British Airways

[ChurchFenton]

I was one of the lucky passengers to have just flown into LBA on G-MEDG. Fabulous ex-BMI mid-haul interior with business class and seat back TV's in ecomony (though weren't in use for such a short flight). Would estimate pax load was in the region of 60-70, so guessing planned 319 was unavailable for whatever reason rather than being due to load, though there were a few Bradford City fans on board. Was this the first BA 321 to visit since the route commenced?

 

[ridgeback]

Almost certainly the first one CF and it will be a rare occurrence. All the T1 A321's are mid-haul config so they wld only use them on domestic/SH routes when pushed. I know one has done a few DUS rotations from T1 but think this is the first LBA.

Obviously some serviceability issues with the 319's

PS 1344/5 tonight also being operated by MEDG, same aircraft.

 

[tleeds]

Very nice to see an A321 at LBA, especially a BA one.. let's hope it can become a regular visitor!

 

[a300boy]

Airbus A321 is on its way to Lbia again !! Due to land at 1950.

 

[Aviador]

Airbus A321 is on its way to Lbia again !! Due to land at 1950.

Only about 16 or 17 on the flight outbound this evening.

 

[ridgeback]

Aviador

The 1345 is always the same and isn't a concern.

BA know that it is primarily an a/c positioner that can only be avoided by a nightstopper in due course if the route passes muster. It wld be nice if it generated a few more than it does but it isnt what they will judge the route on. What is important is the 1344 in the other direction that in recent times has had 60-100 pax pretty much every day.

 

[Aviador]

Still a little disappointing but the reasons are understandable. I didn't have the inbound figure unfortunately so I couldn't post it.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi aviador
a friend of mine came in on the 1344 last night (tues) he estimated the inbound pax to be between 80/90,also what a good flight to lba on a very nice aircraft.
regards
sm1

 

[channex 757]

A319 G-EUOF is heading towards LBA on the SHT 1344 service so one of the original BA aircraft

 

[lbaspotter]

A319 G-EUOF is heading towards LBA on the SHT 1344 service so one of the original BA aircraft

I can only surmise that British Airways are short of ex BMI, Airbus A319's (Due tech) based over at LHR T1 with them sending T5 based A319, G-EUOF on tonight’s SHT1344/1345 and yesterday using the mid-haul A321, G-MEDG on both the SHT1342/1343 & SHT1344/1345 rotations.

It must be a handling/logistical nightmare swapping things around to fit the schedule but its better than having to cancel flights and losing customers....

 

[Tarn Spotter]

<<It must be a handling/logistical nightmare swapping things around to fit the schedule but its better than having to cancel flights and losing customers..>>

Surely this shows B A prepared to pull out all the stops to support this route.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

See B A have followed KLM and now have "Hand-Baggage Only" fares on the Amsterdam, Dubrovnik,Jersey, Tunis and \Turin routes. Those who change their mind after buying a hand luggage only ticket will pay £20 online or £40 at the airport to amend their tickets.
If ""Successful", the policy will be extended to all short-haul flights from gatwick.
Full report in the Sunday Times of the 24th.

 

[ridgeback]

A good week. Figures up on all previous weeks bar the one before when BCFC were at Wembley.

One rotation lost (BA1342/3 Thursday) due to unserviceable a/c. BA have sufferered with reliability all week at T1 hence the random use of T1 319/320/mid-haul 320 & T5 319 during the week.

4 weeks on Sunday the T5 ops commences which means the pool of a/c gets much larger which hopefully will help reliability.

 

[ridgeback]

Spoke too soon...

G-DBCG operated BA1344 to LBA on Sat evening an developed a fault that grounded it. It's still in Leeds, engineers due in BA1340 to repair it.

Can't imagine there were too many people booked on the canx BA1345 but still a shame.

 

[User0001]

G-MIDS 320 on the lunchtime flight. Just arrived.

 

[a300boy]

Very happy the passenger figures are rising as I believe the only airline that can make Leeds Heathrow work is the one that we have operating it.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Red Carpet Route Gets First British Airways A380 - Tickets Now On Sale

British Airways’ first Airbus A380 will fly on the “Red Carpet Route” to Los Angeles, with tickets going on sale today (March 5, 2013).

Customers from Yorkshire will be able to easily connect to the Los Angeles service when the Leeds Bradford flights move to Terminal 5 at Heathrow from March 31.

The home of Hollywood will be the inaugural destination for the first A380 to be operated by a UK airline. The double-decker superjumbo is due to be delivered to British Airways in July and seats are now on sale for flights from October 15, 2013.

In celebration, the airline is launching with an offer to Los Angeles. Fares start at £499 return in World Traveller (economy) with a special £380 upgrade available for customers wanting to move up to World Traveller Plus. Club World return fares start from £3,800 for two people (£1,900 each).

London-based actress Gemma Arterton (see picture) said: “Working in film means that I spend a lot of time travelling around the world, often to Hollywood. It’s essential to arrive feeling fresh and ready for the day ahead, as I often hit the ground running, and I prefer to travel in style with British Airways.

“It’s very exciting that the A380 will be flying to Los Angeles. I think the red carpet route will be very popular.”

The second A380 route will be to Hong Kong, and customers can book flights now for travel from November 15, 2013. Prices start from £559 return in economy or, for an additional £380, customers can upgrade to World Traveller Plus. Club World tickets again start from £3,800 for two people (£1,900 each).

A380 enthusiasts eager to be on the very first commercial services should note that dates for these will be announced once plans for training flights are completed.

The airline is also offering holidays to the new A380 destinations in November including five nights for the price of four at the 5* Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach in Los Angeles from £839 per person or four nights at the 4* Eaton Hong Kong from £759 per person.

The airline’s website, ba.com will feature information on the new aircraft, including computer generated imagery (CGI) and two short films will be available via youtube to give customers a feel for the aircraft. Customers can book via the website or by calling 0844 493 0787:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5fSLrVzpxg[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgN3NAxxWsg[/video]

Full Story: http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/a ... 05-ba-a380[/textarea]

 

[ChurchFenton]

Although the full February provisional passenger stats aren't yet published for LBA, they do show that 9326 people used the BA service to/from LHR last month, which was a very healthy increase on January's figure and is even more encouraging considering February has fewer days too. On top of this, Feb had a number of cancellations/diversions due to poor weather, so would likely have topped 10,000 if this had not been an issue. Can we hope that with the momentum building on the route that the spring/summer months (with hopefully no/very few weather diversions and more operational days than Feb) will likely see the route yield 12,000-13,000 pax per month? Given the amalgamation of the two afternoon flights from the end of March (which I can't see being a problem on pax numbers, just helping to boost loads on the flight remaining) it would be great to hear if the route at that point was beginning to look encouraging to BA.

 

[LBA787]

Moving to T5 in a few weeks will hopefully increase loads further too.

:crazy:

 

[ridgeback]

You have it in a nutshell CF.

I don't think attracting 10,000 PCM onto this route in Dec/Jan/Feb has been any mean feat esp given that there has been some disruption. Transfer traffic is also excellent.

Really need all the 1346/7/2/3 pax to still travel on the replacement 1342/3 rotation - I believe, like you, that they will.

And we need a break from the lousy weather.....

T5 will obviously only serve to help all of this. It must provide a 10% boost in figures surely?

Soon find out I guess.