BA Direct Entry Pilot.
The finger is being pointed in the wrong direction here, as it stands within the IAG Group the profits have to go up at Vueling and Iberia as they are the lame ducks at the moment. BA are massively profitable - more profitable than easyJet indeed even with the legacy T's & C's - and are responsible for the vast majority of the profits of the entire IAG Group. At Vueling, with their staff on binman wages, even then they struggle to make the tiniest levels of profit.
There have been criticisms about the veracity and effectiveness of Balpa recently but even the weakest union would struggle not be able to defend their position given these circumstances. The issue of pay is a red herring and, in such a profitable organisation, you're not going to be able to reduce wages for existing employees. New contracts for new joiners maybe? Well that remains to be seen. (Better sign that contract soon in case!) But bear in mind that it is not quite as simple as replacing short haul wholesale with Vueling. It has been said elsewhere that would be massively damaging to the BA brand, business model and operation and I tend to agree with that.
There have been criticisms about the veracity and effectiveness of Balpa recently but even the weakest union would struggle not be able to defend their position given these circumstances. The issue of pay is a red herring and, in such a profitable organisation, you're not going to be able to reduce wages for existing employees. New contracts for new joiners maybe? Well that remains to be seen. (Better sign that contract soon in case!) But bear in mind that it is not quite as simple as replacing short haul wholesale with Vueling. It has been said elsewhere that would be massively damaging to the BA brand, business model and operation and I tend to agree with that.
Last edited by Plastic787; 8th Nov 2015 at 16:02.
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: FL370
Age: 38
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whenever I hear people talking about Vueling replacing BA on short haul I think that a lot of people have forgotten the amount of trimming BA has already done to its short haul model and the steps that competing legacy carriers have taken.
Many forget that it was BA who made wholesale changes in the first decade of this century, long before Lufthansa, Air France et al did. BA closed its entire regional operation, both at mainline and at BA Citiexpress/Connect. The airline now only really concentrates on its core London market. They are not going to dilute their brand at Heathrow and I very much doubt they will at Gatwick either.
Look at Lufthansa, they have followed BA's lead, albeit taking a slightly different direction. They have cut their short haul branded flights from all but Munich and Frankfurt. Elsewhere it is now Germanwings/Eurowings that operate their short haul services. However, they have retained their core brand in their primary markets because they realise it would do more damage than good for the flag carrier to withdraw from short haul in their main hubs.
Air France have done the same, retreating from the regions and introducing Hop, but ultimately maintaining their core brand in Paris.
Rather than following the crowd via Vueling, I would argue that BA actually led the way with the 'Future Size and Shape' programme under Rod Eddington after 9/11. BA cut the majority of the fat from the regions retreating to Fortress Heathrow.
With the recent cost savings and increased labour productivity in short haul, BA are making record profits. A core short haul product has to remain to feed our long haul services. A huge number of our passengers are merely transferring at Heathrow to/from other European cities. We are expanding short haul, in the few months that I've been here we've already announced a variety of new routes, most recently Inverness.
BA may not be the Mecca it once was. You will fly 80+ hours a month, but it's got a solid future and many varied options for your career.
Many forget that it was BA who made wholesale changes in the first decade of this century, long before Lufthansa, Air France et al did. BA closed its entire regional operation, both at mainline and at BA Citiexpress/Connect. The airline now only really concentrates on its core London market. They are not going to dilute their brand at Heathrow and I very much doubt they will at Gatwick either.
Look at Lufthansa, they have followed BA's lead, albeit taking a slightly different direction. They have cut their short haul branded flights from all but Munich and Frankfurt. Elsewhere it is now Germanwings/Eurowings that operate their short haul services. However, they have retained their core brand in their primary markets because they realise it would do more damage than good for the flag carrier to withdraw from short haul in their main hubs.
Air France have done the same, retreating from the regions and introducing Hop, but ultimately maintaining their core brand in Paris.
Rather than following the crowd via Vueling, I would argue that BA actually led the way with the 'Future Size and Shape' programme under Rod Eddington after 9/11. BA cut the majority of the fat from the regions retreating to Fortress Heathrow.
With the recent cost savings and increased labour productivity in short haul, BA are making record profits. A core short haul product has to remain to feed our long haul services. A huge number of our passengers are merely transferring at Heathrow to/from other European cities. We are expanding short haul, in the few months that I've been here we've already announced a variety of new routes, most recently Inverness.
BA may not be the Mecca it once was. You will fly 80+ hours a month, but it's got a solid future and many varied options for your career.
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Here & there
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't heard of any NTR swimmers receiving offers for next year yet. It seems like we have all had the same email stating that they are beginning to plan 2016 offers.
Fingers crossed this means that phone calls will follow shortly!
