IAG signs LOI for 200 737MAX - some for BA LGW
Jun 18, 2019, 9:24 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
I am shocked!
Why would IAG order the 737MAX given the troubles it is having? Surely it would have been more sensible to increase their A320Neo order, unless the MAX has cheaper running costs for the low fares required at VY, VK and BA LGW.
They will also have to retrain pilots and crew for this new type!
Why would IAG order the 737MAX given the troubles it is having? Surely it would have been more sensible to increase their A320Neo order, unless the MAX has cheaper running costs for the low fares required at VY, VK and BA LGW.
They will also have to retrain pilots and crew for this new type!
Jun 18, 2019, 9:29 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: BA
Posts: 138
Jun 18, 2019, 9:35 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: MME (midway between NCL and LBA)
Programs: BA Gold, AF/KL Gold, Hilton Gold, Nordic Choice Gold
Posts: 743
Jun 18, 2019, 9:39 am
#21
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North Yorkshire, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 79
This is surprising but surely has to be motivated by 2 things 1) availability of production slots but, more importantly, 2) one hell of a deal as Boeing gets behind the aircraft and starts the process of rebuilding market confidence. I suspect that Boeing offered planes to IAG at a price it simply couldn’t refuse - and it is important that this has been announced as an ‘intent to buy’, which presumably gives Boeing time to sort the airplane’s issues out whilst giving IAG a get out if the issues aren’t fixed as expected and/or customer confidence proves to have been permanently damaged.
It it will be really interesting to hear any market whispers around the likely size of the discount IAG obtained on the order.
It it will be really interesting to hear any market whispers around the likely size of the discount IAG obtained on the order.
Jun 18, 2019, 9:49 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BAEC Blue, Flying Blue Silver, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 817
Relax people - this is just an LOI to buy, it's perfect clout to get a discount off airbus and earlier delivery slots. I would start worrying when the order moves into firm and it's confirmed BA will get these ( I know they are supposed too but still seems a bit up in the air for me). 4 years to change your travel plans too!
Jun 18, 2019, 9:53 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BA, EI, IB, Hilton Honors
Posts: 550
I am shocked!
Why would IAG order the 737MAX given the troubles it is having? Surely it would have been more sensible to increase their A320Neo order, unless the MAX has cheaper running costs for the low fares required at VY, VK and BA LGW.
They will also have to retrain pilots and crew for this new type!
Why would IAG order the 737MAX given the troubles it is having? Surely it would have been more sensible to increase their A320Neo order, unless the MAX has cheaper running costs for the low fares required at VY, VK and BA LGW.
They will also have to retrain pilots and crew for this new type!
Jun 18, 2019, 9:56 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
I don't do Gatwick so this probably wont affect me but I cant say I would be willing to get on board one of these birds anytime soon. Not never but it would need to be flying a long time without incident to entice me on board.
BA clearly of the view that the deal they have got outweighs the risk of the "self loading freight" noticing what aircraft type it is and then knowing that two had crashed and others came close as a result of faulty software and keeping pilots in the dark.
I would be interested in BA pilots view and that of BALPA on this as one imagines even Walsh would have consulted on this with them ahead of putting name to paper.
BA clearly of the view that the deal they have got outweighs the risk of the "self loading freight" noticing what aircraft type it is and then knowing that two had crashed and others came close as a result of faulty software and keeping pilots in the dark.
I would be interested in BA pilots view and that of BALPA on this as one imagines even Walsh would have consulted on this with them ahead of putting name to paper.
Walsh needs better balance than this. It looks bad on an already down-the-hill BA, which has a very good safety record. This may not affect that, but it affects my consumer confidence.
Jun 18, 2019, 10:05 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, A3 *Gold
Posts: 887
Assuming they have got a huge discount and a cast iron get out clause if the problems aren't solved, whats not to like about this?
If it's 4 years down the line its presumably 3 years until they would have to commit and by then the Max should have over 2 years clear flying, if it doesn't have a completely clear safety record and outlook at that point just bin the deal.
I'd rather they save money this way rather than some of the other ways they have/could find savings.
If it's 4 years down the line its presumably 3 years until they would have to commit and by then the Max should have over 2 years clear flying, if it doesn't have a completely clear safety record and outlook at that point just bin the deal.
I'd rather they save money this way rather than some of the other ways they have/could find savings.
Jun 18, 2019, 10:11 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
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Jun 18, 2019, 10:11 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
Jun 18, 2019, 10:14 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746
Jun 18, 2019, 10:15 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
Call me naive (i'm sure some will) but the one major confidence I have in BA is that the safety of it's passengers always has and always will come first.
I'm sure that by the time it lands at Gatwick, BA's MAX's will be the safest plane in the sky, and i'd have no issue flying it.
I have confidence their pilots wouldn't touch, and BALPA wouldn't let them, if there were any doubts.
But I understand peoples reluctance.
I'm sure that by the time it lands at Gatwick, BA's MAX's will be the safest plane in the sky, and i'd have no issue flying it.
I have confidence their pilots wouldn't touch, and BALPA wouldn't let them, if there were any doubts.
But I understand peoples reluctance.
Last edited by Sam Bee; Jun 18, 2019 at 10:56 am
Jun 18, 2019, 10:17 am
#30
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
If there is a risk of my ending up on it with BA, I'd actually start booking Easyjet ex-LGW* to avoid the inconvenience of having to offload myself from the flight upon discovering it is operated by Max.
I am intending to fully boycott this aircraft unless they fundamentally change the design (not just the software band aid).
(Besides that, I actually actively dislike 737s)
*Or more likely to fly ex-LHR and then connect to where-ever rather than flying out of LGW in the first place as it's a bit inconvenient anyway. I guess that means I'm more likely to be flying with Lufthansa Group given which way I'm heading, e.g. RHO)
I am intending to fully boycott this aircraft unless they fundamentally change the design (not just the software band aid).
(Besides that, I actually actively dislike 737s)
*Or more likely to fly ex-LHR and then connect to where-ever rather than flying out of LGW in the first place as it's a bit inconvenient anyway. I guess that means I'm more likely to be flying with Lufthansa Group given which way I'm heading, e.g. RHO)