British Airways

[The96er]

Any truth in BA A321LRs from other UK airports ?

All A321neoLR currently on order fro IAG are planned for Aer Lingus. If any are planned, and that's a big 'IF', they're unlikely to be under the BA brand more likely be under the 'Level' brand.

[Corrosion]

Not only interiors, or exterior appearance. Been working quite long time, +30years, as mechanic/engineer and sadly noted that general condition of aircrafts is not one of 1st item on many companies list anymore.
Donīt know about BA, but saw and worked on with some other previously well respected airliners and now a days their a/c:s are just in everyday or even crap condition.
Personally still old federation engineer, sometimes really struggle with all these beancounters ideas just to do only minimum maintenance. Just worried about new generation guys whose balls are not big enough yet to say NO if something is just a crap.

Sorry off-topic, but it may be connected to this tatty interior/exterior discussion.

[Planespeaking]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

Not only interiors, or exterior appearance. Been working quite long time, +30years, as mechanic/engineer and sadly noted that general condition of aircrafts is not one of 1st item on many companies list anymore.
Donīt know about BA, but saw and worked on with some other previously well respected airliners and now a days their a/c:s are just in everyday or even crap condition.
Personally still old federation engineer, sometimes really struggle with all these beancounters ideas just to do only minimum maintenance. Just worried about new generation guys whose balls are not big enough yet to say NO if something is just a crap.

Sorry off-topic, but it may be connected to this tatty interior/exterior discussion.

The last time, apart from the third world, I saw aircraft as shabby as some BA airframes was PanAm just before it
went bust. Hardly an endorsement for the so called British 'flag carrier' !!

[LiamNCL]

First A320 NEO G-TTNA should be joining the fleet very soon.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/2...ec33bfb7_o.jpg

[Peter47]

What do people think of BA's plans to offer no frills long hail fares with checked baggage costing extra? The way ahead or an over-reaction to others? I think that PeopleExpress did it back in the early 80s and maybe Laker but it died out. I'm sure that PE's charges were less in real terms than the Ģ40 BA is advocating - can anyone remember what they were?

I suppose that it makes sense for those doing long weekends in places such as New York but I can see overhead bins getting full very quickly and problems if families get split up - it already happens with LoCos.

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by Peter47

What do people think of BA's plans to offer no frills long hail fares with checked baggage costing extra? The way ahead or an over-reaction to others? I think that PeopleExpress did it back in the early 80s and maybe Laker but it died out. I'm sure that PE's charges were less in real terms than the Ģ40 BA is advocating - can anyone remember what they were?

I suppose that it makes sense for those doing long weekends in places such as New York but I can see overhead bins getting full very quickly and problems if families get split up - it already happens with LoCos.

I can see why they're offering it. It gives them a chance to potentially increase what would have been their original base fare anyway by giving the image that you're getting an additional service. It also streamlines the product from the domestic and shorthaul offering too. Don't forget these "Basic" fares still include the full service on the booked flight - so on longhaul a full complimentary bar and meal or snack service is still provided in World Traveller.

However, any encouragement to increase cabin baggage in an aircraft cabin these days is a BIG negative. People fighting for overhead locker space, slow boarding and increased delays when it eventually has to be added to the hold anyway are just some of the headaches it creates. I know the 747/777 aircraft suffer from lack of overhead locker space "down the back" on busy flights, but this will also translate into further issues on the A320 fleet as passengers transfering onto their onward connecting flights with the same "Basic" fare to/from the UK and Europe...

[CabinCrewe]

6x ex TAM/LATAM 773's for BA Fact or fiction?

[ETOPS]

6x ex TAM/LATAM 773's for BA

Some fact some fiction.

Previous info from BA shows 3 A model 772s leaving the fleet to be replaced by 3 77Ws. They could be from TAM or EK - other operators are available.

Willie Walsh has recently been singing the praises of the new build 77W fleet so a boost from 3 to 6 sounds feasible.

[OntimeexceptACARS]

On the LGW B777 front, I flew LGW-BGI in CW last week and, whilst I expected a less than Emirates experience, I was overall pleasantly surprised by the nick of G-VIIW. Primary reason for splashing out on CW was sleeping space. One glaring error was the lack of charging for devices, either plugs or USB. CC explained that there was a socket that needed some kind of adapter, but they did not keep them onboard.

