London Air Travel

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 4 November 2019

Welcome to our weekly briefing on air travel in London and around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 GMT.

Welcome to our Monday Briefing for the week beginning 4 November 2019

International Airlines Group To Acquire Air Europa

IAG has announced to the stock exchange this morning that it has reached an agreement to acquire Air Europa for €1 billion.

IAG claims the acquisition will consolidate its position in the Europe – South America market and the competitiveness of its Madrid hub against European rivals. Last year, Air Europa carried 11.8 million passengers operating a fleet of 66 aircraft.

Air Europa will initially operate as a standalone airline in IAG but will co-operate with other IAG airlines through codesharing and adoption of the Avios frequent flyer currency. The transaction is expected to complete in the second half of 2020. This will be the first acquisition by IAG in nearly five years following the purchase of Aer Lingus.

The full press statement can be viewed at IAG and a full write up of the deal is here.

International Airlines Group Capital Markets Day

IAG holds its annual Capital Markets Day this coming Friday, 8 November 2019.

It’s at previous events we have learned of BA’s plans to “densify” its Boeing 777 aircraft and its investment plans for Club World.

Given IAG’s recent announcement to achieve net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050, the group’s response to climate change is likely to feature prominently.

At a minimum, we should have an updated fleet plan for IAG airlines. Hopefully, there will be further details of planned BA lounge refurbishments, a firm timetable for the roll out of its Club Suite and plans for long-haul expansion at London Gatwick.

It is also often the case that developments you expect to be announced aren’t. We have been waiting some time for IAG to implement single Avios account balances across IAG frequent flyer programmes and dynamic pricing of Avios rewards.

You can read a recap of last year’s events here as well as the BA specific announcements from the day.

If there are any announcements of note, we will share them throughout the day on Twitter.

Air France-KLM is also holding its annual investor day tomorrow, 5 November 2019 and Finnair holds its event next Tuesday, 12 November 2019.

Norwegian’s Challenge

At IAG’s third quarter results announcement last week Willie Walsh said of Norwegian that it is “clearly not out of the woods yet” and “they still have a long way to go”.

The Financial Times documents the scale of the challenge for its new CEO Geir Karlsen.

The airline has a debt burden of $6.8 billion. Its credit card companies are holding back funds, depriving the airline of vital liquidity. Like many other airlines, it is also contending with the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX and some Boeing 787 aircraft.

It has obtained some breathing space by deferring the redemption of two bonds. Other measures to shore up liquidity are on the table such as selling off all or part of its frequent flyer programme.

Qantas “Project Sunrise” Update

Qantas has set itself a hard deadline of December of this year to make a decision whether to order capable of flying from London to Sydney non-stop.

This is subject not only economically viable offers from Airbus and Boeing, but also regulatory approval and agreement with Qantas trade unions.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce of course has form on not being afraid to play hard ball with Qantas trade unions. The Sydney Morning Herald reports of tensions emerging between Qantas and its trade unions, who are making it clear they will not be boxed in by an arbitrary deadline.

British Airways Boeing 787 Disruption Update

Disruption to British AIrways flights due to additional maintenance checks on the Rolls-Royce engines of Boeing 787 aircraft will continue into 2020.

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BA Boeing 787 at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (Image Credit: British Airways)

Disruption to British Airways flights due to additional checks required to the Rolls-Royce engines of its Boeing 787 fleet is to now continue well into 2020.

This means the airline will have been grappling with two years of disruption. BA has addressed this issue through wet leases of aircraft and tactical cancellations. These will now continue into the first quarter of 2020.

The latest update from Rolls-Royce in late September 2019 was that the number of “Aircraft On Ground” across all affected airlines should reach single digits by the second quarter of 2020.

Wet Leases

BA has wet leased aircraft from airlines to cover certain routes.

Air Belgium is currently operating London Heathrow – Cairo for BA (BA155 / BA154) with an Airbus A340 aircraft. This will continue until Wednesday 6 November 2019.

Titan Airways will then operate London Heathrow – Cairo from Thursday 7 November 2019 to Wednesday 12 January 2020 with a two class Airbus A321 aircraft. There is no equivalent cabin to Club World on this aircraft and Club World passengers will be downgraded to premium economy, with an appropriate refund of their fare. Club World passengers are also entitled to a full refund.

