Sorry, I meant one-way, what I normally need. I think LH still has a system of not really thinking of one-way, they offer the 100 GBP return, but one-way is not much less (formerly, it was unaffordable, and on non-UK routes mostly still is). There BA is cheaper, also if you go quite short-notice, from FRA and TXL. Maybe you were also on the LH's now cancelled TXL-LCY, which was unusually cheap.
Sure, but what I wanted to point out is that they gradually leave LGW and its catchment area to EZY - Kent, Sussex, Surrey and such, not the poorest parts of Britain.
Hmm, yes, but it that so viable ? Per-seat costs must be higher with a E190 instead of a B737, also LCY terminal capacity isn't unlimited, and it has restrictions for weekends. As for e.g. KRK and WAW, the catchment area of LCY indeed includes the Polish expat community in Stratford, but they can nearly as easily go to STN for FR, oddly even the expats around Ealing use STN or LTN. But sure, I wish them luck, LCY is a great little airport.
I hope then BA does most of the LHR flights to Spain, as connecting at T5 is a real advantage now without the terminal change. One should tell esp. the Germans: Wake-up, people, Heathrow (at least with BA) isn't a hellhole anymore. I sometimes wonder why FRA with its long walks, lots of construction and frequent delays is said to be so much better.

I don't post often but I have a premonition (spelling?)
 

I have a vision or sense (not that I am going to be a contributor apart from buying a ticket) that in 10-15 years BA will only operate from LCY to several business destinations and EZY & RYR will dominate LTN, LGW & STD(?). More importantly I have a suspicion EasyJet will launch a long haul operation from LHR and several european hubs (AMS \ FRA \ MAD) and will decimate BA (cost base being their biggest problem) with Ryanair running a zero frills long haul from Stansted and several other european 2nd level airports. (Not that Stansted is 2nd rate).
BA have retreated from the regions, now retreating from LGW and the wheels are coming off at LHR.
I'm sure BA staff don't want to hear this but neither did Woolies staff.

Gone to tighten straps on my flak jacket \ kevlar hat etc
Finally, I have no shares in any airline or desire to.

Iberia only fly to MAD from T3. BA operate all services to BCN. All BA services to spain and GIB operate from T3. All flights are code shared with IB and visa versa.

I don't mind the locos <= 2.5 hours. That's about my limit, anything more than that and I want a seat of my choice, entertainment, food, water and decent cabin crew.
People blithely assume that the same explosion of travel will happen on long haul if the locos jump in, fogetting that the price of economy travel is well below that of ten years ago in real terms, EVEN with the silly new "green" / budget hole filling taxes.
People might nip to Rome on impulse, fewer will cross oceans on impulse. The dynamic is different.

Noticed that no-one has replied to carlrsymington's post yet, is it so far-fetched that it isn't worthy of a response?!

Anyway, I'll have a bash:-

Really? So they'll drop all their routes from LGW, LHR and other airports?

Maybe not too far off the mark for LTN & STN (unless there is a new airport called "sexually transmitted disease" - sorry, I'll get my coat). Not sure if they would "dominate" LGW?

I have a suspicion that it is highly unlikely, EZY don't seem to have expressed any interest in either long haul or LHR. If you think EZY will "decimate" BA through their new long haul operation at LHR, that seems to imply that BA will continue at LHR, which you said earlier wouldn't happen?!
How would EZY's long haul at AMS / FRA / MAD etc. fare against KLM, AF, LH etc?

As Ryanair have mentioned this previously, it may happen. I'm not sure how popular "zero frills long haul" would be with passengers (assuming flights would be 7 hours plus - eg. transatlantic?).

As Ryanair have mentioned this previously, it may happen. I'm not sure how popular "zero frills long haul" would be with passengers (assuming flights would be 7 hours plus - eg. transatlantic?).

Too young to remember - what were Laker like? Really 'no frills' or what?

Good question jonnychips - I can vaguely remember Laker operating, but not aware of what level of service / frills they had on board?
Anyone on pprune have any experience of them?

Considering BA were making a profit 12-18 months ago with a ridiculously high bottom line (£30k average cabin crew wage - £66k for CSDs!:eek:) and BA having a relatively 'mature' (the right word?) crew, I would assume that within the next 10-15 years when BA/IB/AA pretty much will become one - I dread to think how competitive they will be.

They have this on their side:

1. Economies of scale
Every possible cost you could think will fall in price per unit. They will be the biggest airline in the world in terms of traffic, revenue miles, passengers and aircraft. Already BA/IB are calculating massive savings from their merger, never mind when AA are in town!

2. Largest airline across the Atlantic
BA currently have more flights than any other carrier between Europe and the US and Canada. IB pretty much have South America sown up. AA would just add to both.

3. Heathrow
The biggest asset for BA. Their dominance at the airport is what is keeping them afloat. The lack of slots is limiting competition which in BA's current state would see them crying to the Chancellor.

