Boeing launches the 787-10, ALC, GECAS, IAG-British Airways, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines place orders
Boeing (Chicago) announced today at the 2013 Paris Airshow that it has launched the 787-10 Dreamliner, the third member of the super-efficient 787 family. Commitments for 102 airplanes from five customers across Europe, Asia and North America provide a strong foundation to support development and production of the newest Dreamliner.
Customer launch commitments for the 787-10 include Air Lease Corporation, with 30 airplanes; GE Capital Aviation Services, with 10; International Airlines Group / British Airways, with 12 subject to shareholder approval; Singapore Airlines, with 30 and United Airlines, with 20 airplanes.
The new 787-10 will fly up to 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km) — covering more than 90 percent of the world’s twin-aisle routes — with seating for 300-330 passengers, depending on an airline’s configuration choices. The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly in Everett, Wash., and is set to make its first flight later this year.
“The 787-10 Dreamliner will be the most-efficient jetliner in history. The airplane’s operating economics are unmatched and it has all the incredible passenger-pleasing features that set the 787 family apart as truly special,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “The 787-10 is 25 percent more efficient than airplanes of its size today and more than 10 percent better than anything being offered by the competition for the future.”
Design of the 787-10 has already started at Boeing, and international partners will be involved in detailed design in the months ahead. Final assembly and flight test of the 787-10 are set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2018.
“Our ongoing investment in the 787 family is well-founded,” said Conner. “With the 787-10, we’ve designed an exceptional airplane supported by an efficient and integrated production system that can meet increasing demands and create new opportunities for us. Our team and our customers are excited about growing the product line and expanding our presence with this family of airplanes.”
The 787 family’s unique interior offers passengers technologies that make their flights more enjoyable, including large, dimmable windows; cleaner air; higher humidity; lower cabin altitude; bigger stowage bins; soothing LED lighting and a smoother ride. The 787-10 will share a common type rating not only with the 787-8 and 787-9 but also with the popular Boeing 777, giving airlines additional flexibility in scheduling and training flight crews.
United Airlines issued this statement:
United Airlines today increased its 787 Dreamliner order to 65 aircraft (including six previously delivered aircraft) with an order for 20 787-10s.United is the North American launch customer for the 787-10 and it expects delivery of its first aircraft in 2018. United ordered 10 incremental 787-10 aircraft and will convert 10 existing 787s on order to 787-10s, enabling the airline to further modernize its international widebody fleet by replacing older, less efficient aircraft. The advanced technology and composite construction of the 787 reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, while providing a superior customer experience.
United is currently the only U.S. airline to operate the 787. United has six new 787-8 aircraft in service and had previous orders for an additional 49 Dreamliners consisting of both the -8 and -9 variants. The 787-10 is a stretched version of the 787-9 and will offer the lowest fuel burn per seat of any aircraft in its size category. The 787 offers up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency per seat than similarly sized aircraft, due in part to the more than 50 percent composite makeup of its structure. The 787 also boasts an enhanced inflight experience including larger windows, larger overhead bins and lower cabin altitude with enhanced ventilation systems that reduce the effects of jet lag.
The 787-10 order is the latest in United’s commitment to improve the efficiency of its fleet. In July of last year, United announced a narrowbody order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and 50 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft. In addition, United has an order for 25 Airbus A350 aircraft. The airline is also modernizing its United Express fleet by adding 70 76-seat Embraer aircraft that will be operated by United Express regional partners.
Images: Boeing.
British Airways’ first new Boeing 787-8 makes its first flight
British Airways‘ (London) first Boeing 787-8 G-ZBJB (msn 38610), made it’s first flight yesterday afternoon (June 8) at Paine Field near Everett.
Two hundred and fourteen customers will enjoy the comforts of the new British Airways 787-8 Dreamliner when delivered.
The 24 new British Airways 787-8s will feature the elegant cabin designs fitted on British Airways’ new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.
All eight 787-8s will feature a new Club World 2:3:2 layout, the latest generation World Traveller and World Traveller Plus seats. The exact seating plans of another 16 787-9s on order have yet to be finalized, they could have three or four-cabin configurations.
British Airways will take delivery of its first 787-8 and Airbus A380 this summer.
The British Airways 787-8 will have 35 seats for customers in the new Club World triple configuration of 2:3:2; 25 seats in a World Traveller Plus layout of 2:3:2; and a further 154 seats for those travelling in World Traveller, with a 3:3:3 configuration.
Both new aircraft will also feature the airline’s latest Thales inflight entertainment system, which offers customers 50 percent more movies, 200 percent more TV shows and 200 percent more audio programs and music.
Customers will also benefit from new larger screens in all cabins and an easier to use system with shortcut buttons. They will also be able to connect personal devices, such as laptops and use the in-seat power available for the first time in all cabins.
In 2013, British Airways will take delivery of nine new long haul aircraft. The first British Airways 787 will be delivered shortly. A further three will arrive by the end of the year. The first A380 will be delivered in July, with additional deliveries in August and October. Two additional 777-300 ERs will arrive in September and October 2013.
British Airways has issued this statement:
British Airways is poised to become the first airline in Europe to introduce both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 into its fleet.
The airline will take delivery into the UK of its first two 787s on consecutive days, June 26 and 27, Followed by its first A380 on July 4. The new aircraft will arrive around mid-morning.
Following their arrival, both aircraft types will begin a complex “entry into service” programs at Manston Airport in Kent, customer service trials at Heathrow and short-haul flying for both aircraft, including flights within the UK.
Seats on the A380 are currently on sale for travel from October 15 to Los Angeles and from November 15 to Hong Kong.
Top Copyright Photo: Royal S. King/AirlinersGallery.com. We have two views of this historic event. Boeing 787-8 G-ZBJB (msn 38610) passes the camera at PAE after its successful first flight on June 8, 2013.
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British Airways: 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Nick Dean/AirlinersGallery.com. G-ZBJB arrives back at Paine Field as “Boeing 451″.
Video: A brief interview with Willie Walsh on the new 787:
Newsworthy Photo of the Day – May 25, 2013
British Airways Airbus A318-112 G-EUNB (msn 4039) (red nose) “Flying Start” DUB (Greenwing). Image: 912244.
Copyright Photo: Greenwing.
British Airways:
Frameable Color Prints and Posters: 
London’s Heathrow Airport was closed after a British Airways Airbus A319 returns with a smoking engine
British Airways‘ (London) flight BA 762 to Oslo operated with Airbus A319-131 G-EUOE (msn 1574) was forced to return to Heathrow Airport this morning after a fire developed in the right engine. The passengers and crew member were safely evacuated on the runway. The emergency landing temporarily closed both runways causing delays this morning. However one runways is again open. However BA was forced to cancel its short-haul flights and issued this statement:
We are very sorry for the significant disruption at London Heathrow today.
The closure of one runway meant that we needed to cancel all our short-haul flights in to and out of Heathrow up until 16:00 (BST) today. We understand how frustrating this is for customers and thank them for their patience.
These cancellations will help us to stabilize our schedule, allowing us to get as many customers away as possible in these difficult circumstances.
Read the full report from the Independent: CLICK HERE
Update: On May 31, 2013 the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report stated two cowlings on the Airbus A319′s engines were left unlocked after maintenance and this was not noticed before the aircraft departed according to Reuters.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
British Airways:
Newsworthy Photo of the Day – May 14, 2013
British Airways Airbus A380-841 F-WWSK (G-XLEA) (msn 095) XFW (Gerd Beilfuss). Image: 912074.
Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss.