Envelop Airlines is currently operating London Gatwick – New York JFK (BA2273 / BA2272) until Sunday 12 January 2020. This is a two class Airbus A330 aircraft, with no premium economy cabin. All passengers have the option of rebooking on alternative BA services between London Heathrow and New York JFK. Also note, that American Airlines does not have regulatory approval to codeshare on BA routes operated by other airline on behalf of BA. Passengers who have booked on this route through American Airlines will need to rebook on to alternative services operated by either American or BA.

Tactical Cancellations

BA has also tactically cancelled some flights and routes. These are not flights necessarily operated with the 787 but have been cancelled to release aircraft for deployment elsewhere:

London Gatwick – New York JFK (BA2273 / BA2272) is cancelled from Tuesday 14 January 2020 to Monday 10 February 2020.

BA has also tactically cancelled selected return flights between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Boston, Hong Kong, Muscat, New York JFK, Toronto Pearson and Washington Dulles.

As at Thursday 31 October 2019 around 16 return flights have been cancelled between mid January 2020 and mid March 2020. Ordinarily, we would publish a full list but the list produced for the travel trade doesn’t quite tally up to what timetables are showing on ba.com

If you are due to travel on an affected route, the best advice is to check the status of your booking using the Manage My Booking tool on ba.com. If your flight is cancelled you are entitled to a full refund or reaccomodation on alternative flights to, or near to, your intended destination.

London Air Travel’s Atlantic Update – 30 October 2019

A weekly bulletin on transatlantic travel, published every Wednesday at 06:00 GMT.

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28th Street Station, New York Subway (Image Credit: New York Transit Museum)

Hello and welcome to London Air Travel’s Atlantic Update providing a weekly bulletin on developments on transatlantic travel between Europe and North America. The Atlantic Update is published every Wednesday morning at 06:00 GMT.

California Wild Fires

Attention remains very much focused on the wild fires in California.

The latest updates in the Getty Fire are available from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles Times has also temporarily removed its paywall.

A number of airlines have put in flexible rebooking policies in place for passengers due to fly to airports near to the wild fires including Los Angeles International, Burban, Long Beach, Los Angeles Ontario and Santa Ana airports.

Also of note this week:

Uber and Lyft drivers now pick up passengers from a dedicated area at Los Angles International airport. (Los Angeles Times)

Delta opens its first new concourse as part of the ongoing redevelopment of La Guardia airport. (Delta)

On the subject of La Guardia, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved funding for a new Air Train to the airport. (Curbed)

The day the New York Subway opened as it celebrates its 115th anniversary. (Jalopnik)

Virgin Trains USA receives approval from the state of California for $3.25bn in bonds towards its planned rail link between Las Vegas and Southern California. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 28 October 2019

Welcome to our weekly briefing on air travel in London and around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 GMT.

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Dreamflight, London Heathrow, Sunday 27 October 2019 (Image Credit: British Airways)

Welcome to our Monday Briefing for the week beginning 28 October 2019.

European Airlines Third Quarter Results

Air France-KLM and IAG announce their third quarter results this coming Thursday, 31 October 2019. Lufthansa follows next Thursday, 7 November 2019.

In the case of IAG we know that results will be severely impacted by the three days of planned industrial action by BA pilots in September. Protests in Hong Kong will also have had an impact.

Last week Qantas stated that the collapse in traffic to Hong Kong had cost the airline AUD$25 million. Qantas also cited weakening demand and the global trade war having an impact on cargo volumes.

Whilst any significant announcements are likely to be reserved for IAG’s Capital Markets Day next Friday, IAG will be asked by investors about the state of industrial relations at BA and its response to the planned departure of LATAM from the Oneworld alliance.

“Airline Maps”

British Overseas Airways Corporation World Jet Routes Map

A new book chartering the history of the airline map is published this coming, Wednesday 29 October 2019.

“Airline Maps” published by Particular Books features archive route maps from airlines such as Air France, British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation.

The authors Mark Ovenden and Maxwell Roberts have given an interview to Citylab.

Dreamflight Takes Off

The annual “Dreamflight” departed London Heathrow for Orlando yesterday, Sunday 27 October 2019.

