BA LONG HAUL FLEET REVIEW

Yes…. but do you remember who said it? 😉

I could have sworn that someone announced some time ago that the airline would be taking delivery of 777-300s?

Aaah, the traditional English way of doing things. Discuss it to death and waste millions in the process. Eventually make a decision, to find that the original specs that were being discussed have changed, so have to discuss it some more. Make an ammended decision, and in the case of brand new aircraft, join a queue with deliveries 10 years later. By which time everything else has moved forward and your left playing catch up again!

Am i wrong? Just think of our airports and especially the Heathrow fiasco!

~gb~

Yup I’d agree with you there!

However Willy Walsh is not English, lets hope that means something!

I can’t see BA choosing anything other than the updated B777 variants to replace their current B747s and B777s, to be honest.

Given their investment in the type to date they’d be mad to do anything else, IMHO.

Aaah, the traditional English way of doing things. Discuss it to death and waste millions in the process. Eventually make a decision, to find that the original specs that were being discussed have changed, so have to discuss it some more. Make an ammended decision, and in the case of brand new aircraft, join a queue with deliveries 10 years later. By which time everything else has moved forward and your left playing catch up again!

Am i wrong? Just think of our airports and especially the Heathrow fiasco!

~gb~

Exactly what I was thinking Rdc; as much as I would love them to, I just cannot seeing BA going AB for longhaul, with the possible exception of the A380.

So it looks like about five years at least before we see whatever new planes arriving in the BA fleet?

I’d imagine that might be a good time for livery update too ?

A few more answers…

BA begins studying long-haul fleet renewal
Aimee Turner, London (20Jul05, 12:11 GMT, 246 words)

British Airways is to embark on a review of its long-haul fleet requirements over the next 15 years and could be ready to place orders within the next two to three years.

UK daily Financial Times, reporting comments made by BA chairman Martin Broughton at the annual shareholders meeting yesterday, says that BA is currently eyeing the long-range 250-seat mid-market Boeing 787, the Boeing 747 Advanced and the 777-200LR as possible long-haul candidates.

However, BA is unlikely to choose the Airbus A350, which is being developed as a rival to the 787 as a “principal” long-haul aircraft, Broughton said, although he did not rule out the Airbus A380. A report on future options is to be presented to the BA board in around nine months’ time.

“The jury is still out [on the A380],” said Broughton. “None has been delivered yet. We don’t have to make a decision just yet. We want to see them fly first. But they are very much on our radar screen. They are one of the options.”

A spokeswoman for BA says: “The renewal of BA’s long haul fleet will be discussed at board level in around nine months’ time. At this stage we are ruling nothing in and nothing out. Every option will be considered and nothing is being ruled out at this stage.”

BA’s long-haul fleet currently comprises 57 Boeing 747-400s and 43 Boeing 777s; the carrier also uses about half of its 21 Boeing 767-300s on long-haul routes.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

I personally feel that BA will buy mostly Boeing aircraft for fleet renewal. This is because pilots will be able to make a far easier transition to operating similar fleet.

I don’t think we’ll hear anything on this for years.

However, my gut feeling is the A380 will come and I’d also expect an order mix of 777s and 787s. Can’t see them ordering the A330/A340/A350 when they already have T7s in service – would like to be proved wrong though.

Boeing 747ADV

Boeing 747ADV has EIS in 2009. How many are sold out, how many available before 2012?

As for buying Airbus, well, there is Airbus 350, with EIS in 2010, and Airbus 340-600 and 340-500 which are big and no longer paper planes like 747ADV or even test planes without practical experience, like Airbus 380?

My personal opinion is that BA would get more Boeings simply because of the huge long haul Boeing fleet already in place. However we have seen with OK that having Boeings in the fleet already doesnt meen youll stick with them.

It would be funny to see BA ordering Boeings after Tony Blair writing a letter to LOT asking them to buy Airbuses.

Good point… probably not.

More the joy for Virgin if that is the case :rolleyes:

I personally think, with the Olympics coming and all, that BA would be very foolish not to order the A380.

Is this even possible?

I mean, I have read it said that every single delivery slot for Airbus 380 was sold out until 2011, and I have the feeling that this preceded both the announcement of 6 months delay and Kingfisher order. Mind you, it does not necessarily mean all delivery slots after 2011 are free. Airbus is supposed to have eventually 48 slots per year, but when? So, take the time from 2011 to Olympics, deduct 6 months, deduct the planes already sold in 2011-2012, deduct the Kingfisher order… are any Airbus 380 left for sale before 2012?

They were talking about this is in the Mail this morning in a feature with all the big BA execs. One of them was explained a saying that the fuel costs would have to be managed, debt reduced further, and considerable cash reserves built up before any new long haul investment was made.

If we look at it the time isnt really right for any Long Haul investment now, so I would guess this review will be looking about 5 years ahead, with the A380 well established, and both the 787 and A350 online.

So much as I would love to see at last some buses being ordered, I believe BA’s love affair with Boeing will prove too strong.

Though if BA is to order planes from all three major long haul markets, 787/A350, 777/A340 and 747/A380, there is always a possibility that it might get some buses for one of them.

I’m pretty sure Boeing would opt for the T7 over the A340. The 787/A350 and the jumbo market remains to be seen.

I personally think, with the Olympics coming and all, that BA would be very foolish not to order the A380.

Sure didnt EIN start moving towards an Airbus only Operation under Willy’s control and now with him being at BA and all…

Even though BA has been a loyal Boeing customer for many years, just like Qantas once was, an Airbus deal, as in the case of Qantas, might be to sweet to refuse

hmm, a complete spontanious guess, I wonder if they will opt for Airbus, A340-600 🙂

Dean