[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/04/11/ek-380-apr12update3/

Update at 0620GMT 11APR12

As per 11APR12 GDS timetable and inventory display, Emirates further postpones planned A380 service resumptions on selected destinations. Meanwhile, additional destinations served by Emirates A380 aircraft will be replaced by 777-300ER on selected dates in April 2012.

Latest details:

Dubai – Johannesburg EK761/762 A380 resumes operation from 01JUN12 (Previously planned eff 16MAY12)
Dubai – Kuala Lumpur EK346/347 A380 resumes operation from 26APR12 (Previously planned eff 22APR12)
Dubai – Munich EK049/050 A380 replaced by Boeing 777-300ER from 17APR12 to 21APR12 (Latest addition to A380 operation changes)
Dubai – Rome EK097/098 A380 resumes operation from 01MAY12 (Previously planned eff 28APR12)
Dubai – Seoul Incheon A380 resumes operation from 01MAY12 (Previously planned eff 28APR12)

Previously reported adjustment remains unchanged:
Dubai – Beijing EK306/307 A380 resumes operation from 14APR12
Dubai – London Heathrow 4th Daily A380 service on EK029/030, to start from 01JUN12

[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/01/ba-hkg-may12/

Update at 1040GMT 01MAY12

British Airways from 01MAY12 to 26MAY12 is temporary reducing London Heathrow – Hong Kong service, where it’ll operate 14 weekly instead of 17 weekly. The airline will once again reduce to 14 weekly from 03SEP12 to 02OCT12 (previously reported on 28FEB12).

Schedule:

BA025 LHR1830 – 1300+1HKG 744 D
BA027 LHR2200 – 1650+1HKG 77W D

BA026 HKG2315 – 0450+1LHR 744 D
BA028 HKG2345 – 0540+1LHR 77W D

[LeTigre]

Finally, an interesting (if irrelevant) development from Gatwick:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/04/30/vn-lgw-s12/

Update at 0940GMT 30APR12

Vietnam Airlines from 24APR12 to 29JUN12 and from 11SEP12 to 27OCT12 is adjusting operation to London Gatwick. During this period, the airline will operate with a technical stop in both direction in either Frankfurt or Paris CDG.

Schedule:

Hanoi – London Gatwick
VN145 HAN2225 – 0530+1FRA0700+1 – 0735+1LGW 777 1
VN145 HAN2245 – 0620+1CDG0750+1 – 0750+1LGW 777 4

VN144 LGW1040 – 1310FRA1455 – 0650+1HAN 777 2
VN144 LGW1040 – 1250CDG1435 – 0705+1HAN 777 5

Hanoi service operates nonstop service once again from 13JUL12 to 07SEP12 from LGW, 03JUL12 to 07SEP12 from HAN

Ho Chi Minh – London Gatwick
VN141 SGN2210 – 0610+1CDG0750+1 – 0750+1LGW 777 2
VN141 SGN2235 – 0545+1FRA0715+1 – 0750+1LGW 777 5

VN140 LGW0945 – 1155CDG1435 – 0740+1SGN 777 3
VN140 LGW1040 – 1310FRA1455 – 0725+1SGN 777 6

Ho Chi Minh service operates nonstop service once again from 24JUN12 to 11SEP12 from LGW, 27JUN12 to 08SEP12 from SGN

[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/03/bd-saudi-may12/

Update at 0820GMT 03MAY12

From 19MAY12 to 28JUL12, bmi’s Saudi Arabia service will be operated by MeridianaFly’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Its 3 weekly each of London Heathrow – Riyadh – Dammam and London Heathrow – Riyadh – Jeddah operation will see MeridianaFly’s cockpit and cabin crew providing the service.

Schedule:

London Heathrow – Riyadh – Dammam
BD775 LHR1120 – 1945RUH2040 – 2140DMM 332 136
BD776 DMM2315 – 0015+1RUH0115+1 – 0555+1LHR 332 136

London Heathrow – Riyadh – Jeddah
BD775 LHR1040 – 1905RUH1955 – 2135JED 332 247
BD774 JED2250 – 0020+1RUH0115+1 – 0555+1LHR 332 247

[LeTigre]

I’ll throw in a development from LCY as well:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/03/ba-lcycph-may12cxld/

Update at 0840GMT 03MAY12

British Airways from 26MAY12 is cancelling its 2 daily London City – Copenhagen service, on board BA CityFlyer Embrare E170 aircraft. Last departure from Copenhagen is 26MAY12

Schedule:

BA8465 LCY0840 – 1130CPH E70 x67
BA8467 LCY1805 – 2050CPH E70 x6

BA8466 CPH0725 – 0810LCY E70 x7
BA8468 CPH1650 – 1735LCY E70 x67

[sparkyflier]

Interersting stuff here Le Tigre actually. The Vietnam flights with their “technical stop” in CDG or FRA – could this be keeping costs down and sharing the route. Loads have been a bit below what they wanted. I reckon 4 x 777s straight away was actually a but hopeful anyway.