Founded in 1986 by former BA staff members Patricia Pearce MBE and Derek Pereira, Dreamflight is a registered charity that raises funds to charter a BA Boeing 747 carrying hundreds of children with a serious illness or disability on a once in a life time trip to Orlando, Florida.

Approximately 200 children travel on each annual flight together with BA cabin crew and a dedicated medical team, including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who are on hand 24 hours a day throughout the trip. The flight is also supported a team of BA volunteers who assist with its departure at Heathrow.

Since the first flight in 1987 around 6,000 children have flown on Dreamflight. There’s more information at Dreamflight.

British Airways Opens “Refreshed” Milan Linate Lounge

British Airways has reopened its lounge at Milan Linate airport following a light refurbishment.

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British Airways Lounge Milan Linate Airport (Image Credit: British Airways)

Flights to Milan Linate airport have resumed today, Sunday 27 October 2019, following a period of closure due to runway maintenance works.

BA has taken the opportunity to use the period of closure to undertake a “refresh” of its lounge airport.

The refreshed lounge has now reopened with new furnishings with at seat power and improved complimentary catering.

London Air Travel’s Atlantic Update – 23 October 2019

A weekly bulletin on transatlantic travel, published every Wednesday at 06:00 BST.

London Air Travel » Page 49

British Airways Boeing 747, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Image Credit: British Airways)

Winter Timetable

As mentioned in our Monday Briefing, the winter timetable comes into effect this Sunday, 27 October 2019.

One addition is that BA is suspending one of its daily Boeing 747 services to Miami (BA210/BA211) from Sunday 17 November 2019. This dovetails with American Airlines adding a second daily flight from the end of October.

One of the more symbolic changes is that the BA Boeing 747 bids adieu to Phoenix as it will be replaced with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. At the same time the route transfers from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5, with San Diego moving from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3.

The 747 has served this route for a very long time. It initially launched from Gatwick with a DC-10 aircraft. There will be no doubt be many more North American routes that will lose a Boeing 747 in the coming years.

Finally, a gentle reminder that whilst the UK moves from BST to GMT this Sunday, clocks do not change in the US until Sunday 3 November 2019.

In case you missed it:

Air New Zealand to suspend London Heathrow – Los Angeles from late October 2020. (London Air Travel)

Also of note this week:

Delta reaches agreement to lease two additional Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. (Delta)

The Hoxton Hotel opens in Downtown Los Angeles. (The Hoxton)

New York’s City Bakery closes after nearly 30 years in Manhattan. (Instagram)

San Francisco approves a plan to ban private cars from Market Street as part of the “Better Market Street” initiative. (Citylab)

Air New Zealand Suspends London Heathrow – Los Angeles

Air New Zealand is to withdraw from London altogether in late October 2020 when its last remaining route, London Heathrow – Los Angeles – Auckland is suspended.

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Air New Zealand and Star Alliance Airline Tailfins at London Heathrow (Image Credit: Heathrow)

Air New Zealand is to withdraw from London altogether in late October 2020 when its last remaining route, London Heathrow – Los Angeles – Auckland is suspended.

Air New Zealand has cited the myriad of one-stop options that are now available for passengers travelling between Europe and New Zealand as the reason for the suspension.

It is of course not the only airline to cut one-stop routes between Europe and Australia / New Zealand. They are expensive to operate with relatively high crewing costs and poor aircraft utilisation. However, it is noteworthy that Air New Zealand has chosen to withdraw from London altogether, in contrast to Qantas which has sought to retain a presence in London.

Air New Zealand was also a popular option for passengers flying London – Los Angeles direct. However, with one daily flight, Air New Zealand has become less competitive against the joint schedules offered by AA and BA.

Air New Zealand currently offers passengers the option to fly from London Heathrow to Auckland via Singapore through a codeshare with Singapore Airlines. It has said it will offer more codeshare options to passengers after the cessation of London – Los Angeles.

Separately, Air New Zealand has announced its intention to fly from New York Newark to Auckland non-stop with the Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Air New Zealand in London

Air New Zealand Press Advertisement, 26 August 1982

Air New Zealand, dubbed “The Ritz Of The Skies”, began flying from London on 26 August 1982. This was initially on Thursdays and Sundays only from London Gatwick via Los Angeles and Tahiti on a Boeing 747 aircraft. Until relatively recently, Air New Zealand served New Zealand from London via Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing – 21 October 2019

Welcome to our weekly briefing on air travel in London and around the world, as published every Monday at 06:00 BST.

