London City-4
How many staff were eventually relocated? They've been trying for years to shift people out of London but in a global fight for talent not enough talented people wanted to swap London for Frankfurt.
Basically if they tried to make you, you moved to a London based competitor. What was the eventual net loss on the Wharf or the City?
Basically if they tried to make you, you moved to a London based competitor. What was the eventual net loss on the Wharf or the City?
Speaking from a slightly informed viewpoint ...
The business is not deserting London to Frankfurt or Paris, much as they would like. What is currently happening with Covid though is there is extensive on-line Teams/Webex working around the offices and with clients, much of this from people's dining tables (including the other side of mine
). It has also been the case that Canary Wharf finance offices have employed a high proportion of EU staff from all over, a good number of whom have currently gone back home and are working, again from their dining tables, in Athens or Lisbon etc. These are still UK company workers, and many are quite keen to get back to the office at some stage soon.
UK senior staff, along with New York and Singapore, have much of the worldwide knowledge and are not attracted, and even more not their families, to Paris or Frankfurt. Those examples of staff I gave from Athens and Lisbon are likewise not attracted there because, unlike their English, they are not fluent in French or German, and the general feeling is that you get marginalised very quickly. It's exactly the same as UK staff who ended up at Airbus in Toulouse felt.
The business is not deserting London to Frankfurt or Paris, much as they would like. What is currently happening with Covid though is there is extensive on-line Teams/Webex working around the offices and with clients, much of this from people's dining tables (including the other side of mine
). It has also been the case that Canary Wharf finance offices have employed a high proportion of EU staff from all over, a good number of whom have currently gone back home and are working, again from their dining tables, in Athens or Lisbon etc. These are still UK company workers, and many are quite keen to get back to the office at some stage soon.UK senior staff, along with New York and Singapore, have much of the worldwide knowledge and are not attracted, and even more not their families, to Paris or Frankfurt. Those examples of staff I gave from Athens and Lisbon are likewise not attracted there because, unlike their English, they are not fluent in French or German, and the general feeling is that you get marginalised very quickly. It's exactly the same as UK staff who ended up at Airbus in Toulouse felt.
Things at LCY are, very slowly, on the up. Amsterdam seems the first competitive route to come back, with both BA and KLM doing multi-daily. Swiss have restarted Zurich, operated by Helvetic. See they have begun using their new Embraer 290, which I had missed getting its London City certification. It has a notably different engine sound to the E190. BA seem to have just four Embraers left stored at Norwich, all the rest are back.
Went through this week for the first time in 18 months . Belfast and back.
All just so familiar. Two police, itchily pawing their sub-machine guns, glowering at me and trying to look tough, just inside the entrance. Ground floor though surprisingly empty, and most positions unstaffed. Up at security, just one lane staffed, although there were a fair number coming through, so still a queue. As ever at LCY, security staff pleasant and professional, unlike elsewhere, they presumably were furloughed for a while rather than let go and then replacements rehired. In the departure lounge it seems a bit rearranged, some concessions open, some closed up, though (as I have commented before) the retail space given over to jewellery and cosmetics, with absolutely nobody buying them, seems as ludicrous as ever. View out onto the apron now ruined by the huge baggage sorting shed built right in front of the windows - did it ever get used or has it been a useless fiasco ?
Gate 23, seating area far too small for an E190 (let alone the even bigger aircraft which are confined to the east side gates). In the usual way everyone was admitted at the top, to then stand swaying on the steep steps while they were not let out of the door at the bottom. Only the front aircraft entrance in use, and people being let through in batches to minimise queueing inside the aircraft, but instead they are all squashed together on the stairs inside. One day LCY are going to have a serious falling accident on these stairs, how it gets past a risk assessment goodness knows.
I saw that they were up to 50 scheduled departures on the day, which is pretty good going. BA seem to have become even more dominant than previously. With all the Mediterranean flights as well I do have to admire how BACF have managed their comeback. I guess there are hardly any aircraft left stored at Norwich now.
