British Airways

[Plane mad 134]

Originally Posted by VickersVicount

No seeming about it, has been confirmed for the past 18 months with roll out first on A350 this year with some 777 retrofits to follow. All aisle access and suggestion of possible door.

It will be nice to see a 1-2-1 configuration, more privacy and space.

[rog747]

I don't quite follow BA's reasoning to have another WB Twin Jet entering in the fleet when they have the 787 (in 2 sizes) and the 777 in 3 sizes...

What does the A350 bring to BA's table?

[Dannyboy39]

747 replacement, but I agree I don’t see the logic (and BA are certainly not alone with this) by having multiple types that can serve the same markets / similar ranges.

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by rog747

I don't quite follow BA's reasoning to have another WB Twin Jet entering in the fleet when they have the 787 (in 2 sizes) and the 777 in 3 sizes...

What does the A350 bring to BA's table?

There will in fact be 3 variants of the 787 soon.

The long haul fleet will be;
A350-1000
A380-800
B747-400
B777-200ER
B777-300ER
B777-9
B787-8
B787-9
B787-10

The various different types allows BA to better send the correct size plane for it's mission. Taking in to account pax capacity / cargo capacity, range and airport capabilities. Whilst a uniform fleet may bring some savings with commonality in training and maintenence costs, BA are large enough and serve diverse enough route network to counteract that with what's mentioned above. Not only this but buying from the different suppliers also allows BA (IAG) to bid for the best deals with the likes of Airbus / Boeing and engine suppliers etc.

The A350-1000s were ultimately always for B747-400 replacements and offer both the range and capacity for their intended routes but more efficiently.

Eventually, i wouldn't be surprised to see further B787 series and A350 orders for B772ER replacements.

[wiggy]

Interesting analysis...of course ATM the 777-9 is being touted as the 744/early 772 successor, rather than the A350-1000.

IAG Printer Friendly Version - News Release

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by wiggy

Interesting analysis...of course ATM the 777-9 is being touted as the 744/early 772 successor, rather than the A350-1000.

IAG Printer Friendly Version - News Release

It is indeed now, but previously it was the intention for that of the A350-1000 (along with the 789 and A380s). Realistically though, as much as these individual aircraft types are spoken as B747 replacements, they all play their part and not one single type is actually replacing it as such - more so giving BA a greater operational flexibility.

[VickersVicount]

19 hours to New Club World seat launch tomorrow...

[rog747]

Thanks - seems odd for BA to have such a varied mixed LH fleet now compared to 20 years ago (mainly RR747 and GE777, and Concorde and some RR767)

How many types can CC be checked out to operate is it 2 or 3?

5 lots of flight deck crew to be checked out, plus differences within sub-fleets
around 5 or 6 different RR engine types

A380 RR
747 RR
777 -200, -300 and the new 777XYZ-9 coming, 3 engine types, 2 x GE and RR
787 RR -8, -9 and does the -10 trade range for payload?
A350 RR

Strange, thought IAG and the Cruz show was all about costs costs costs

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

In 1999 it was equally eclectic in long haul.
B741
B742
B744
B757 (no, really, GLA/BHX-JFK)
B763
B77A
B77E GE & RR
DC10

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by rog747

How many types can CC be checked out to operate is it 2 or 3?

3 Types - plus their varients. E.g A320 includes 319 and 321. Plus the 787's are classed as a varient of a 777 for cabin crew.

Most long-haul crews checked-out aircraft looks something like one of the mixes below;

747/777/787/380
A320/777/787/380
A320/777/787/747

The main difference being the A380 vs B747. I presume over time this will become A380 vs A350.

There were plans to have a common type rating for flight crew on the 777 and 787 fleets too. However, i don't believe this has ever come to fruition other than for training captains. Not sure of the reasons why this never went ahead though.

[rog747]

Thanks -

Re the 380
Lufthansa are ditching six A380 out of their 14

There are hints in an article that BA may again go back to look at taking some more 380's - not sure how true that maybe

Meanwhile the only 380 secondhand that has been placed is the ex SQ Hi fly example.
The other 2 ex SQ 380's WFU may well end up as a spares source.
plus the 5 ex MAS a/c are still orphaned...

[crewmeal]

Perhaps the A350's will go to Iberia to replace the ageing 340's which will make the carrier an all Airbus fleet, while BA longhaul will be an all Boeing fleet. Interesting to note the rollout of the 777 X was an employee only event due to the 737 Max crisis.

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by crewmeal

Perhaps the A350's will go to Iberia to replace the ageing 340's which will make the carrier an all Airbus fleet, while BA longhaul will be an all Boeing fleet. Interesting to note the rollout of the 777 X was an employee only event due to the 737 Max crisis.

Iberia have their own A350 order replacing the A340.

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by crewmeal

Perhaps the A350's will go to Iberia to replace the ageing 340's which will make the carrier an all Airbus fleet, while BA longhaul will be an all Boeing fleet. Interesting to note the rollout of the 777 X was an employee only event due to the 737 Max crisis.

No. Iberia already have A350-900's on order / being delivered for A340-600 replacements. The A350-1000's are specifically for BA. As mentioned above, it's not all that to have a single/streamlined fleet. There are benefits outside of that, particularly with an operation and network like BA have.

A new Club World seat will be unveiled today which will be launched on their new A350-1000's.

[kcockayne]

Originally Posted by crewmeal

Perhaps the A350's will go to Iberia to replace the ageing 340's which will make the carrier an all Airbus fleet, while BA longhaul will be an all Boeing fleet. Interesting to note the rollout of the 777 X was an employee only event due to the 737 Max crisis.

Some pilot crew have already been selected to fly the BAW A350s.

[LiamNCL]

A350

Will the A350 be going on any training circuits at the likes of EDI / NCL like the 787 did ?

[wiggy]

Originally Posted by crewmeal

Perhaps the A350's will go to Iberia to replace the ageing 340's which will make the carrier an all Airbus fleet, while BA longhaul will be an all Boeing fleet.

Like some others here I am somewhat confused by the fact you see to be thinking or are at least expressing an opinion that even at this stage the A350s might somehow go to Iberia.

I know things can change but BA are very committed to the machines arriving later this year. The A350 Entry into service Manager has been in place at BA for quite some time now, the initial batch(s) of pilots have been informed they have courses, and I suspect some of them have already had sight of (electronic) manuals.

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by wiggy

Like some others here I am somewhat confused by the fact you see to be thinking or are at least expressing an opinion that even at this stage the A350s might somehow go to Iberia.

I know things can change but BA are very committed to the machines arriving later this year. The A350 Entry into service Manager has been in place at BA for quite some time now, the initial batch(s) of pilots have been informed they have courses, and I suspect some of them have already had sight of (electronic) manuals.

More to the point, all the specs are complete and the first routes are on sale to Toronoto and Dubai. Oh, not to mention the first frame is being assembled right now as we type... Chatham Historic Dockyard livery and all !

[ImPlaneCrazy]

Out of interest, what's the difference between the Chatham Dockyard livery and the current one?

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by ImPlaneCrazy

Out of interest, what's the difference between the Chatham Dockyard livery and the current one?

Chatham Historic Dockyard. That's the official adopted name of the current livery...... so no differences.