London Air Travel » Page 49

Qantas Boeing 787-9 Aircraft VH-ZNI landing in Sydney having completed a non-stop flight from New York JFK. (Image Credit: David Gray /Getty Images for Qantas)

Welcome to our Monday Briefing for the week beginning 21 October 2019.

Winter 2019 Timetable

This coming Sunday, 27 October 2019, marks the beginning of the winter timetable, as well of course, the clocks going back one hour.

Here are the main changes for BA at Gatwick and Heathrow. There are some Heathrow terminal switches. BA flights to Billund, Hanover, San Diego and Zagreb move from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3. Luxembourg, Lyon and Phoenix move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5.

In terms of other airlines at Heathrow, Eurowings suspends London Heathrow – Berlin Tegel from Sunday. SAS launches a new Saturday seasonal service to Scandinavian Mountains Airport from Saturday 28 December 2019. Virgin Atlantic also returns to Mumbai from Sunday.

Over at London City, Flybe suspends Dusseldorf, and TAP Air Portugal suspends Lisbon and Porto.

A large number of airlines will resume flights to Milan Linate as the airport reopens this weekend following runway works.

Just How Big Are Frequent Flyer Programmes?

There has been much commentary in recent weeks suggesting that airlines should ban frequent flyer programmes to combat unnecessary flying.

There are shades of anti-elitism in this from those who would prefer air travel to be more egalitarian, with no special privileges for frequent flyers.

That belies what frequent flyer programmes have become – frequent flyer miles are simply now a currency in their own right.

As in indication, in 2018 over 115 billion Avios were issued to 8.7 million active users of Avios based frequent flyer programmes. Of these, 54.5 billion were actually issued though means other than flying. Withdrawing these, which would take a long time to unravel, would be deeply unpopular.

It’s also worth recalling that although the BA Executive Club was first introduced in 1982 (shortly after US airlines introduced frequent flyer programmes which had a dramatic impact on passenger behaviour), it did not become a true mileage accrual programme until the mid 1990s. Even if the accrual of frequent miles was banned, airlines would still find a way to incentivise and reward high value flyers.

British Airways London Heathrow Winter 2019 Schedule

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London Heathrow Terminal 5A (Image Credit: Heathrow)

Sunday 27 October 2019 marks the beginning of the Winter 2019 travel season for airlines. This runs until Saturday 28 March 2020. Here are the main known schedule changes for British Airways at London Heathrow.

These are for indicative guidance and are subject to change according to commercial and operational requirements. Flights from Heathrow can booked at ba.com

London Heathrow Terminal Changes

Billund, Hanover, San Diego and Zagreb move from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3.

Luxembourg, Lyon and Phoenix move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5.

New Long-Haul Routes

BA will fly to Dammam as an extension to its existing service to Bahrain from 1 December 2019. As a consequence of this, BA’s ground transfer service from Bahrain to Dammam (Sold as flight numbers BA8499/BA8498) will cease.

Boeing 787-10 Flights

British Airways will take delivery of its first Boeing 787-10 aircraft in January 2020.

BA has 12 787-10 aircraft on order, and six will be received in 2020. The first 787-10 route will be London Heathrow – Atlanta from an, as yet unconfirmed date, in February 2020.

Airbus A350-1000 Flights

BA’s Airbus A350-1000 aircraft are due to operate the following flights during the winter season:

Flights BA107/BA106 – London Heathrow – Dubai
Flights BA93/BA92 – London Heathrow – Toronto
Flights BA163/BA162 – London Heathrow – Tel Aviv (from Sunday 1 December 2019)
Flights BA119/BA118 – London Heathrow – Bengaluru (from Wednesday 1 January 2020)

Airbus A380 Flights

Here are seasonal changes to routes operated with Airbus A380 aircraft:

Daily A380 flights to Boston (BA213/BA212) end on Sunday 27 October 2019. It is currently scheduled to return on Monday 30 March 2020.

Daily A380 flights to Chicago O’Hare (BA297/BA296) end on Friday 25 October 2019. It is currently scheduled to return on Sunday 29 March 2020.

On Saturday 26 October 2019, A380 flights to Hong Kong swap from BA31/BA32 to BA27/BA28.

