VintageKrug - 31/07/2010 05:33 GMT
Arriving early next year!
The good news is that BA has signed a deal for three of these terrific new Boeing aircraft and they will be painted in the BA livery, the less good news is that they will be on wet lease from Atlas Air and operate for BA World Cargo out of Stansted:
www.joc.com/air-expedited/ba-adding-three-747-8-freighters-fleet
However, it can only bode well for BA to have experience operating this type, and perhaps may lead to some passenger orders in due course; it would be a real shame if BA ceased to operate the 747 after 2020. Having said that, I think only Korean Air and Lufthansa have passenger variants on order, and Lufty picked them up for a song following the cancellation of the MD-11 programme.
So probably more A380s, A318s, 777s, 787s and maybe some A350XWBs for Birtish Airways.
JordanD - 31/07/2010 09:13 GMT
I think they would be wise to avoid the 747-8. There's good reason that they have failed to be successful in entering the passenger market and BA would (like with the A380) do well to avoid early production models which are beset with difficulties.
What's interesting is the 748F is a like-for-like replacement of the 744F they currently lease. With AF & KL cutting cargo capacity, I would have thought this would be an opportunity to expand wholesale, rather than just by volume on current routes.
could BA's decision have something to do with working towards a singular fleet mfg. May reduce training costs as well as maintenance costs. However, if this was the case it would be a very brave board who put all their faith into one aircraft mfg.
I guess the pointer wil be whether the 777 fleet starts to increase or decrease, irrespective of what the current stats show.
The day BA's 747 fleet is replaced with more 777s, 380s, 350s - whatever - will be a sad one. The 747 is by far the most pleasant way to cross the Atlantic, or indeed anywhere else. Upstairs in a 744 is unbeatable.
I would more than go out of my way to fly on a BA 747-8 if that were ever an option in the future. Gets my vote.
RogerVictor - 31/07/2010 18:51 GMT
Totally agree - upstairs on the B747 is lovely. I will miss these planes when they go. The A380 doesn't have the finesse or grace when she gets airborne that a 747 has. The A340 and the B777 just look average in comparison.
(secret geek escapes)
I love the 747 and much prefer it to the A330 or 340 (though I cannot wait to try the 380). The 747 is like a graceful lady as she runs downs the runway and gently lifts off, compared to the Airbuses, which race down and then with engines screaming leap for the sky.
I actually prefer to sit downstairs in the nose for no other reason than I find the stairs with hand baggage a nuisance and I'm always banging my head on the o/h lockers, though I will acknowledge the ride seems quieter and smoother on the upper deck. Perhaps that's why the pilots sit there!!!
I know BA have 380's on order but I don't know if it's their intention to replace the 747's completely? I hope not.
So here's a question:
row 60 upstairs CW verses
row 5 in F, row infront of Galley
on a night flight...........preferences?
I have been known to decline gate upgrades in favour of the quieter row 60, esepcially on some of the shorter flights such as the east coast of the States to London.
I suppose it depends what you're looking for! I find it easier to sleep at a window upstairs than in F, although perhaps the new F would make that a different argument.
If I was looking to have more 'fun' on a flight, I'd take Virgin anyway.
VintageKrug - 01/08/2010 21:15 GMT
BA has recently brought back a stored 747-400 from the desert, so there is life in the -400 fleet yet.
But the airframes won't last for ever and will need to be cycled out of the fleet permanently at some point in the next decade.
BABenji - 01/08/2010 21:42 GMT
I'm not sure I would ever turn down an upgrade to F, but I do pick my flights to SIN, SYD on the basis of travelling on a 747 so I can sit upstairs, rather than in J on a 777 which is not a great experience by comparison.
Upstairs on a 747 is Club World Plus, as far as I'm concerned.
Loyal_BA - 01/08/2010 22:40 GMT
row 62/63 upstairs in clubworld for me over F when travelling on a 747
On a 777, F every time. The CW cabin just isn't the same.
I will be interesting to see what BA do with the A380 and how they configure the cabins in the plane.
Upstairs in J on the QF A380 is OK, but certainly not that same great feeling and atmosphere as the upper deck of a 747.
Like BABenji, when I book my BA flights between Australia and the UK or UK and US, I always select flights operated by a 747 rather than a 777. Similarly, on QF, I generally select 747 flights over A380s.
I do hope both BA and QF end up buying some 747-8s so we can continue to experience the wonderful upper deck!