BACF on Belfast was 40% load outwards, pretty much 100% load on the return. Fare was much as before - in fact a bit more. In order to encourage people back - they have reduced the catering provision in Y, alcohol no longer given out. Now I may just be a simplistic marketing type, but for me you do not reduce your service provision when you are trying as never before to encourage customers back. BA likewise knocked me back from Silver to Bronze during the non-use, which is not what a lot of their competiitors have done, but it does mean that on my forthcoming New York trip I don't have the prior incentive to choose them any more. I know that internally BACF on Belfast is up against BA Mainline from Heathrow (no catering handed out at all), so dumbing down the provision really does send a negative message. For those who like to make out that refreshments are 'not necessary' on such flights, both out and return it was a quick run to Avis and a 2 hour drive to Co Fermanagh, the flight is the one chance to get something.
Belfast City was even more of a ghost environment than LCY, there was not a single catering/retail facility open landside on arrival.
. Belfast and back.All just so familiar. Two police, itchily pawing their sub-machine guns, glowering at me and trying to look tough, just inside the entrance. Ground floor though surprisingly empty, and most positions unstaffed. Up at security, just one lane staffed, although there were a fair number coming through, so still a queue. As ever at LCY, security staff pleasant and professional, unlike elsewhere, they presumably were furloughed for a while rather than let go and then replacements rehired. In the departure lounge it seems a bit rearranged, some concessions open, some closed up, though (as I have commented before) the retail space given over to jewellery and cosmetics, with absolutely nobody buying them, seems as ludicrous as ever. View out onto the apron now ruined by the huge baggage sorting shed built right in front of the windows - did it ever get used or has it been a useless fiasco ?
Gate 23, seating area far too small for an E190 (let alone the even bigger aircraft which are confined to the east side gates). In the usual way everyone was admitted at the top, to then stand swaying on the steep steps while they were not let out of the door at the bottom. Only the front aircraft entrance in use, and people being let through in batches to minimise queueing inside the aircraft, but instead they are all squashed together on the stairs inside. One day LCY are going to have a serious falling accident on these stairs, how it gets past a risk assessment goodness knows.
I saw that they were up to 50 scheduled departures on the day, which is pretty good going. BA seem to have become even more dominant than previously. With all the Mediterranean flights as well I do have to admire how BACF have managed their comeback. I guess there are hardly any aircraft left stored at Norwich now.
BACF on Belfast was 40% load outwards, pretty much 100% load on the return. Fare was much as before - in fact a bit more. In order to encourage people back - they have reduced the catering provision in Y, alcohol no longer given out. Now I may just be a simplistic marketing type, but for me you do not reduce your service provision when you are trying as never before to encourage customers back. BA likewise knocked me back from Silver to Bronze during the non-use, which is not what a lot of their competiitors have done, but it does mean that on my forthcoming New York trip I don't have the prior incentive to choose them any more. I know that internally BACF on Belfast is up against BA Mainline from Heathrow (no catering handed out at all), so dumbing down the provision really does send a negative message. For those who like to make out that refreshments are 'not necessary' on such flights, both out and return it was a quick run to Avis and a 2 hour drive to Co Fermanagh, the flight is the one chance to get something.
Belfast City was even more of a ghost environment than LCY, there was not a single catering/retail facility open landside on arrival.
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Alcoholic drinks provided (and generously so) on my very recents from London City to Belfast and back, together with a selection of crisps or brownie. Slightly different snack oh the way back - Taytos, so clearly catered from the other end.
I’ve seen this before on Cityflyer - people assume drinks are chargeable, despite the announcement of a snack and drink from the bar, so don’t order anything when the trolley comes by.
Then someone in the know orders something, people around them see this and realise it’s a free bar… then suddenly people are ordering wine, G&Ts etc as the service progresses through the cabin.
With the Lufthansa group moving to BOB in economy, BA Cityflyer one of the last remaining fully complimentary services in Europe in economy. Definitely a rare thing in the UK.
I’ve seen this before on Cityflyer - people assume drinks are chargeable, despite the announcement of a snack and drink from the bar, so don’t order anything when the trolley comes by.
