 737-400 flight on 24SEP15
London Gatwick – Naples Last 737-400 flight on 22SEP15
London Gatwick – Rome Last 737-400 flight on 16SEP15
London Gatwick – Seville Last 737-400 flight on 13SEP15
London Gatwick – Thessaloniki Last 737-400 flight on 27SEP15
London Gatwick – Tirana Last 737-400 flight on 11SEP15
London Gatwick – Turin Overall final 737-400 service on 30SEP15
London Gatwick – Verona Last 737-400 flight on 29SEP15

British Airways to End Boeing 737 Service in late-Sep 2015 | Airline Route

[wallp]

Always sad when a type leaves the fleet. The 737-400's have been good, long servants. I remember when they first arrived and were LHR based. I'll be flying into LGW on 30th September (albeit not on BA), the day of the last flight and I shall look out for one last glimpse of these old birds.

[LadyL2013]

They have been proper workhorses for BA for sure. I'd like to say they've earnt their retirement, but kniwing where they'll likely end up, I'll refrain.

[TURIN]

Before 1990 from memory? Used to use G-BMGS, the oddball B747 via MAN from memory? Or am I making that up?

That brings back memories.
MGS, May Go Sometimes or Gone Sick! I think it made the national news at one point when the passengers rioted after another tech delay/cancellation.

Happy days.