[Rferguson2]

In reply to: British Airways wetlease to DAT – should I be worried?

I am no expert in mechanics but I know a major reason airlines tend to get rid of older aircraft (especially in Europe) is due to the high level of regulatory demands in regards to the maintenance of these aircraft. After x cycles they have a maintenance check then after y cycles it is a bigger one and they become more and more intricate to the point that mechanics and engineers are almost pulling the aircraft apart and putting it back together again. Which is why from a safety POV I would have absolutely no qualms with flying on an older aircraft versus a newer one from a european carrier (UK included here as the CAA is still aligned with EASA post brexit). And no aircraft would be able to fly for a european airline if it was poorly maintained. It simply wouldn’t be licensed to by the regulators.

Ironically, over the pond Boeing has (well now post MAX ‘HAD’ thank goodness) almost complete regulatory oversight of its own work and maintenance procedures which is crazy. The FAA did not physically carry out any inspections on boeing aircraft instead just accepting what boeing submitted and rubber stamping it.

@CWoodward I recall the Qantas post re the A330’s and I think the gist of it was that Qantas had left it too late to submit an order to replace the A330’s which I completely agree with. The A330’s are a bit long in the tooth although if I had to travel in economy they would be my ‘go to’ purely down to the 2 x 4 x 2 configuration. I am glad to see CX are generally flying their A350’s and 777’s to OZ now, I can recall pre covid their A330’s (which were also looking a bit shabby!) being the workhorse on most of the HKG – OZ routes.

I guess there are many many variables that go into what aircraft and airline operates and how long they keep them in their fleet. Is it better to outright own an older aircraft or to lease a newer more efficient aircraft (at a price!)? What are competitors offering on the route? When did the aircraft last have their cabins updated? What are our maintenance facilities like and do we have the resources to undertake our own heavy maintenance? Fleet commonality.

[sparkyflier]

In reply to: British Airways wetlease to DAT – should I be worried?

cwoodward re age I have noticed you often bring fleet age up when being critical about an airline and especially recall you discussing the A330 fleet at Qantas and taking issue with how old they were. There were many exchanges on the topic and you got quite upset when posters challenged you on how old you said the fleet was but above all I think you thought they were old bangers.

As it happens I would be delighted to fly a QF A330 in J!

DerekVH – indeed – short of planes and crew. I believe recruitment and retention has become better, hence the return of BKK and KUL, but going into the Summer months even pre-Brexit and Covid think they always needed support from wet-lease options etc.

[sparkyflier]

In reply to: BA longhaul ex LHR/LGW – new routes + Oneworld collaborations 2024/25+

Thank you for all your contributions so far.

My thoughts and/or context on some suggestions so far :-

Re Honolulu I am not yet convinced of this route. I am sure most would want to break their journey there and stop en-route at LA. SF, SD, Vegas, Seattle or even Vancouver. And the route would likely be flown by 787 which is a true endurance test if seated in Y.

Regarding Pakistan – while I hear Lahore is a very worthwhile visit and has amazing architecture I think the recent political and economic challenges really hit traffic at least from there, and that was one of the reasons Virgin pulled out. At least BA does still ply Islamabad.

MarkivJ – re Japan and Osaka, this was a new route for BA and launched just before Covid. And as you say not being able to overfly Russia is a challenge but also a massive one affecting the economics of the operation and using that aircraft for a long period of time when in the same flying time could operate maybe 2 long medium haul routes. Perhaps JAL could try operating it?

dkc94 – welcome to the forum, I see this is your very first post.

Re slots from Heathrow, 99% of us on this forum are aware of slot limitations at LHR, one of the reasons these route discussions are so interesting especially for BA is as they have to really chew the analytics. BTW there is no “dislike” of BA-IAG Mngt here but many here on these threads over the years have different views on their conservatism and feel they are missing opportunities.

