British Airways

[User0001]

Its likely we (BA) will be using the early morning slots for long haul.

The early AM slots are like gold dust at the moment, and currently there are 2-3 long haul routes BA would like to have the early AM arrival, but, cannot do so ATM. The early arrivals are the most expensive slots, so, a flight really has to prove its worth to be given them. (for example the early am MAN-LHR actually has one of the highest concentration of prem and gold card holders out of the short haul routes, which is how it pays for itself, its not unusual to have 70+ gold/prem cards on board!)

There is a lot of time between now and Sept (when the slots become available), so, things could change, but, don't be surprised if the early slots go on the long haul routes.

Of course, the later in the day slots, well, they could be used to bolster domestic connections

 

[imagineif]

That seems odd, that slot pairs they told Virgin must be used domestically revert back to BA and can be used on long haul.

Also, early morning departure slots from Heathrow.. are we talking before 8am because if so a large number of BA domestic/euro inbounds would not connect with them?

 

[User0001]

That seems odd, that slot pairs they told Virgin must be used domestically revert back to BA and can be used on long haul

Basically, when BA brought bmi, they were told to give up some slots so that another carrier could operate on selected routes that was deemed BA had an unfair monopoly on (EDI/ABZ/NCE/DME/RUH/CAI). Im not sure why these routes in particular were picked, as there were also other routes which BA had a 'monopoly' on, such as GLA/MAN/ORY/SAN/PHX etc).

Now that VS has given up the flights, the slots are required to go back to BA, and BA has no restriction on what flights can be run with these slots.

 

[michael]

In a round-about way could this possibly benefit the LBA ops long term ? The way I'm thinking is that LBA - LHR has so often been called a slot sitter but if these now former VS slots become available that may very well ease the pressure that has been assumed to have been on LBA LHR. Fingers and toes crossed

 

[ridgeback]

BA acquires the 9 slot pairs that Little Red uses on EDI/ABZ in Oct 15 and can do as it likes with them. What it doesn't acquire is any a/c to fly them. This is a source of much activity in Waterside as it's undoubtedly a lottery win of sorts but we must fly them min 80% to satisfy the 80:20 rule and our fleet is stretched already.

Initially the obvious way to do this is to pack in some short sectors to keep the slots active (you never 'own' a slot merely have the right to use it until you fail in that remit.

I can see that the prime slots, esp the 2 x 0800 LHR arrival ones will clearly be slated for LongHaul in due course but in the short term there cld be an opportunity to try an LBA nightstop which wld be a very easy and effective way of using one of them. What LBA minded folk must hope thereafter is that it performs so well that it remains.

The 0935 LHR departure throughout September performed really really well. Often full, regularly nearly full and a lot of 'good' traffic on board. I have absolutely no doubt that a 0730 departure from LBA wld be full every single day.

 

[Seasider]

Well, ridgeback was right when he said "wait for the September figures" The figures released by the CAA (provisional) were 13696 - 15% increase on last year.
Let's hope the figures keep improving.

 

[lbaspotter]

Well, ridgeback was right when he said "wait for the September figures" The figures released by the CAA (provisional) were 13696 - 15% increase on last year.
Let's hope the figures keep improving.

WOW what a great set of figures for British Airways on the Leeds/Bradford - London Heathrow route in September. Long may it continue hopefully.

I think figures are now not far off from when bmi british midland where operating 4x daily A319 service. (Before anyone says anything I know the figures dropped of when flights switched to be operated by the smaller Embraer 145's)

 

[ridgeback]

Also bear in mind that this was a 15% increase on what was also an outstanding month in Sept 2013.

13,700 pax is plenty on 3/day and no early departure.

 

[cmj]

Also bear in mind that this was a 15% increase on what was also an outstanding month in Sept 2013.

13,700 pax is plenty on 3/day and no early departure.

Along with no early departure there is no late arrival (ie. the plane that would become the night stopper) - last Northbound probably too early for a lot of connections (or maybe just the ones I have looked at).

 

[White Heather]

Fantastic figures, which average out at nearly 93 passengers per flight across the month.

 

[lbaspotter]

Oooooops PR disaster, When did Leeds gain a Castle?

Source: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....of-leeds-using-leeds-castle-in-kent-1-6899757

BA blunder: Airline advertises city of Leeds - using Leeds Castle in Kent

British Airways Leeds Castle advert

Bungling bosses at British Airways have advertised the ‘glittering nightlife’ and ‘beautiful scenery’ in Leeds with their autumn flight offers - using a picture of Leeds Castle in Kent.

