Originally Posted by
colm
YAYYYYYYYYYYY! I did not expect that. In fact, looking at the winter schedule a month ago, it looked like they were going to reduce frequency.
I agree with the suggestion that the flights should move to T5, to better differentiate from EI.
Now if only they'd bring back LCY (I know, it ain't gonna happen)
C
T5 is great but it is too small, and BA face competition on most routes so moving the routes with no competition to other terminals may not work.
Originally Posted by
layz
Perhaps they might if AFKL closes CityJet as I've heard that it's not doing too well recently.
Apparently Cityjet had a massive re-structure and have improved financials but are still unprofitable and AF-KLM is doing a 'Strategic review'. Looks like they are trying to flog Cityjet off as AF-KLM have a bad financial situation and need to reduce losses and pay off debt,
Originally Posted by
Londonflyer
Apparently EI are moving their Belfast services from BFS to BHD (or at least, they are introducing a BHD-LHR service, according to my Mum (!))
Competing directly with the BA (ex BMI service)
Looks that way.
Originally Posted by
ardboe
Shifting services to T2 at DUB wouldn't be a bad move either.
Is that the Terminal that EI use? I like that atmosphere of that terminal.
x2 re BA starting LCY-DUB. Shittyjet (Cityjet) have gone from being a relatively decent airline to being little better than Ryanair in terms of customer focus and product. Not a reliable option in my opinion.
T2 in Dublin is full (more technically pier E is full), so I can't see BA getting the space. It would be nice.
A nice BA lounge in T1 is the best we can hope for.
BA are certainly attacking Cityjet aggressively, E-Jets and steady expansion with a large reputation.
Did Cityjet really knock BA from the now cancelled LCY-DUB flight? Seems odd, even though Cityjet is headquartered in Ireland I doubt they are a household brand.
Originally Posted by
Cyba
THere may be more to this than meets the eye: [speculation/on] With BMI now gone, isn't EI one of the biggest slot holders at LHR? Financially they're also not doing great, LHR is likely one of EI's cash-cows so if BA goes on the attack, gives them additional headaches, maybe even diverts some of their transatlantic traffic, helps deepen their financial problems, sending them into FR's arms who not wanting to operate from LHR sell their slots on to the open market thereby helping BA increase their dominance at the airport even further and leaving them with a monopoly on the LHR-DUB market. This could work great for them and might be worth a long-ish wait [speculation/off]
Perhaps extreme but not completely implausible.
EI has posted mainly profits over the last decade which is spectacular considering their network mainly consists of shorthaul flights, with nearly every single flight recieving competition from FR and that's not even mentioning competition from foreign carriers.
I suspect that BA's move on Dublin and Belfast will weaken their finances a bit, but hardly a devastating blow.
I doubt FR will get permission to buy EI, they would have something stupid like 80% market share of the Irish aviation market. The UK authorities are scrutinising FR's minority stake in EI and with the UK being the largest foreign market out of Ireland and with FR having numerous British bases I doubt they would ignore them if they objected. Plus EI is financially stable so it's not like FR can claim to come and rescue them like with BA and BD.