Video:
Hot New Photos:
British Airways:
British Airways takes a look at what it takes to dispatch a Boeing 747-400
British Airways (London) takes a look at what it takes to dispatch a Boeing 747-400 (soon expanded to an Airbus A380):
Ever wondered what it takes to get a jumbo jet off the ground? British Airways has created a picture of the iconic aircraft, using a jumbo number of items from the aircraft to show the scale of its operation.
From toilet rolls to teaspoons, British Airways loads thousands of individual items on to each jumbo jet before it takes to the skies. With a combined weight of 6,120 kg, the items have to be unloaded and re-loaded before every take-off.
On a typical jumbo jet, the following items are loaded:
1,263 items of metal cutlery
1,291 items of china crockery
538 meal trays
735 glasses
650 paper cups
34 metal teapots
220 drinks stirrers
500 coasters
233 toothpicks
2,000 ice cubes
99 full bottles and 326 quarter bottles of wine
700 small cans of fizzy drinks
164 bags of nuts in Club World
337 cushions and pillows
337 sets of headphones
337 headrest covers
435 air sickness bags
58 toilet rolls
40 extension seatbelts for children
340 safety cards
337 copies of High Life magazine
40 skyflyer packs for children
5 first aid kits
Employees from across the airline came together to create the image, which was drawn on to the floor of an aircraft hangar. Aspects of the photograph include:
Clouds
- created using pillowcases, toilet roll, hand towels and napkins.
Sky
- created using Club World blankets and blue roll (kitchen roll.)
Aircraft
– created using pillowcases, cabin crew sleeping bags, First blankets, china, headrest covers, Skyflyer bags for children and headrest covers.
Aircraft windows
– created using bags of nuts.
Aircraft tailfin
– the red parts are created using headset bags and extension seatbelts for children.
London Eye (London skyline)
– created using a teapot, metal cutlery, china and socks.
The Shard (London skyline)
– created using tea and coffee bags.
The Gherkin (London skyline)
– created using First cushion covers and socks.
Tower Bridge (London skyline)
– created using First slippers and Club World washbags
Big Ben’s Tower (London skyline)
– created using air sickness bags, a plate and metal cutlery (clock face)
Buildings (London skyline)
– created using oven trays, glasses, safety cards, tongs and copies of High Life magazine.
Rod Green, British Airways’ head global supply chain said: “It’s a huge job getting a jumbo in to the air, let alone a fleet of 52 every day. There are teams across the airline working together 365 days a year to ensure that all 27,260 items are delivered on time and to the right place to ensure our customers enjoy the very best travel experience. When we receive our new aircraft, the challenge will be even greater.”
It’s been 42 years since the first British Airways (formerly BOAC) jumbo jet took to the skies and in July 2013 when it takes delivery of its first A380, the number of items loaded on to a plane will increase by approximately 10,000 to cater for two full decks of customers.
British Airways has 52 jumbo jet aircraft in its fleet.
Copyright Photo Below: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-436 G-BYGD (msn 28857) is launched at London Heathrow.
British Airways:
British Airways to operate the Airbus A350-1000, signs MOU for 18
International Airline Group (IAG) (London) and British Airways (London) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy 18 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft plus 18 options, as part of the airline’s on-going long-haul aircraft fleet renewal and modernisation strategy.
IAG, owner of both British Airways and Iberia (Madrid), has also secured commercial terms and delivery slots that could lead to firm orders for Iberia. Firm orders will only be made when Iberia is in a position to grow profitably, having restructured and reduced its cost base.
The choice of the A350-1000 follows British Airways’ decision in 2007 to buy 12 Airbus A380s, the first of which will be delivered this summer. Operating the A380 and A350 together delivers real value to the world’s leading airlines because it allows them to match aircraft capacity to traffic demand on any route.
Image: Airbus.
British Airways:
The first Airbus A380 for British Airways is rolled out of the paint shop
British Airways‘ (London) first A380 has been rolled out of the paint shop facility at Hamburg (Finkenwerder), following the application of its full livery. Its livery includes some 10,000 individual dots on the tailfin to produce the effect of the Union flag.
Copyright Photos: Airbus. The pictured A380-841 F-WWSK (msn 095) will become G-XLEA on delivery.
British Airways:
IAG converts 18 Boeing 787 options to firm order for British Airways, total now 42
International Airlines Group (IAG) (London) has reached agreement with Boeing for new longhaul aircraft for the group’s fleet.
IAG plans to convert 18 existing Boeing 787s options into firm orders for British Airways (London). They will be used to replace some of the airline’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft between 2017 and 2021.
For Iberia, IAG has reached agreement with Boeing to secure commercial terms and delivery slots that could lead to an order for Boeing 787s. Firm orders will only be made when Iberia has restructured and reduced its cost base and is in a position grow profitably.
British Airways’ 787s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The engine order includes a comprehensive maintenance package with total care agreement.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: “British Airways has 24 Boeing 787s on order already and we plan to boost this by a further 18 aircraft by exercising our options.
“The aircraft offers a step change in fuel burn efficiency versus our existing aircraft with improvements in fuel cost per seat of more than 20 per cent. New technology engines and improved aerodynamics will lower fuel burn leading to reduced carbon and NOx emissions.
“The creation of IAG has resulted in greater buying power for both airlines through joint procurement and we have been able to obtain delivery slots for Iberia as part of British Airways’ order”.
British Airways has 118 wide-bodied longhaul aircraft in its fleet with 42 aircraft (12 Airbus A380s, 24 Boeing 787s, six 777-300 ERs) already ordered.
Iberia has 31 wide-bodied longhaul aircraft in its fleet with six A330 aircraft already ordered.
The fleet order is subject to approval by IAG shareholders.
British Airways:
IAG-British Airways are in discussions with Airbus on a possible A350-1000 order
IAG (London) and British Airways (London) are in discussions with Airbus about a possible order for A350-1000s according to the Wall Street Journal and Reuters. If ordered, this would be a blow to Boeing and their projected 777X design.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
British Airways:
British Airways announces Los Angeles as the first Airbus A380 destination
British Airways‘ (London) first Airbus A380 will fly from Los Angeles to London Heathrow, with tickets going on sale today.
Los Angeles 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.
The second A380 route will be to Hong Kong and customers can book flights now for travel from November 15, 2013.
The A380 will be the largest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, accommodating 469 customers across four cabins. Customers in First will be seated at the front of the main deck. The cabin will offer 14 seats and is evolved from the current First class. Club World (business class) customers can choose from 44 seats on the main deck, or 53 seats on the upper deck. These upper deck seats will feature a new 2:3:2 configuration across the cabin. The 55 World Traveller Plus (premier economy) seats will be located on the upper deck while World Traveller (economy) customers can choose seats on both the main and upper deck. Both cabins will feature the airline’s current design, which is now flying on the new Boeing 777-300 ER fleet.
The aircraft’s innovative design makes it much quieter during take-off and landing and more fuel efficient than its predecessors. British Airways has ordered 12 for delivery by 2016 as part of a [Pounds]5bn investment over five years in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.
The arrival of the A380 has entailed a multi-million pound redevelopment of British Airways’ Heathrow engineering base to support maintenance of the world’s largest commercial aircraft type. This included two 24-ton roof ‘eyebrows’ being lifted into place in one of the hangars to raise the height of the entrance to accommodate the A380′s 24-meter tailfin.
British has 12 A380s on order.
All images: British Airways.
British Airways: 
IAG sinks to a pretax loss of $1.29 billion due to Iberia
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) (British Airways and Iberia) (London) presented the Group’s consolidated results for the year to December 31, 2012. In addition, IAG presented combined results for the comparative year to December 31, 2011, including Iberia’s first 21 days of January in 2011.