In 2018 in long haul that's got to be one of the few airlines still doing this.

[AirportPlanner1]

Originally Posted by OntimeexceptACARS

In 2018 in long haul that's got to be one of the few airlines still doing this.

I flew Lufthansa late last year, curiously the old A340 had this installed whereas the A380 didn’t.

[vectisman]

As more refurbished 777s come online at Gatwick the power socket issues should be resolved.

[Heathrow Harry]

Amazing!

A mate tells me they're now pretty standard on BUSES in Reading............ and free

[EK77WNCL]

Some of the newest Go Northeast buses have free wifi, free charging (USB and plug) and interactive table seats where you can play things like snakes and ladders via an app... Almost enough to make me want to get the bus

[Plane.Silly]

And with some of the delays you hear about BA, may even be quicker too

[Heathrow Harry]

And you can buy yr own sandwich s....

[spacedog]

BA to commence direct service to Durban from 29th Oct
3 x weekly on a B787-8

[BAladdy]

BA’s 2 x Weekly service to Luanda will end 07JUN18. The final LHR-LAD will depart 07JUN18 and the final LAD-LHR will depart 09JUN18

[vctenderness]

Luanda was a route based on oil traffic has the money dried up?

[BAladdy]

W18 LHR Schedule Changes

BA have made the following changes to LHR W18 Schedule which is due to begin 28OCT18 over the last few weeks

New Routes

Durban - 3 x Weekly service begins 29OCT18.
Marrakech - 4 x Weekly service begins 28OCT18. Flights from LGW will continue up to 8 x weekly

Suspended Route

Palermo - Flights suspended for W18. Was originally planned to operate 2 x weekly

Frequency Increased

Barcelona - From 46 to 53 x Weekly
Berlin - From 53 to 55 x Weekly
Budapest - From 20 to 23 x Weekly
Gibraltar - From 9 to 13 x Weekly
Larnaca - From Daily to 10 x Weekly
Las Palmas - From 1 to 2 x Weekly
Lyon - From 21 to 23 x Weekly
Malaga - From 4 to 6 x Weekly
Miami - From 2 to 3 x Daily
Prague - From 27 to 34 x Weekly
Rome - From 41 to 42 x Weekly
Santiago - From 4 to 5 x Weekly
Stuttgart - From 13 x weekly to 2 x daily
Vienna - From 34 to 36 x Weekly
Washington - From 2 x Daily to 17 x Weekly
Zurich - From 42 to 44 x Weekly

Frequency Decreased

Aberdeen - From 53 to 47 x Weekly
Bilbao - From 2 to 1 x Daily
Dallas - From Daily to 6 x Weekly. 4 class 772ER replacing 747.
Frankfurt - From 46 to 45 x Weekly
Glasgow - From 60 to 58 x Weekly
Las Vegas - From 10 x Weekly to Daily
Muscat - From 5 to 4 x Weekly
Newcastle - From 41 to 34 x Weekly
Paris - From 53 to 47 x Weekly
Reykjavik- From 14 to 11 x Weekly
Stockholm - From 34 to 33 x Weekly
Warsaw - From 14 to 13 x Weekly

Terminal Changes

Warsaw - Flights will switch from T3 to T5 from 28OCT18

[Hussar 54]

Originally Posted by vctenderness

Luanda was a route based on oil traffic has the money dried up?

No...Not really...Our OPS in Angola are currently busier than we've ever been, and we're expecting them to get even busier as the price of crude is going to go only one way for the next 12 months or so...

I go to Luanda about five or six times per year, always AF or KL, and the flights are always stuffed to the gunnels.

I think that in BA's case, probably it's difficult to keep a business heavy ( Bosses in Business Class, rig workers in Economy class ) route profitable when it's only operating two days per week - it needs either more frequency or no frequency. The rig workers, who do roughly 6 on / 2 off don't want to be hanging around for a couple of days in Luanda before being able to set off for home, especially as Luanda is quite probably the most expensive city that I've ever stayed / worked in.