Willie Walsh's BA plans

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18 years 6 months

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Interesting article in the Times Buissness Section about BA too.

Saying that Walsh is "likely" to rebrand ops @ LGW and MAN (like we didn't know that already lol)

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19 years 5 months

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And according to the Financial Mail (Mail on Sunday), BA are in possible merger talks with AA again, but will only happen if there is an EU-US Air Service agreement

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24 years 2 months

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Actually talking frankly about the A380..it may have a place....

BA maintaining long-term interest in A380: Walsh
London (10Oct05, 09:53 GMT, 140 words)

New British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has indicated that the airline could consider the Airbus A380, although not before the airline has transferred its operations to London Heathrow’s new Terminal 5.

In an interview with UK weekly The Observer, he said that British Airways will not be increasing its long-haul fleet until at least 2008, when the airline switches to its new terminal.

He indicates that he is interested in the A380 but that the aircraft, if selected, would probably be “additional” to the fleet rather than a replacement for its long-haul types. Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft form the backbone of British Airways’ long-haul operations.

Walsh’s predecessor at the carrier, Rod Eddington, had also stated that the airline had an interest in the A380 but that it would not be brought into the fleet in the short term.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

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I wonder if the 380/350/787 orders/launches would coincide with the plans and investments they are undertaking now in their Club and First cabins?

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I would be extremly surprise if BA is not speaking to airbus about A350s. BA hasent been a launch customer for a long time and could do with some good PR...

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I would be extremly surprise if BA is not speaking to airbus about A350s. BA hasent been a launch customer for a long time and could do with some good PR...

By the same token they will be speaking to Boeing for its 787. Besides, I do not believe an airline orders a new planetype just so it can get good PR.

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I didnt mean to say that they would order A350, i just meant that I am sure that they would try to get to be a Partner or Launch Customer to try and help heal the wounds of the summer. Ill ask next time im speaking to them.

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I do not believe an airline orders a new planetype just so it can get good PR.

Except perhaps for Virgin, who are undoubtedly the airline industry masters of PR.

1L.

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To be honest..i dont think the traveling public really care if an airline is a launch customer for a new airplane type...Flybe is a launch customer for the EMB195 and all it got was a mention on Radio5 wake up to money at 0530hrs and a small snippet in the financial pages of the papers....Virgin gets alot of coverage because Branson makes it happen (i.e. Lady Di naming a new plane, talk of casinos and spa baths on the A380) which is good for the tabloids, but what customers really want is an airline that gets them from A to B safely with a good service at a half decent price.... 8 out of 10 passengers wouldnt know or dont care if they are on an Airbus or Boeing

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BA will never be a launch customer again, far too many teething problems that are inevitable with any new plane.

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BA was a launch customer( i think?) for the tripple 7, had a few problems with that, mainly on the GE90 powerplants, which led to flight crews and engineers calling it the Cripple 7