It’s just delaying the inevitable!

I’m inclined to agree, although I hope we are both wrong!

1L.

what would happen to BA’s flag carrier status

As has previously been discussed somewhere on this forum, and despite Sir RB’s claim on his aircraft, there is in fact no such thing as a flag carrier.

At one time the government would decide which airline, generally Imperial Airways which shows how far back we are going, would ‘carry the flag’ or represent the country on a given route. British Airways and its predecessors were generally considered to be THE flag carrier as they were the biggest airline and carried the most flags as it were.

The concept is long outdated and was abandoned many years ago.

1L.

I’ve always thought the 727 was one of the prettiest aircraft I ever worked on.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Dan-Air-London/Boeing-727-2D3-Adv/1314796/L/&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=1277759

1L.

Could BA go bust? Of course. Would the government step in? I would think not, but they have come to the rescue of companies in the past that I would not have expected them to.

There is another question that the current climate in aviation makes me ponder. Do you think we are heading back to the days when the cost of an airline ticket will have to truly reflect the costs involved? Could the end be in sight for ’99p plus taxes’ fares?

1L.

As I recall that’s not quite correct. 318s were possible as options on the orders BA has had for the 320 family, but IIRC I don’t think there have ever been firm orders for 318s thus far.

The 319 was originally destined for LGW, but under ‘Future Size and Shape’ they were, as you rightly say, swapped with the 737s at the regions. This change to more efficient aircraft was the first of many attempts to make the regions, which were by then losing more than LGW, profitable for BA.

The RJ100s didn’t come into the picture until the CityFlyer Express takeover some years later, when they ended up as part of the LGW shorthaul fleet along with the ATRs. In due course, to simplify the fleet at LGW, the ATRs were disposed of and the RJ100s went to the regions to join the 146s which had become part of the fleet there due to the formation of CitiExpress.

The mud just got even less clear.

1L.

As PMN suggests could this be what you saw?

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Corsair/Boeing-747-422/1342426/L/&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=9&prev_id=1344632&next_id=1341522

1L.

Is there going to be a premium cabin on the a/c or will they just take a few seats out temporarily to create a premium feel??

I wouldn’t expect either. I think the deal is a seat at the front and an upgraded service rather than an actual premium cabin.

1L.

FlyMonarch, as ever the prodigal gets there first!

Do you think they may be using a short series of charters for Jet2Holidays to establish whether or not a demand exists for the route?

1L.