And about the Meridiana fly A330s,are these as comfly as the BMI 330s? Are they in a charter seating/layout? If it is, I cannot imagine this going down well with the passengers!

[LeTigre]

I’m afraid I can’t help, but I can offer some more insights into yet more wasteful use of slots by BA at Heathrow:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/04/ba-w12update2/

Update at 0730GMT 04MAY12

As per 04MAY12 GDS timetable display, selected changes to British Airways’ Winter 2012 Long-Haul Operation, effective 28OCT12, as follows.

Additional changes remain possible:

London Heathrow – Accra First Class service on 777-200ER is only available on Thursdays and Fridays in W12
London Heathrow – Cairo Boeing 747-400 replacing 777-200ER from 01OCT12
London Heathrow – Chicago BA297/296 operated by Boeing 777-300ER on daily basis
London Heathrow – Houston 2 Daily 777-200ER service maintained in W12 (W11 was 1 daily each of 772 and 744)
London Heathrow – Luanda Service continues to operate with 4-class Boeing 777-200ER twice a week. Previously 1 of 2 weekly to be operated with 3-class aircraft
London Heathrow – New York JFK 8 Daily service continues in Winter 2012/13. Latest planned operational aircraft as follows.
BA113/116 Daily 777-200ER service (previously planned mix of 744 and 772)
BA177/174 4 weekly 747-400 + 3 weekly 777-200ER
BA115/114 6 weekly 747-400 + 1 weekly 777-200ER
BA179/182 4 weekly 747-400 + 2 weekly 777-200ER

777-300ER service is not available on LHR JFK in W12

London Heathrow – Riyadh No First Class service on Day 3 from LHR, Day 4 from RUH. 777-200ER operating
London Heathrow – Toronto
BA093/092 Boeing 747-400 replacing 777-200ER in W11 (767 in S12; this has been unchanged since last update in Dec 2011)
BA099/098 Boeing 767-300ER replacing 777-200ER in W11

London Heathrow – Washington Dulles No First Class service on Day 7 on BA265/264/ 777-200ER operating
London Gatwick – Algiers Service reduces from daily to 5 weekly in Winter 2012 (1 Daily in W11)
London Gatwick – Kingston 3rd weekly service introduced in Summer 2012 is maintained in Winter 2012

Previously reported changes:
London Heathrow – Dallas Boeing 777-300ER operates Daily, replacing Boeing 747-400
London Heathrow – Hong Kong Service to continue operate 14 weekly level. Planned 17 weekly service cancelled
London Heathrow – Johannesburg Service to continue operate 14 weekly level. Planned 17 weekly service cancelled
London Heathrow – Miami 3rd Daily service, to be introduced from 25MAR12, is maintained in Winter 2012/13 season. Service in W12 operates with 3 Daily Boeing 747-400
London Heathrow – Mumbai BA139/138 operates with Boeing 777-300ER, replaces 747-400 in W11
London Heathrow – Newark Boeing 747-400 aircraft to operate this route once again
BA185/184 744 Day 457 767 Day 1 772 Day 236
BA187/186 744 Day 2 767 Day 35 772 Day x235 (3-class 772)
BA189/188 744 Day 6 772 Day x6

London Heathrow – Seoul Incheon eff 02DEC12 Service resumption with 6 weekly 4-class 777-200ER service
London Heathrow – Shanghai Pu Dong Service operates with 777-200ER 6 times a week in Winter season as usual. No First Class service on Day 34 from LHR, Day 45 from PVG

[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/10/br-lhr-jul1/

Update at 0800GMT 10MAY12

EVA Air is extending service cuts on Taipei Taoyuan – Bangkok – London Heathrow service. From 01JUL12 to 27OCT12, service operates 6 times a week instead of daily.

Operational changes below:

Service operates on following period:
01JUL12 – 19JUL12 Day x4
20JUL12 – 05AUG12 Daily
06AUG12 – 31AUG12 Day x1
01SEP12 – 30SEP12 Day x3
01OCT12 – 27OCT12 Day x2

BR069 TPE0710 – 0945BKK1110 – 1730LHR 77W 1
BR067 TPE0900 – 1135BKK1250 – 1915LHR 77W x1

BR068 LHR2135 – 1505+1BKK1625+1 – 2100+1TPE 77W D

————

Looks like they are either deliberately removing services or are purposefully removing aircraft for refurbishment purposes, perhaps with that funky new biz seat.