Its nice to know British Airways are doing a bit of advertising for Leeds & West Yorkshire, But something like this should be easy to get right the first time around.......

 

[michael]

Re the BA advert .......Human error...... or a thick southerner in the marketing dept!

Re the September figures - brilliant!

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I don't think "human error" is an acceptable excuse in this situation. It is simply bad work. If you work in marketing then you should have at least a basic knowledge of what you are trying to market. What has happened here is the laziest type of mistake. Someone has clearly just googled Leeds and selected any old image.

However

It is good to see Leeds/Yorkshire being marketed as a destination in it's own right and, with flight times as they currently are, day tripping and weekending via flights with BA are a very realistic proposition for the people of (predominantly) West London and the M4 corridor.

 

[ridgeback]

Embarassing though it is I think I can forgive whoever it was who might have thought Leeds Castle would be in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

They won't be the first or the last.

It's been a quiz question for years!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Its not the first time, BMI did exactly the same thing a few years back in their in flight magazine.

 

[48vanman]

It's amazing how many people from Leeds,W Yorks put their location as Leeds,Kent on a certain well known social media site.Guess a lot of people didn't pay attention in their geography lessons in school,or they can't read and write!.

Agree it is great to see Leeds being advertised as a mini break destination.I am sure after last years Le Tour cycle race coverage on tv,that a lot of people will consider Leeds and Yorkshire as a definite must visit.

 

[lbaspotter]

Sadly BA are also cutting a lot of days down to 2 rotations during winter.

A really frustrating decision driven by a lot of factors.

As pointed out by ridgeback in the CAA passenger stats thread today it would seem that British Airways have decided to cancel the some winter 2014/15 shuttle rotations. They did the same last winter as well if I remember correctly!

Mondays
BA1346/1347 =
BA1342/1343 = Oct 27th, Nov 03rd, 10th, 17th
BA1344/1345 = Dec 22nd, 29th, Jan 05th, 12th, Mar 09th, 16th, 23rd
Tuesdays
BA1346/1347 =
BA1342/1343 = Oct 28th, Nov 04th, 11th, 18th,
BA1344/1345 = Dec 23rd, 30th, Jan 06th, 13th, Mar 10th, 17th, 24th
Wednesdays
BA1346/1347 =
BA1342/1343 = Oct 29th, Nov 05th, 12th, 19th, Dec 31st
BA1344/1345 = Dec 24th, 31st, Jan 07th, 14th, Mar 11th, 18th, 25th
Thursdays
BA1346/1347 = Dec 25th, Jan 01st,
BA1342/1343 = Oct 30th, Nov 06th, 13th, 20th, Dec 25th
BA1344/1345 = Dec 25th, Jan 01st, 08th, 15th, Mar 12th, 19th, 26th
Fridays
BA1346/1347 =
BA1342/1343 = Oct 31st, Nov 07th, 14th, 21st
BA1344/1345 = Dec 26th, Jan 02nd, 09th, 16th, Mar 13th, 20th, 27th
Saturdays
BA1346/1347 = Jan 31st, Feb 07th, 14th, 21st
BA1342/1343 = Dec 06th, 13th, 20th, 27th, Mar 14th, 21st
Sundays
BA1346/1347 =
BA1342/1343 =
BA1344/1345 = Dec 21st, 28th, Jan 04th, 11th, Mar 08th, 15th, 22nd

I see the Newcastle-Heathrow route is actually gaining more flights, But I understand this due to been able to park aircraft up at Newcastle for longer periods though the day instead of them been blocking stands at Heathrow.

 

[AirBingley]

More winter time changes for the 1344 flight north - now 18.20 ex LHR are LBA 19.25. Southbound now 20.15 so not a major connector!

 

[ridgeback]

The retime of the 1344/5 while not exactly 'seismic' is a def improvement.

For any day trippers it's a better return home time. For connectors North most are hanging around waiting till 1920 so this is better but mainly:

The 1345 being an hour earlier means it connects at least with the following services:

TLV 2230
EZE 2225
JED 2230
KWI 2235
ACC 2240
ABV 2240

Previously it connected with nothing and had low numbers. Hopefully it will get a few more now although clearly not a massive amount. There is now a tremendous schedule to and from TLV as follows:

LBA 2015 - LHR 2115
LHR 2230 - TLV 0515

TLV 0735 - LHR 1100
LHR 1305 - LBA 1405

Which is nigh on perfect and all through T5. Don't think anyone flies direct to TLV from MAN do they? If not this is a great offering.

 

[User0001]

Easyjet flies direct MAN-TLV.