IAG period highlights on combined results:
· Operating loss for the year to December 31, 2012 of €23 million before exceptional items ($29.8 million) (2011: operating profit €485 million). After exceptional items operating loss for the year not including Iberia restructuring and impairment was €68 million, compared to our guidance in November of €120 million
· Before exceptional items, British Airways made an operating profit of €347 million in the year to December 31, 2012 and Iberia made an operating loss of €351 million
· Non-operating charges for the year were €384 million, including €266 million related to non-cash pensions accounting requirements
· Loss before tax for the year of €997 million ($1.29 billion) (2011: profit before tax of €503 million), including restructuring charge of €202 million for the Iberia transformation plan and €343 million impairment of Iberia intangible assets
· Revenue for the year up 10.9 per cent to €18,117 million (2011: €16,339 million), including €872 million or 5.4 per cent currency impact. Passenger unit revenue for the year up 9.4 per cent, on top of volume increases of 2.8 per cent
· Fuel costs up 20.4 per cent to €6,101 million (2011: €5,068 million before exceptional items). Fuel unit costs up 16.8 per cent, or 8.4 per cent at constant currency
· Non-fuel costs before exceptional items, up 11.6 per cent at €12,039 million, including €543 million of adverse currency translation. Non-fuel unit costs up 8.5 per cent, or 3.8 per cent at constant currency
· Capital investment of €1,239 million (2011: €1,071 million) including over €400 million on pre-delivery payments for future aircraft
· Cash of €2,909 million at December 31, 2012 was down €826 million on 2011 year end (December 2011: €3,735 million). Group net debt up €741 million to €1,889 million (December 2011: €1,148 million)
Many will now question what was British Airways thinking when it merged with Iberia to form the IAG? Mergers are not always the answer.
Copyright Photo: With its continued employee strikes, lack of labor peace and a soft economy in Spain, Iberia is a bleeding airline bringing down British Airways and the IAG. Iberia’s Airbus A340-313X EC-KSE (msn 170) climbs away from the MAD hub.
British Airways:
Iberia:
British Airways to add more frequencies from Toronto
British Airways (London) has announced it will be increasing its flights between Toronto (Pearson) and London (Heathrow) from March 31, 2013.
Additional flights on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays make the total frequency on the route at 17 roundtrips per week. The new frequencies will be served on Boeing 767-300 aircraft, offering Club World business class, World Traveller Plus premium economy and World Traveller, the airline’s economy class.
Flights departing from Toronto arrive at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
As previously reported, British Airways also announced a new route to Chengdu, China, just weeks after starting services to Seoul in South Korea. The thrice-weekly service will start on September 22, 2013. The route will be served by a four-cabin Boeing 777 with First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Boeing 767-336 ER G-BNWV (msn 27140) climbs away from the runway at Heathrow Airport near London.
British Airways: 
British Airways to fly to Chengdu, China
British Airways (London) has announced a new route to Chengdu in China, just weeks after starting services to Seoul in South Korea.
British Airways will be the only UK carrier to offer a direct service between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and London Heathrow.
The thrice-weekly service will start on September 22, 2013. The route will be served by a four-cabin Boeing 777 with First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy).
In other news, British Airways is equipping its 3,600 pilots with iPads to further improve customer service and operational efficiency levels.
According to the carrier, “the move, which follows the airline’s rollout of iPads across its cabin crew and ground operations teams, is part of the company’s £5 billion investment in new products and technology to provide the best possible flying experience for British Airways’ customers.”
By having access to additional real-time operational data, shared with ground colleagues, pilots will be able to plan the flight more efficiently using the most accurate information available pre-departure.
This means our flight crew can provide customers with faster and more accurate flight information than ever before. With the latest operational updates customers will be better informed and able to make plans if their flight time has changed for any reason.
Pilots will also be able to use historic and current data, supplied by the customer, to provide an even more personalized service during the flight.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 777-236 ER G-YMMP (msn 30315) arrives at Washington (Dulles).
British Airways: 
IAG applies for a tender offer to acquire Vueling Airlines
International Airlines Group-IAG’s (London), the parent of British Airways (London) and Iberia (Madrid), through its subsidiary Veloz Holdco, has formally filed an application for Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) through a tender offer. IAG is seeking authorization from the National Securities Market Commission of Spain for the market offer. IAG plans to acquire 16.2 million shares of Vueling Airlines or 51.14 percent of the total shares, that it does not already own through subsidiary Iberia, which already controls 45.85 percent of the Vueling shares.
Read the full report from IAG: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Pedro Baptista. Vueling Airlines’ Airbus A319-112 EC-LRS (msn 3704) approaches Barcelona for landing.
Vueling Airlines:
British Airways unveils seating plans for its new Airbus A380s and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, will take delivery of more Boeing 777-300 ERs
British Airways (London) has announced the seating plans for its new Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on order. The company issued this statement:
With the first of the airline’s new long-haul aircraft only six months away from delivery, British Airways has announced the cabin design and layout for its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft.
Two hundred and fourteen customers will enjoy the comforts of the new British Airways 787 Dreamliner and the A380 will be the largest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, with 469 customers.
The 24 Dreamliners and 12 A380s will feature the elegant cabin designs fitted on British Airways’ new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, which have proved hugely popular with customers.
All eight 787-8s will feature a new Club World 2:3:2 layout, the latest generation World Traveller and World Traveller Plus seats. In addition, the new A380 will also have an enhanced version of First. The exact seating plans of another 16 787-9s on order have yet to be finalized, they could have three or four-cabin configurations.
British Airways is set to be the first European airline to operate both new aircraft types, with its first Dreamliner arriving in May 2013 and A380 deliveries starting in July 2013.
The British Airways Dreamliner will have 35 seats for customers in the new Club World triple configuration of 2:3:2; 25 seats in a World Traveller Plus layout of 2:3:2; and a further 154 seats for those travelling in World Traveller, with a 3:3:3 configuration.
On the British Airways A380 there will be 14 seats in First on the main deck, with extra personal and stowage space; the Club World cabin will feature 44 seats in a 2:4:2 configuration; and there will be 199 seats in World Traveller, with a 3:4:3 layout.
The A380 upper deck will feature 53 seats in the new Club World triple configuration of 2:3:2; 55 seats in a 2:3:2 World Traveller Plus layout; and World Traveller will have 104 seats in a 2:4:2 configuration.
Both new aircraft will also feature the airline’s latest Thales inflight entertainment system, which offers customers 50 percent more movies, 200 percent more TV shows and 200 percent more audio programs and music*.
Customers will also benefit from new larger screens in all cabins and an easier to use system with shortcut buttons. They will also be able to connect personal devices, such as laptops and use the in-seat power available for the first time in all cabins.
In 2013, British Airways will take delivery of nine new longhaul aircraft. The first British Airways Dreamliner will be delivered in May 2013. A further three will arrive by the end of the year. The first A380 will be delivered in July, with additional deliveries in August and October. Two additional 777-300 ERs will arrive in September and October 2013.
British Airways will announce the routes the new aircraft will operate in Spring 2013.
* Compared with the Rockwell Collins audio video on-demand system deployed on British Airways fleet of Boeing 747s, 767 longhaul aircraft and most Boeing 777-200s.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. More stretched Boeing 777-300 ERs will be joining the fleet. Boeing 777-36N ER G-STBC (msn 38287) arrives at the London Heathrow hub.
British Airways: 
British Airways wants to cut 400 cabin staff positions
British Airways (London) is currently in negotiations to cut 400 cabin staff positions according to this report by Reuters.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Bernardo Andrade. Boeing 767-336 ER G-BNWS (msn 25826) climbs away from Madrid bound for the London Heathrow hub.
British Airways:
British Airways launches London Gatwick-Las Vegas flights
British Airways (London) today (October 29) began its second London-Las Vegas service, helping high rollers travel from London Gatwick to the Nevada city.