[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/17/vs-nbo-sep12cxld/

Update at 0725GMT 17MAY12

Virgin Atlantic starting 26SEP12 is cancelling London Heathrow – Nairobi service, where it currently operates this route 5 times a week, with Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

Reservation for travel on/after 26SEP12 is closed on Thursday (17MAY12) morning. Existing schedule:

VS671 LHR2100 – 0750+1NBO 343 x12
VS672 NBO0950 – 1640LHR 343 x23

[LeTigre]

Here’s an LGW one:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/17/ba-lgwlas-w12/

Update at 1355GMT 17MAY12

British Airways is boosting operation to Las Vegas, with the launch of 3 weekly London Gatwick – Las Vegas operation starting 28OCT12. Overall service will increase from daily to 10 weekly.

Schedule:

BA2277 LGW1130 – 1405LAS 777 136
BA2276 LAS1555 – 0945+1LGW 777 136

[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/21/bd-dam-jun12cxld/

bmi to Cancel Damascus Service from June 2012
by JL
Update at 0600GMT 21MAY12

bmi Starting 01JUN12 is cancelling its operation to Damascus, due to on-going situation in Syria.

Reservation is closed and there is no dates on when the airline will resume operation. Existing schedule:

BD947 LHR2155 – 0505+1DAM 321 2
BD949 LHR2155 – 0505+1DAM 321 7

BD948 DAM0555 – 0635BEY0740 – 1055LHR 321 3
BD948 DAM0700 – 0740BEY0845 – 1200LHR 321 1

[LeTigre]

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/21/vs-jfk-w12/

Update at 0915GMT 21MAY12

Virgin Atlantic starting 28OCT12 is launching 4th daily London Heathrow – New York JFK service, on board Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

Reservation for the new flight begins today (21MAY12).

Schedule:

VS003 LHR0920 – 1220JFK 343 D
VS045 LHR1300 – 1605JFK 744 D
VS009 LHR1650 – 2000JFK 343 D
VS025 LHR1925 – 2240JFK 333 D

VS026 JFK0745 – 1945LHR 333 D
VS004 JFK1810 – 0620+1LHR 343 D
VS046 JFK1945 – 0750+1LHR 744 D
VS010 JFK2225 – 1025+1LHR 343 D

[LeTigre]

Just to provide a bit of comment on this latest update:

Virgin Atlantic should be taking delivery of 5 A330s this year. All the remaining ones will be based at Heathrow, for now, and I have even heard speculation that the ones from Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow will reappear some time from now in Heathrow configuration, depending on needs.

Virgin Atlantic have stated that A330s will be used on routes to India, the Middle East, Africa and America. So that means places like Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai, Accra, New York, etc., and despite range concerns, they will also operate some West Coast US flights with the new aircraft.

These new aircraft, in addition to providing upgraded seating, IFE and comfort for all passengers, will offer greater prospects for the airline’s profitability and route viability considering the 10%+ better fuel burn on the A330 compared to A343s. However, this advantage is wiped out at very long ranges, where the A346 actually offer slightly better economics. The new upper class configuration squeezes an extra 2 or 3 seats in so that improves yields as well.

In respect to the JFK route, A333s will be operating only one flight per day, please refer to my previous post about this, and don’t take the early one currently operated by the A333 mistakenly (after October)!

The new aircraft will see at least 3 A340s retired this year, I think mostly A343s because they have almost the same range as A333s but far worse economics. The two China Airlines aircraft will return early next year as well. The fleet this year will be roughly static, as aircraft retire as new ones enter the fleet, not sure about next year though, as the A346s are quite young still, some just 6/7 years old.

I also heard rumours that Virgin Atlantic had already started taking up options on B787-9 aircraft, to obtain extra delivery slots in a few years time (2015ish). Plus, I’m sure the new routes within the next few years using/not using the B787 will provide a much wider experience to passengers- Beijing, Rio, Perth (non-stop, unconfirmed as of yet, this is a likely guess!), so lots to look forward to (genuinely, not in a PR way).

[LPPSKrisflyer]

What happened to 4 engines 4 long haul, A330s only have two!

[LeTigre]

I guess 4 engines are really 4 high fuel costs, also 4 loss making airlines. What on Earth were they invented 4?

Haha.

[Author]

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