British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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Another cryptic PPrune post. I take it then that BA are taking BMI pilots as part of the deal, this only works out for us waiting in the wings to join; if and only IF they take the BMI Airbuses as part of the takeover. I do hope that there is a favorable outcome for the BMI pilots also.
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as someone else pointed out this is IAG buying BMI, NOT BA, i suspect that an attempt to make a "low cost" short haul operation out of BMI may be on the cards similar to Iberia Express, slots could be swapped to and from BA mainline, by keeping BMI a seperate shorthaul business unit could have significant advantages in the future (cost savings in training alone would be significant as there would be nobody moving fleets).
Then of course one could be played against the other, Cabin Crew and pilot unions beware!
Then of course one could be played against the other, Cabin Crew and pilot unions beware!
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1. Yes, this is IAG purchasing BMI Ltd. Not BA
2. The main objective for the purchase was to increase share-hold of slots at Heathrow - for BA predominantly I suppose?
3. IAG wish to increase long-haul capacity at LHR - through BA.
4. Short to medium haul is of secondary value and has been subject to substantial loss for bmi and under-performs for BA. Most likely due to massive competition from Lo-Cos.
5. Why would BA wish to expand upon or re-enter this market? (a la GB & BMED -which they both sold).
6. Iberia Express has been a much discussed venture. Now you have the infrastructure through the purchase of bmi. Additionally, you have a fleet of aircraft to allow the BA business at LGW to go all Airbus.
7. Those in the hold pool will be swimming much longer. First indications are that the 'deal' will be finalised come April 2012. There is much to be settled until then. I doubt the question of what to do with 300 pilots at bmi and 100 future pilots at BA will feature quite heavily.
My opinion thus far. I might be reading too much in between the lines here?
2. The main objective for the purchase was to increase share-hold of slots at Heathrow - for BA predominantly I suppose?
3. IAG wish to increase long-haul capacity at LHR - through BA.
4. Short to medium haul is of secondary value and has been subject to substantial loss for bmi and under-performs for BA. Most likely due to massive competition from Lo-Cos.
5. Why would BA wish to expand upon or re-enter this market? (a la GB & BMED -which they both sold).
6. Iberia Express has been a much discussed venture. Now you have the infrastructure through the purchase of bmi. Additionally, you have a fleet of aircraft to allow the BA business at LGW to go all Airbus.
7. Those in the hold pool will be swimming much longer. First indications are that the 'deal' will be finalised come April 2012. There is much to be settled until then. I doubt the question of what to do with 300 pilots at bmi and 100 future pilots at BA will feature quite heavily.
My opinion thus far. I might be reading too much in between the lines here?
Last edited by Callsign Kilo; 4th Nov 2011 at 11:12.
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What a conundrum it is. So what do you do if you are a BMI pilot in the pool, do you decline an offer in the hope that you will be automatically taken on with enhanced seniority or do you accept and find that former BMI pilot colleagues are absorbed above you in seniority terms. It happened with BCal.
It would be difficult to imagine that BA (IAG) will sack the pilots since it is almost inevitable that there will be horse trading with the goverment in order to keep a maximum number of slots and so I think "what to do with pilots" & other staff will on the contrary feature heavily.
And then of course the little matter of cabin crew, MF or WW/EF but that is a subject for another place.
It would be difficult to imagine that BA (IAG) will sack the pilots since it is almost inevitable that there will be horse trading with the goverment in order to keep a maximum number of slots and so I think "what to do with pilots" & other staff will on the contrary feature heavily.
And then of course the little matter of cabin crew, MF or WW/EF but that is a subject for another place.
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Good article in the FT. Looks like Baby and Regional may be a part of the deal, but will be disposed of.
IAG reaches deal to buy BMI from Lufthansa - FT.com
The worry is the current performance of IAG. The city didn't want IAG on a spending spree given it has yet to prove the worth of the BA-Iberia merger.
IAG reaches deal to buy BMI from Lufthansa - FT.com
The worry is the current performance of IAG. The city didn't want IAG on a spending spree given it has yet to prove the worth of the BA-Iberia merger.
The obvious thing would be BA to pull of domestic routes which bmi also operate and switch slots to other services, doubtless some babysitting on SH routes initiality for switching to long haul. bmi could then operate as a BA franchise operator or the two could merge. Aberdeen is operated by Regional and would justify bigger equipment if BA pulls off. That could well be bmi mainline crew.
I can't see the deal being allowed without IAG having to foefeit some slots. If some of these were to VS would this also include crew?
I can't see the deal being allowed without IAG having to foefeit some slots. If some of these were to VS would this also include crew?
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Holdpool still moving...
Been the holdpool since 16th May. Got a call today offering me the B737 on the 7th February - but had to turn it down as I couldn't give notice in time. They then told me to expect a course at the end of Feb perhaps A320.
So people still being taken out but at a slower rate perhaps. Told by head of HR I'm at the top of the pool so when I'm called next will let ppl know, just so you get an idea of how fast/slow it's moving.
Good luck to all.
So people still being taken out but at a slower rate perhaps. Told by head of HR I'm at the top of the pool so when I'm called next will let ppl know, just so you get an idea of how fast/slow it's moving.
Good luck to all.
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In
Received offer of employment today - 767 course in feb.
Have been in pool a month or so.
767 rated, 3000+ hours.
Hope that helps some people.
On a separate note, some thoughts on this thread, I would have found using it easier if people stuck to actual fact rather than those 'has anyone heard yet' and 'can someone please tell me about day 2'. The info is there, look for it please.
