British Airways
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Similar situation used to occur for QF and SAA at LHR, with wide-body aircraft towed to maintenance aprons for a long layover during the day.
QF did try to make use of the B744 in the past by operating LHR-MAN-LHR, but it probably wasn't an economic use of such an aircraft. Even harder to make a success with an A380 which is even more operationally limited.
BA could potentially utilise the long day stop in JNB for a short sector to WDH or MRU and utilise the route licences of Oneworld partner carrier Comair. However, the larger wide-body aircraft may be just too large to operate these sectors profitably with the need for additional crews adding to the costs.
QF did try to make use of the B744 in the past by operating LHR-MAN-LHR, but it probably wasn't an economic use of such an aircraft. Even harder to make a success with an A380 which is even more operationally limited.
BA could potentially utilise the long day stop in JNB for a short sector to WDH or MRU and utilise the route licences of Oneworld partner carrier Comair. However, the larger wide-body aircraft may be just too large to operate these sectors profitably with the need for additional crews adding to the costs.
Join Date: May 2016
Location: The EU
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What's the obsession with aircraft utilisation? As was said a few posts back, JNB and CPT have made BA a killing for years operating overnight both ways. Why change it?
Do you really think that operating JNB-WDH-JNB on an A380 with 24 crew is going to somehow increase profitability for BA, just because the aircraft is in the air?
Do you really think that operating JNB-WDH-JNB on an A380 with 24 crew is going to somehow increase profitability for BA, just because the aircraft is in the air?
That's slightly in error, as I am sure BA Yield Management are only well aware. The Europe to Southern Africa routes have been quite severely hit by lower fares, starting with the Gulf Three (Emirates in particular), but also Ethiopian, Kenya and Turkish as well, all of whom now mount multi-daily services from their hubs to South Africa. Don't think that Ethiopian justifies all their substantial new 787 and A350 fleets, far more modern tech than BA, just from people travelling, whether from London or Jo'burg, to Addis Ababa.
So an aircraft that does LHR-CPT-LHR, arriving back around 36 hours later after having flown two 11-hourish sectors is actually getting more than average utilisation.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is part of the reason that long-haul LCC carriers have struggled. They can’t get the utilisation up without falling foul of curfews and where they can, the flight times are unattractive and yield is pushed down.
The low-cost LCCs are left with a difficult problem to solve, their new 787 fleets are expensive to lease, they have lots of seats to fill, curfews and time zones are what they are. Air Asia X have already chucked in the towel and are now focusing on high demand mid-haul routes.
The low-cost LCCs are left with a difficult problem to solve, their new 787 fleets are expensive to lease, they have lots of seats to fill, curfews and time zones are what they are. Air Asia X have already chucked in the towel and are now focusing on high demand mid-haul routes.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Age: 63
Posts: 1,257
Received 152 Likes
on
95 Posts
VC Tenderness
I was a reguler back in ealy 1980,s on the first flight in the morning ex LHR to CDG, and it was a Tristar for many years as I recall.
I was a reguler back in ealy 1980,s on the first flight in the morning ex LHR to CDG, and it was a Tristar for many years as I recall.
Although BA did use Tristars on European flights, they were a dedicated Euro only fleet (mostly the initial aircraft which were actually ordered by BEA) rather than the intercontinental fleet filling in for extra utilisation. They had a different and much denser seating configuration. BA then moved on and did the same with two separately configured fleets of 767s.
The BA Airtours fleet at Gatwick also had further Tristars, exchanged from time to time, with an even denser charter configuration. These were fully utilised as such in the summer, but off-season were regularly chartered back to the BA scheduled European operations from Heathrow, to cover overhauls etc.
The BA Airtours fleet at Gatwick also had further Tristars, exchanged from time to time, with an even denser charter configuration. These were fully utilised as such in the summer, but off-season were regularly chartered back to the BA scheduled European operations from Heathrow, to cover overhauls etc.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I note BA are sending A319s to Sofia for routine maintenance. Are BA moving this offshore for good or is this due to a lack of hangar space at Heathrow. I didn't realise they've been doing this since 2012 at least, who is the 3rd party contractor?
e.g. TBA South is no longer a hangar and TBK west is now out of action as the paint bay is obsolete. With BA titles removed from the Cathedral hangar, what's the plan for BA Engineering at Heathrow?
e.g. TBA South is no longer a hangar and TBK west is now out of action as the paint bay is obsolete. With BA titles removed from the Cathedral hangar, what's the plan for BA Engineering at Heathrow?
