Historic BA routes
Dec 31, 2020, 4:37 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire / Wherever they send me
Programs: BA Blue, Marriott Plat Life, UA Silver (thx Marriott), IHG Gold, Accor Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 943
BA52 HRE - LHR
In the 80's BA ended up being the only airline permitted to operate widebodies to HRE. Air Zimbabwe did not own any widebodies at the time, instead using 707-320C's (Ex Lufthansa) and it was deemed unfair if all the other airlines operated widebodies into HRE. BA were given special dispensation and I travelled on the 747-200 and well as the 747-400 models to LHR several times. I remember walking to the aircraft across the apron (no jet bridges) and being in wonder of the sheer size and beauty of the aircraft in front of me.
In the 80's BA ended up being the only airline permitted to operate widebodies to HRE. Air Zimbabwe did not own any widebodies at the time, instead using 707-320C's (Ex Lufthansa) and it was deemed unfair if all the other airlines operated widebodies into HRE. BA were given special dispensation and I travelled on the 747-200 and well as the 747-400 models to LHR several times. I remember walking to the aircraft across the apron (no jet bridges) and being in wonder of the sheer size and beauty of the aircraft in front of me.
Dec 31, 2020, 4:39 pm
#62
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Now I come to think of it, one of those was my first ever long haul in Business class. A well timed op-up as we were waiting on the ground in the plane for several hours as a plane's undercarriage had collapsed on landing. I was well toasted before we finally rolled onto the runway for takeoff!
rb211.
rb211.
Jan 1, 2021, 6:59 am
#64
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,612
For a brief period, BA (British Regional Airlines Ltd) flew turbo-props LCY-SZD, with drinks run and meal service provided. I used some of my original 'Air Miles' on the route a couple of times.
Sadly, the Sheffield City Airport no longer exists, it's longevity proved elusive.
BA also flew from there to Belfast City and Dublin, using crew driven up from EMA if I recall conversations had with them correctly. And my first flight from there was to AMS with KL (purely for the novelty, I'd moved away from my hometown many years before!)
Pocket-size timetable cards:
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Sadly, the Sheffield City Airport no longer exists, it's longevity proved elusive.
BA also flew from there to Belfast City and Dublin, using crew driven up from EMA if I recall conversations had with them correctly. And my first flight from there was to AMS with KL (purely for the novelty, I'd moved away from my hometown many years before!)
Pocket-size timetable cards:
.
Jan 2, 2021, 12:29 pm
#65
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Jan 2, 2021, 12:49 pm
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,612
The only way to compete with the LCC in Europe I would assume
Jan 2, 2021, 4:53 pm
#70
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London, NYC, LCA
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 169
Oh the DAR route has to be the most nostalgic for me flew it frequently 1997-2006 when i was at boarding school and then university in Cambridge and my parents were living in DAR. used to be operated by by a 747-400 from LGW with a stop in either EBB or NBO in 2001 it switched to LHR to be operated non stop by a 3 class (F/CW/WT) 767 with 8 first seats when we ised to fly as a family on rare occasions in First we took up most of the cabin 5/8 seats mostly though i was in the old club cradle seats. when the route was finally cancelled still a 3 class 767 but CW/WTP/WT
Jan 2, 2021, 5:30 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 1,115
LGW to HAV (Havana Cuba). I flew this route a couple of times during its brief existence. BA did fly to Havana in 2020 to repatriate customers stranded on the Braemar at the start of the pandemic.
https://simpleflying.com/british-air...escue-flights/
https://simpleflying.com/british-air...escue-flights/
Jan 2, 2021, 6:50 pm
#73
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AAdvantage Asia Miles Air China
Posts: 870
Oh, and one more...the old Tokyo-Anchorage-Heathrow hop. You would see lots of people at Narita milling about waiting for BA, AF, LH, AZ departures, then see the same faces (albeit somewhat dazed) wandering around Anchorage several hours later) before we hopped back on our 747s to continue to Europe. I also recall doing either Fukuoka or Nagoya to Anchorage and onwards to London c 1992 or so. It seemed to take forever.
TPE-HKG was another good hop. You could upgrade J—>F for all of £10 on the TPE-HKG sector if you were on a J2BA fare...worth it for the meal and wines at the time.
TPE-HKG was another good hop. You could upgrade J—>F for all of £10 on the TPE-HKG sector if you were on a J2BA fare...worth it for the meal and wines at the time.
Before China opened up BA also did HKG-PEK as a tag on and F was £20 one way, though getting a visa to enter was somewhat difficult.
In the 1990s BA operated the following with a HKG stop:
LHR-HKG-TPE (3x week)
LHR-HKG-MNL (4x week: The maid's express)
LHR-DEL-HKG (3x week, which was a day flight return from HKG)
LHR-HKG (7x week)
Last edited by Nicc HK; Jan 2, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Jan 2, 2021, 7:42 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
CW cradle seats in the front cabin and WT seats from doors 2 rearwards with drop down TV monitors from the aisle ceiling.