British Airways
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This morning's SEN-GLA flight at 07:30 went out with a handful of people on it. But the return leg is just short of being full. Perhaps the overall load factor is 50% or less but if there's heavy demand (and I assume high fares) in one direction it's entirely worthwhile to run so many flights.
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Same on the roads - millions of people go north for Christmas/New year and then head south back to work. You often see the M1 solid on one direction and almost empty heading the other way at this time of the year
Agree with the two previous posters comments....it’s very much a one way flow at the moment and the fares/loads into LHR/LGW over the next few days are interesting to say the least.
British Airways Boeing 777-236ER G-VIIX positioned London Gatwick – Singapore for maintenance as BA9179 this evening. The aircraft is expected to be the first to undergo “densification” to the new 32J/48W/252Y configuration with 3 – 4 – 3 configuration seating in Economy Class.
Is this the start of cramming more seats into a B777?
BA will lose business over this: much flying is discretionary and they are densifying now to the extent that even short-haul is unacceptable. I am average size, but the new A320 Seat pitch does not have room for my legs to fit without occupying space from neighbouring seats. Long-haul prior to densification was already unacceptably cramped if the seat in front reclines at all - again nowhere to fit the legs without spreading to the neighbours.
The answer is not to fly IAG any more. I hope they can survive Mr Cruz's destruction.
The answer is not to fly IAG any more. I hope they can survive Mr Cruz's destruction.
I believe that's not quite correct. Emirates were the first major operator to go for 10-across 777s instead of 9-across, but had done it along with extending the legroom to I believe 35", on the basis that the square area was the same but it was better to have extra length than width.
BA and others coming along on their coat tails have changed their 777 seating to 10-across as well, but without the extra legroom.
I also wonder what impact it will have on the front row. These seats on a BA 777 have always been narrower and felt more squashed, because the tray table comes out on a pantograph arrangement from in the armrest instead of dropping down from the seat in front. The actual seat cushion may be the same width but you are constrained by the thicker armrest, which are also non-raiseable.
BA and others coming along on their coat tails have changed their 777 seating to 10-across as well, but without the extra legroom.
I also wonder what impact it will have on the front row. These seats on a BA 777 have always been narrower and felt more squashed, because the tray table comes out on a pantograph arrangement from in the armrest instead of dropping down from the seat in front. The actual seat cushion may be the same width but you are constrained by the thicker armrest, which are also non-raiseable.
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Dan Dare. Try living in the real world. SH in Europe is about price and frequency in 2018. Long haul not far behind. IAG is highly profitable and believe it or not actually carries out research before investing millions in changes. Somehow the 40 million plus passengers BA fly every year plus millions more with other group airlines are simply just not going to go elsewhere!
Furthermore these continual attacks on Alex Cruz are nothing more than typical British racism that pervades our society. I say that as a born and bred Englishman very disillusioned with our blinkered narrow minded and misplaced elitist view of our own self importance.
Sorry caught me on a bad day!
Furthermore these continual attacks on Alex Cruz are nothing more than typical British racism that pervades our society. I say that as a born and bred Englishman very disillusioned with our blinkered narrow minded and misplaced elitist view of our own self importance.
Sorry caught me on a bad day!
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Furthermore these continual attacks on Alex Cruz are nothing more than typical British racism that pervades our society
People see BoB as an improvement after the intentional run down of catering?
Cruz is a classic Accenture mindset. He knows how to make money but cutting and cutting which gets him to his fat bonus. However having years of seeing what happens next from this playbook cannot be ignored. BA no longer lead the way, they’re not innovating, they’re reacting. You can only cut so far.
How about staff? Mixed fleet churn is higher than expected and BoB remains a challenge on a busy flight, easyJet are just way better at short haul IMHO.
All non UK based staff with long years of service have been outsourced, all non UK station engineers were let go. (ISTBC)
A380 engineering work is done in Singapore, A320s in Sofia, 777 reconfigs also not in house.
Whatever Snr Cruz has done, has been from the Accenture playbook of cut to the bone for short term gain then get out before it goes wrong.
The race to the bottom continues with the A320 NEOS. No recline is finally being introduced. So unless you need to be seen in a lounge, go EZY and at least get fed on board in good time.
None of this is to do with his race and all to do with his career background, you should withdraw what is a very serious accusation.
Remember a lot of Ayling’s changes had to be fixed by Rod Eddington, but the damage was done. Cruz is WW’s puppet, it depends what happens within IAG when WW retires.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 2nd Jan 2018 at 15:12.
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Have to agree with Skipness, you can cut so far then suddenly a tipping point is reached. Very few big companies can recognise that danger point, after that point it becomes almost impossible to recover.
What a complete nonsense. We would welcome anyone, home or overseas, who would take the job and run it with supreme competence. Barbara Cassani, American, was notably highly regarded by many at BA, and then heading up Go. I never heard a single comment against her background.
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I agree with Skipness - this si just classic cut and cut the basic product
The BA reputation was always somewhat inflated but I honestly haven't heard any regular traveler say a good word about them in 3 years. They're a LOCO operationally but with a full service set of overheads........ works OK when demand is up but if there was a recession................
The BA reputation was always somewhat inflated but I honestly haven't heard any regular traveler say a good word about them in 3 years. They're a LOCO operationally but with a full service set of overheads........ works OK when demand is up but if there was a recession................
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WHBM - likewise, I don't ever recall any ''origin-based'' criticism against Stelios when he introduced EZY to the market. Far from it, he was very widely welcomed by huge swathes of the British public. Frankly, any suggestion that disagreement with Cruz's business acumen is racially biased is ridiculous.
Remember a lot of Ayling’s changes had to be fixed by Rod Eddington, but the damage was done. Cruz is WW’s puppet, it depends what happens within IAG when WW retires.
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Paxing All Over The World
If you want to see what happens following too many cuts - until it's like Road Runner running in mid-air? The UK National Health Service went off the cliff about ten years ago but has been kept aloft by the staff. Now it's too late.
Unfortunately, the way that the UK / USA system has operated for the last 40 years is the Accenture/PWC/et al playbook. It is what the shareholders expect and so it will contine until there is an irretriveable financial problem. I mean that country wide - as well as for the company. It is impossible to change this trajectory now as there are too many vested interests and too many people making money. One day, they won't be making money any more but humans have a knack of ignoring the future.
Unfortunately, the way that the UK / USA system has operated for the last 40 years is the Accenture/PWC/et al playbook. It is what the shareholders expect and so it will contine until there is an irretriveable financial problem. I mean that country wide - as well as for the company. It is impossible to change this trajectory now as there are too many vested interests and too many people making money. One day, they won't be making money any more but humans have a knack of ignoring the future.