Fingers crossed this means that phone calls will follow shortly!
Join Date: May 2014
Location: England
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Hotel Mode,
Can I ask where did you hear this rumour of DEP's to A380. I'm not for one second inferring your wrong but as someone who's hoping to go to it next year I'm selfishly interested.... I'm sure BA in the past have said no to DEP's on the 380 so will be a large change of policy if so....
All, we are Still waiting for the PRIAM/CRYSTAL results so I'm sure when they are eventually published hold poolers will get coursed fairly quickly.
Can I ask where did you hear this rumour of DEP's to A380. I'm not for one second inferring your wrong but as someone who's hoping to go to it next year I'm selfishly interested.... I'm sure BA in the past have said no to DEP's on the 380 so will be a large change of policy if so....
All, we are Still waiting for the PRIAM/CRYSTAL results so I'm sure when they are eventually published hold poolers will get coursed fairly quickly.
BASHLH; Applications are now being accepted via the official website.
There are a heck of a lot of rumours flying around at the moment but like BASHLH I'm a bit sceptical about the DEP to 380 claim but then again maybe I'm not as well connected as Hotel Mode....It seems only 5 minutes ago BA required umpteen hours in BA and umpteen hours on Airbus to even look at the 380....
Then again, never say never.....
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Here and there
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
British Airways - Careers - Job Details
Link above to the DEP (longhaul) application page (taken from the recruitment manager's LinkedIn feed).
Link above to the DEP (longhaul) application page (taken from the recruitment manager's LinkedIn feed).
nowind
Blimey, many thanks, as I said.."never say never"...or something more appropriate !!
Must go off to buy some pop corn - I suspect there's going to be a bit of comment here and more so elsewhere from those FO's already in and "frozen" in a short haul seat....
Blimey, many thanks, as I said.."never say never"...or something more appropriate !!
Must go off to buy some pop corn - I suspect there's going to be a bit of comment here and more so elsewhere from those FO's already in and "frozen" in a short haul seat....
I haven't got any skin in the game - but I wonder if anyone inside BA can shed light on the veracity of the claim I heard which was that there is a shortage of internal applicants for the A380 as the failure rate is relatively high for the course which has a serious impact on your future career with BA.
Sounded like total BS to me.
Sounded like total BS to me.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If they're talking about people coming off the A320 transferring onto the A380 and failing I'd be very surprised by that, it's only a CCQ after all. If it's people coming off the 747 then perhaps less so.
But from the people I've spoken to at EK, the A380 is very easy to operate. Except perhaps once on the ground!
But from the people I've spoken to at EK, the A380 is very easy to operate. Except perhaps once on the ground!
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: out there somewhere
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is some truth to the rumours
I cam confirm that during the Pilot Careers Live event last Saturday Lindsay Craig announced that for the first time BA would be accepting DEP's to the A380. I personally thought this meant TR applicants from EK for example but I guess not.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: High n Blighty
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The quality of applicant from EK far outstrips that from any regional uk carrier. Why would BA not want to tap into a workforce of rated A380/B777 crews , especially from a competitor?
Even an internal BA candidate from the A320 could not possibly have the experience of a EK A380 sfo? I heard that there are several young, high time
EK captains throwing in their lot to the BA application. Why not, they are rich, by uk standards, and young enough to still have time for command in 3-6 years.
Good luck guys
Even an internal BA candidate from the A320 could not possibly have the experience of a EK A380 sfo? I heard that there are several young, high time
EK captains throwing in their lot to the BA application. Why not, they are rich, by uk standards, and young enough to still have time for command in 3-6 years.
Good luck guys
Globally
Without going into the nitty gritty, whys and wherefores, associated rumours, allegations and the undoubtedly true tales of woe there certainly have been some problems/course failures associated with conversions from the likes of the 744 to the 380. I know with some degree of certainty that that has led to a degree of reluctance by some to bid for the 380 (most especially from those who have zero previous Airbus experience).
I'd also add that the other factor might be that the other Long Haul Fleets perhaps offer a greater range of destinations and/or variety....at the moment at least it does look like in BA the 380 will always be a small fleet.
but I wonder if anyone inside BA can shed light on the veracity of the claim I heard which was that there is a shortage of internal applicants for the A380 as the failure rate is relatively high for the course which has a serious impact on your future career with BA.
I'd also add that the other factor might be that the other Long Haul Fleets perhaps offer a greater range of destinations and/or variety....at the moment at least it does look like in BA the 380 will always be a small fleet.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Botswana
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wiggy it does seem like it is starting to cream off some of the best destinations though, not much variety but good in what it does (KSFO, KLAX, KMIA etc). But it's whatever floats your boat I guess.