Nice tribute to G-CIVJ, G-CIVl and G-CIVN:

Everything can be changed but some things will take time. For example EUUA-EUUR (coincidentally the CRT fitted LHR A320s) have a MTOW ot 72.6T whereas GATH-GATS have a MTOW of 77T. Not all BA aircraft have HF radio needed for the Tango routes (UUS-onwards) but some G-GATS do etc. Will take a little time to get the house in order fleet wise when it is know what routes will be happening.

is that because the GAT frames were built later than G-EUUA-R?

No the numbers can be changed on paper to reduce ATC charges etc. If a A320 is doing Paris or doemstics from LHR with minimal weights it makes sense to write them down. If it is going to FNC with fuel to get back to LIS in the event of a divert, it needs a higher MTOW to haul the gas etc.

The majority of the G-GAT are similar age to first half of the original BA ones. Only ATU is significantly newer if I remember rightly with an MSN in the 3000 or so range.

I believe this comes with a serious proviso - That being that the Aircraft has the higher weight option to start with... Not all A320's were bought with the 77T MTOW option, just like not all A320's are bought with the 15kt tailwind limit too... So maybe they aren't written down! Anybody know?

I can't remeber what they started at and dont have any old config matrix/WB manuals but the recent changes for some were 73.5T -> 72.6T. Their MLW was increased to 66T too.

Looking now they are (MTOW)-

UUA-UUR 72.6
ATH-ATS 77.0
ATU 73.5
TOB-TOE 72.6
UUS-UUZ 72.6
UYA-UYN 72.6
UYO-UYY 75.5
IDO-IDY 73.5
EDK 77.0

Hopefully not dragging this too far OT... but what are Tango routes, and why do these need an HF radio?

Does this mean that say, G-EUUZ will never go to certain destinations?

They are airways going down towards the Canaries but are in oceanic airspace so need HF radio. UUZ doesn't have HF so if it was to go to to the canaries it would just go via the usual route through the Casablanca FIR.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cde5ba650c.png

G-XWBF is now at the delivery centre. CAF expected next

Any news on G-CIVI, is it still off for Kemble soon?

G-XWBF completed first CAF for 2h this morning.

Good morning everyone. I've been reading Tim Clarke's comments about the sooner than planned ending of the A380 and wondered what people think that IAG/BA will do with the A380s currently stored. As I understand it only 2 of the 12 are owned the other 10 leased? How likely are we to see the A380 back flying for BA?

Welcome to FlyerTalk and the BAEC forum specifically!

While I hope that we haven't seen the last of BAs A380s, if this goes as badly as some say it will, then we probably won't get to fly in them again. VS has already announced they are to have an all twin engine plane fleet going forward. Currently I'd give us about a 30 to 40% chance of having the big bird back at most. YMMV.

rb211.

If they kept the 2 that they own, could there be profitability on one route?

Just finished listening to IAGs Q1 call and I’ll summarise:

747 and 777Es are all owned so are easy to retire. The focus of course is on the 747s which we all know their retirement will be accelerated. How many of if any will come back is still to be determined and will depend on how demand comes back.

some 777s will be converted to fully cargo aircraft as cargo has been profitable for BA this time around

Fleet refurbishments are still going ahead but the mix of premium and non premium seats will very likely change both for new deliveries and refurbishment.

787/350 will be the aircraft to restart operations As the group aims to operate about 50% of flying again. By the end of July.

ALSO 777X seems to have been delayed as delivery of 2022 long haul jets now falls by 8 exactly which was the number expected to come in in that year

between 2020 and 2021 there’s only been a reduction of 3 long haul deliveries. This is because going into next year these aircrafts have been paid for and financing secured so it makes more economical sense to take them on

as the months go on the story will develop

the IAG group deliveries has fallen by 68