The three-times-a-week service will be operated by a three-class Boeing 777 offering three cabins: Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller.
Together with the Heathrow service, British Airways will operate 10 flights a week from Las Vegas.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 777-336 ER G-STBF (msn 40543) completes its final approach into London (Heathrow).
British Airways: 
OpenSkies to launch nonstop New York JFK-Paris Orly flights on March 31
OpenSkies (subsidiary of British Airways) (Paris-Orly) has announced a new daily route, between New York (JFK) and Paris (Orly) beginning on March 31, 2013. This new route compliments the current Newark-Paris Orly service and brings OpenSkies to three daily services between New York area and the Paris area.
The new flight departs New York JFK at 9:00 pm (2100) and arrives at Paris Orly at 10:35 am (1035) local time. Customers have a choice of three cabins, recently introduced in celebration of OpenSkies’ fourth anniversary:
- Biz Bed, with a completely flat bed offering the best night’s sleep
- Prem Plus, a unique class, offering leather seats in a 2 x 2 configuration
- Eco, an economy cabin offering comfort and personalized service
All customers are offered a personal iPad loaded with more than 70 hours of entertainment, including movies, TV shows and games.
At JFK’s Terminal 7, customers traveling in Biz Bed cabin and Executive Club Gold and Silver card members will have access to the British Airways Galleries lounge. This lounge offers a luxurious, private space where passengers can relax in the Elemis(R) spa with complimentary treatments and showers and enjoy snacks and beverages or work before their flight. In addition, Biz Bed passengers can take advantage of pre-flight dining, allowing them to maximize their sleep on board.
OpenSkies is the only airline that flies to the Paris Orly West Terminal nonstop from the U.S. This terminal provides OpenSkies passengers with numerous advantages, such as close proximity to the center of Paris, as well as a more extensive choice of destinations, flights and connections within France. OpenSkies passengers are also able to benefit from a smoother journey through the airport, with the departure gates being located just past the security checks. Premium passengers also have access to Iberia’s VIP lounge, both spacious and recently refurbished.
Members of the British Airways Executive Club loyalty program will benefit from their status while flying with OpenSkies. With each flight, Executive Club members accumulate Avios points that can be converted into flight tickets or upgrades.
| OpenSkies Schedule | |||
| New York Newark | Paris Orly | 18h45 | 8h40 (+1 day) |
| New York Newark | Paris Orly | 20h25 | 10h (+1 day) |
| New York JFK | Paris Orly | 21h | 10h35 (+1 day) |
| Paris Orly | New York Newark | 10h45 | 13h20 |
| Paris Orly | New York Newark | 13h40 | 16h15 |
| Paris Orly | New York JFK | 14h55 | 17h25 |
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 757-236 G-BPEK (msn 25808) takes off from Dulles International Airport near Washington.
OpenSkies: 
British Airways and Japan Airlines to start their joint venture on October 1
British Airways (London) and JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) will start their new joint venture on October 1.
British Airways issued the following statement:
British Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL) will begin a joint business agreement with the two airlines sharing revenue on applicable flights between Europe and Japan.
The joint business, which starts on October 1, 2012, will benefit customers by providing better links between Europe and Japan, greater choice of flights to more destinations, enhanced frequent flyer benefits and the potential to launch new routes.
British Airways and JAL, both members of the oneworld® alliance, have been forging ever closer ties in their evolution to the joint business. Earlier this month, JAL and British Airways began offering codeshare flights between Tokyo (Haneda and Narita) and London (Heathrow). The joint business will now see the two airlines co-operating on all non-stop flights operated by JAL or British Airways between Japan and Europe. This will not only include the 19 weekly services between the UK and Japan, but also JAL’s services to Paris and Frankfurt. This gives customers the flexibility of using a combination of JAL and British Airways flights and aligned fares on their journey to and from Japan and Europe, significantly increasing their options.
JAL and British Airways will also be improving flight transfers for customers by enhancing and expanding the codeshare network beyond their respective hub cities. JAL customers will, be able to book seats to the new codeshare destinations of Belfast, Helsinki, Frankfurt, and Gothenburg. British Airways will extend its reach to more destinations in Japan by codesharing on flights to Kansai, Okayama, Izumo, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Kagoshima. Further expansion of codeshare arrangements are expected in the future. The websites of the two airlines will also be updated to enable customers to make bookings and check-in online, and access the flight information they need, irrespective of the carrier they are flying on.
Customers participating in JAL and British Airways’ loyalty programs will continue to enjoy reciprocal benefits as customers of oneworld, but top tier members of the respective loyalty schemes will now have the opportunity to earn bonus points on applicable flights on either airline.
In other news, British Airways will start nonstop London (Gatwick)-Alicante Boeing 737-400 service service on March 31, 2013 per Airline Route.
Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 767-336 ER G-BNWD (msn 24336) climbs away from the London (Heathrow) hub.
British Airways: 
JAL-Japan Airlines:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Boeing 767-346 ER JA615J (msn 33850) in the special Samantha Thavasa motif lands at the Tokyo (Narita) hub.
British Airways to start nonstop London Gatwick-Colombo service on March 31
British Airways (London) will start nonstop London (Gatwick)-Colombo (Sri Lanka) flights starting on March 31, 2013. The route will be operated three days a week and flown with Boeing 777-200 ERs.
Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner. Boeing 77-236 ER G-YMMT (msn 36518) completes its final approach into London (Heathrow).
British Airways: 
IAG plans personnel cuts at Iberia after a second quarter loss
International Airlines Group-IAG (London) (British Airways and Iberia) is planning to do a full review at Iberia next month after the Spanish unit forced the group into a second quarter loss.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, made the following comments:
“We made an operating loss of €4 million in the quarter, including €50 million of bmi losses, before exceptional items. While our revenue performance was good, up 11.5 per cent, this was countered by an increased fuel bill of €314 million, a rise of 25.1 per cent.
“For the half year, we made an operating loss of €253 million, before exceptional items, with revenue up 9.8 per cent and fuel costs up 25.0 per cent.
“Our synergies programme continues apace and we remain on track to deliver our 2012 targets and €500 million annual benefits by 2015.
“While we have made specific investments for longer term commercial benefits such as the Olympic sponsorship and Master brand advertising at British Airways and the development of our Avios frequent flyer currency, we remain focused on stringent cost control across the Group.
“bmi restructuring costs accounted for most of the €38 million of exceptional items. These costs and the airline‟s losses are in line with our expectations. The integration of bmi mainline into British Airways is going well with completion due by the year end.
“There remains a stark difference in the performance of our subsidiaries. British Airways made an operating profit despite rising fuel prices while Iberia‟s losses deepened.
“Iberia‟s problems are deep and structural and the economic environment reinforces the need for permanent structural change. We are currently working on a restructuring plan for Iberia which we anticipate will be finalised by the end of September. This is likely to include short term downsizing, network reshaping to deliver higher unit revenues and a re-evaluation of all aspects of the business to deliver competitive costs and service to enable long-term profitable growth. Inevitably, we will not be able to avoid job losses as part of this process.
“There has been an excellent start made by Iberia‟s new cost effective subsidiary Iberia Express, which was profitable in its third full month of operation in June and has established an exemplary operating performance from Madrid Barajas.”
Trading outlook:
A number of factors have improved over the past three months. Underlying British Airways trading conditions remain firm and bmi integration is on track, but any benefit from an easing of fuel prices has been more than offset by the deterioration in Spanish economic conditions.
We were previously targeting a break-even operating result this year, after the impact of restructuring costs and the short term earnings drag from the bmi acquisition. However, in the light of the Spanish macro headwind, we now expect to make a small operating loss in 2012.
The Iberia restructuring plan could lead to further restructuring costs in the latter part of the year.”
Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner. Iberia’s Airbus A319-111 EC-JDL (msn 2365) taxies at Zurich.
Iberia: 
British Airways: 
British Airways wants to know you even better
British Airways (London) according to the Evening Standard and this Time article plans to Google all passengers for photos of the passengers and any past complaints prior to flying! According to the airline they want to greet the passenger to make them feel at home when arriving at the airline. Is there another motive, especially with the upcoming London Summer Olympics?
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Dave Glendinning.
British Airways: 
BA CityFlyer to fly to Ibiza and Palma year round
BA CityFlyer (British Airways) (London-City) is bringing a bit of winter sunshine to London City Airport by extending its popular Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza flights to a year-round service.
At present the two Balearic Island destinations are summer-only but from October 2012 they will continue through the winter with two flights a week on Thursdays and Sundays.
Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner.
BA CityFlyer: 
British Airways announces its winter schedule
British Airways‘ (London) winter 2012 schedule, beginning on October 28, 2012, has been unveiled, with UK regions set to benefit thanks to parent company IAG’s purchase of bmi (East Midlands).
The airline will add extra frequencies and use bigger aircraft on flights to Scotland enabling it to offer nearly 27,000 more seats a week between London and Scotland. This includes two extra flights a day between London Heathrow and Edinburgh and two extra flights per day between Heathrow and Aberdeen.
In addition British Airways is also starting a three-per-day service between London City and Aberdeen on September 24 to connect the two business hubs.
From December 9, British Airways will start four flights per day between Heathrow and Leeds Bradford, connecting Yorkshire with the airline’s extensive global route network at Heathrow and increasing consumer choice in the North of England. The airline has already taken over bmi’s six daily flights to Belfast, and will be launching a new timetable of seven flights a day between London and the Northern Irish capital on October 28.
A new London City to Isle of Man route has also recently launched.
At the time of EU approval for the bmi deal, IAG committed to launching new flights to important trading nations and delivering on that, British Airways is to begin flying six times a week to Seoul (Incheon) in South Korea from December 2, 2012.
Brand new, three times a week Las Vegas flights from London Gatwick start on October 29.
In Europe, Zagreb in Croatia will benefit from new daily flights to Heathrow from December 9 and six flights a week to Venice will be added to the London City route network on September 17. Customers looking for holidays in Barcelona will benefit from more choice with a new three-per-week service from London Gatwick to Barcelona will launch on February 23, 2013.
From October 28, former bmi routes from London Heathrow to Agadir, Bergen and Stavanger will become new British Airways routes from Terminal 5, while former bmi routes to Belfast and Hanover will become new British Airways Terminal 1 routes.
British Airways aircraft and crew will operate these routes, and customers will receive the full-service airline’s on-board experience.
A number of existing British Airways routes including Basel, Dusseldorf, Luxembourg, Lyon and Toulouse will move from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1 on October 28.
There will be an increase in frequencies in winter 2012 (versus winter 2011) from Heathrow to Aberdeen (from six to eight flights per day), Edinburgh (from 10 to 12 flights a day), Manchester (from 10 to 11 flights a day), Oslo (from four to five flights per day), Zurich (from six to seven per day) and Phoenix (from six to seven flights per week). Flights to Bologna will be consolidated at Heathrow, with an increase in frequency on the existing Heathrow service from seven per week to 21 per week.
At Gatwick, services will increase to Faro (from four to five flights per week), Malaga (from seven to ten flights per week) and Marrakech (three to seven flights per week) from October 28, and extra services will be added to Salzburg and Turin for the winter ski season. Flights to Marseille will move from Gatwick to Heathrow on October 28.
Copyright Photo: Dave Glendinning.
British Airways: 
Hot New Photos: 
New British Airways TV advertisement
British Airways: 
British Airways unveils its Boeing “Jumbo Jubilee” logo
British Airways (London) has unveiled a “Jumbo Jubilee” logo on a Boeing 747-400. The company issued the following statement:
“One of British Airways’ fleet of 747s is now featuring a very special emblem to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The celebratory aircraft will be flying its message of congratulations around the world.
Designed by 11-year-old Blue Peter winner, Katherine Dewar from Chester, the official logo has been emblazoned on the side of the British Airways aircraft alongside the words, “Congratulations, Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee”.
Katherine Dewar said: “Since winning the competition, its been like a dream come true to see my design in so many different places around the UK but I never expected to see it on a huge jumbo plane!
“I love going on holiday to Florida and hope the next time I do I’ll be lucky enough to fly on this plane so I can look out the window at my design!”
British Airways’ Captain Mark Mannering – Smith said: “As the national flag carrier I can’t think of anything more fitting than British Airways carrying a message of congratulations to Her Majesty around the world.”
Customers travelling on flights arriving into London over the Jubilee weekend (June 2-5) will hear British Airways captains making congratulatory announcements to mark the occasion.
In British Airways’ Heathrow lounges, customers will be offered a regal afternoon tea, including a selection of traditional British sandwiches, sweet treats and a special Jubilee blend of tea from Twinings.
Premium customers in the Business and Concorde lounges will be invited to raise a glass to toast Her Majesty with a champagne cocktail, ‘ Pimms Royale’, or the award-winning English sparkling wine, Balfour Brut.
For those looking for some pre-flight pampering, there’s also a selection of Jubilee treatments at the Terminal 5 Elemis Spa exclusively for British Airways’ First, Club World and Gold Executive Club members. These customers will be able to choose from four ‘Royal Therapies’ and massage treatments, including Royal Rose facials, hand treatments and musclease foot and body workouts.”
Copyright Photo: British Airways.
British Airways: 
British Airways introduces another “Dove” 2012 Olympics logojet
British Airways (London) had this former BMI Airbus A319-131 registered as G-DBCB (msn 2188) repainted at Shannon in May 2012 in another “The Dove” special color scheme for the 2012 London Olympics. G-DBCB was pressed into revenue service on May 28.
Copyright Photo: Dave Glendinning.
Hot New Photos: 
British Airways: 
British Airways to add additional frequencies from London Gatwick to Salzburg and Turin
British Airways (London) has announced it is increasing the number of flights to two of its popular European ski destinations from London Gatwick this winter.
From December 18, flights to Turin in Italy will increase to 10 a week and flights to Salzburg in Austria will increase to five a week. The extra return service to Turin will operate on Sundays and extra return services to Salzburg will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Copyright Photo: Paul Denton.
British Airways’ Firefly brings the Olympic torch to Britain
British Airways (London) has introduced this second 2012 London Summer Olympics logojet. Airbus A319-131 G-EUPC (msn 1118) has been inscribed with the words “Our moment to shine”. Known as “Firefly”, G-EUPC operated special flight 2012 from Athens to the Culdrose Naval Air Station on May 18 with Britain’s Princess Anne, Games chairman Seb Coe and former English soccer captain David Beckham according to this report by Reuters.
The flame will carried on a 70-day torch relay around Britain starting at Land’s End in Cornwall.
The Summer Games start on July 27.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Wingnut.
Hot New Photos Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways to start London Gatwick-Las Vegas flights on October 29
British Airways (London) has announced it will operate nonstop London (Gatwick)-Las Vegas service starting on October 29. The route will supplement the London Heathrow route and will be operated three days a week with Boeing 777-200 ERs.
Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best.
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways to convert nine bmi routes to BA routes on May 23
British Airways (London) has announced the process for switching bmi (East Midlands) flights to British Airways flights has now begun. This complex process will be in phases throughout the summer as bmi flights are changed to have BA flight numbers.
Effective on May 23, 2012, all bmi (BD) flights to and from the following nine cities will change to have British Airways (BA) flight numbers:
Agadir, Basel, Bergen, Casablanca, Hanover, Marrakech, Nice, Stavanger and Vienna.
These BA flights will continue to operate to and from the same airports and terminals, and will depart and arrive at the same times.
Top Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner.
bmi Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Bottom Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. “The Dove” arrives at London Heathrow.
IAG’s first quarter loss before taxes increases to $340 million
International Airlines Group (IAG) (IAG), the holding company of British Airways (London) and Iberia (Madrid) saw its first quarter loss before taxes increase to €263 million ($340.1 million) from €47 million loss a year ago.
The group issued the following report:
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) today (May 11, 2012) presented Group consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2012. In addition, IAG presented combined results for the three months ended March 31, 2012, including Iberia’s first 21 days of January in the comparative period.
IAG period highlights on combined results:
· First quarter operating loss of €249 million, before exceptional items (2011: €102 million loss)
· Loss before tax for the quarter of €263 million (2011: €47 million loss)
· Revenue for the quarter up 7.8 per cent to €3,919 million (2011: €3,636 million), including €40 million or 1.1 per cent of favourable currency impact
· Passenger unit revenue for the quarter up 8.5 per cent (7.3 per cent at constant currency), on top of capacity increases of 0.6 per cent
· Fuel costs for the quarter up 24.9 per cent to €1,409 million (2011: €1,128 million), fuel unit costs were up 24.0 per cent
· Non-fuel costs before exceptional items for the quarter up 5.7 per cent at €2,759 million, including €32 million or 1.2 per cent of adverse currency impact. Non-fuel unit costs up 5.1 per cent, or 3.7 per cent at constant currency
· Cash of €3,574 million at quarter end was down €161 million
· Group net debt down €19 million in the quarter to €1,129 million
Performance summary:
| Combined
Three months to March 31 |
Consolidated
Three months to March 31 |
||||
| Financial data € million (unaudited) | 2012(1) | 2011(1) | Higher /
(lower) |
2012(2) | 2011(2) |
| (excludes 21 days Iberia pre-merger) | |||||
| Passenger revenue | 3,290 | 3,018 | 9.0 % | 3,290 | 2,839 |
| Total revenue | 3,919 | 3,636 | 7.8 % | 3,919 | 3,399 |
| Operating loss before exceptional items | (249) | (102) | 144 % | (249) | (65) |
| Exceptional items | 37 | - | nm | 37 | - |
| Operating loss after exceptional items | (212) | (102) | 108 % | (212) | (65) |
| Loss before tax | (263) | (47) | 460 % | (263) | (8) |
| (Loss)/profit after tax | (146) | 33 | (542)% | (146) | 60 |
| Basic earnings per share (€ cents) | (8.2) | 3.3 | |||
| Operating figures | 2012(1) | 2011(1) | Higher /
(lower) |
||
| Available seat kilometres (ASK million) | 51,425 | 51,116 | 0.6 % | ||
| Revenue passenger kilometres (RPK million) | 39,140 | 37,767 | 3.6 % | ||
| Seat factor (per cent) | 76.1 | 73.9 | 2.2pts | ||
| Passenger yield per RPK (€ cents) | 8.41 | 7.99 | 5.3 % | ||
| Passenger unit revenue per ASK (€ cents) | 6.40 | 5.90 | 8.5 % | ||
| Non-fuel unit costs per ASK (€ cents) | 5.37 | 5.11 | 5.1 % | ||
| € million (unaudited) | At March 31,
2012(2) |
At December 31, 2011(1) | Higher /
(lower) |
||
| Cash and interest bearing deposits | 3,574 | 3,735 | (4.3)% | ||
| Net debt | 1,129 | 1,148 | (1.7)% | ||
| Equity | 5,739 | 5,686 | 0.9 % | ||
| Adjusted gearing(3) | 43% | 44% | (1pt) | ||
(1) This financial data is based on the combined results of operations of British Airways Plc (‘BA’), Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España S.A. (‘Iberia’) and IAG the Company for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These combined financial statements eliminate cross holdings and related party transactions. Financial ratios are before exceptional items.
(2) The IAG March 31, 2012 Income statement is the consolidated results of BA, Iberia and IAG the Company for the three month period ended March 31, 2012. The IAG March 31, 2011 comparative is the consolidated results of BA and IAG the Company for the three month period ended March 31, 2011 and Iberia from January 22, 2011 to March 31, 2011.
(3) Adjusted gearing is net debt plus capitalised operating aircraft lease costs, divided by net debt plus capitalised operating aircraft lease costs and equity.
nm = not meaningful
Top Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best.
British Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Iberia Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Bottom Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell.
Lufthansa completes the sale of bmi, IAG to dispose of bmibaby and bmi regional
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has sold British Midland Limited (bmi) to the International Airlines Group (IAG). The sale was completed at the close of business on April 19. The gross purchase price was approximately $277.6 million.
According to Lufthansa, “as price adjustments have been agreed as part of the transaction structure, the net purchase price will be determined at the end of the second quarter 2012, at which point the final amount will be transferred. It continues to be expected that the net purchase price will be negative. However the costs of the transaction for Lufthansa will amortize within one year. The gross purchase price is expected to be reduced by a number of items including agreed deductions for not selling bmi regional and bmibaby prior to the completion of the transaction.
Bmi’s underfunded Pension Scheme is to be transferred to the UK Pension Protection Fund. The pension shortfall for the members of the bmi Pension Scheme will be offset to a large extent by a one-off contribution from Lufthansa of GBP 84 million to a supplementary pension scheme.”
On November 4, 2011, Lufthansa and IAG agreed in principle to the sale of bmi to IAG, prior to a legally binding purchase agreement being signed by both parties on December 22, 2011. The validity of this contract was subject to regulatory approval by the European Commission, which was received on March 30, 2012.
IAG has vowed to operate bmibaby and bmi regional as subsidiaries only for the short term (Lufthansa was unable to sell either carrier prior to the sale date). IAG will now try to dispose of both bmibaby and bmi regional.
Meanwhile Virgin Atlantic Airways has vowed to continue to fight this transaction and hopes to acquire new slots at London Heathrow.
Lufthansa is now entering an austerity period where it will attempt to cut all operations that are not making a profit.
Top Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. The bmi brand is expected to be retired very quickly by British Airways ending a long history for British Midland Airways, now operating as bmi.
bmi/British Midland Slide Show: CLICK HERE
bmibaby Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Bottom Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. What will happen to bmibaby, the airline that no one wants?
British Airways switches its Algiers flight to London Gatwick
British Airways (London) has switched its daily London-Algiers service from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport with the start of the summer schedule. The route will be operated with Boeing 737s.
Algiers is one of five routes to North Africa offered by British Airways, the others being Cairo in Egypt, Tripoli, Marrakech and Tunis.
The start of the summer season also sees the addition of long haul flights from London Heathrow to New York (JFK), Johannesburg, Miami, Hong Kong and Riyadh.
British Airways’ partner Iberia will also move its eight daily services from Heathrow to Madrid into Terminal 5 from Terminal 3, for the first time. This terminal move will allow customers better access to more destinations, and a smoother transfer experience at Heathrow between British Airways and Iberia flights.
Other changes at Heathrow have resulted in additional short haul flights to popular destinations such as Barcelona, Brussels, Bologna, Rome, Hamburg, Paris Orly, Prague, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
Three new leisure routes, to Mahon in Menorca, Angers in the Loire Valley and Quimper in Brittany, will also start from London City Airport, resulting in a total of 21 destinations in the UK, Europe and USA being served from the Docklands airport.
Copyright Photo: Paul Denton.
British Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways introduces the first 2012 Olympic logojet – The Dove
British Airways (London) today (April 3) introduced the first of nine 2012 Olympic logojets. The first is a gold and white Dove color scheme painted on Airbus A319-131 G-EUOH (msn 1604).