Hopefully people in future will benefit from a more concise thread.
Also, Black and Brown - please leave the thread alone now. Others - stop replying to him/her.
Have been in pool a month or so.
767 rated, 3000+ hours.
Hope that helps some people.
On a separate note, some thoughts on this thread, I would have found using it easier if people stuck to actual fact rather than those 'has anyone heard yet' and 'can someone please tell me about day 2'. The info is there, look for it please.
Hopefully people in future will benefit from a more concise thread.
Also, Black and Brown - please leave the thread alone now. Others - stop replying to him/her.
Last edited by topjetboy; 4th Nov 2011 at 19:20.
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I would say what people say on a BA recruitment thread is not now really a concern of yours. You've been given the call, good for you, now let the others communicate as they see fit.
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I'm slowly drowning here and topjetboy's offer after 2 months in the pool makes me wonder if its maybe time to give up.
I think todays news will mean a longer wait, especially if you have an airbus rating unfortunately. Should the buy go ahead and it is decided to ingegrate the pilot groups, there's 330 of the 400 DEP's they were looking for and the 737 can be replaced with the surplus Airbus from bmi as the requirement for expansion is mainly in longhaul.
All speculation of course and who knows if the deal will even go ahead in which any integration is still 9 months away.
Sorry, rant over. Someone pass me a snorkel or in the words of Ron Burgandy "Aqua Lung!"
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737 courses haven't come around either .... looks like it's thumbs up for the 767 boys. Well done Topjetboy and good luck with the course! Let's hope the rest of us will get something soooon! Here's to keeping the faith!
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WRT BMI
1) Don't forget who's trying to buy BMI - it's IAG, and not BA. Subtle difference.
2) IAG want slots - hence the purchase. They aren't buying BMI to close it down, their buying it to operate with. The slots HAVE to be flown on, else they are lost. So all of the BMI pilots will be required (to operate the current, or equivalent, BMI slots).
3) BA needed pilots to join over the next 5 years, there is no reason to suggest they still don't need those pilots - IAG/BA want expansion not retention. Hence the purchase.
4) Expansion is likely to involve more long haul routes which are more crew intensive.
I could be wrong - the above is just my humble opinion!
1) Don't forget who's trying to buy BMI - it's IAG, and not BA. Subtle difference.
2) IAG want slots - hence the purchase. They aren't buying BMI to close it down, their buying it to operate with. The slots HAVE to be flown on, else they are lost. So all of the BMI pilots will be required (to operate the current, or equivalent, BMI slots).
3) BA needed pilots to join over the next 5 years, there is no reason to suggest they still don't need those pilots - IAG/BA want expansion not retention. Hence the purchase.
4) Expansion is likely to involve more long haul routes which are more crew intensive.
I could be wrong - the above is just my humble opinion!
Logically, the purchase of BMI by IAG has not come out of the blue and therefore BA must have factored it into their recruitment plans. Indeed I would wager that the latest recruitment drive commenced long after the decision to purchase BMI was made at Board level.
At the Q&A session on my Day 1 we were told that the 767 was the only fleet on which there was an immediate shortfall of pilots and onto which current candidates might be recruited, so I am not surprised with topjetboy's excited announcement about getting the call to join that fleet.
I find any criticism of those pilots currently in-between assessment days who have asked questions on this 150 page thread senseless and unhelpful. It must be noted that this thread dates back to 2004 and information is often out of date and feedback on recent Day 2 simulator assessments is rare.
At the Q&A session on my Day 1 we were told that the 767 was the only fleet on which there was an immediate shortfall of pilots and onto which current candidates might be recruited, so I am not surprised with topjetboy's excited announcement about getting the call to join that fleet.
I find any criticism of those pilots currently in-between assessment days who have asked questions on this 150 page thread senseless and unhelpful. It must be noted that this thread dates back to 2004 and information is often out of date and feedback on recent Day 2 simulator assessments is rare.
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To all the guys and girls doing a day 1 assessment in the next coming weeks, please ask in the Q&A session how this bmi sale will affect the current recruitment drive and us already in the holdpool. We might as well hear it direct from the horses mouth as it were rather than trying to second guess...
Good luck everyone!
Good luck everyone!
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MH152 I hope you're right, I really do. I have a horrible suspicion, however, that IAG/BA will get rid of the BMI a/c or alternatively get rid off the 737's and swap them for BMI's newer Airbus. I'm thinking this way because how else can Willie Walsh free up slots for Asian destinations such as Inceon and Jakarta etc if they are saddled with BMI's loss making route network, not to mention that BA already fly to a vast number of them.
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MH152 I hope you're right, I really do. I have a horrible suspicion, however, that IAG/BA will get rid of the BMI a/c or alternatively get rid off the 737's and swap them for BMI's newer Airbus. I'm thinking this way because how else can Willie Walsh free up slots for Asian destinations such as Inceon and Jakarta etc if they are saddled with BMI's loss making route network, not to mention that BA already fly to a vast number of them.
IAG is buying BMI, not BA.
The BMI slots HAVE to be flown by someone - so regardless what happens with BMI, then BA's plans for new pilots has not changed with the BMI news.
Even if BMI is integrated into BA ann the BMI pilots are integrated (which I think is unlikely - and certainly not in the short term as the unions will argue over the seniority issues until long after this recruitment drive is over!) Then the extra capacity created by the extra slots still needs aircraft and pilots to fly.
Whichever way you do the maths then the previously estimated recruitment requirements that BA had remain unchanged.
