BA to lease 9 Qatar A320s + crews during strike
Jul 7, 2017, 1:15 pm
#376
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Just wondering what they would do with these aircraft between the two strike periods and see it has already been raised.
However, are BA seeing these as like for like replacements for 9 other aircraft and have temporarily parked these up for two weeks or are they rotating their own aircraft in and out over the strike period? If the former would it not be appropriate to keep the same BA aircraft parked up even on the few days between strikes and just keep the QR ones operating?
However, are BA seeing these as like for like replacements for 9 other aircraft and have temporarily parked these up for two weeks or are they rotating their own aircraft in and out over the strike period? If the former would it not be appropriate to keep the same BA aircraft parked up even on the few days between strikes and just keep the QR ones operating?
Jul 7, 2017, 2:07 pm
#377
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Just wondering what they would do with these aircraft between the two strike periods and see it has already been raised.
However, are BA seeing these as like for like replacements for 9 other aircraft and have temporarily parked these up for two weeks or are they rotating their own aircraft in and out over the strike period? If the former would it not be appropriate to keep the same BA aircraft parked up even on the few days between strikes and just keep the QR ones operating?
However, are BA seeing these as like for like replacements for 9 other aircraft and have temporarily parked these up for two weeks or are they rotating their own aircraft in and out over the strike period? If the former would it not be appropriate to keep the same BA aircraft parked up even on the few days between strikes and just keep the QR ones operating?
Jul 18, 2017, 5:36 am
#378
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
BA applied for an extension to cover the period up to the 1st August.
https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2229.pdf
https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2230.pdf
It is not published whether it was granted yet.
https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2229.pdf
https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2230.pdf
It is not published whether it was granted yet.
Jul 19, 2017, 12:39 am
#382
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,928
Jul 19, 2017, 1:21 am
#383
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London
Programs: BAEC gold, Marriott gold, Hilton gold
Posts: 1,923
Flew QR operated BA flight to Vienna. Was just brilliant. Warm free calzone and coffee, friendly staff, comfortable head rests.
Return flight was BA operated and it was back to reality.
Return flight was BA operated and it was back to reality.
Jul 19, 2017, 4:51 am
#385
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,928
. Now if only this was covered in EC1008/2008.
Jul 19, 2017, 5:22 am
#387
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,928
Jul 19, 2017, 5:28 am
#388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
The CAA did specifically look at the point that BA have sufficient aircraft but insufficient crew. Their interpretation of the regulation was that this made BA's aircraft "unavailable", so a non-EU wetlease could go ahead.
Jul 19, 2017, 5:40 am
#389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
After receiving advice from the CAA, the Secretary of State grants permission for BA to use QR aircraft between the 19th July and 1st August.
Permission to use the aircraft on the dates of 17th and 18th was refused. [During which no industrial action took place.]
Five private individuals and BALPA objected to the wetlease.
BALPA also raised this argument.
Permission to use the aircraft on the dates of 17th and 18th was refused. [During which no industrial action took place.]
The Secretary of State for Transport granted British Airways Plc approval to the use of these aircraft
between 19 July and 1 August 2017 only, concurring with advice from the CAA that no evidence has been
provided to demonstrate that the request to wet lease aircraft in the period 17 and 18 July met the grounds
of “exceptional needs”
[Source.]between 19 July and 1 August 2017 only, concurring with advice from the CAA that no evidence has been
provided to demonstrate that the request to wet lease aircraft in the period 17 and 18 July met the grounds
of “exceptional needs”
Five private individuals and BALPA objected to the wetlease.
BALPA also raised this argument.
It is argued by BALPA that “exceptional needs” within Article 13(3)(b)(i) should be
interpreted narrowly and must be limited to an airline’s need for an aircraft, whereas BA’s
actual need is not for aircraft, but for cabin crew with which to operate such aircraft. The
CAA does not agree that the Regulation should be applied in this way. Article 13(3)
provides a mechanism to allow an EU carrier to substitute wet-leased capacity, namely a
“package” of aircraft, crew and associated support, when, for example, such “package”
elements of its own capacity are, for whatever, reason unavailable. It is also noted that
the approval to be obtained under Article 13(3) is for “the operation” which implicitly must
relate to the whole package, including crew in the case of a wet lease.
interpreted narrowly and must be limited to an airline’s need for an aircraft, whereas BA’s
actual need is not for aircraft, but for cabin crew with which to operate such aircraft. The
CAA does not agree that the Regulation should be applied in this way. Article 13(3)
provides a mechanism to allow an EU carrier to substitute wet-leased capacity, namely a
“package” of aircraft, crew and associated support, when, for example, such “package”
elements of its own capacity are, for whatever, reason unavailable. It is also noted that
the approval to be obtained under Article 13(3) is for “the operation” which implicitly must
relate to the whole package, including crew in the case of a wet lease.
Jul 19, 2017, 6:49 am
#390
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
I had nearly three hours on QR this morning (seat 1F) from STR due to ATC delays. Some quick observations:
- Much better seat than BA and really a bit better than AA as well
- Tray table had issues like you'll often find on AA
- Crew were a touch awkward, and certainly not as humorous as a typical BA crew
- Curtain remained closed during landing
- They close the cabin for landing earlier than BA on shorthaul flights
- Pre-flight beverage (water, juice, etc.) and nuts offered
- Orders taken prior to departure and meals served while still on a fairly steep ascent (even faster than on a trip to JER)
- Weird to have bread offered with a panini
- Arrived at the farthest C gate and checked bags took a long time (30 minutes)... had no choice due to work
- Several passengers were confused and impressed... several economy passengers remarking how much better the seats looked than typical BA business class as they passed by