Read the full report from the BBC including a video of the painting of G-EUOH: CLICK HERE
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: James Mepsted. Designed by Pascal Anson, G-EUOH arrives back at London Heathrow on its first day of service.
British Airways increases the number of flights from London’s City Airport
British Airways (London) meanwhile is expanding its aircraft fleet and route network at London City Airport where it is now officially the largest operator with the highest number of routes and customers.
Subsidiary BA CityFlyer will take delivery of another Embraer 190 in the late summer, bringing the total fleet size to 14 aircraft.
It will be used for new year-round flights to Venice in September and to increase frequency to the key business destinations of Frankfurt from March and Glasgow from September.
The news comes as BA CityFlyer is about to start brand new services from the Docklands airport to Mahon in Menorca, Quimper in Britanny and Angers in the Loire Valley in France from May.
A total of 22 destinations in the UK, Europe and the USA will be served by British Airways and BA CityFlyer from London City Airport.
Copyright Photo: Nik French.
BA CityFlyer Slide Show: CLICK HERE
The BMI takeover is approved by the European Commission with conditions
British Airways (London) and the IAG have won their fight against Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) for the acquisition of BMI (East Midlands) and the valuable slots at London’s Heathrow Airport. The takeover of BMI from Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has been approved by the European Commission with conditions – British Airways will have to give up 14 slot pairs at London (Heathrow). However this is somewhat mute of an issue since BA will gain an additional 42 slot pairs with the BMI acquisition. Bottom line: Virgin Atlantic loses this battle with BA and the BMI brand will quickly be replaced with the BA livery. BA/IAG is expected to close on the deal around April 20. Goodbye BMI. LHR will certainly become a BA fortress hub.
Subsidiary bmibaby will not be part of this deal.
Read the full story from The Guardian: CLICK HERE
The BBC asks the question of whether BA/IAG gave up enough for BMI: CLICK HERE
BMI Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Virgin Atlantic Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways order one more Embraer 190 for BA CityFlyer
British Airways (London) and Embraer have signed a contract for the sale of one more 98-seat Embraer 190 (ERJ 190) jet. The aircraft will be operated by BA CityFlyer (London City), British Airways’ wholly owned regional subsidiary. When delivered during the third quarter of 2012, it will bolster the airline’s total fleet size to 14 E-Jets.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren.
BA CityFlyer Slide Show: CLICK HERE
American Airlines to put its AA code on British Airways flights to India
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and British Airways (London) have received approval from the Indian government to place the AA* code on British Airways flights from London to the following Indian cities: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The new codeshare flights are scheduled to go on sale with the first travel date starting March 29. This new codeshare agreement provides American customers more convenient choices and greater connectivity when traveling to India.
The codeshare allows American to place its code on fellowoneworld® member and joint business partner, British Airways, flights through London Heathrow Airport. The placement of American’s code on British Airways flights will complement American’s existing service to India through partner airline Jet Airways via Brussels.
In other news, as planned, British replaced its Boeing 767-300 with the larger Boeing 747-400, offering four classes of service, on the London (Heathrow)-Moscow (Domodedovo) route on March 25.
Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin.
American Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways’ Willie Walsh may make a bid for American Airlines
British Airways’ (London) CEO Willie Walsh, representing the International Airlines Group (IAG) and the Oneworld alliance, may make a bid to acquire a share of defunct American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) mainly to keep it out of the hands of US Airways (Phoenix) which is in the Star Alliance camp (or Delta and the SkyTeam) according to a report by Sunday Times.
Read the report from Bloomberg: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Wingnut.
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways is getting ready to introduce “The Dove” Olympics logojets
British Airways (London) as previously reported, will introduce new logojets (Airbus A319s and Boeing 747-400s) in April to help celebrate the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The theme of the special color scheme is called “The Dove” and was designed by Pascal Anson.
In addition, an Airbus A319 will be painted in a gold livery to fly the Olympic flame from Athens to Culdrose on May 18.
Video:
Here is the announcement by the airline:
“The design of the British Airways aircraft to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be “The Dove” by up and coming British designer Pascal Anson. His artwork beat hundreds of entries in the BA Great Britons Programme, and was chosen by a judging panel including Turner-prize nominated artist and Royal Academician Tracey Emin, the Royal Academy of Arts and the airline.
As BA Great Britons mentor, Tracey Emin has advised Pascal during the project, and said: “It would have been easy to put a motif or a pattern on the side of an aircraft – but Pascal’s design takes it to another level. He uses the entire livery of the aircraft to redefine the way you look at it. The dove is a stunning piece of work and will bring real excitement to anyone who flies on one of the repainted planes.
The 38 year-old designer and artist from Brighton, also a Design Tutor at Kingston University, has spent the past few months honing his design with Emin. It will be emblazoned across a number of British Airways aircraft and seen by a global audience of millions.
BA Great Britons winner Pascal Anson, said: “On my journeys from Brighton to London, I’ve often looked up at aircraft landing at Gatwick and wondered if it’s a ‘bird or a plane’, and the idea developed from there. When I started researching birds further I realised it had to be a dove. Not only are they a symbol of peace and social unity, but they were also used in previous Olympic Games ceremonies, including the last London Games in 1948.”
To create an illusion of a dove, Pascal spent hours in a cote observing the birds. He incorporates their intricate detail on the livery, which will use a new color of paint produced by the British Airways engineering team and its suppliers.
Frank van der Post, British Airways managing director, brands and customer experience, said: “When we invited up and coming British artists to submit a design to celebrate the London 2012 Games, we didn’t expect a concept that would change the way we look at the aircraft – yet Pascal’s work has achieved this and we’re very proud to be sharing it with the world on our giant flying canvas!”
The BA Great Britons Program was launched to discover the best of British talent in Art, as well as Food and Film and offer British talent a platform in the run up to the London 2012 Games. Pascal’s aircraft launch will coincide with the unveiling of a London 2012 inspired menu, created by Simon Hulstone with support from Michelin-star restaurant owner and chef Heston Blumenthal, and short film written by Prasanna Puwanarajah with mentoring from scriptwriter and director Richard E Grant. All three projects will be unveiled to the public in April.”
British airlines warn about airport disruptions this summer in London
British Airways, BMI, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic Airways are among the major carriers warning against major disruptions in London at area airports due to the upcoming Summer Olympics.
The carriers sent an open letter on March 15 to U.K. Transport Secretary Justine Greening about their concerns. Over 320,000 additional visitors are expected during the games (besides Londoners trying to leave).
Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways to offer four class Boeing 747-400 service to Moscow starting on March 25
British Airways (London) has debuted its new four class cabin experience on the London Heathrow to Moscow route. From March 25, British Airways will be the first airline to offer customers First class travel between London and Moscow, as well as Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller onboard a daily Boeing 747-400 service.
The new long-haul flights to Moscow will be the shortest in the British Airways network and takes just four hours.
As well as operating a daily Boeing 747-400 service, British Airways is also putting two daily long-haul Boeing 767-300s on the route to replace the existing short-haul service.
The change of aircraft means the route will change from a short-haul service operated with two cabins to a long-haul operation, offering customers up to four classes of travel, with the opportunity to enjoy the premium service, fully flat-beds, comprehensive in-flight entertainment and wide selection of meals and drinks in unrivalled comfort.
British Airways has been flying to Moscow since 1959.
In other news, British Airways’ parent, IAG, has offered unspecified concessions to European Union antitrust regulators in a bid to get regulatory approval for its takeover of BMI (East Midlands) according to this report by Reuters.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton.
British Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways-Iberia operating profit doubles in the first year together
International Airlines Group (IAG) (British Airways and Iberia) (London) reported it had an operating profit of $653 million in 2011.
