Different fleets in the past for BA CC
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Different fleets in the past for BA CC
BA have had some different fleets for their CC in the past. I have heard of Mid Fleet (757, 767 & 777) and Dual Fleet (747 & Tristar) at LHR. According to Wikipedia, the 767 joined the company in 1991 and the 777 four years later in 1995. BA also had DC10 and L-1011 until late 1990. Did all of the longhaul cabin crew either operate on Mid Fleet, Dual Fleet or some other combination of different aircraft types or solely one typical aircraft type?
Prior to all of the above, as the 747 was introduced into BOAC, the VC10 and 707 fleet was known as 'mini fleet' you may still hear wrinklies refer to minis.
A whole load of odd aircraft were operated over the years and small numbers of cabin crew operated them. One was Paddy Zulu which was a leased Aer Lingus 747 which was different from other 747' s in BA fleet.
BA operated services between LAX and LHR with an Air New Zealand DC10 as they did not have traffic rights passed LAX at the time. This was integrated into the Tristar fleet at a later date and operated to odd places like Miami and Philadelphia.
Tristar fleet was formed from the Shorthaul Tristar fleet being used to also fly to a range of destinations in the Gulf. The infamous Burford Bridge agreement. For the first time Shorthaul cabin crew were merged into Longhaul and it caused much heart ache! Tristar crews also operated routes from LGW including New Orleans and Malaga.
On introduction of the 767 a new fleet was formed and much hoo ha went on about 'elite fleet' as you had to be interviewed to join. Promotion was swift and it upset a lot of people on 747's.
767 morphed into Mid Fleet with crew operating 757 and a small number of 747 routes - more upset!
A long the way BA dreamed up lots of fleets with Red, White and Blue fleet and, as mentioned Dual fleet (747/Tristar).
A whole load of odd aircraft were operated over the years and small numbers of cabin crew operated them. One was Paddy Zulu which was a leased Aer Lingus 747 which was different from other 747' s in BA fleet.
BA operated services between LAX and LHR with an Air New Zealand DC10 as they did not have traffic rights passed LAX at the time. This was integrated into the Tristar fleet at a later date and operated to odd places like Miami and Philadelphia.
Tristar fleet was formed from the Shorthaul Tristar fleet being used to also fly to a range of destinations in the Gulf. The infamous Burford Bridge agreement. For the first time Shorthaul cabin crew were merged into Longhaul and it caused much heart ache! Tristar crews also operated routes from LGW including New Orleans and Malaga.
On introduction of the 767 a new fleet was formed and much hoo ha went on about 'elite fleet' as you had to be interviewed to join. Promotion was swift and it upset a lot of people on 747's.
767 morphed into Mid Fleet with crew operating 757 and a small number of 747 routes - more upset!
A long the way BA dreamed up lots of fleets with Red, White and Blue fleet and, as mentioned Dual fleet (747/Tristar).
Last edited by vctenderness; 26th Dec 2011 at 08:29. Reason: Typo
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767 morphed into Mid Fleet with crew operating 757 and a small number of 747 routes - more upset!
There was also an Airbus division on NBA (Shorthaul) which was well loved by the crews and not to forget the elite Concorde crew who had their own work group! Now that fleet really was considered 'outstanding'.
Then at LGW you could say that 'Airtours' crew (charter and scheduled holiday flights) were a separate fleet until they were merged with BCal to make BA LGW.
On long-haul now there are 3 divisions, and only one of those (A fleet) has three licences 747, 767, 777, the other two don't have 767. They may well be in the frame when the A380 comes as they can take it on.
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Interesting facts!
What about the current crew who operate only 747 and 777? Before the 777 was introduced, did they fly solely on the 747 or Tristar and 767 too?
What about the current crew who operate only 747 and 777? Before the 777 was introduced, did they fly solely on the 747 or Tristar and 767 too?
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Ah well they were just 747 crew for a while although there was a separate fleet with Tri-stars/747 dual fleet (known as the 'no jacket required' fleet due to their insistence on doing their own thing). When I first started flying there were 3 fleets, WW LHR (ex BOAC) was 747's, there was a Tri-star fleet and then NBA (short-haul ex BEA) had 737's and 757's.
Each new a/c and airline we buy tends to mess things up for a while! I'm sure BMI will bring something new to the party (and TAP too if that rumour is true).
Each new a/c and airline we buy tends to mess things up for a while! I'm sure BMI will bring something new to the party (and TAP too if that rumour is true).