4. South America
IB/AA cover the market more than any other international airline.

If we take BA as of this evening - they are in a bad state. However, within the coming years as they marry IB and get ever closer to AA (if the next stage of the US/EU agreement goes through it will only be a matter of time), plus a plummet in the bottom line (economies of scale/retirement of high earners), they look very much stronger.

Also take into account the BE share which BA don't seem reluctant to disown and their lucrative LCY operation.

The major players on the international stage in the western world are going to include:

AA/BA/IB
LH(inc. subsidiaries)
AF/KL
CO/UA
DL/NW

Plus the low cost airlines on either side of the Atlantic.

With regards to the pension fund if BA goes bust?
I have been led to believe that this would not be a bad thing for current pensioners as the whole thing would be frozen and no allowance would have to be made in the valuations for future retirees. This is probably an over-simplification, can anyone shed any further light on the matter? - From a better-informed viewpoint than mine (shouldn't be too difficult!!!!!)
:)

Flew Laker to/from LAX in 1980. Don't remember any charges for food or film etc. IIRC they only cut the ticket price, not the service. It was a good experience, equal to BA's economy service at the time.

There wasn't "one" Laker, as it were.

When Laker started across the Atlantic, it was not possible to make advance reservations (at which point BA, Pan Am and TWA introduced "standby" fares). Prospective passengers simply queued and took their chances. However, it evolved quite quickly into something else, with "APEX" (Advance Purchase Excursion) fares and a "premium" offering, for example.

Laker grew into a sizeable operation. I remember being quite impressed by the large number of departures Laker had from LAX to the UK whilst I was waiting to board BA's (lone) departure to London one day in August, 1981.

fun flights
 

if ba wants to make some money,then why don,t they bring back the fun flights they did in the late 80s.they were like a mystery flight you did not know were you were going till you checked in at 9.30am.many a time i went to cdg,ams,dus,and even cork for 45 mins.a minimum of 6 of you could go,and pick up your dutyfree back.bring them back i say loved it on a sunday..

'they were like a mystery flight you did not know were you were going'

Another airline has taken this one step further,where you know where you want to go but have to look at the local map to see where your actually going to go !

This is becoming nonsense with fares from Ryanair and Easyjet so low=buy one of there tickets? At BA we are busy enough as one of the worlds' major airlines? Feel free to purchase a ticket with us!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

After British Airways ?
 

I am a supporter of BA as many of you will know. However I cannot see them coming back from a twelve day debacle over the Christmas period. The pension deficit is like a millstone, Iberia is a semi-reluctant partner and the Lufthansa and Air France / KLM groupings have far them well behind.

SO. If things escalate and BA falls, which is now a very real possibility as the travelling public is furious, what would be the implications for us all ?

Heathrow would no longer need a third runway tomorrow. Growth could be managed much better to bring things back to 2010 levels over a period of a few years.
Terminal 5 could be made available to....who I wonder? Would Skyteam suddenly 180 backtrack and be moving out of T4 as fast as they moved in?

Would Virgin be in a much healthier place financially?
Might BMI be turned around by going after displaced ex BA loyalists looking for a British Midland approach?
What would be the impact on the US airlines as one of their high quality competitors is removed?

Every cloud has a silver lining. Perhaps it's time to explore options....

There is little chance that the strike will go ahead, BA are already in Legal talks, even if that does not work they will get together round the table and suspend strike action.

WHat business will be lost with people booking on other flights until its sorted out is to be seen, but the chance of a 12 day strike is slim to non IMHO.

I think what we first need to realise is that BA, as a NAME may be worth nothing IF the strikes were to go ahead.

However, their assets are worth billions. Just their aircraft and LHR slots alone push the multi-billion pound barriers.

If the situation came to the worst possible scenario, I am sure it would be bought out by a consortium or a billionaire playboy. We need to remember that although within this country we hate everything we do, we are also one of the most patriotic and many British people are proud of BA. Just travelling to the US, you realise how well respected the carrier is amongst Americans, mainly because the service is far superior to that of any international US carrier.

Very correct. Would the unions really want a law suit for eye watering amounts of money? I doubt it.

I assume that all AA flights across the Atlantic will be full as will a number of domestics in the US with BA passengers. I would guess similar OW partners will also benefit from bulging loads.

The simple solution is to close the company down and start again.

The slots do not belong to BA: they belong to ACL who allocate them/ No doubt they would allocate the BA slots to the all new British Overseas Airways and to the short haul fleets in British European Airways.

New contracts, new working practices, lowr salaries, higher productivity an a reinvigorated business model an vastly improved service.

Instead of trying to be a hybrid LCC stick 2 fingers up, charge a reasonable fare and DELIVER!

I'm sure BA shareholders would love that...:ugh:

Unfortunately with a £3.7 Billion deficit there is a questionable value to BA as a Going Concern if the strike goes ahead and industrial unrest were to continue.