The BA Source [thebasource.com] to close 30th June 2021
Jun 19, 2021, 1:50 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 43
Will be a real shame to lose such a valuable resource. I wonder if maintenance of the site is time intensive? I assume the newsfeed will be an automated script.
If its purely down to financial resources, then surely it could be saved with community contributions. If its down to other reasons like time, change of circumstances, or a loss of love for the project, I wonder if the owner would be willing to hand it over to the community, rather than see it go completely. It could be run by a few volunteers on a not for profit basis. I'm sure there are many of us on FT who are tech savvy enough to play a part.
If its purely down to financial resources, then surely it could be saved with community contributions. If its down to other reasons like time, change of circumstances, or a loss of love for the project, I wonder if the owner would be willing to hand it over to the community, rather than see it go completely. It could be run by a few volunteers on a not for profit basis. I'm sure there are many of us on FT who are tech savvy enough to play a part.
Jun 19, 2021, 1:57 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: BHX
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 200
Jun 19, 2021, 2:05 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,188
We’ve had a good run but the VS Source will be closing on 30th June.
Historic tracker pages will be disabled from 25th June.
In July the site will be taken to Victorville for part out and scrap.
Thank you to everybody who has visited, contributed news, sponsored an aircraft and especially those who donated in December 2020 to enable us to continue for as long as possible in 2021.
Historic tracker pages will be disabled from 25th June.
In July the site will be taken to Victorville for part out and scrap.
Thank you to everybody who has visited, contributed news, sponsored an aircraft and especially those who donated in December 2020 to enable us to continue for as long as possible in 2021.
Jun 19, 2021, 2:11 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 43
Yes. The VS Source ? Virgin Atlantic News and Information
Over the years there were other "thexxsource.com". sites. Have been closing over the years but only 3 now left (BA, QF VS). There used to be link to the other sources. Would take time & money to keep these sites alive. I have his email address. He likely/may be a FT poster, but do not know his FT screen name.
Over the years there were other "thexxsource.com". sites. Have been closing over the years but only 3 now left (BA, QF VS). There used to be link to the other sources. Would take time & money to keep these sites alive. I have his email address. He likely/may be a FT poster, but do not know his FT screen name.
Jun 23, 2021, 9:08 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
In November last year, aircraft sponsors were sent an email that said:
Thank you for sponsoring [your aircraft] at The BA Source during 2020.
As it has been a uniquely tough year for BA so it has been for thebasource.com. With the BA flying programme severely reduced our site traffic and advertising revenue have reduced dramatically. Since many of our JetSponsors work in the airline and travel industries and will have had an equally tough year and because as things stand we cannot guarantee that we will be able to keep running the website throughout 2021 we will not be running a JetSponsor 2021 programme for aircraft sponsorship.
In the meantime all 2020 sponsorships will remain on the relevant aircraft pages and with the withdrawal of the Boeing 747-400 fleet your name will remain on [your aircraft] page for as long as it remains live. Additionally you can choose an active aircraft which we will be pleased to add your name to - perhaps you could let us know if you have a favourite alternative. If we are able to keep running through 2021 we will re-start JetSponsor for 2022 and will contact you again in November 2021.
If you havent had a tough year and you wish to contribute towards the running of the site you can do so by clicking the link below. All monies will go towards keeping the site online for as long as possible although we must stress that it wont guarantee our survival throughout next year.
http://thebasource.com/ba-source-2021/
As it has been a uniquely tough year for BA so it has been for thebasource.com. With the BA flying programme severely reduced our site traffic and advertising revenue have reduced dramatically. Since many of our JetSponsors work in the airline and travel industries and will have had an equally tough year and because as things stand we cannot guarantee that we will be able to keep running the website throughout 2021 we will not be running a JetSponsor 2021 programme for aircraft sponsorship.
In the meantime all 2020 sponsorships will remain on the relevant aircraft pages and with the withdrawal of the Boeing 747-400 fleet your name will remain on [your aircraft] page for as long as it remains live. Additionally you can choose an active aircraft which we will be pleased to add your name to - perhaps you could let us know if you have a favourite alternative. If we are able to keep running through 2021 we will re-start JetSponsor for 2022 and will contact you again in November 2021.
If you havent had a tough year and you wish to contribute towards the running of the site you can do so by clicking the link below. All monies will go towards keeping the site online for as long as possible although we must stress that it wont guarantee our survival throughout next year.
http://thebasource.com/ba-source-2021/
JetSponsor 2021
We will not be running a JetSponsor 2021 programme for aircraft sponsorship as with the downturn in air traffic and consequent downturn in web traffic and advertising revenue we cannot guarantee that thebasource.com will survive the next twelve months.
All 2020 sponsorships will remain in place.
If things do turn around in 2021 then we will resume the JetSponsor programme for 2022.
Should you wish to contribute towards the running of the site you can do so by clicking the link below, however we must make clear again that while this will enable us to continue operating thebasource.com we cannot guarantee to keep running throughout 2021.
We will not be running a JetSponsor 2021 programme for aircraft sponsorship as with the downturn in air traffic and consequent downturn in web traffic and advertising revenue we cannot guarantee that thebasource.com will survive the next twelve months.
All 2020 sponsorships will remain in place.
If things do turn around in 2021 then we will resume the JetSponsor programme for 2022.
Should you wish to contribute towards the running of the site you can do so by clicking the link below, however we must make clear again that while this will enable us to continue operating thebasource.com we cannot guarantee to keep running throughout 2021.
If we, collectively, don't chip in to help ventures like this when they need our help, it is really very little use wringing our hands afterwards - when it is too late - and saying "I'd love to help to keep it running". The time for doing so was then, not now.
Jun 23, 2021, 10:34 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,210
There's a LOT of information on this site, so if it does close down I hope it's archived (in a better form than just the general web.archive.org site). It has news articles going back to May 1989 Archives | The BA Source
I think many of us might have missed the calls for help mainly because they weren't using the site as much also because of the downturn in traffic.
It'll be sad to see it go, if there's still a chance to save it then let's get the donations it needs or maybe people can sponsor in other ways such as hosting.
I think many of us might have missed the calls for help mainly because they weren't using the site as much also because of the downturn in traffic.
It'll be sad to see it go, if there's still a chance to save it then let's get the donations it needs or maybe people can sponsor in other ways such as hosting.
Jun 23, 2021, 11:05 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,932
Thanks to all involved for keeping the website running for so long.
Jun 30, 2021, 9:53 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Lincoln, England
Programs: BAEC Silver, HHonors Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 256
The BA Source - RIP
Just realised the wonderful 'The BA Source' website finishes today. See: The BA Source - British Airways News & Information
Always a marvellous place for information on BA planes, seat maps, etc. I for one for miss this.
Always a marvellous place for information on BA planes, seat maps, etc. I for one for miss this.
Jul 1, 2021, 2:45 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: bmi DC, BAEC
Posts: 1,139
Website Message
"The BA Source has now been withdrawn from service.
Thank you to everybody who has sent kind words over the past two weeks and anybody who has contributed in any way over the years.
Happy Flying."
Thank you to everybody who has sent kind words over the past two weeks and anybody who has contributed in any way over the years.
Happy Flying."