British Airways Charters

[compton3bravo]

Anybody got any information on which airlines British Airways is chartering aircraft over the coming weekend and will they be flying from Heathrow? Many thanks.

[pre3l2s]

From the BA website:

BA cabin crew strike 2010 - Chartered aircraft operated flights (http://www.britishairways.com/travel/flights-option-2/public/en_gb)

We are chartering a number of aircraft from a range of UK and European based airlines to assist with our shorthaul (UK and European) operations to and from London Heathrow.

The following airlines are being chartered for flights operating between 20 and 22 March 2010:

Air Finland
Arkefly
Astraeus
EuroAtlantic Airways
Jet2
Titan Airways
Transavia
Viking Airlines
These charter companies employ the pilots and cabin crew working on these aircraft, which will be operated on behalf of British Airways.

We have worked successfully with several of these airlines in the past. All of these airlines have to comply with the strict safety and operational standards laid down by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and any requirements specified by British Airways.

Flights operated by chartered aircraft will use the existing BA flight numbers.

Will the charter aircraft be using the 'speedbird' callsign or using there own company callsign?

[uklad007]

For LHR Short haul
Ive seen that Jet 2, Euro Atlantic, Astreaus, Titan, Transavia, Viking,
I think its a mixture of 767,757,737 and A320 operating.

I think any route like to MAD or HEL where they codeshare with Iberia and Finnair respectively - only the non BA flights are operating.
Domestic looks to be completely cancelled at a quick first glance.

On a lot of routes it seems the earlier flights of the day are operating, a lot of routes are down to only one or two rotations.

[raffele]

Domestic looks to be completely cancelled at a quick first glance.

Depends which London airport you look at.

Domestic from LHR looks pretty bare, domestic from LGW is looking a bit better

[Mr Angry from Purley]

pre 312

They will use speedbird call signs (as BA are paying)

[HeathrowAirport]

I can imagine that on frequency.

Tower Hello, CHANNEX 501, 9 miles 27L, errr correction SPEEDBIRD 501.

[purplehelmet]

so ba have wet leased 23 aircraft to cover the strike, which they say will cover 60% of the flights, so is it not possible for them to lease more aircraft and cover all the flights.
also what happens if the strike is called off? i assume ba will have to pay some kind of deposit to the airlines involved.

[renfrew]

See the cabin crew thead.
BA expects to operate a significant number of their flights with non-striking staff and volunteers.

[Ametyst1]

British Airways has chartered 3 Ryanair Boeing 737-800s to operate domestic flights from London Gatwick to Edinburgh (3 a Day), Glasgow (3 a Day) and Manchester (4 a Day). All three aircraft will night-stop at Gatwick and will be used on 20,21 & 22 March

[DutchBird-757]

Read one of the Scottish newspapers today and it said only 10 out of 108 BA flights to Scotland will take place during the first three day strike wave! (mostly only on saturday and all flights on sun/mon are cxd to EDI/GLA)

[Hotel Tango]

Blimey, BA chartering RYR. They must be desperate!

[raffele]

Blimey, BA chartering RYR. They must be desperate!

They are - there's a strike on!

I wonder how much MOL charged Willie for the 'privilege' of using his aircraft? I bet MOL will be rubbing it in for a long, long time...

[Spitfire boy]

Noted posted on the LHR google site:

BA have chartered a number of aircraft to cover a part of the schedule and the list below gives PROVISIONAL details of the chartered aircraft's arrival at Heathrow.

Friday 18th Mar
CS-TFT B763 BA9203P pta 18.20 (from FAO)
G-STRP A320 BA9202P pta 20.05 (from SEN)
G-STRW B757 BA9209P pta 20.10 (from KEF)
CS-TLO B763 BA9213P pta 20.15 (from FAO)
PH-AHX B763 BA9204P pta 20.25 (from AMS)
CS-TLX B757 BA9217P pta 20.30 (from FAO)
SE-RHT B733 BA9207P pta 21.00 (from LGW)
PH-HZB B738 BA9205P pta 21.05 (from AMS)
G-LSAA B757 BA9200P pta 21.05 (from MAN)
G-CELK B733 BA9212P pta 21.05 (from BFS)
G-LSAE B757 BA9201P pta 21.15 (from NCL)
G-CGET B733 BA9214P pta 21.25 (from LBA)
PH-HZM B738 BA9206P pta 22.00 (from AMS)
G-CELV B733 BA9218P pta 22.00 (from MAN)
PH-HZD B738 BA9211P pta 22.05 (from AMS)
G-POWD B763 BA9216P pta 22.05 (from STN)
G-ZAPX B757 BA9208P pta 22.15 (from STN)

Saturday 19th Mar
G-CELY B733 BA9210P pta 05.55 (from NCL)
G-OJIB B757 AEU752P pta 07.00 (from YYC)
G-BPEJ B757 BA9219P pta 13.45 (from ORY)

[Betablockeruk]

Will this influx of additional kit not result in stand capacity issues?

Where do they intend to park all the unused BA aircraft?

