BA moving A380 pilots to different fleets
 

Not seen this posted elsewhere.

Interesting post on Instagram from Dave Wallsworth (380 captain) saying that BA have started a bidding process to move (some?) pilots across from the 380 to different fleets. In his case the A350. Later in the comments he says this is for an ‘8 year period’.

Surely the biggest indication we’ve had that the A380 is unlikely to come back to the full fleet of 12 for a very long time, if ever.

I suspect his bid will be successful

So it started like this for the 747-400. We know where this ended up and AF has already canned the A380 entirely. So what will be next. First Class - cannot be that far behind......
FD.

Hopefully, a great ambassador for BA.

Very much so - and a key driver of the #BASMART and always had informative rather than “showy” posts

Best of luck to Captain Dave

... but even more sympathy for 747 flight deck crew who would not have such an easy transition ... if any!

I know of one 747 Capt who is now on a conversion to the 787. One of the lucky ones.

How does the bidding system work?

All fleets except for LHR A320, 787 and A350 have been deemed to be in ‘surplus’. Pilots on those fleets are able to partake in a supplementary bid (in addition to the normal annual bid process) to state a preference for which fleet they’d like to move to. Bids are run in seniority order with preference given to bids that are deemed to be ‘short courses’ e.g. A380 to A350 or 777 to 787. Those who don’t get allocated a course will be placed in a pool and wait for a course to come up. They won’t be flying and will be on reduced pay, this pool has been funded via efficiencies/pay cuts.

The comment WRT eight years is a restriction that’s been brought in as an efficiency. A long haul Captain can only change to another long haul aircraft after eight years on their new aircraft (can obviously be waived by BA if deemed necessary).

I can’t see BA getting rid of the A380 all together, in my opinion it would be rather short sighted. They have also actively changed/consolidated flights to the A380 for this Winter, which implies they want to keep some (at the moment anyway).

If you looked at Captain Daves instagram post from 2 days earlier. He’s in an A380 simulator with some of his colleagues.

If you looked at Captain Daves instagram post from 2 days earlier. He’s in an A380 simulator with some of his colleagues.

They did announce that at least 4 will be in long term storage when they announced the other fleet news. The 744 news got the attention I guess.

Lufthansa said they have retired 6 out of their 14 with immediate effect, with the remaining 8 not flying before 2022; whilst EK has fired 1250 out of their 1900 flight crew flying the A380 which implies that they think they'll fly approx. half of their fleet until 2022.

I would say - not that I am an expert - that the BA A380s have still a chance of flying again as certain routes out of LHR might justify such a large aircraft.

Generally a dire state for such a nice aircraft to fly with; still my favorite (thinking of the small Y section on the upper deck with BA) and of course the bar in the Emirates planes (ok the bar is better than the Y section :)

Indeed. I think next year will be make or break for the type. This year is more or less written off.

If the US manage to get their outbreak under control and Asia reopens to travel, then the future will be a bit more assured for the type...If not, then things are a lot more up in the air.

I guess its a sensible career-protecting move from those who wish to transfer. At least the A350 is actually flying, and is almost certain to continue to do so.