London City-4

[BA318]

It's been reported that BA CityFlyer has taken LCY-DUS off sale for the summer 2024 season, which is most likely because it has been suspended. The structural shift in business travel is clearly hitting LCY hard.

https://twitter.com/tofly_totravel/status/1733173275738394914

been mentioned elsewhere the E190 is possibly going back to the lessor.

[GLCYZ]

been mentioned elsewhere the E190 is possibly going back to the lessor.

Cityflyer will have a reduced fleet over the summer as aircraft pass through the hangar for densification.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Cityflyer will have a reduced fleet over the summer as aircraft pass through the hangar for densification.
Desnification what now? The SCOPE clause preventing them operating jets over 100 seats was removed? Does this mean they can fly out of LHR/LGW?
They've dropped 6 x ER7s and 4 x ER9s since 2020 and I would guess the ER9s weren't planned to go before COVID?

[tictack67]

Desnification what now? The SCOPE clause preventing them operating jets over 100 seats was removed? Does this mean they can fly out of LHR/LGW?
They've dropped 6 x ER7s and 4 x ER9s since 2020 and I would guess the ETjey aold9s weren't planned to go before COVID?

BA sold all 6 of their E170's by 2021

The increase in capacity of the remaining 20 x E190 to 106 will require an additional cabin crew member and this has been the delay, the business case otherwise they would have densifies sooner. extra 160 seats per flight for the whole fleet V cost of 20 cabin crew for the fleet per flight

[Downwind_Left]

Desnification what now? The SCOPE clause preventing them operating jets over 100 seats was removed? Does this mean they can fly out of LHR/LGW?
They've dropped 6 x ER7s and 4 x ER9s since 2020 and I would guess the ER9s weren't planned to go before COVID?
To be correct though in the same timeframe, the 6 E170s (G-LCYD-LCYI) were replaced one-for-one by 6 E190s (G-LCAC-LCAH) and then after COVID 4 leased 190s returned to lessor. Your post suggests a net loss of 10 aircraft.

[cavokblues]

Interesting they're increasing the cabin size.

Due to their primary markets they're not know for flying with the heaviest load factor at times and they've struggled massively to recruit and retain cabin crew. Is it worth it?

[WHBM]

The increase in capacity of the remaining 20 x E190 to 106 will require an additional cabin crew member and this has been the delay, the business case otherwise they would have densifies sooner.
Bear in mind the additional 6 seats are only of value if actually sold, and not even then if they had to be sold off cheap, whereas the additional cabin crew member is a constant cost for all flights. It means overall cabin crew costs are up by 50%.

Given that the key current issue at LCY is LACK of demand on their mainstream business routes, I really can't see how the business case numbers might add up. My hunch is this has been determined by an academic accountant working on academic figures for cost and revenue, but we all thereafter have to sit with our knees up our noses..

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

To be correct though in the same timeframe, the 6 E170s (G-LCYD-LCYI) were replaced one-for-one by 6 E190s (G-LCAC-LCAH) and then after COVID 4 leased 190s returned to lessor. Your post suggests a net loss of 10 aircraft.
I did suggest the drop in ER9s was unplanned. The ER7 to ER9 upguage I do remember.

[tictack67]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x2000/screenshot_20231209_125607_99aa7607ded993a71c6f2855033ac2251 d68fb95.png
Interesting they're increasing the cabin size.

Due to their primary markets they're not know for flying with the heaviest load factor at times and they've struggled massively to recruit and retain cabin crew. Is it worth it?

I beg to differ, for a "business" airport in 11th Dec. they have great loads on nearly all their routes.

what gives you the impression they don't?

BA are only recruiting for Gatwick and have been only for the last few months. is that what you were thinking of.

[SealinkBF]

Desnification what now? The SCOPE clause preventing them operating jets over 100 seats was removed? Does this mean they can fly out of LHR/LGW?
They've dropped 6 x ER7s and 4 x ER9s since 2020 and I would guess the ER9s weren't planned to go before COVID?

I wondered how long those lovely Embraer seats and legroom would last!

I also wonder if this to introduce a more obvious difference between CityFlyer Y and J seats.
No lounge at LCY, no middle seat and (currently) same legroom.

[nguba]

Interesting this wasn't mentioned at the IAG Capital Markets Day. An extra six seats per flight is quite a material impact on ASKs for BA CityFlyer.

[cavokblues]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/900x2000/screenshot_20231209_125607_99aa7607ded993a71c6f2855033ac2251 d68fb95.png


I beg to differ, for a "business" airport in 11th Dec. they have great loads on nearly all their routes.

what gives you the impression they don't?

BA are only recruiting for Gatwick and have been only for the last few months. is that what you were thinking of.

Historically, their overall average LF was always below 80%.

I've noted they've stopped reporting it in their accounts since 2020 and prefer to focus on detailing seats available as a percentage of 2019's offering.

[jmdavies86]

Might this increase on the existing fleet be a transitional move by BACF towards a future order of the E190-E2 - the single-class cabin configuration of the -E2 variant is 106 @ 31in pitch...?

[OltonPete]

Historically, their overall average LF was always below 80%.

I've noted they've stopped reporting it in their accounts since 2020 and prefer to focus on detailing seats available as a percentage of 2019's offering.

Credit - CAA with the actual pax figures and rotations

June 30821 pax 362 sectors = 85.15 per flight 85%
July 24527 pax 307 sectors = 79.89 per flight 80%
August 24901 pax 321 sectors = 77.57 per flight 78%
September 31171 pax 410 sectors = 76.02 per flight

Load factors are no secret but of course the important bit is only known by the few who monitor the booking engine every day to note the fares. Bigger aircraft and fewer sectors might be one way forward as June is impressive.

Pete

[BA318]

ITA have announced twice daily service to Rome from 31st March and Milan Linate going up to 5 daily.

[WHBM]

Italian carrier Air Dolomiti is offering flights from LCY to Frankfurt, starting February 2024. This seemed a little unlikely, but in the last week they have had an E190 in, positioning to and from Frankfurt, and spending the mornings on London City circuits. Actually owned by Lufthansa, and mainly operating from Frankfurt to various Italian points, I guess they will be taking over in their own name from the existing LH-branded operation.

[BA318]

Italian carrier Air Dolomiti is offering flights from LCY to Frankfurt, starting February 2024. This seemed a little unlikely, but in the last week they have had an E190 in, positioning to and from Frankfurt, and spending the mornings on London City circuits. Actually owned by Lufthansa, and mainly operating from Frankfurt to various Italian points, I guess they will be taking over in their own name from the existing LH-branded operation.

They will operate two of the four daily LH services. Apparently it’s short term but given LH was said to be planning to send the E190s to Air Dolomiti they might end up running it all.

[WHBM]

Quite separately, but it occurred to me just now as there is a thunderstorm in the distance from LCY. Now the tower and ATIS is fully automated from Southampton, how is it identified that there are thunderstorms in the vicinity. Is there still an actual ATC/weather watch at the airport ?

** - notably, Air Dolomiti are doing their circuit training right in the middle of the storm !

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

What was the issue causing diversions the other day? Heard it was Tower related, did the digital Tower fail?

[24138]

I was on the delayed LCY-IOM last night and the Captain told us it was an outage on the remote tower and he had to hold over the East coast for an hour, whilst some planes had to divert because of fuel. He told us we were lucky because he had enough fuel on board to hold and avoid a cancellation!

[Buster the Bear]

I am told that it was an 'Electronic Flight Progress Strip' (or whatever they are now called), failure, that affected other NATS units inc Farnborough, Bristol, Belfast and others.