[HZ123]

Unused airframes will be towed to the base this evening and tomorrow morning. Many aircraft will be parked nose to tail upon the engineering bases. Doubt there will be any problems at LGW as on any given day there are lots of coaching stands empty.

Should make for some nice photos if the rain stops?

[olivermbs]

Anyone know if RYR01P (EI-DAN), RYR02P (EI-DHR) and RYR03P (EI-DHP) going into Gatwick this evening have anything to do with the BA charters?

Edit: just read a few posts above, looks like they are indeed going to be operating for BA then ;)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<Unused airframes >>

Uurrgghh what an awful term! Why not aircraft or aeroplanes?

[ericlday]

<<Unused airframes >>

Visions of engine less planes awaiting scrapping. HD you are correct.

[drflight]

Oh how I wish I could be a BA passenger on a Ryanair aircraft. What a treat for passengers and crew! Pax would discover Ryanair seats are OK and have one excellent feature. They cannot be reclined! Who needs an inch or two to recline on short haul flights anyway? Ryanair crew will discover serving free snacks keeps pax quiet and happy. Ryanair crew may also discovere a cabin free on unnecessary announcements can be pleasant. I suspect some crew may find having to deliver BA standards may be fun and less tiring than forever having to tout the Ryanair stuff for their commission.

In decades of being in love with aviation, I never thought I'd see the day a Ryanair aircraft would operate a British Airways flight. What a lark. I would happily pay a decent fare just for the fun of such a flight! :)

[HeathrowAirport]

EI-DAN is doing the Manchester Runs.
EI-DHR is doing the EDI runs.
EI-DHP is going the Glasgow runs.

Who pulled this off then? Ryanair operating for BA.:E

[Seat62K]

If my experience as an ex-BA shorthaul customer who defected to Ryanair three years ago is anything to go by, I'd expect a few BA customers flying on the chartered Ryanair 'planes to realise what nonsense so much of the anti-Ryanair propaganda really is.

I can't wait to see Ryanair's "BA chose us to rescue its passengers" advert.....

[west lakes]

Shuttle 10C just gone overhead operated by EI-DHP (from a flight tracker site)

[HeathrowAirport]

Any Shots of what T5 looks like at the moment (Today) with all these charters?

[CentreFix25]

I can't wait to see Ryanair's "BA chose us to rescue its passengers" advert.....

I would have thought BA have thought quite carefully about this. There will be a contract in place for RYR get well paid to... a) fly BA passengers and B) Keep their mouth shut on this issue.

RYR will be quite happy to do this because they don't need to say anything. The press will do it for them and they are getting BA pax on their aircraft, possibly for the first time - maybe not the last.

[ericlday]

they are getting BA pax on their aircraft......and whats more they are being paid for it !!!!!

[wheelbarrow]

It will be a big difference certainly.
Flying Ryanair means new modern aircraft and young enthusiastic cabin crew ...............massive difference.
Bye Bye BA uuuuuuuuuuuuu knowwwwwwwwww
When BA are gone ha the only way will be the Ryans. Great to see Willies old mate dood mate Mick taking the pound!!

RAAAAthER

[easyJet A321]

Which flights are monarch operating then?

[ManofMan]

Flying Ryanair means new modern aircraft and young enthusiastic cabin crew ...............massive difference.
Bye Bye BA uuuuuuuuuuuuu knowwwwwwwwww
When BA are gone ha the only way will be the Ryans. Great to see Willies old mate dood mate Mick taking the pound!!



Yeah, bet they are dead impressed with the Ryanair Aircraft, bright yellow, flying billboard, nowhere to put things in the back of seats, cant recline your seats...ohhh what a product.

Think it will just re-iterate to people why they fly the likes of BA, when they actually fly !!

[Callsign Kilo]

Yeah, bet they are dead impressed with the Ryanair Aircraft, bright yellow, flying billboard, nowhere to put things in the back of seats, cant recline your seats...ohhh what a product.

Think it will just re-iterate to people why they fly the likes of BA, when they actually fly !!

I think what will be pressed upon people here is
1.) BAs contingency plan worked and in turn travel plans weren't interrupted.
2.) Ryanair provided a reliable aircraft and a reliable crew to operate this service because BA requested them to do so. Passengers still got home, got to business meetings, weddings, funerals etc as a result. Kudos!
3.) If they don't choose to fly with Ryanair then that's consumer choice. However my choice as a consumer would now be under serious review when you consider how companies like BA can be held at ransom by unrealistic unions who have no further interest than the lobby of votes and subscription fees. Flying onboard an Easyjet or Ryanair billboard for an hour seems like a more viable option. And who the hell needs a reclining seat. I sure as hell don't, especially when the guy in front of me shoves his into my face when he attempts to lounge out with his two foot wide Sunday Times supplement!

[flybar]

Bit of free publicity for Jet2 this weekend operating on behalf of BA

Jet2.com receives Royal Seal of Approval

Jet2.com Receives Royal Seal of Approval (http://www.jet2.com/News.aspx?id=707)

[Runway 31]

Just noted JET2 757 G-LSAA operating SHT10F out of Glasgow

[HZ123]

I think that is the only airframe we are retaining until it all starts again on Friday!