And in the last discussion which started 16 months ago many said BKK and KUL would not/should not come back (saying QR/ME3 etc are too strong) but look what has happened. And as I said in my introduction BA been very short of aircraft (especially since removing entire 747 fleet), crew (Brexit not helping and over-firing when Covid came being two reasons) and engineers (UA paying much more for example), but relief has come on all of these factors, hence Abu Dhabi, BKK and KUL returning. So now that things are turning around it will be fascinating to see where they resume or see a brand new opportunity.

Re Puerto Vallarta you mentioned 1 stop competition. Well apart from changing planes at Mexico City or Cancun, the only 1 stop competition is from USA/Canada where you have to get a Visa/ESTA just to connect AND go through immigration nonsense just to change planes (in MIA/DFW/IAH etc). This is huge hassle and also increases chances of missing your connection. Puerto Vallarta is an up and coming destination (already sought from USA/Canada demand) and so can see demand for this from across Europe and UK and suggest a start of twice weekly.

Re Sao Paulo there is certainly demand for more flights there, and I know a travel consultant who sees the demand and the fares there and thinks BA should increase its offering. And I know years ago (pre Dilma/Bolsonario etc) BA were thinking to send A380 there but GRU was not A380 compliant, but it is now. And there would be premium demand too. There is a huge Brazilian diaspora in UK across all income levels as well as substantial business traffic. Bear in mind also that AF send two 777 per day and their La Premier is offered. A Brazilian friend based down there frequently chooses that product and on each occasion all 4 seats are taken. LH also ply 747-8 which has a First Class.

VS not doing GRU IMO is down to their own errors/timing/product etc

Re Bogota, although Avianca does LHR daily and IB go via MAD, many Colombians truly dislike both carriers and indeed prefer AF/KL. Avianca is not the airline it was and Iberia crew and lost luggage at MAD have caused much anger. There is much tourist traffic for Colombia which is increasing and this is in the premium leisure sector and much potential for more trade traffic. I think in the year before Covid BA launched Lima but IMO they should have chosen Bogota maybe with a tag to Lima to try both markets out. This also maximises rare LHR slots.

Many years ago in a similar discussion Santiago in Chile was proposed but many disagreed – saying it was an IB route and “their turf..”

To all who mentioned Africa.. Indeed.

Transtraxman you mentioned Luanda and Kinshasa, but the latter has not been served since the late 80s by a British Caledonian DC-10.

I know Luanda was hugely profitable until an oil price crash around 7-8 years ago (and likely difficulty of getting money out) but in the last BA route discussion a poster convinced me of the premium traffic for Kinshasa which is why I think a route serving both would be sensible and rewarding.

I am suggesting a 3 x weekly start as a triangle with crew resting in the safer place.

And on West African markets, places like Abidjan could be viable. Many years ago AF operated A380s there and I met an AF manager once at a conference in the UK who told me ” you would have no idea just how much demand for that flight comes from the UK and it is not just VFR”. I would propose it started in conjunction with other markets like Accra or routes cancelled when BA retired its 767s (Freetown and Monrovia), but concede this is unlikely to happen.

cwoodward – Re Africa demand I agree. Re Royal Air Maroc I would be happy to fly them to Morocco but do not think they are in any way an attractive prospect for either leisure or business to anywhere in West/Central Africa if you are originating your journey in UK or northern Europe.

Why fly 3 hours to CMN and then connect for another 3-5 hours on a 737 and arrive in a West African capital between 1 and 4 in the night? A killer for fatigue, ensuring the first day of a business trip or holiday is a right-off and for security reasons arriving at those times – no thank you. Why choose RAM when AF/KL/SN arrive mainly in the evening hours on a wide bodied 777/A350/787 or A330 having had 6-7 hours of good service and time to rest?

I know RAM have 787s but believe (and stand to be corrected) these are not used on Africa flights on a regular basis.

Alan Orton01 – I did not know AA had started Charlotte 3 x daily – thank you for sharing that. And re FLL indeed I reckon that was all about attacking Norwegian (Level in BCN was also a tool for that).

AinHK and ASK1945 agree re “bucket and spade” routes although wonder if Olneyflyer was thinking of Greek Islands and Turkey etc, but the answer is the same – they are rewarding. I also think BA does these routes when EU hub rivals do not do so much and so get ex-US/Canada traffic in addition.

