Most airlines that operate C-Class only BBJ1s or A319CJs have 48 seats installed.

The cabin of the A318 is just 2.5m shorter than the cabin of the A319, yet BA only plans to have 32 seats.

Is that because of range issues no more pax can be accommodated? Even with 38 or 40 seats the A318 should be reasonably comfortably, particularly as the main selling point of the service will be the gateway LCY and not the cabin of the aircraft.

It is only remarkable that they have not done this before and they should concentrate on this kind of operation, rather than the 75 ops from Paris.

On this route, they have no competition and retain their core users. Paris (and other starting points) are the opposite.

The big problem at the moment is fuel costs but, for as long as they remain the only carrier on that route, the extra costs will not notice. As has been said, the potential clients will have said Yes to this two years ago. Not least evidenced by the retention of domestic services into LCY when they abandoned the rest of the domestic network.

I don't think SilverJet have much to worry about as they have a different catchment area and a different slate of pax.

Would they look at expanding the long haul route network from LCY to other financial centres, oil cities etc. such as DXB if the NYC was successful?

And what will the fares be with only 32 pax on board?

A few points :

1. If LCY is fogged in one morning, Stansted is closer and more convenient by road than Stansted. I presume they could use the exec terminal.

2. Shannon stop westbound works only if you do US customs preclearance, when there can be a notable saving in time. Interesting to see how the resulting "pressure" on the US immigration staff stationed there for an on-time departure is handled, but for those routinely queueing at JFK for 1-2 hours on arrival it could be even more of a timesaver then the eastbound nonstop.

3. The world has not stopped economically, despite what the downmarket news media may care to write about. There are still plenty of pax in premium class on BA/Virgin/AA/DL/CO from London to New York.

4. Having BA as an established operator on the city pair doing this gives all sorts of advantages over the recent independent premium service operators on the route.

5. BA already has a large and established client base on the route, with plenty of Golds and Silvers, and likely has already struck volume-based corporate deals.

6. Not a lot of demand for early morning departures from LCY as target clients do not live or have hotels near there. Aim for those who go to Canary Wharf offices first. A lunchtime and early evening departure out of LCY will work best. In the opposite direction need overnight flights as early as possible (into LCY just after it opens) and as late as possible out of JFK. A BA exec bus/limo from LCY to/from Canary Wharf and Bank would be a real benefit.

7. If there really is an A318 on the ground at LCY for most of the day seems OK to schedule it on a trip to Europe.

8. Interested to see what they do with the aircraft at weekends when LCY is closed and when there will be little demand westbound on either Saturday or Sunday.

As BA have their own terminal at JFK, perhaps the A318 will have their idle time waiting on the JFK ramp. Just fly into LCY, and have minimal ground time there. There is a discussion of another thread that according to an internal BA memo, GLA will be the fuel stop location? if thats the case i wonder if you would be able to fly GLA-JFK from GLA. also that being a BA airbus maintenence base , is another advantage for GLA. Saying that the allure of preclearing immigration at SNN is a positive advantage.

Yes and no, yes it could take the odd passenger away from Silverjet, if they are still around. But I think BA are aiming for the high end passengers, perhaps those who would have used Concorde so that is a different market to Silverjets.

Saman,

It's not 'be at the Bank of England with in 45 minutes' - it's 'be at Canary Wharf 25 minutes' after landing.

E14 is where most of the US banks are (with the main exceptions of JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch).

WHBM,

What sort of 'service to Europe' would you suggest? These a/c will be fitted out for J-cls only and so won't fit into the normal S/H ops.

I agree that lunchtime & early-evening departures are probably best, but there are hotels in E14 (eg. Four Seasons, Radisson); most J-classers would probably already get company car transport to/from but the DLR is usually quicker from both Bank and CW anyway during the rush-hour. That said, BA run a 08.15 EGLL-KJFK and it's full in J.

Also, I didn't know City was closed on weekends?

Anyway, Heathrow Airport, this all got a good airing on PPRuNe when it was announced a few months ago. Today's instalment is just inking the contract but, as has already been alluded to, it keeps it in the public eye and makes it harder for anyone else to do it without looking like a me-too.

I'm looking forward to the photos of the largest and smallest Airbus a/c parked-up next to each other at KJFK!

For those who wonder if the small Airbus can make it, Lufthansa use them on similar business-only services from Dusseldorf to Newark and Chicago, a good deal further.

I do hope (with every bone in my body) that this fails and leaves BA with as much egg on their face as possible....

The worlds favorite airline......I dont think so......Londons favorite airline....not for much longer.......

WHBM

Given that the aircraft will have a J class fit-out, I doubt that BA would want to soil the cabin flying a lot of riff-raff during the A318 layover at LCY.

But a trip for city types from LCY to FRA could make a lot of sense to maximise aircraft usage.

Nevertheless, this concept is inspired.

BA will operate the A318, Lufthansa operated the A319 in the past from DUS. Hence also my question if the 32seat layout is a result of performance restrictions given that Lufthansa put 48seats in the only slightly larger A319.

re: parking in LCY - what kind of times are proposed? Is it likely that the EB leg could simply be crew-change/fuel/go at LCY with daily checks done in JFK? It would lose some business time but if the 318s are fitted for satellite internet/cellular that could be less of a problem.

If I was one of those bigwig types I'm not sure I'd want to hear that my 318 was tech in EDI to save parking charges. The only upside I can think of to the 318s subbing in on BA LCY routes could be a sales pitch to those based in Canary Wharf who fly to the US occasionally but more often to Europe/UK. Those flights could simply have Y unbookable to spare the "riff raff" effect.

ManohMan := :yuk:

London City is not closed at the weekends.

Do you think the 318s will look impressive on the apron, parked next to the BA Cityflyer RJs and Dash 400's ?

LCY / EGLC London City Airport is closed for the 24 hours from just after noon on a Saturday.

Manofman,

Have you ever come off of a BA aircraft and said 'never again?'

BA maybe attacked for there poor baggage record and LHR etc. but the crew and service (from what I have experienced) are exceptional. We cannot take it away that when onboard they are one of the best and whenever possible I would fly with the airline (price depending).

Obviously there is SQ which is most likely seen as the best carrier in the world. EK and QR are also quite high on the list. The Eastern carriers seem to have more quality up front.

You cannot say that BA is a bad carrier, yes they have their problems but thank goodness BA is not like the US carriers!

QUOTE "I do hope (with every bone in my body) that this fails and leaves BA with as much egg on their face as possible....

The worlds favorite airline......I dont think so......Londons favorite airline....not for much longer......."

Manofman,,What a sad miserable ba***rd you must be

From a City person's perspective, this is good business sense. The Wharf is just a short drive/ride away, and anything that allowed executives to work as long as possible before having to check in, waste time in terminal before departure and then in flight before queuing forever and a day at JFK, is definitely welcome.

:)

S.

It is clear that ManofMan does not understand how commerce works. If this route fails, BA will not have 'egg on its face' but will be complemented on trying something brave and new. The managers will walk away being praised. The staff and crews on the other hand ...

So - you want lots of people to be out of work? That is so kind of you.