Originally Posted by
Globaliser
Then what if it was a BOS-LHR flight? Should BA have a spare aircraft at every outstation? Should BA pre-reserve capacity in advance on every competitor's service from every outstation just in case its own aircraft goes tech whilst there?
As I say, I can see the argument that even if the part is within its guarantee period, BA should still have to pay on the basis that such breakdowns are not "exceptional circumstances". But I find it very hard to see how such breakdowns could be described as "within the airline's control".
I think this is more semantics than anything else. I mean "Within control" in the very broadest sense, namely that matters such as technical issues/specifications, crewing/personnel are generally matters reasonably viewed as being within the control of an airline. For example, there are (or should be) regular safety checks, routine inspections, audits of suppliers of technical services/parts etc. So in that sense it is in their control- that is to say it should be "deemed" in their control (in my opinion). I accept that it in the more literal sense it isn't something BA can control (at least as a one off occurrence). In the same way a pilot getting ill causing a flight to divert, or be cancelled, is not directly in BA's control, but would still, generally speaking, be something that is deemed in its control as a staffing issue.