Would it not be difficult for BA to do a deal like that when they report their fleet and committed orders/options to shareholders every quarter?

Mark,

Isn't it tough to know what is agreed in paneled rooms between the barons of aviation and aircraft manufacturers? No that I would follow the conspiracy theorists too closely mind you....

I think if BA wanted to secure an order or options around a theme, there is enough (anecdotal) evidence out there to make it a reasonably safe bet for us to assume that to be the case.

just an opinion...

Heard a rumour that BA are indeed buying 777-300F's to help them cope with the delayed baggage at LHR. I shouldn't joke really as I am flying to ABZ with them tomorrow for a weekend!

BA & London LGW & LCY
 

Aeroskid , I think you are spot on about LGW, I cant see BA in there for the long haul, excuse the pun! However, although LHR is a lucrative base, one would ask is it a good idea to have all your eggs in one basket? what do you think?

Personally, I can see BA sticking it out at LCY as it has a limiting factor re size and scope for operations( hence can be sheltered from competition, hence high fares).. interestingly did anyone read the article LCY plan for growth?
http://www.uk-airport-news.info/lond...ews-030107.htm

The first half of this prediction I like very much.

Do you have this week's lottery numbers, by any chance? :)

Aircraft rivals vie for £15bn as BA gets out its wallet
 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...553123,00.html

Sorry if it's been posted elsewhere.

eP.

BA to spend £1 billion a year on new aircraft over next 15 years
 

According to The Times (January 18)
"The massive order for up to 135 long-haul aircraft, which BA hopes to announce in about three months, has triggered an aggressive bidding war between Boeing, of the US, and Airbus, its European rival. The Franco-German aircraft manufacturer is understood to be offering substantial discounts on the list prices of its airliners to cover the cost of retraining BA pilots and engineers."

Does The Times think the cost of 135 aircraft is a mere one billion quid ?

Edit : OK, I see the article itself says 15 billion.

Damn..... GCC got there before I could post a witty, intelligent put down :oh:

135 aircraft?

57 744s, 45 772s, and 21 767s I think...that gives a current WB fleet of 122 aircraft...

...so BA are looking to replace them all and add a little growth?

I suppose in 15 years time, the last 772s and 744s will be getting near retirement time.

My own guess is that we'll see 748s, 773s and 789/10s in the mix, although I can't help thinking that Airbus will break the bank to get this one...maybe A330s, A350s and a few A380s will be the order of the day. The only problem for Airbus is that they can't offer anything competitive in the 747 sector...the 346 is a dead duck and the 380 too big to replace all the 744s...

And the replacement for 737 at LGW which should hopefully be announced in the next 3 months . Re GB Airways we will all have to wait and see what happens their !

BA Ground Staff Threaten Strike
 

Here we go again:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/...es/6312915.stm

The ballot over whether to accept the companies pension off hasn't even taken place yet.
I think the title of this thread is very misleading - does the BBC have nothing better to report?

Yes it has. I have had mine and returned it.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about the pensions, exactly what are ground staff unhappy about?
It is all fair and the reason aircrew have a higher pensionable salary is all to do with the fact that retirment has gone from 55 to 65, a 10 year increase as opposed to just 5 for ground staff. Please can someone clarify what the issue is here.

Yep, spotted that. Fortunately, just before booking Dubai flights in a couple of weeks. That's EK getting my money then.

The ground staff will not be led into strike action by the GMB. It is posturing and they have reasons for their posturing.

The vote is on acceptance or otherwise of the pension proposals not whether or not to strike.

Are BA LGW turning into a Ryanair wannabe? I notice that their LGW-AMS flights have started using the locost H gates at Schiphol, rather than the regular D gates (the LHR flights remain on 'D').

Flights dont look like they're set up properly yet, you cant buy below M class fare on any date, the normal lead in fare is N class for all BA Domestic routes which is 3 below M.

I am going to start a new thread:

BA Staff in "Go to work" threat

sure to be a nasty one this!!!!