BA switches to a twice daily A380 operation to Johannesburg (BA55 & BA54 / BA57 & BA56) from Sunday 27 October 2019.

BA resumes daily flights to Los Angeles on flights BA269/BA268 from Sunday 27 October 2019.

The A380 moves from a daily operation to San Francisco to Monday, Thursday & Saturday only on flights BA286 & BA287.

Daily A380 flights to Vancouver ended on Wednesday 30 September 2019. It is currently scheduled to return from Friday 1 May 2020.

The A380 returns to Washington Dulles daily from Sunday 27 October 2019 on flights BA217 & BA216 until Sunday 29 March 2020.

Other Long-Haul Changes

Beijing moves from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) from 27 October 2019.

Cairo will continue to be operated by an Air Belgium Airbus A340 aircraft until Wednesday 6 November 2019. It will be then operated by a Titan Airways A321 aircraft until Wednesday 12 January 2020.

Calgary is suspended for the winter from Friday 25 October 2019. It will resume, initially three times weekly only, from Sunday 29 March 2020.

Charleston ends on Thursday 24 October 2019 and is currently scheduled to resume on Sunday 29 March 2019.

Muscat resumes for the winter from Wednesday 30 October 2019 and will operate, initially four times weekly, until 18 April 2020.

A long-run of Boeing 747 operations to Phoenix comes to an end as the route switches to a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Suspended Short-Haul Routes

Gran Canaria is suspended from Sunday 3 November 2019. The route will continue to operate from Gatwick.

Kyiv and St Petersburg have been suspended on Thursday 3 October 2019.

Returning Winter Seasonal Routes

Grenoble resumes, on Saturdays only, from Saturday 14 December 2019 to Saturday 28 March 2020.

Innsbruck resumes on Friday 13 December 2019.

Three times weekly services to Marrakech resumed on 3 October 2019 until Saturday 25 April 2020.

Services to Salzburg resume, initially four times weekly, from Friday 13 December 2019 until Saturday 28 March 2020.

British Airways London Gatwick Winter 2019 Schedule

Here is British Airways’ London Gatwick winter schedule from Sunday 27 October 2019 with details of returning seasonal winter routes.

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These are for indicative guidance and are subject to change according to commercial and operational requirements. Flights from Gatwick can booked at ba.com

Long-Haul Changes

Cape Town resumes for the winter, three times weekly, from Monday 11 November 2019 to Saturday 28 March 2020.

Cancun increases to five times weekly.

Fort Lauderdale has been suspended since Saturday 7 September 2019.

Lima is suspended for the winter from Friday 25 October 2019 until Sunday 29 March 2020.

Male resumes for the winter from Sunday 27 October 2019 to Friday 27 March 2020.

New York JFK will be operated by an Envelop Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft from Sunday 27 October 2019 to Sunday 12 January 2020. This is a two class aircraft, with no premium economy cabin. All passengers have the option of rebooking on alternative BA services between London Heathrow and New York JFK. The route will also be cancelled from Tuesday 14 January 2020 to Monday 10 February 2020.

Toronto has been suspended for the winter since Tuesday 24 September 2019 and is scheduled to resume from Friday 1 May 2020.

New Short-Haul Routes

BA has transferred its service to Gran Canaria from London Heathrow to Gatwick. It will initially operate three times weekly in the winter season on Monday, Friday and Saturday.

BA launched a new year-round route from Gatwick to Milan Bergamo on Sunday 1 September 2019.

Suspended Short-Haul Routes

The following winter seasonal routes will not return this year:

Friedrichshafen, Lyon

Returning Short-Haul Winter Seasonal Routes

The following routes return for the winter season:

Cologne returns from Friday 1 November 2019 to Friday 27 March 2020.

Geneva returns from Friday 13 December 2019 until Friday 10 April 2020 with increased frequency of 26 flights a week.

Grenoble returns from Saturday 14 December 2019 to Sunday 19 April 2020 with increased frequency of 4 flights a week.

Innsbruck returns from Sunday 8 December 2019 to Friday 24 April 2020 with a decreased frequency of 4 flights a week.

Nuremberg returns from Friday 29 November 2019 to Monday 6 January 2020.

Vienna returns from Sunday 27 October 2019 to Sunday 12 January 2020.