Willie’s Gatwick-Vegas Adventure?

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Seems Willie Walsh, BA’s CEO, is to visit London’s Gatwick airport sometime later this week.

    With American Airlines having retrenched to Heathrow, BA’s Atlanta service similarly re-assigned to LHR’s T5, and Gatwick’s North Terminal now turning a distinct shade of Easyjet orange, the former “hub without the hubbub” looked to be becoming a oneworld graveyard.

    The recently launched 777 service to New York’s JFK (replacing the exMAN 767 service which stopped recently) seems to be performing well, St. Kitts is another new LGW destination for 2009 and word on the street is that LGW might be ripe for some additional BA longhaul services.

    BAA in particular will be keen to support BA in this endeavour as it looks for a buyer at the worst possible stage in the economic cycle.

    Additional 777 capacity comes on stream as the first of BA’s new 777ER sub-fleet arrives later this year. The four existing three class LGW 777s should all be sporting the latest AVOD and http://www.newclubworld.com (which replace the existing narrower flat beds) by late June, the first aircraft being slated for refurbishment in Cardiff from 1 May.

    But can the economy sustain additional capacity? Possibly, but probably not to business destinations.

    Longhaul leisure travel, if priced keenly, seems to continue to be popular. Perhaps WW will be announcing a new service to Las Vegas or increased three class capacity on the seemingly always sold out Bermuda and Grand Cayman services. Though it appears Sharm El Sheikh and Male in the Maldives are currently hot favourites.

    Which new longhaul destinations would you like to see BA serve?


    FrequentTraveller
    Participant

    So has any of this speculation become true? Or does it remain speculation.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Still speculation, as permissions seem to be taking longer than planned.

    However, Male (MLE) in the Maldives, Sharm El Sheikh (SSH), Seychelles (SEZ) and Las Vegas (LAS) seem to be the routes most in contention. Though probably only two out of the above menu, and likley to be a three class aircraft, without a First cabin.

    When I spoke to Willie Walsh last June about the possibility of a Las Vegas route, he broke into a broad grin. Read into that what you will…

    Should be a formal announcement within the next fortnight.


    FrequentTraveller
    Participant

    Thanks for the update. We will have to wait and see.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    The Independent now reporting this as happening, but from LHR:

    http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tips-and-deals-17052009-1686018.html

    Still nothing formal on this from BA; shame the story first appeared as a footnote in one of the more unreliable rags.

    Fares not yet loaded but should come online on Monday 18 May.


    FrequentTraveller
    Participant

    Interesting. If true, I am surprised to see the route starting with a daily schedule. Instead of a 3 or 4 days a week and gradually increasing to daily.

    A shame I am already booked to return from Las Vegas at the end of October via LAX. I bet BA won’t allow my restricted business class ticket to be altered, as I also have a separate ticket for the LAX LAS sectors.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Seems to be being reported across the pond; confirmed as exLHR:

    http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/17/british-airways-start-daily-service-las-vegas/

    The plan is for daily service to begin Oct. 25, with a flight arriving in Las Vegas at 5:10 p.m. The return trip to London will depart at 7 p.m., Lampl said.

    The airline will use a Boeing 777 configured with 274 seats, 24 of which will be “world traveler plus,” 36 business-class with seats that recline fully to 180 degrees and 214 economy class.

    Fares will begin at $461 round trip, plus taxes and fuel surcharges, Lampl said. They should be available for booking by Monday on http://www.ba.com.

    http://www.lvrj.com/business/45249642.html

    From LHR, this data would suggest a departure around 3pm and arrive back in to London around 1pm, probably not in time to use the Arrivals Lounge.

    Business Traveller replies:

    We received confirmation of this from BA a couple of hours ago, and have now published a news article at:

    http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/ba-announces-heathrow-las-vegas-route

    Unfortunately there are no details of timings, etc, on the press release, but VintageKrug seems to have discovered these on his post above. We will confirm all details with BA first thing on Monday morning.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Any news on the other potential services exLGW?

    Business Traveller replies:

    Not as yet VintageKrug, but we’ll certainly update readers as soon as we hear anything.

    Tickets have now gone on sale for the LHR-LAS route at ba.com – we have updated the news piece on flight timings at:

    http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/ba-announces-heathrow-las-vegas-route


    Travellator
    Participant

    Sample prices LHR – LAS out 1st November in 8h Nov – cheapest Club Fare £ 6522 !!!!!

    In Bransons words No Way BA


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Ouch! Quite pricey!

    BA 275, dep LHR 1530, arr LAS 1820
    BA 274, dep LAS 2020, arr LHR 1405

    Operated by 3 class 777.

    Only flexible J,C,W,Y,B,H fares loaded at the moment, so no discounted fares are visible. There will surely come online in due course, at more reaosnable fares.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    Exclusive: BA to launch two new Caribbean routes

    British Airways is launching twice-weekly services from Gatwick to Montego Bay and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in its winter schedule.

    From October 25, the airline is also increasing flights from Gatwick to St Lucia from three to five a week, Barbados, from nine to 10, and Port of Spain, Trinidad, from three to five.

    Lead-in return fares will start from £634 to Montego Bay and £559 to Punta Cana, including taxes, fees and charges.

    Lead-in return fares to St Lucia start from £553, Barbados from £553 and Port of Spain from £583.80.

    “These new routes and increased frequencies underline our commitment to the Caribbean,” said head of sales Richard Tams.

    “It’s a popular destination with our customers and it’s due to demand that we’re increasing the number of flights to the region.”

    Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday).


    FrequentTraveller
    Participant

    VintageKrug : Looks like your information was accurate. As BA are start direct flights from Gatwick to Male (Maldives) and Sharm EL Sheikh (Egypt) from 25th October 2009.

    Flights will be operated three times a week, using a Boeing 777. Now there is a surprise, they have a Boeing 777 aircraft free from stopping the Gatwick to New York route from the same date.

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