BA should be thinking more about premium leisure and as I said look at places where the Pound goes further. It would be nice to see Santo Domingo offered (to combine with a Punta Cana holiday) but that will likely stay an IB only route.

Re St Lucia/UVF – Virgin do go there again, having pulled out a few years ago. What ASK 1945 has seen shows what VS missed out on.

Worth bearing in mind also is the number of slot sitting routes – and give EDI as an example. Was there last year and there were 3 flights heading to London (2 x LHR and 1 x LCY) within 40 minutes. All nearly empty. Maybe 4 in club on my A321 and 20=30 in Y…

And re Virgin, I understand what is really holding them back is lack of trained pilots – hence them lending slots to Saudia and Emirates. Their fleet will not increase in the next 2 years and so with BA getting more 787-10s for example and making progress with recruitment (and retention) where and how they move forward remains very interesting indeed.

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[SimonS1]

In reply to: Expansion of Heathrow

I’m not convinced by the Brexit angle either. Of course it will have caused a short term hiccup to growth, but the UK economy will resume growing at some point and therefore capacity will be needed bearing in mind the infrastructure is at capacity and slots are changing hands for millions. We should be looking at what capacity is needed in 2040, not next year.

These projects take years to deliver, so I would have thought taking decisions now would be the best bet.

Of course politics doesn’t help, as all politicians make short term decisions based on popularity and self preservation rather than any serious regard for the long term needs of the country.

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[AndrewinHK]

In reply to: Expansion of Heathrow

Not sure how Brexit is relevant to this… I do think British politics in general stymies development. I’ve always been of the opinion that infrastructure products that are decided on, should be protected from political meddling and legal challenges. If a project is greenlit it should be ring fenced and untouchable. LHR expansion just get on with it, London broadly i would argue has the best airport system globally, in terms of choice and geographic spread of the airports it’s pretty fantastic, having a super hub comparable to the other global hubs is less needed, that being said LHR has proven itself to be an efficient run operation for maximising the limited resources it has, and the government should acknowledge the need for London to have the capacity needed for the future, and LHR has gone through all the legal rigmarole already, time to just get it done.

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[Inquisitive]

In reply to: Expansion of Heathrow

I know I may get some harsh comments for this post, but still…

Before Brexit, UK economy was doing pretty good – a most sensible investment would have been to build grassroot airport at Tames estuary. That would have generated huge employment, boosted economic activities and could have sustained UK’s leading position among European countries. That was discussed many times, but nothing happened.

IMO, Brexit was a completely foolish decision and there are limited possibilities of improvement of UK economy.

Without any bright economic future, any major investment in airport – Heathrow or elsewhere – will be impossible to recover. Even Heathrow 3rd runway may not be viable any more.

At the most 2nd runway at Gatwick with fast train links with Heathrow could be a reasonable investment.

[LetsFlyNow]

In reply to: GLOBAL AIRLINES

I’d really want to see them start but i doubt they will.

1. Last year they announced that they had acquired their 1st A380. This was an aircraft that flew for Singapore Airlines then HiFly. That plane needed new business class seats as those installed were only certified to fly till 2021. The reason is a scandal from 2011 where it emerged that seatmaker Koito had falsified data to get a fast certification. A certain John Walton from RunwayGirl network had the full story last year. What happened to that plane?

2. Global today then announced that they had acquired their First A380 (again). That’s the Ex China Southern one and it would keep the seats but the interiors would be revamped.
3. Global might own the plane but it’ll be operated by HiFly. As Rferguson2 posted, why haven’t they applied for a AOC till now? A EU AOC would be apparently easier to get than a UK one post brexit.

Now the talk of charters makes me think that they’re actually planning to operate some Hajj flights. And i remember reading somewhere that LGW didn’t have anymore slots than those operated by Emirates.

Let’s wait and see.

