BA fleet strategy - A350 & 787
Oct 30, 2018, 12:11 pm
#16
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A mate who is a BA captain tells me that A350 is very close to the A320 in terms of flying and the conversion will be sim only and short. He's to be one of the first A350 captains.
On that basis I would say the A350 is far more attractive to BA than anything Boeing which has yet to grasp commonality in any serious way.
On that basis I would say the A350 is far more attractive to BA than anything Boeing which has yet to grasp commonality in any serious way.
Oct 30, 2018, 12:29 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2008
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A mate who is a BA captain tells me that A350 is very close to the A320 in terms of flying and the conversion will be sim only and short. He's to be one of the first A350 captains.
On that basis I would say the A350 is far more attractive to BA than anything Boeing which has yet to grasp commonality in any serious way.
On that basis I would say the A350 is far more attractive to BA than anything Boeing which has yet to grasp commonality in any serious way.
Oct 30, 2018, 1:32 pm
#18
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A mate who is a BA captain tells me that A350 is very close to the A320 in terms of flying and the conversion will be sim only and short. He's to be one of the first A350 captains.
On that basis I would say the A350 is far more attractive to BA than anything Boeing which has yet to grasp commonality in any serious way.
On that basis I would say the A350 is far more attractive to BA than anything Boeing which has yet to grasp commonality in any serious way.
I don't think the lack of commonality across other models (especially the 737) is due to just laziness or lack of foresight - yes, the 737 overhead panel (for example) looks remarkably similar today as it did 50 years ago and has nothing in common with the rest of the Boeing fleet, but they are kind of stuck because I imagine it is going to be quite uneconomical (both in terms of system design, parts, training) to change and update inline with the modern Boeing aircraft.
Airbus was lucky because they entered the market with the A320/30/40 series at a time with radical new modern avionics technology & systems that hasn't changed TOO Much since (iterating on previous advancements). Boeing broke new ground each time they released a new aircraft - they've had no choice but to redesign each time to keep up with the times. Makes commonality hard when the goal posts keep changing.
Oct 30, 2018, 2:05 pm
#19
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I would say, BA's Boeing787s is to replace its Boeing 767
While A350 is to replace Boeing 747s
However, if Boeing 777X were announced and delivered earlier, I would say Boeing 777X is more useful to A350
(1. For the uniformness of the fleet of all Boeing Widebody aircrafts
2. Boeing 777X has a greater capacity than A350)
I would suspect BA should purchase Boeing 777X
The question is when, how much and how many. (perhaps some maybe interested in what routes)
While A350 is to replace Boeing 747s
However, if Boeing 777X were announced and delivered earlier, I would say Boeing 777X is more useful to A350
(1. For the uniformness of the fleet of all Boeing Widebody aircrafts
2. Boeing 777X has a greater capacity than A350)
I would suspect BA should purchase Boeing 777X
The question is when, how much and how many. (perhaps some maybe interested in what routes)
Oct 30, 2018, 2:19 pm
#20
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The 787 and A350 are really quite different, as mentioned above and many larger airlines have ordered and operate both. For example the 787-10 and A350 are similar in capacity, their capability is very different. The 787-10 is ideal for the shorter US routes - remember BA will stiff both the cargo and passenger decks. This shortens published rage quite dramatically.
BA will undeniably have a fleet mix, but it has a complex route network, so flexibility isn’t a bad thing.
787-8/9 - Long/Thin/New routes to The America’s and Asia (there’s loads already!)
772 - Flexibly used across the network, where cheap ownership costs matter more than higher fuel burn. Likely leisure routes, Near America’s, Middle East and Gatwick.
787-10 - High frequency routes with large volumes, NYC/BOS etc
A351/77W High Volume Routes to Asia and Australia
A380 - Super High Volume/Premium heavy routes.
Knowing BA as we do, if they could have saved £5 by NOT adding an additional fleet type, they would. But the overall sums add up. The long term 777/787/350/380 isn’t wild.
BA will undeniably have a fleet mix, but it has a complex route network, so flexibility isn’t a bad thing.
787-8/9 - Long/Thin/New routes to The America’s and Asia (there’s loads already!)
772 - Flexibly used across the network, where cheap ownership costs matter more than higher fuel burn. Likely leisure routes, Near America’s, Middle East and Gatwick.
787-10 - High frequency routes with large volumes, NYC/BOS etc
A351/77W High Volume Routes to Asia and Australia
A380 - Super High Volume/Premium heavy routes.
Knowing BA as we do, if they could have saved £5 by NOT adding an additional fleet type, they would. But the overall sums add up. The long term 777/787/350/380 isn’t wild.
Oct 30, 2018, 9:50 pm
#23
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I don't know if they recently bought any but SAS seem to have both the Airbus and the 737s.
Oct 30, 2018, 10:24 pm
#24
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Oct 30, 2018, 10:32 pm
#25
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If I have a choice between a 787 and A350 on SQ, I always go for the 787 even though I don't like the aircraft at all (the window shades generate heat and I find myself too hot by the window), because the footwell is in front of the seat properly and I don't end up at an awkward angle.
I honestly hope that BA come up with something much better than SQ J seats for their A350!
Oct 30, 2018, 11:05 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Actually I think this footwell issue isn't just limited to the SQ A350. I was recently on their revamped a380 and it has the same awkward footwell. I found it a bit uncomfortable while i tried to settle in
Oct 30, 2018, 11:49 pm
#27
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I just find it rather bizarre that they chose such a set-up.
We complain about BA CW seats but IMO ergonomically, those SQ seats (obviously not the 787 ones) are far worse IMO.
I was rather shocked when they rolled out their new A350s with those 'offset' seats because I thought they'd have fixed them, but at least they have fixed them for their 787.
Oct 31, 2018, 2:43 am
#28
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Oct 31, 2018, 7:32 am
#30
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