Then someone in the know orders something, people around them see this and realise it’s a free bar… then suddenly people are ordering wine, G&Ts etc as the service progresses through the cabin.
With the Lufthansa group moving to BOB in economy, BA Cityflyer one of the last remaining fully complimentary services in Europe in economy. Definitely a rare thing in the UK.
I don't want to come over as an alcy but I specifically asked for a whisky (it was late afternoon), and I was specifically told that I could only have a soft drink - despite the miniatures being on the lower shelf of the cart.
The PA announcement included "bar" for club, and just "refreshments" for Y. I paid particular attention on the way back.
but I specifically asked for a whisky (it was late afternoon), and I was specifically told that I could only have a soft drink - despite the miniatures being on the lower shelf of the cart.The PA announcement included "bar" for club, and just "refreshments" for Y. I paid particular attention on the way back.
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It would be worth making a complaint about this as it sounds as though the crew got their service standards mixed up and need correcting: regional services from BHD don’t offer a bar (water and snack only) but LCY services do. You certainly shouldn’t have been deprived of that Johnnie Walker. Uptake in economy tends to be low as, as another poster said, people don’t listen to the PAs and are used to flying airlines with a BoB service.
I didn't actually realise (not having used them) that those new BA Cityflyer regional services from Belfast City have a different service standard to the route to London City. It was certainly a new world seeing three BA Embraers together at BHD.
All the bar and restaurant facilities at BHD in the departure lounge were closed up as well - only the Starbucks was open, and doing a considerable trade. At least LCY has got their departures restaurant open again. Northern Ireland overall looked a lot more closed up than London.
All the bar and restaurant facilities at BHD in the departure lounge were closed up as well - only the Starbucks was open, and doing a considerable trade. At least LCY has got their departures restaurant open again. Northern Ireland overall looked a lot more closed up than London.
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Originally they offered a full two class service but logistically getting the correct catering in place was just too messy and unreliable so they became a pared-back single cabin service. Offering Club and a full bar service in economy on the 25 minute GLA hop was ambitious, to say the least!
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That is on the services from Belfast to other UK cities which were introduced following the collapse of Aer Lingus Regional/Stobart Air. LCY-Belfast flights should continue to receive the original service.
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I wondered if like with other , difficult airports , the E295 , or E195-E2 and the Airbus A220-300 , I was under the impression that Swiss and Helvetic have both variants .
Anyway my question is, having read of ' Binter looking to open routes into perhaps the UK and elsewhere, LCY might be a good fit .
My question is, as I'm interested in these models , and just what they are capable of , so could they be contenders to operate from LCY? If a new Taxiway is built , one assumes it would be stronger, to perhaps ' future proof ' , larger aircraft .
Perhaps if The A220-300 Could operate would that in theory , given its range allow for a New York or Similar route .
Dubai perhaps ? .
I'm a keen follower of the new breed of aircraft, and for example , Jet Blue did imply Trans Atlantic operations for their A220's.
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BACF will add new routes.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/0...mmer-for-2022/
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/0...mmer-for-2022/
- Luxembourg, up to 18 flights per week – full season (27th March to 28th October)
- Barcelona, up to six flights per week – 20th June to 4th September
- Guernsey, two flights per week – 20th June to 2nd September, Mon and Fri
- Jersey, two flights per week – 20th June to 2nd September, Mon and Fri
- Milan Malpensa, daily – full season (2nd April to 28th October)
- Thessaloniki, one flight per week – 18th June to 4th September, Sat out and Sun back
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BACF will add new routes.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/0...mmer-for-2022/
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/0...mmer-for-2022/
- Luxembourg, up to 18 flights per week – full season (27th March to 28th October)
- Barcelona, up to six flights per week – 20th June to 4th September
- Guernsey, two flights per week – 20th June to 2nd September, Mon and Fri
- Jersey, two flights per week – 20th June to 2nd September, Mon and Fri
- Milan Malpensa, daily – full season (2nd April to 28th October)
- Thessaloniki, one flight per week – 18th June to 4th September, Sat out and Sun back