[DannyBoy]

In reply to: BA – Record Delays

FormerBA – I strongly urge you to watch the Douglas Murray argument on immigration at the Oxford Union on YouTube which he did about 10 years ago (all of his videos interviews and books are excellent). Because of Brexit, it does not prohibit anybody in the EU from applying for a working visa & job.

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[FormerBA]

In reply to: BA – Record Delays

There are no fundamental issues in the U.K. beyond the ones known about for some time. Brexit means no EU staff. Heathrow is not staffed with people of Europeans decent as a matter of course. ***edited by BT *** Customer service is not a strength as I discovered on Wednesday.
BA are in a mess and their processes and procedures add complexity and their staff want to avoid contact with passengers whenever and wherever possible boarding is farcical with almost every S/H flight offering free bags checkin and this is taking up enormous level of resources and creating delays. There is then the knock on effect.

It does not surprise me that they face record delays day in and day out. They have little operational expertise at any level

[AMcWhirter]

In reply to: Luxury hotel near Heathrow threatened with demolition

Yesterday The Times broke the news but today some other media have covered it.

No paywall for The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/29/tory-donor-surinder-arora-ordered-demolish-brexit-deal-hotel

Renovations are now underway for Paris Gare du Nord with much completed in time for the Olympics in summer 2024.

Readers who use Eurostar and Thalys to arrive into Paris Nord hardly see the French capital in a positive light.

Renovation is long overdue. The Times reports that according to a rail union “the squalor is a consequence of the French policy of pumping money into the country’s high-speed (HS) rail network at the expense of other infrastructure, like stations and commuter lines, in recent decades.”

After Paris Lyon, Paris Nord must be the city’s most important HS rail terminus.

It can become severely overcrowded (far worse than St Pancras) if Eurostar is disrupted for any reason.

Readers may recall the ‘Brexit drill’ of March 2019 when striking French customs staff created major congestion and delays that lasted for days.

Readers may find Chris’ link to The Times piece is paywall-free.

🇫🇷 Rail rivals squabble while Gare du Nord falls to bits.

A Paris councillor describes the station as full of filth and foul odours, and a “slap in the face” for tourists expecting to find romance and glamour upon their arrival in the City of Lights.https://t.co/kgYh35ykcD

— Chris Ogilvie (@Ogilvie_CJ) August 11, 2023

[ViajeroUK]

In reply to: BA removed passengers from flight

As I understand it Gibralter residents, with a Red ID card, are allowed free access to Spain, but not to any other Schengen countries. This is due to an interim agreement between Spain and Gibraltar after Brexit.

The possibility of the aircraft diverting to Malaga should not have been an issue because of this agreement, although Spanish immigration could possibly have needed to stamp the Gibraltarians passports as they do to any British/UK passport holder arriving in Spain without Spanish ID documents.

Hardly a valid reason to offload passengers. I have never had my Spanish ID document checked prior to travelling to Spain from UK, within Schengen area I use my Spanish ID at boarding checks.

[FDOS]

In reply to: Overbooked BA flight – Denied Boarding

@nevereconomy

Different places, different cultures, different values.

EU consumer protection is strong. Where we will go, post Brexit, remains to be seen.

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

In reply to: Eurostar and its shrinking network

The White Rose services initially operated additional services to York. They were 14 carriage sets that as you say were originally to run the regional Eurostar services through to Paris.

Eurostar services have always struggled with the passport control requirements Home Office dictates for UK bound trains (Brexit or No Brexit). Brexit has massively hampered operations since with requirements for full passport checks both ways – but more so on services now leaving UK – to say Brexit has not been a hindrance is disingenuous.

The secondary issue is ETIAS for those outside the EU (which Brexit is therefore an issue). The EU trying to copy the ESTA system accept they have made a massive error from what I understand in applying ETIAS to all modes of arrival, unlike the US where an ESTA is only required for arrivals by plane or boat. If the EU changed ETIAS to be arrivals by air to start with then for those coming by boat / train / land won’t have the massive queues coming soon.

The Eurostar (other other potential operators into London) is a really sad situation. Great ideas and massively needed – but a victim of bureaucracy , bad politics and weak management.