Here is the full report from the group:
IAG period highlights on combined results:
· Fourth quarter operating profit of €34 million, before exceptional items (2010: €6 million)
· Operating profit for the year to December 31, 2011 of €485 million, before exceptional items (2010: €225 million)
· Profit before tax for the year of €503 million after exceptional items (2010: €84 million)
· Revenue for the year up 10.4 per cent to €16,339 million (2010: €14,798 million), including €317 million or 2.1 per cent of adverse currency impact
· Passenger unit revenue for the year up 3.6 per cent (5.8 per cent at constant currency), on top of capacity increases of 7.1 per cent
· Fuel costs for the year up 29.7 per cent to €5,068 million, before exceptional items (2010: €3,907 million), fuel unit costs were up 21.4 per cent
· Other operating costs up 1.1 per cent at €10,786 million, before exceptional items, including €165 million or 1.5 per cent of favourable currency impact. Non-fuel unit costs down 5.6 per cent, or 4.1 per cent at constant currency
· Cash down €617 million for the year to €3,735 million
· Group net debt up €253 million in the year to €1,148 million
In other news, British Airways has announced it intends to introduce the new Airbus A380 in early 2013 on routes to New York (JFK), Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore.
Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord.
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways upgrades OpenSkies with a new “Eco” class
OpenSkies (British Airways) Boeing 757-230 F-HAVN (msn 25140) MIA (Arnd Wolf), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.British Airways (London) is adding a new “Eco” cabin class to the Boeing 757-200s of premium subsidiary OpenSkies (Paris-Orly).
The enhanced offerings include:
Individual iPads for passengers to enjoy 70 hours of onboard entertainment
Access to British Airways business class check-in desks at Newark
Priority access through security checks for Prem Plus and Biz Bed passengers
Access to the British Airways airport lounges at Orly and Newark for Biz Bed passengers.
Beginning on June 19, 2012 OpenSkies will have a new three-class configuration on its planes. An “Eco” class will join the “Biz Bed” and “Biz Seat” classes, which will become “Prem Plus”.
OpenSkies’ new “Eco” class will be equipped with 66 leather seats. “Prem Plus” (formally “Biz Seat”) will include 28 seats. “Biz Bed”, the business class cabin of OpenSkies, will continue to offer lie-flat seats in an exclusive 20 seat cabin.
The first OpenSkies Boeing 757-200 with the new three-class configuration will operate beginning on June 19. The second will be operational from June 29.
Virtual Tour: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Please click on the photo for additional information on the airline.
OpenSkides Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways puts its first refurbished Boeing 777-200 into revenue service
British Airways Boeing 777-236 ER G-YMMI (msn 30310) YUL (Gilbert Hechema), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
British Airways (London) announced today it has placed its first retrofitted Boeing 777-200 with the latest seats and cabins into revenue service on a flight to Boston.
The aircraft was the first of 18 to be fitted with British Airways’ recently launched First cabin, new World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins and the airline’s latest Thales in-flight entertainment system.
The multi-million pound refurbishment gives the 18 Boeing 777-200s the same contemporary interiors as British Airways’ six brand new Boeing 777-300 ERs.
Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema.
British Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways to unveil “The Dove” 2012 London Olympics logojets in April
British Airways (London) will introduce new logojets (Airbus A319s and Boeing 747-400s) in April to help celebrate the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The theme of the special color scheme is called “The Dove” and was designed by Pascal Anson.
Here is the announcement by the airline:
“The design of the British Airways aircraft to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be “The Dove” by up and coming British designer Pascal Anson. His artwork beat hundreds of entries in the BA Great Britons Programme, and was chosen by a judging panel including Turner-prize nominated artist and Royal Academician Tracey Emin, the Royal Academy of Arts and the airline.
As BA Great Britons mentor, Tracey Emin has advised Pascal during the project, and said: “It would have been easy to put a motif or a pattern on the side of an aircraft – but Pascal’s design takes it to another level. He uses the entire livery of the aircraft to redefine the way you look at it. The dove is a stunning piece of work and will bring real excitement to anyone who flies on one of the repainted planes.
The 38 year-old designer and artist from Brighton, also a Design Tutor at Kingston University, has spent the past few months honing his design with Emin. It will be emblazoned across a number of British Airways aircraft and seen by a global audience of millions.
BA Great Britons winner Pascal Anson, said: “On my journeys from Brighton to London, I’ve often looked up at aircraft landing at Gatwick and wondered if it’s a ‘bird or a plane’, and the idea developed from there. When I started researching birds further I realised it had to be a dove. Not only are they a symbol of peace and social unity, but they were also used in previous Olympic Games ceremonies, including the last London Games in 1948.”
To create an illusion of a dove, Pascal spent hours in a cote observing the birds. He incorporates their intricate detail on the livery, which will use a new color of paint produced by the British Airways engineering team and its suppliers.
Frank van der Post, British Airways managing director, brands and customer experience, said: “When we invited up and coming British artists to submit a design to celebrate the London 2012 Games, we didn’t expect a concept that would change the way we look at the aircraft – yet Pascal’s work has achieved this and we’re very proud to be sharing it with the world on our giant flying canvas!”
The BA Great Britons Program was launched to discover the best of British talent in Art, as well as Food and Film and offer British talent a platform in the run up to the London 2012 Games. Pascal’s aircraft launch will coincide with the unveiling of a London 2012 inspired menu, created by Simon Hulstone with support from Michelin-star restaurant owner and chef Heston Blumenthal, and short film written by Prasanna Puwanarajah with mentoring from scriptwriter and director Richard E Grant. All three projects will be unveiled to the public in April.”
Copyright Photo: British Airways. Pascal Anson release a dove, the inspiration for this new logojet.
Did two British Airways’ Airbus A320 pilots almost black out on a flight on December 20?
British Airways’ (London) flight from London (Heathrow) to Glasgow on December 20 had to return to LHR for an emergency landing. According to this story by the Mirror the two Airbus A320 pilots reported they almost blacked out and had to don oxygen masks to return to Heathrow.
Read the full story: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.
Iberia cancels 118 flights, pilots call for two more days of strikes to protest Iberia Express
Iberia Airbus A320-211 EC-FDB (msn 173) (member of Oneworld) MAD (Ariel Shocron), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.Iberia’s (Madrid) pilots impacted the company yesterday with its second day of strikes this month. As a result 118 flights were cancelled, but all passengers eventually reached their destinations by rerouting or rescheduling.
Iberia Pilots, under the SEPLA union, have called for two more days of strikes next month, on January 9 and 11, demanding that the airline ceases its plans for creating a new “Low Salary, not Low Cost airline”, called Iberia Express.
Last week, Iberia advertised for A320 type rated pilots, ICAO Level 4 language proficiency and recent flight time, but no other requirements where specified. The company claims that it has received more than 1500 applications.
Two Vueling Airlines Airbus A320s have entered the Iberia hangars in order to be repainted onto the Iberia Express livery. Tthe company may start looking for Vueling pilots to fly the new IB Express routes.
British Airways pilots, represented by the BALPA union, visited Madrid on Wednesday to show their support to their IAG colleagues and to inform the striking IB pilots about the way BA pilots will help, as they see this IB Express company as a threat to their contracts, by outsourcing their European flights to this new company, or to newly-acquired BMI. Finally, reportedly the BA pilots told the IB pilots, that Willy Walsh had stated that he can resist all of the strikes by the IB pilots, thanks to the Spanish legislation, which mandates minimum services to be provided by the airlines.
According to the unions, BALPA will soon be joining SEPLA in its efforts against the outsourcing of the IAGs jobs and routes.
Copyright Photo: Ariel Shocron.
Iberia Slide Show: CLICK HERE
