WHY IS BA DUMPING THEIR 747s?
 

Are they broke or thinking A380? Or? Heard both Cathay and Cargolux are in serious negotiations to buy a large portion of the BA 747 fleet.

Is there a time scale i.e.Is this some time in the future as BA is standardising the 744 engines to one type only which is a major cost project that has just been approved.

However, there is and has been a rumour for some time that BA would look to expand the total of 777s and reduce the 744's. Do you think that there would be enough work for the future as there is also a project to winglet the classics which would improve there economy by up to 10%.

No classics left
 

HZ123

BA don't have any classics left to 'winglet'

Cheers,

CG

:(

They have nearly sixty of those bloody things! I bet they could do away with some of the earlier models. Especially those with the earlier versions of the RB211-524Hs which i believe were quite problematic when they stated off. I believe they did something similar with the 767s.

Storage
 

One 767-300 in storage still - 'NWC I believe - back from 'the desert' but not flying commercial flights

CG

Notso Fantastic,

Might want to read CargoFacts as this is discussed in recent issues. :)

I was aware that BA have dispensed of the 'classic' but I refered to those that others have. There is indeed an approved conversion now for 777 winglets I recall an article in 'Flight' within the last couple of months. The conversion to one type rated engine for all is fact as I have seen it in print.

Heard a rumour in the pub about A380's?????

API looked at blended winglets for the 777 and figured out that the 777 wing is already so efficient that adding a winglet will only bring VERY minimal benefit.

Ruffles1960,

I heard that anyone dumb enough to accept a seat on the upper deck better bring a parachute to slow them in case of EVAC down the slide. Also heard they are going to ban women with skirts and nylons from the upper deck as well.

:E :p

Cathay is reportedly on the lookout for secondhard 744s as well, so BA's RR powered aircraft would probably be a good place to start; it wants to convert some of its early 744s to freighters (someone - can't remember who - is starting a 744 pax-to-cargo conversion project; I think it's Singapore Aerospace) as well as add capacity to its pax routes.

I fully expect BA to reduce its 744 fleet, as it can, but unfortunately, there are not too many takers for them and rather than trying to fire-sell them, which is doesn't need to do - it can keep them going. Another problem is a replacement. The 773 seems like a logical choice, but the ER is only available with GE engines; the best option might be an increased gross weight RR model, but that would still be relatively short legged and certainly would not be able to do n/s from NRT, SIN, BKK, HKG, which would be a requirement. Might they consider the ER? Who knows; they have GE90 experience anyway, so it can't be ruled out. Surely more likely than 340-600s anyway.

BA has said it doesn't want the 380, but I think events will probably force its hand. Besides which, in all fairness to BA, it's been a standard setter for the latest F and J class products, which cuts down on aircraft capacity because of the space taken up, so a 380 in BA configuration might not seat more than 400-450 pax.

747FOCAL, what is it with you and the A380 upper deck evac?

A company like Airbus with, let me remind you, 50% and climbing of the world's aircraft market will not screw this one up. The A380 will be certified, enter service and be as safe as the next aircraft.

Why can't you accept that we Europeans are not dumb, can actually build aeroplanes and in doing so teach you lot a thing or two in the process?

Back to the topic: BA could have really used something the size of the 777-300 when they expanded their BAH/DOH route from 777-200 to 747-400 recently. I can imagine the efficiency on only a 6 hour sector is less than ideal.

BahrainLad,

Where did I say Airbus or anyone that is in the EU is dumb??? I have said it time and time again that I like Airbus and the way they do things vs Boeing. But......

I have looked out many a 747 upper deck from the door. I have also looked off the roof of a 4 story building. Granted, I am a little skittish when it comes to heights, but I just have issues with trying to get the "cattle" to jump on a slide from that height in a timely fashion. anybody that has been to a REAL passenger EVAC cert test knows how the people end up all piled up at the bottom.

I never said Airbus would screw this up. The only thing I have said is that a lot of people will get hurt in doing so. :rolleyes:

Notso Fantastic,

Forgive me, I only meant the "I heard" comments in fun.

The idiots that trample for the club seats atop a 747 have no idea that cabin noise is almost double up there and is why most don't put first class up there.

Any 747 pilots wanna talk about upper deck noise?:E

Notso Fantastic,

Ouch, a personal attack. Now Danny or one of the other mods is gonna chew us.

Where I get my information is what I do for a living. It is fact, the upper deck of a 747 is louder than below. I could demonstrate, but that would be revealing proprietary data.

When I say "idiots" I mean anybody that would trample or act the fool on a commercial aircraft is an idiot. Just because a person can afford/obtain a club ticket does not mean they are smart. You just called me an idiot. I was once in coach as a child, but have never been back since and I fly +60,000 miles a year. Love them lay down seats and the shower once I get to Heathrow.
:\

Well, I can fly First if I want but save money by going upper deck club BA in 62 or 64 A or K. Lot's of space and easy access. In addition there are four engines to keep me aloft. I know all the arguments for ER twins but.....

Maybe trying to get a little back to the topic...

What I find very interesting about the CargoFacts article is that Cathay says they are also going to use the BA 744s (as well as freighter-convert) to replace A340-300s...

Bah humbug! 744s make cr@p freighters, thats why FedEx won't touch them. Shame there aren't enough MD11s to go round!

As for this:
Might I humbly remind NSF that the only fleet to make money in BA in the 12 months post 9/11 was the ten-strong A319 fleet at BHX, and long haul is still propped up by the pro-rated mileage revenue allocation system.

Hand Solo,

The FedEx reason for not buying Boeing has nothing to do with the 747. Boeing not developing a hushkit for the 727 is the real reason.


As for you Mr. not pointing the finger as that is against the rules.... Matter of fact I LOVE YOUR AIRLINE!!! I would never unless under duress travel anyone but them across the pond. God only knows how many pairs of them blue socks I have that I wear on gods day, sunday, football day, right ;) So before you go acusing me of attacking YOUR airline you might want to try to understand what I do for YOUR airline on a day to day basis.


Ignore me, shoot, what makes you think I would ever contact you with how you "debate". :uhoh: :oh: :ouch: :)

I have flown about forty sectors with BA in Club class on B744's over the past two years. I always request the upper deck. I believe the area to be more personal (am I right in thinking a better passenger-FA ratio ?). I can't say I have noticed it to be any louder than the maindeck, and anyway, the little brown bag has some yellow things in it called "ear-plugs", wow, what a darn concept that is...

Sure, I have concerns about the helter-skelter ride down to the tarmac, especially having twisted an ankle once in training from a B767, (clumsy clot eh, but no worry with BA as I would have a few Bellini's in me at this point to deter the pain). Maybe the skipper could bash off the nosewheel in his emergency landing/abort ? At which pont, I reckon my ride will be only marginally further than those from the back door. I also want to be close to the flight deck door, if some git wants in to the Flight Deck, I want to be close by.

Overall I believe it to be the best Club/Business product on the market, (compared to LH, Swiss and Air Canada anyway). I just hope the arrogance of Ayling Bob's days stays firmly in the annals of history.

Wolly Pully
 

Perhaps, as they won't play ball over Concorde, BA might like to sell them to RB - Going rate a fiver each?

I bet he could make a profit with them (Even if its just LON-MAN-GLA to replace his awfull trains).