New start for BA?
Back to Forum- This topic has 12 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 10 Feb 2016
at 15:36 by ViajeroUK.
-
- Author
- Posts
- Skip to last reply Create Topic
-
dutchyankeeParticipantPanda01, is Stansted not considered one of London’s airports?? I always thought the big 5 were Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and City, or was your post made in jest? I don’t live in London and have only ever used LHR/LGW/LCY.
10 Feb 2016
at 08:49
conshaldowParticipantA great idea from BA and I have to agree with RichardB. I believe BA have done this before with the summer service from Edinburgh to Ibiza. Not sure if it is still in operation but when it was launched in 2013 the airline was quoted as “making use of underutilized aircraft and crew”.
The airline may have failed in pulling Edinburgh travellers away from Jet2/Ryanair/Easyjet and have set their sights now on Stansted Airport. With more loyal travellers in the greater London area it could be seen as a more successful operation.
This being said, I can see BA using such routes as dipping their toes into these markets to try and gauge ideas for similar future routes.
10 Feb 2016
at 09:31
PeterCoultasParticipantOther than for Malaga those flight times are absolutely no encouragement for a holiday jaunt
10 Feb 2016
at 10:54
JohnHarperParticipantMy goodness, whatever next?
LBA-SIN twice daily on an A380 anyone?
10 Feb 2016
at 12:10
DaytripperParticipantA sensible use of BA resources in my humble. I regularly I fly on BA’s LCY to Palma and Ibiza services. During the summertime they are always full and for those for whom City is a convenience, Stansted is similarly useful.
My burning question though. Lounge access? Unlike at City.
Although I’m not expecting a BA lounge, Stansted has a third party facility. No excuses this time BA.
10 Feb 2016
at 13:11
rfergusonParticipantBA have always said they will deploy their resources where they can generate the most return. Although as many have said in the past BA has a London (or Heathrow) centric approach, routes outside London are being continually reviewed.
If BA identifies that a 777 can generate more revenue and yield by operating say MAN – YYY than LHR – YYY they will launch the route.
BA is also in a position at LHR where it does not have to seek alternative origins for their aircraft – at the moment. The likes of Virgin etc launch seasonal flights out of other UK airports because they are so slot restricted at LHR. Without cancelling or suspending an existing route they can’t launch another. BA on the other hand with the purchase of the ex BMI slots was able to expand their LHR longhaul network which generates the most revenue and yield for the airline.
I don’t think BA have ever had a policy per se of never launching flights from non-London airports. It’s just that the numbers will need to add up for them to do so.
10 Feb 2016
at 13:17
ViajeroUKParticipantBA UK regional services, there used to be a good range of BA Euro routes out of Birmingham which all ceased in (I think) 2003, one route I used to use frequently was to Madrid.
BA have not returned to BHX other than code shares with Flybe, but other IAG airlines are, Vueling started a service to BCN last year, March will see Iberia Express start a service to Madrid, using a two class A320, the latter has been heralded as a feeder service to Iberia’s routes to Latin America and Africa, as well as Spanish domestic routes, although it will only operate four days a week. Maybe IAG have decided to expand UK regional services to tempt more pax away from LHR?
A few other airlines are increasing frequencies or launching new routes from BHX, Emirates will roster a two class A380 from March as one of their three daily BHX flights, Qatar will launch a two class 787 service to Doha in March, Czech will relaunch flights to Prague in April. Icelandair started to Reykjavik last February and plan to increase this to four flights a week from this month.
An increased choice of carriers/routes can only be good news for the Midlands, even less need to head south of Watford.
10 Feb 2016
at 15:36 -
AuthorPosts