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its LH Technik in Sofia - BA has also used their facilities in MLA MNL and FRA I think. No heavy maintenance undertaken at LHR now, just GLA (and PIK I gather shortly), CWL and the overseas places including DUB and MAD (EI/IB). A big bulge of maintenance on the Airbus fleet this winter with WiFI fitment and densification.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another quick question on BA Engineering. I have seem adverts recently for Licenced engineers at BA Maintenance Gatwick. Along with the job description it mentions that jobs are available because
'At Gatwick Engineering we are very proud to announce that we have just received approval to deliver our ‘market leading’ business plan! This has opened up opportunities for engineering professionals to join British Airways as Licensed Aircraft Engineers (LAE) to lead teams delivering aircraft inspections, repair, overhaul and modification.'
I take it that the maintenance centre at Gatwick will now continue, especially in light of further BA expansion at Gatwick following the recent purchase of the Monarch slots.
'At Gatwick Engineering we are very proud to announce that we have just received approval to deliver our ‘market leading’ business plan! This has opened up opportunities for engineering professionals to join British Airways as Licensed Aircraft Engineers (LAE) to lead teams delivering aircraft inspections, repair, overhaul and modification.'
I take it that the maintenance centre at Gatwick will now continue, especially in light of further BA expansion at Gatwick following the recent purchase of the Monarch slots.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Stockholm Sweden
Age: 74
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I take it that the maintenance centre at Gatwick will now continue
Engineering at LGW was heading the same way. Big tenders were issued to sub contract out ALL the BA Engineers at LGW including Hangar 6 and the offices there. I am not with BA anymore but this looks as if they have kept their jobs.
just GLA (and PIK I gather shortly),
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STANSTED & MANCHESTER
Posts: 1,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the independent
British Airways has confirmed it is shutting down its boutique airline OpenSkies after 10 years, reports Travelmarket Report.
From September 2018 OpenSkies, which currently flies between New York and Paris, will cease operating, with all staff transferred to long-haul budget airline Level, also owned by BA’s parent company IAG.
IAG plans to also give the gates and other assets currently used by OpenSkies to Level, expanding the low-cost offshoot’s offering with Paris Orly airport as its second base. It already operates flights from Barcelona.
British Airways has confirmed it is shutting down its boutique airline OpenSkies after 10 years, reports Travelmarket Report.
From September 2018 OpenSkies, which currently flies between New York and Paris, will cease operating, with all staff transferred to long-haul budget airline Level, also owned by BA’s parent company IAG.
IAG plans to also give the gates and other assets currently used by OpenSkies to Level, expanding the low-cost offshoot’s offering with Paris Orly airport as its second base. It already operates flights from Barcelona.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OpenSkies has had its days numbered for quite a while - operating long in the tooth 757s and a 767.
Personally I think OpenSkies would be a better brand than LEVEL to expand the LCC market - and already has its own AOC. To my mind OpenSkies is an ideal name for a new generation/LCC airline, operating from bases across Europe, using the OpenSkies rights. Ironically the floor of an A332 is never LEVEL, either on the ground (downward) or in the air (upward).
Personally I think OpenSkies would be a better brand than LEVEL to expand the LCC market - and already has its own AOC. To my mind OpenSkies is an ideal name for a new generation/LCC airline, operating from bases across Europe, using the OpenSkies rights. Ironically the floor of an A332 is never LEVEL, either on the ground (downward) or in the air (upward).
I'm amazed OpenSkies lasted so long, especially under IAG scrutiny.
Does this mean that the BA service from London City to JFK is the last of the all-premium Transatlantic services that peaked about 10-15 years ago ?
Does this mean that the BA service from London City to JFK is the last of the all-premium Transatlantic services that peaked about 10-15 years ago ?
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I for one associate Open Skies with the British Airway brand.
Although I don't like Level I would go for a new brand with relationship with the EU rather than the UK in a current political climate.
Although I don't like Level I would go for a new brand with relationship with the EU rather than the UK in a current political climate.
Another quick question on BA Engineering. I have seem adverts recently for Licenced engineers at BA Maintenance Gatwick. Along with the job description it mentions that jobs are available because
'At Gatwick Engineering we are very proud to announce that we have just received approval to deliver our ‘market leading’ business plan! This has opened up opportunities for engineering professionals to join British Airways as Licensed Aircraft Engineers (LAE) to lead teams delivering aircraft inspections, repair, overhaul and modification.'
I take it that the maintenance centre at Gatwick will now continue, especially in light of further BA expansion at Gatwick following the recent purchase of the Monarch slots.
'At Gatwick Engineering we are very proud to announce that we have just received approval to deliver our ‘market leading’ business plan! This has opened up opportunities for engineering professionals to join British Airways as Licensed Aircraft Engineers (LAE) to lead teams delivering aircraft inspections, repair, overhaul and modification.'
I take it that the maintenance centre at Gatwick will now continue, especially in light of further BA expansion at Gatwick following the recent purchase of the Monarch slots.
