Some shorthaul flights will be made into longhaul slots
Could this mean some A320s are demoted to Gatwick? Are BA shooting themselves in the foot by reducing LH feeder services from the continent? If so, who's going to fill the gaps - Branson?
Couldn't see this discussed anywhere else on here, sorry if I have duplicated it though!
In virtually every respect (and in the nicest possible way), this is not really news.
1. Slots from SH to LH:
BMIs asset was the slots.
BAs plan for making use of what it acquired by buying bmi was alwasy going to be doing this. They have said so consistantly. It was why they went into the deal.
2. Terminal 1:
They would obviously want to get out of T1 as soon as they can. Undesirble split, overheads, etc. They are bigger than T5, so it was always going to be T5 and T3 with the rest of the oneworld airlines. I'm sure they've said this before too.
3. SYD flights:
The JBA with Qantas is ending, the need to cosite for that reason is gone. They have already said this I'm sure. Personally, I've always found it ... interesting ... that given the AA JBA, and the retiming of flights folliwing it, USA flights are divided. That to me is the interesting bit. No signs of change, but... it is interesting.
4. SH feeding:
The shorthaul flights that are removed will probably NOT really leave any gaps. And any that it does will likely not be taken up by anyone, and certainly not by Virgin. (Virgin are playing shorthaul to get some slots.)
BA are certainly not shooting themselves in the foot. Also, remember BA has the reach that LH feeds LH too.
5. A320 series:
There are two things here of note:
- The conversion of some exBMI ones to LH ops.
- The fact that LGW needs to replace the 737s.
Fleet plans is probably the bit that is up in the air.
Some shorthaul flights will be made into longhaul slots
Could this mean some A320s are demoted to Gatwick? Are BA shooting themselves in the foot by reducing LH feeder services from the continent? If so, who's going to fill the gaps - Branson?
Couldn't see this discussed anywhere else on here, sorry if I have duplicated it though!
BA have stated that they hope to have a two terminal operation around 2014.
BA have had a chance to consolidate short haul feeder flights, and have even launched new routes such as Zagreb. About 1/3 of the BMI slots will be converted to long haul. BA still own the slots regardless of how they use them, so Branson has absolutely nothing to do with it.
In the end, BA will have more short haul and long haul flights than before IAG bought BMI.
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Always was a temporary thing for BA to be in T1 post-BD acquisition.
Once T2 opens in 2014 and many of the T3 Star Alliance airlines move into T2, there will be space in T3 for BA to grow their operation out of that terminal.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueThroughCrimp
Can the exBMI aircraft be converted to take containers like the BA ones?
I'm guessing that would help with operations at Terminal 5.
Yes they can...
But keeping the 319s as loose load (non-containerised) - not spending the money - and sending them to LGW may be a better idea though, given the 73s are on the way out but also loose load.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Genius1
Always was a temporary thing for BA to be in T1 post-BD acquisition.
Once T2 opens in 2014 and many of the T3 Star Alliance airlines move into T2, there will be space in T3 for BA to grow their operation out of that terminal.
I don't mind T3, the BA lounge is okay... And there is a little more choice for status pax.
The guaranteed buses for anything s/h though is a pain. Packed in like a sardine even if you're flying CE. But then...T5 has gate A10. One day we'll have the perfect airport, maybe Boris' estuary airport..?
We all know what BAA should do with T3, but that's not going to happen any time soon! To be fair though, T3 is certainly better than it was 5-6 years ago IMO.
Maybe BA and the soon to be even bigger OW will be able to push for further improvements in light of Star Alliance's shiny new terminal - especially given that BA have taken over the largest Star airline at LHR. An airside link between 3 and 5 would be wonderful.
