Now is the time for us to remind all the previous managers/bosses/chairman of their resounding statements that they would NOT split the company back into BOAC / BEA camps. I can honestly claim that I long expected and predicted exactly this outcome and have regularly stated so in PPRuNe.

For BOAC (sorry, BA) it is a triumph as they have rid themselves of all those dreadful through ticketing problems!! Just think, if my connecting BACON/FLYBE flight is late and I miss my BA long haul - it's my problem! They can reduce their liability and benefits and keep prices the same, thus effecting an increase in ticket price to every pax and more revenue to boost their bonus calculation.

Inferring the regional press releases do sum up BE's intentions regarding the regional bases:
BFS - expansion on existing services;
BHX - minimum 10 a/c plus new route development to include Eastern Europe;
BRS - no commitment to Bristol, but the 'Southwest' generally - i.e. EXT one would imagine;
EDI and GLA - new route development;
EXT - commitment provided it reaches an agreement with the new airport owners;
GCI and JER - 'further investment and growth', no mention of new services;
INV - maintenance of the LGW service;
IOM - new routes planned;
LBA, NCL, NWI and SOU - new routes planned;
MAN - minimum 11 a/c making BE largest operator at MAN;

Obviously it would be assumed that where BA and BE have duplicity on routes, capacity would be cut which would facilitate extra aircraft for reorganisation.

Special metion to BA however, well done for a successful withdrawl from its own nation. :D I think it is an absolute farce that this airline can trade as 'British' Airways. Fair enough in the Netherlands, KLM concentrate on AMS, but it is about four times smaller in population. To have a nation of 60million people having to travel to London to fly the flag carrier overseas is pathetic. Lufthansa fly domestic and international services from probably 10, 11, 12 airports. Hmmm:=

It does sound sensible - but according to Martin Broughton

And where might you be connecting to a BA long haul flight from a BACon flight? AFAIK only through Manchester to JFK or from Inverness through LGW. I doubt those miniscule 'savings' even crossed the minds of the people behind the sell off.

I'm sure there is much duplicity on many routes! And in Press Releases!:}

Good old BA, I'm getting used to moving every 4 years.
Watch all the BACON management slot into a role at BA mainline and f*ck the staff.

I hope Flybe take as much from BA as they can, and every other airline shaft BA as far up the Kyber as possible.

As ever smoke and mirrors by the management of BACON, how long did it take to print the glossy leaflet provided to us this morning?

I wonder if Flybe believes that most of BACON's 50seater routes will be viable with the 78seat Q400 and a LCC concept - or if quite a few of these routes will be chopped and picked up by airlines like Eastern. Now if Eastern continues to expand and and add more and more 50 seaters, we are sort of back where we were 10 years ago - BRAL Mk. II, but at much higher fares.

The Flybe directors must be grinning from ear to ear. Fancy getting the opportunity to buy your main competitor for a knock-down price simply because its present owner can't stem the losses.

Flybe will become the largest regional airline in Europe. Will this sale be subject to an investigation by the Competition (formerly known as the Monopolies and Mergers) Commission?

As some have already said, looks like the money has been going to flybe, not from.... reminds me of the deal they struck with Eastern a few years ago... BA seem to be good at giving away the family silver... :rolleyes:

I think many reading these pages will wonder if flybe's recruitment will be affected by this.... I see online applications are still being accepted, but will they still recruit Q400 skippers?

Will Flybe be able to use BACONs remaining Embraer options I wonder? They still have around 7 options with Embraer I believe and they could be used to accelerate the delivery of 195s perhaps.

Well said sir, Evans is a baffoon of the highest order. Typical BA old school, he has spoken so much lies and drivel since the conception of CitiExpress/BACON.
I hope he enjoys his retirement and the fat paycheck he will get for his performance in closing BA in the regions.
I fear FLYBE will be on the lookout to cut more than a few jobs when all this has gone through.

So guess BA will hardly be keen for Loganair to remain operating as British Airways. Or Sun Air or GB, the only other surviving franchisees.

Oh hang on, there's BMed too but they operate from Hounslow's Cash Cow International Airport. So one suspects they'll be a different case.

Is there any chance of the new Flybe/Bacon returning to CWL? Especially with the probable reduction of routes from BRS?

Will new bases open up?

The new commercial plan envisages some additional bases. These plans will be finalised over the next few months and are planned to be announced before January 1st 2007.



Interesting ...

bmibaby.com

Where does your information come from that Flybe's new commercial plan envisages additional bases?

GB makes money dont they? Cant see why they'd sell off a money making asset.

Out of interest anyone know what will happen to the ground handling activities? BA have a full handling base at BHX and we can only assume they won't want it. Will flybe want the hassle of running their own handling company? I sincerely doubt it.

So I guess they'll be closed or sold off? Perhaps Swissport will acquire BHX they handle flyBE anyway...

Whay are the chances of BA operating the A318 out of LCY? I think it would suit the Madrid and Milan routes. Your comments please

British Airways Betrayal
 

British Airways Betrayal
So BA's betrayal of the British regions is now complete. After the insult of BA Connect a complete withdrawal for every link our supposed "National" airline gave to any British city, just dropped by the BA name. And all for the simple reason that BA couldn't be bothered to plan and market effectively for anywhere except LHR. The problems BA has caused it staff at Gatwick with its stop/start planning was bad enough but at least London still had LHR if they had pulled the plug on LGW.

Imagine Lufthansa pulling the plug on Munich, Iberia on Barcelona and so on. And its not like the UK's major cities are minor players in the population stakes. Remember the much trumpeted fact some years ago that 28 million people live within 2 hours of Birmingham.

For many years I have said that BA should be renamed London Airways, well now they truly are in all but name. Seriously; legislation should be introduced to force them to withdraw the word British from their company title because anything less like a national company simply doesn't exist.

My sympathies to the staff throughout the UK at what BA clearly regards as the nuisance regions daring to need air services continuing to be provided by Britains "National" carrier, they have seen their hard work and loyalty unceremoniously dumped.

BA you are a disgrace.

Eagle - with ref LCY:

No chance in the foreseeable future until:
1. The airport completes a four year expansion plan

2. The routes pick up enough in numbers and yield to justify the size and cost of those aircraft.

However, having left BACX a while back to come to Flybe, I look forward to seeing more old friends. It isn't perfect, but it's far far much much better than any of the BRAL/BACX/BACON derivatives. My only worry is that that those arrogant morons Hutchings / Deacon / Phelan will be coming along. They'll presumably have to, because I don't think it's legal to operate the licence without the existing management. Those three are second only to Evans as completely useless buffoons. Having said all that, it wouldn't surprise me to see that they've organised a nice RJ100 job each, and will conveniently switch to the Edinbirgh operation. I hope they have to hand back their company cars and perks as they will not be the same rank in a much smaller operation. At least - that's what I hope, the thought of Flybe taking them on.....no, that really WOULD be bad dream!:suspect: