Papal BA?
Jan 23, 2018, 4:29 am
#1
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Papal BA?
Half a story here, but on the BBC (world) news yesterday they had the Pope departing Peru after his visit there and boarding a plane with the OneWorld logo, and I'm pretty sure with the start of the 'B' for British Airways. Presumably a 'hired' plane since I doubt that the Pontiff would be travelling via LHR?
Jan 23, 2018, 4:38 am
#2
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There is a reasonably well known protocol used by the Holy Father (several of them actually): they fly to the visited country on an Alitalia charter under AZ4000 (and the US media refers to it as having callsign Good Shepherd though it's not always so) . But they return to the Vatican - or the next leg of the trip - on the airline associated with the departure country. So I suspect this would be a chartered LATAM service. There's a thick book - printed - which goes out to all and sundry giving the protocol on papal visits.
Jan 23, 2018, 4:43 am
#3
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Indeed LATAM
http://www.lapresse.it/foto/papa-atterrato-a-ciampino-termina-22esimo-viaggio-estero/
(copy and paste above, because for some reason the 'click link' goes to another page)
http://www.lapresse.it/foto/papa-atterrato-a-ciampino-termina-22esimo-viaggio-estero/
(copy and paste above, because for some reason the 'click link' goes to another page)
Last edited by headingwest; Jan 23, 2018 at 5:04 am Reason: links to wrong page for some reason!
Jan 23, 2018, 5:09 am
#4
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The IB software seems to be automatically parsing links and may have got the original one wrong for some reason.
Jan 23, 2018, 5:38 am
#5
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Seems that the protocol was abandoned during the last papal visit to the UK
The Pope won?t be flying with British Airways | CatholicHerald.co.uk
Perhaps the Pope is a FTer?
The Pope won?t be flying with British Airways | CatholicHerald.co.uk
Perhaps the Pope is a FTer?
Jan 23, 2018, 7:12 am
#6
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There is a reasonably well known protocol used by the Holy Father (several of them actually): they fly to the visited country on an Alitalia charter under AZ4000 (and the US media refers to it as having callsign Good Shepherd though it's not always so) . But they return to the Vatican - or the next leg of the trip - on the airline associated with the departure country. So I suspect this would be a chartered LATAM service. There's a thick book - printed - which goes out to all and sundry giving the protocol on papal visits.
Jan 23, 2018, 7:20 am
#7
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Jan 23, 2018, 7:45 am
#8
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Jan 23, 2018, 4:42 pm
#11
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I shared a train carriage (technically two of them) with Bishop Williams from East Anglia to the North East about several years ago, after he retired from being ABoC. He cuts a rather distinctive figure, even while reading Kipling intently, and was certainly traveling “economy” in that instance. Somewhat to my surprise no-one else seemed to recognise him, and - rather pleasingly - no-one bothered him.
Jan 24, 2018, 1:15 am
#15
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I can image the conversation
BA Rep 1: Seriously, Douglas – this isn’t one of your mates?
BA Rep 2: Who is it?
BA Rep 1: The Pope
BA Rep 2: No. The Pope is not one of my mates.
BA Rep 1: Right! Fine! Then you talk to him!