British Airways
Join Date: Oct 2011
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BA have announced SFO will get 5 x weekly A380 service starting next summer. They are set to take delivery of aircraft number 7 shortly.
With no (publicised) plans to order more, the small fleet of 12 whales that they have on order won't be able to serve that many more destinations. 12 frames can probably do ~11 daily frequencies considering most of them are long (10hr +) sectors. They already have the following (presuming they all get upgraded to daily when aircraft come available)
JNB
LAX x2
SIN
HKG
IAD
SFO
So maybe 4/5 more flights. MIA has long since been rumoured and then it's more of a guessing game. Maybe CPT (especially in UK winter now Virgin have pulled out), BOM, DXB, PEK and extra JNB freqs could be options? They have the traffic to use them on East Coast US routes as well but frequency is more important here.
With no (publicised) plans to order more, the small fleet of 12 whales that they have on order won't be able to serve that many more destinations. 12 frames can probably do ~11 daily frequencies considering most of them are long (10hr +) sectors. They already have the following (presuming they all get upgraded to daily when aircraft come available)
JNB
LAX x2
SIN
HKG
IAD
SFO
So maybe 4/5 more flights. MIA has long since been rumoured and then it's more of a guessing game. Maybe CPT (especially in UK winter now Virgin have pulled out), BOM, DXB, PEK and extra JNB freqs could be options? They have the traffic to use them on East Coast US routes as well but frequency is more important here.
SIN, HKG & JNB flights are away from LHR for two nights so that's a maximum of nine daily departures. Allow for maintenance & cover and eight departures is the maximum for most of the year (possibly nine on some days in the summer). That allows for a maximum of three routes (Only one LAX rotation is operated by A380 in the winter.)
I understand that T7 at JFK cannot accommodate the 380 even though 1 & 4 can & do. I don't know about BOS.
I would have thought MIA in the winter would make sense. What about YYZ or even YVR in the summer? Could even be that HKG goes 2 x daily 380 at some stage (it has been 3 x 747 in the past).
Just my thoughts about the routes.
I understand that T7 at JFK cannot accommodate the 380 even though 1 & 4 can & do. I don't know about BOS.
I would have thought MIA in the winter would make sense. What about YYZ or even YVR in the summer? Could even be that HKG goes 2 x daily 380 at some stage (it has been 3 x 747 in the past).
Just my thoughts about the routes.
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Biarritz from LGW would be good, affluent second homers and holidaymakers travelling to surf beaches. Only competition is Ryanair from Stansted which is inconvenient for the southern Home Counties.
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Question for the BA knowledgable please.
Does anyone know why for the 0620 LHR-MAD-LHR flight (BA456/7) is a 763 rather than an A32x? Is it usually a busy flight or is it primarily for freight? Or (as I suspect) might it be for the return leg connecting with other BA flights at LHR?
I'm booked on the BA456 on a Saturday morning in October and so far it seems I'm the only Y passenger to book a seat? Just curious really.
Does anyone know why for the 0620 LHR-MAD-LHR flight (BA456/7) is a 763 rather than an A32x? Is it usually a busy flight or is it primarily for freight? Or (as I suspect) might it be for the return leg connecting with other BA flights at LHR?
I'm booked on the BA456 on a Saturday morning in October and so far it seems I'm the only Y passenger to book a seat? Just curious really.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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As it's after 10am and the embargo has ended I can let you know that:
British Airways is to resume direct flights from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur in summer 2015.
The daily service from Terminal 5 will be operated by a four-cabin Boeing 777-200ER, featuring 12 seats in First, 48 in Club World, 32 in World Traveller Plus and a further 127 in World Traveller.
Flights begin on May 27, 2015. BA last flew to the Malaysian capital in 2001.
Lynne Embleton, Director of Business Strategy, said: “We have been working to resume flights to Kuala Lumpur for a long time, so it’s wonderful to be back in the heart of Malaysia once again.
“We are re-starting the route in response to commercial demand from our customers who have been asking us for direct British Airways flights to Kuala Lumpur, which opens up new connecting routes around the region.
“A thriving economy offers fantastic opportunities for UK businesses, while holiday-makers can enjoy some stunning destinations around the country and beyond.”
Kuala Lumpur is the world’s largest aviation hub not currently served directly by British Airways, and a major centre for oneworld airlines. Malaysia itself has strong ties with the UK and a large, rapidly growing economy with a focus on international trade.
British Airways is to resume direct flights from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur in summer 2015.
The daily service from Terminal 5 will be operated by a four-cabin Boeing 777-200ER, featuring 12 seats in First, 48 in Club World, 32 in World Traveller Plus and a further 127 in World Traveller.
Flights begin on May 27, 2015. BA last flew to the Malaysian capital in 2001.
Lynne Embleton, Director of Business Strategy, said: “We have been working to resume flights to Kuala Lumpur for a long time, so it’s wonderful to be back in the heart of Malaysia once again.
“We are re-starting the route in response to commercial demand from our customers who have been asking us for direct British Airways flights to Kuala Lumpur, which opens up new connecting routes around the region.
“A thriving economy offers fantastic opportunities for UK businesses, while holiday-makers can enjoy some stunning destinations around the country and beyond.”
Kuala Lumpur is the world’s largest aviation hub not currently served directly by British Airways, and a major centre for oneworld airlines. Malaysia itself has strong ties with the UK and a large, rapidly growing economy with a focus on international trade.
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To add to cornishsimon's post, CMB cancelled from LGW - and this isn't expected to come back. Summer 2015 rotations, from 29th March, to MLE, which used to go on to CMB, have been cancelled. MLE will now become winter only.
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TCAS_Alert, it's mainly for freight reasons. Also, being the first flight out allows connections through MAD for the first wave out. It's also to do with when the 767s are available. Lots of factors.
It's also why the 460/461 is usually a 767 in the winter and the 462/463 a 767 in the summer. It's all to do with when the widebodies are on the ground to make the schedule work.
For your info, Iberia also send an A340 on one of the evening departures out of LHR (again, the exact flight varies by season depending on aircraft availability).
It's also why the 460/461 is usually a 767 in the winter and the 462/463 a 767 in the summer. It's all to do with when the widebodies are on the ground to make the schedule work.
For your info, Iberia also send an A340 on one of the evening departures out of LHR (again, the exact flight varies by season depending on aircraft availability).
For your info, Iberia also send an A340 on one of the evening departures out of LHR (again, the exact flight varies by season depending on aircraft availability).
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Refurbishment of A319/320/321
I see that the A320 fleet are gradually being reconfigured with 168 Pinnacle seats.
Are these aircraft also having the new side panels, carpets, curtains and LED lighting etc fitted at the same time? Does anyone know.
Are these aircraft also having the new side panels, carpets, curtains and LED lighting etc fitted at the same time? Does anyone know.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Hi fl Dutchman,
Yes they are (with the exception of the odd one or two that have the news seats. They're getting LED lights in October - not sure why. Supply issue?).
The ex-bmi aircraft aren't being touched though.
Yes they are (with the exception of the odd one or two that have the news seats. They're getting LED lights in October - not sure why. Supply issue?).
The ex-bmi aircraft aren't being touched though.