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[MarcusGB]

In reply to: Eurostar and its shrinking network

Thank you for sharing this Alex.

As many would know on here, this is a matter i have shared on here in different threads, detailing the timings, connections when they were, and lack of reliability of journeys specifically to Amsterdam. We had a Home in Amsterdam, and travelled between London and Amsterdam every other week.

The comparison, all procedures before getting on the train to start (90 mins recommended), after, Connecting when it was Eurostar to Thalys,reliability, comfort, food and beverages, and overall stress of travel, easily outweighed that of flying.
This i detailed again in another related thread recently re the Amsterdam services.

The costs are simply not worth it, basic prices even a few months in advance, were never below £200, at times over £3-400 return. I checked just a few weeks ago.
The comfort on a crowded train, even in the middle premium standard, was nothing special, and F n B was not great, with no choice to obtain elsewhere as when flying. Post Covid, myself and my Medic colleagues, are mindful of not being “Crammed in” on transportations, on grounds of basic hygiene let alone a Pandemic.
The 40+ minutes to fly between the UK and Amsterdam, along with pre and post required procedures, still well beats the train trip. Also on Costs, even with the Airfares having increased also. You can walk around and be free except when on the aircraft, which is restricted once you go through to be “penned in” before boarding, then be sat for hours.
It is part of my renewal for my Platinum status in Skyteam, that i earn and have a very pleasant time before and after, with Lounges, fast tracks, and the pleasures of Schiphol. I’m rewarded for my loyalty, and i am valued as a traveller, and enjoy and relax with all the processes and dynamics for frequent flyers. I look forwards to this “Space”, not dreading the train trip.

Ironically being in NL’s today, on arrival last week, i was on the Schiphol train platform 35 mins after landing. I was waiting for a train North, when a Eurostar ex London passed through slowly on my platform. This was approx 13.30hrs It was not busy with people,but remarkably the train outside was filthy, and it must have been v difficult to see through by passengers. The Dutch started to laugh around me, remarking on “How Dutch Trains would be taken out of service if they looked like this.” It does not have a good reputation here!

I have tried several times over many years, as i have recently to compare the prices and timings. It fails to appeal on all counts. Even on Environmental grounds, KLM now have many Embraer’s around Europe, cutting back of emissions with the use of sustainable fuel mixes, and options to support forestations, and carbon offsets you can add on for a small charge. I support this, and continue to enjoy my flights, rather than dreading the energy sucked out of me, and accompanying attitudes and discomforts of Eurostar.

I am not sure what this Government HAS done with Brexit, as the issues or opportunities it gave us have shown no benefit to the UK, in my view since!

But the strikes, delays, breakdowns, unreliability of Eurostar saw people queueing around outside the stations often enough, and given all the processes and service, costs, people just are not prepared to use Eurostar anymore, at least not through to Amsterdam. It is not like flying, where you can get on the next flight, or you are covered more with delays. If the train line systems are down or track blocked, it all grinds to a halt for several days of backlogs.

But the question remains…

Would we Build such a tunnel project now, when we do not have the right to free movement?
Would we have done back then, if we knew this was going to be closed off to us?

It is a great freedom when in NL’s to be able to simply get on a train, where and when you wish, rather than spending several hundreds of £’s and booking rigidly ahead by weeks or months as in the UK.
I enjoy my freedom of movement here, for a low Euros 30 to go anywhere in NL’s by train, for the day or any time i choose.
I love to travel, and feel grossly restricted and overtaxed to fly even from the UK.
I start all my flights from Europe now, saving £1,000+ per long haul Business flight, compared to taking the same Airlines from the UK.

So, i am not in the mood for all the restrictions and extra costs the UK or Eurostar want to add on.
Now as of today, i feel it is in fact a failed project, and its reputation with those who travel, exceptionally poor.
The cost, and time taken is simply not worth it, the reliability poor. They have let down many communities, many destinations and calling points. Fewer people benefit, so they turn their back on it.
This is the way it has been,and reflects badly on those Managing it, hence its reputation has plummeted.

Brexit has simply not made this any easier…

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