I believe this is an interim measure while a few of the Gatwick EF fleet are stopped maintenance, checks or repairs.

I’m sure BA wishes it had ordered its A320/321 neos earlier - the cost of maintenance checks on the aging A319/320 fleet must be considerable - G-EUPJ a case in point. The required checks at this point in the life cycle are not inconsiderable. 50 737max aircraft en-route to Vueling will help eventually but no imminent sign of them either.

BA has to get through Summer 26 and quite of bit of what they are doing now is to ensure they can reduce aircraft on the ground through the Summer period when potential yields are much greater.