GB Airways

[Park Brake Released]

I've heard so many people saying that GB will be losing it's Franchise next year (Spring), that there must be something in it?
Mr Walsh has reportedly said that he does not agree with Franchises, so that begs the question - How long have these two companies got, and could they trade independently.
I can't see how GB can - they have no booking system, no brand name, and will have to compete head to head with Easyjet (similar route structure).
At least BMed have a unique route structure - unless BA take the routes.
Just food for thought - if anyone has anything to add feel free.

[StudentInDebt]

A lot of people said that My Travel would go under 4 years ago. Last time I went to work they were still Going Places.

[tiggerific_69]

Dont forget Loganair,also a BA Franchise,and also rumours of the franchise going.

[TFlyguy]

I need to book a BA flight for next summer thats operated by GB - maybe I'll wait a while

[Agaricus bisporus]

PBR, with just 2 posts you're pretty new to this forum, but hopefully not so new to the world in general I guess, so...

- I've heard so many people saying that Princess Diana was murdered by; the CIA, the British Government; the Royal Family, the News of the Screws; (insert your own personal bugaboo)

- Or that she was pregnant by a grocer's boy

- So many people say that her driver was not paralytic after all

- I've heard that 60% of Americans have been buggered by Martians or something...

And I suppose they all know the truth, do they7?

I've heard that the moon is made of mescaline, or was it head-cheese?



Come on pal, wait for some facts, smoke n' mirors rumours are for dupes. Or Journos, which is possibly the same thing.

[Lucifer]

Can you change the title. This is very misleading.

[Mr A Tis]

Whatever, the future of the GB franchise, I'd guess they must be pretty peeved anyhow with Big Airways.
Having only just launched into changing all their MAN services into BA Connect products, services & advertising, they'll be left with a brand & product that no longer exists.:confused:

[TINBASHER99]

Could this be in any way related to the GB maintenance contract being taken up by Virgin at LGW?

Just a thought.

[cjhants]

and the ground handling going to aviance

[Torquelink]

PBR

I think your speculation is very wide of the mark and your thread title is very alarmist. If you have something more specific perhaps you could post it. Otherwise you are alarming an awful lot of GB people for no good reason.

:*

[MaxAOB]

That'll be why they have at least 20 F/O's joining in the next few weeks and have signed up with Jerez for 3 years and 2 more planes arriving next year then. :eek:

[Iva harden]

Gb, as far as I know has a franchise until 2010, it cannot be taken away unless in breach of the contract, it could however, finish the contract if so desired...........:}

[Autobrake Low]

This is a rumours forum - and PBR was only asking members thoughts NOT stating fact!! I suggest before self righteous 'more than 2 post' members jump on their hobby horse they actually address the question he poses.
I too have heard this rumour principally from many friends within GB - one of whom actually spoke to the MD. Cannot see what is so unreasonable about discussing potential outcomes.

[Fargoo]

I've also heard this rumour from within BA.
No smoke without fire , although GB could just be taking steps for the end of the franchise in 3 years time. Distancing itself from the ties with BA?

[flyer55]

Flew with a Captain yesterday who had said he heard April, 2007 !

[Taildragger67]

Come on pal, wait for some facts, smoke n' mirors rumours are for dupes. Or Journos, which is possibly the same thing.

The name of this forum is Rumours and News. The 'Ru' in 'PPRuNe' stands for 'Rumour'.

With only two posts, PBR should be welcomed to the PPRuNe fraternity. I was on my second post some years (and 695 posts) ago myself.

Having heard the rumours, now's the time to start seeing if there's any factual basis to them.

Glad I've heard the rumour, I have some travel planned next year which could involve BMed-type routes, now I know to listen out for anything involving the franchise operators. So thank you, PBR. :ok:

[Barts]

and the ground handling going to aviance


There have been speculative rumours flying round the airport and within BA about the future relationship between GB and BA at Gatwick.
The fact that GB are using Virgin and Aviance for some of their ops activities is a slight cause for concern. Back in september the CE at GB, assured one of our top union officials that BA would not lose the handling contract because Virgin took on the engineering.
Well, alot changed in just over 4 weeks! So like I said in another thread (Airports, Gatwick) its an interesting aray of colours on stands in the north terminal.

Apparently Hotelmode informed the thread to this Q;

Quote:
Didn't WW actually tell a BA forum recently that there would be no franchises next year?
Quote:
Kind of, he told a BALPA company council meeting that he did not expect GB to be a franchise next year. No mention of Bmed etc.

WW has metioned it in a forum at Gatwick that he has no interest in 3rd party handling and that BA needs to get its own house in order.
Take it how you wish, but he has made it clear to all there must be a focus on the core business.

So when the CE of BA shows consistency in his comments some of us will start to form our own ideas about the future of certain franchise relationships. WW is ruthless as he proved at Aer Lingus.
The axeman is in town!

[MarkD]

My question is - with an aging 737 and 757 fleet, a bunch of early 320s for the chop - the 10 A32x on order is not going to replace GB's 32x is it?

[Park Brake Released]

My appologies to anyone that this post may have offended, but it appears that the RUMOURS that I have been hearing (within BA at Gatwick), have been heard by others. Even potentailly at GB.

Someone posted above WW comments on franchises, which is what I had also heard.
It's all just rumours, but some of these things do turn out to be true. I was simply trying to understand the situation in Gatwick - after all WW gave BA at LGW the same time frame as BA Disconnect to "get profitable". The result was clear.

Time will tell, unless anyone on hear can beat it......

As for ageing fleets at BA - there are loads of rumours about their replacement - Boeing being at the top of the list.