Brussels Airlines (Brussels) was struck today (November 18) by its pilots. The company issued this statement and a list of cancelled flights:
Due to a wildcat strike action of a number of our pilots, we are forced to cancel some of our flights on Monday November 18. Our priority is to assist our passengers as much as possible. All customers affected by the strike action will be offered travel alternatives, depending on their travel needs.
Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom/AirlinersGallery.com. Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-322 OO-SFV (msn 095) climbs away from the runway at JFK International Airport in New York.
British Airways (London) is premiering its “Red Carpet Route” between Los Angeles and London today, the inaugural flight for the airline’s first Airbus A380. The City of Angels is the first of the airline’s more than 150 destinations to receive the super jumbo, offering a premium experience to customers who want to travel in style to the U.K. and beyond.
Scheduled to touch down at Los Angeles International Airport this evening, the new British Airways aircraft offers customers a superior travel experience, including:
Spacious interiors, featuring 469 seats across four cabins, 14 First, 97 Club World (business class), 55 World Traveler Plus (premium economy) and 303 World Traveler (economy)
First ‘suites’ with 30 percent more space, turndown service, a la carte dining and champagne supper
Full-flat beds in business class with new 2:3:2 configurations on the upper deck, designed for maximum personal space and comfort
State-of-the-art in-flight entertainment with 1,600 hours of programming, including more than 130 of the latest Hollywood blockbusters and classic movies and 650 TV shows from around the world
Complimentary bar, three course meals, amenity kits and blankets for all customers
Cleaner air, as a result of advanced filters and a system that allows 15 different temperature control zones with cabin air refreshed every three minutes.
The British Airways A380 also features a new menu designed by The Langham, London, for customers travelling in First and Club World. This includes an elegant five-course tasting menu and afternoon tea, inspired by the range of indulgent treats offered at The Langham, London – famed as the birthplace of Afternoon Tea over 140 years ago.
New aircraft are part of British Airways £5 billion investment in products and services to benefit customers. The airline has ordered 12 A380s and 24 Boeing 787s.
Red Carpet Route Premiere, Hollywood Style
Celebrating the connection between two entertainment capitals of the world, British Airways has partnered with Variety magazine to present “10 Brits to Watch”. The best emerging U.K. talent in Hollywood will be recognized at a red carpet event on September 25.
At the premiere party, guests will experience signature elements of the A380 while honoring the magazine’s “10 Brits to Watch.” These up-and-coming actors, writers, directors and musicians include Sam Claflin, Tuppence Middleton, Harry Treadaway, Sally El Housani, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Georgia King, Ed Whitworth, George Blagden, Alexandra McGuiness and Lauren Harris.
“London and Hollywood have been productively-linked entertainment business hubs for all of Variety’s 108 years as the pre-eminent source of industry news, so the chance to partner on the Brits to Watch project with an esteemed global brand like the U.K’s British Airways was irresistible,” said Steve Gaydos, Executive Editor, Variety. “Business travelers and business readers both have high expectations due to their fast-paced careers and sophisticated lifestyles, so this is a partnership born out of our mutual strengths of experience and dedication to delivering on those daily demands, 24/7.”
Tweetliner Race
To further celebrate the launch of the A380, British Airways is staging the world’s first-ever social race between a virtual plane and real plane. The competition invites British Airways fans and followers to ‘tweet’ a message using #racetheplane @British Airways. Each tweet will fuel the ‘tweetliner” and move it nearer to its destination – LA. Three lucky winners will receive a pair of tickets to fly to London.
The 5,454-mile race begins when BA 269 takes off from London Heathrow at 4:15pm BST and will culminate when the inaugural flight touches down at LAX at approximately 7:15pm PST. Visit http://racetheplane.ba.com/ for additional information, including terms and conditions.
Copyright Photo: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. A beautiful landing photo of the first British Airways Airbus A380-841 G-XLEA (msn 095) arriving at Shannon on a training and photo flight.
British Airways:
Videos: British Airways is using social media to promote this inaugural flight:
British Airways (London) brought its new Airbus A380 to Frankfurt (above) on August 2 as the flag carrier continues to test out the new type on its short haul European routes before it is introduced on longer international routes.
In other news, parent International Airline Group (IAG) lost $43.7 million in the first half of 2013. However IAG had a good second quarter as it managed to cut losses at Iberia in the second quarter to $39.7 million. IAG has cut 1,700 jobs at Iberia (Madrid) and plans to cut another 1,700 by 2015.
IAG issued this financial statement:
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) presented Group consolidated results for the six months to June 30, 2013.
IAG period highlights on results:
Second quarter operating profit €245 million (2012: loss €4 million) before exceptional items, based on strong passenger unit revenues and non-fuel unit cost improvements
Before Vueling at constant currency, second quarter passenger unit revenue up 4.8 per cent and non-fuel unit costs down 0.2 per cent
Operating loss for the half year €33 million (2012: loss €253 million) before exceptional items
Revenue for the half year up 2.1 per cent to €8,707 million including 1.7 per cent adverse currency impact
Passenger unit revenue for the half year up 2.8 per cent (4.6 per cent at constant currency), on capacity increase of 1.2 per cent
Fuel costs for the half year down 3.7 per cent to €2,864 million (2012: €2,973 million). Fuel unit costs down 4.7 per cent at constant currency
Non-fuel costs before exceptional items for the half year up 1.1 per cent at €5,876 million. Non-fuel unit costs down 0.2 per cent, up 0.9 per cent at constant currency
Cash €3,627 million at June 30, 2013, up €718 million including €549 million of Vueling cash
Adjusted gearing up 3 points to 54 per cent including Vueling
Willie Walsh also stated subsidiary Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) would be expanding again and would be taking on a larger role in intra-European routes. Higher-cost Iberia will be reducing its presence in Europe.
Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. British Airways’ Airbus A380-841 G-XLEA (msn 095) taxies to the gate at Frankfurt.
British Airways:
Video: British Airways has introduced this new “A Ticket to Visit Mum” video for the Indian market:
British Airways (London) has issued this statement about the delivery of its first Airbus A380.
Super-jumbo aviation arrives in the UK today with the delivery to Heathrow of British Airways’ first A380.
Copyright Photo: Airbus.
The airline is the first UK carrier to take delivery of the double-decker, which is the world’s largest commercial jet. British Airways is also the first airline in Europe to operate both the A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the first two of which landed at Heathrow last week.
The airline announced today that the very first long-haul flight on the A380 to Los Angeles will be on September 24, 2013 with prices starting from £621 return, and the first to Hong Kong will be on October 22 with prices from £688 return.
British Airways’ A380s will accommodate 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 with 30 per cent more personal space and 60 per cent more personal stowage.
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. Customers travelling in both World Traveller and World Traveller Plus will be able to enjoy the new cabins and seats that have proved so popular on our 777-300 ER fleet.
The aircraft’s innovative design makes it much quieter during take-off and landing and 16 per cent more fuel efficient than a Boeing 747. British Airways has ordered 12 A380s for delivery by 2016. Three will arrive this year followed by a further five in 2014.
Both aircraft types will now begin a complex ‘entry into service’ program, which will see pilot and cabin crew training taking place at Manston Airport in Kent, customer service trials at Heathrow and short-haul flying for both aircraft, including flights within the UK.
Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured A380-841 F-WWSK (msn 095) was delivered as G-XLEA today (July 4).
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.
