BA Boeing 787 at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (Image Credit: British Airways)
British Airways continues to selectively cancel flights to allow for additional checks and maintenance to the engines of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
Previously Announced Cancellations
BA has applied blanket cancellations to the following Heathrow routes during May and June of this year:
BA123 from London Heathrow to Doha is cancelled from Thursday 9 May until Monday 27 May 2019.
BA122 from Doha to London Heathrow is cancelled from Friday 10 May until Tuesday 28 May 2019.
Passengers will be re-accommodated on Qatar Airways serves between London Heathrow and Doha.
BA139 from London Heathrow to Mumbai is cancelled from Friday 14 June to Sunday 30 June 2019.
BA138 from Mumbai to London Heathrow is cancelled from Saturday 15 June to Monday 1 July 2019.
Passengers will be re-accommodated on alternative BA services between London Heathrow and Mumbai.
BA73 from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi is cancelled on 8, 9, 10, 11 and 21, 22 June 2019.
BA72 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow is cancelled on 9, 10, 11, 12 and 22, 23 June 2019.
Passengers will be re-accommodated on alternative BA services between London Heathrow and Dubai, with any consequential costs at passenger’s expense.
Tactical Cancellations
BA has, today Friday 10 May 2019, also announced the following tactical cancellations up until late August 2019:
BA123 London Heathrow – Doha 24 & 25 June BA122 Doha – London Heathrow 25 & 26 June
BA73 London Heathrow – Abu Dhabi 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 July 2019 BA72 Abu Dhabi – London Heathrow 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 July 2019
BA69 London Heathrow – Philadelphia 5 July BA68 Philadelphia – London Heathrow 5 July
BA215 London Heathrow – Boston 20, 21, 27 & 28 July BA214 Boston – London Heathrow 20, 21, 27 & 28 July
BA193 London Heathrow – Dallas Fort Worth 3, 4, 5 & 6 August BA192 Dallas Fort Worth – London Heathrow 3, 4, 5 & 6 August
BA167 London Heathrow – Tel Aviv 17, 18, 19 & 20 August BA166 Tel Aviv – London Heathrow 18, 19, 20 & 21 August
BA197 London Heathrow – Houston 28 & 29 August BA196 Houston – London Heathrow 28 & 29 August
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled will be re-accomodated on alternative BA flights or those of partner airlines. Alternatively, passengers are entitled to a full refund.
Affected passengers should check the status of their booking at ba.com and contact either BA or their travel agent.
More to read on British Airways Disruption
Here are our latest posts on disruption affecting British Airways:
Cathay Pacific has launched a brand refresh with a new advertising slogan “Move Beyond”.
This replaces “Life Well Travelled” which launched four years ago. This also involved significant upgrades to its lounges at London Heathrow and Hong Kong, designed by Studioilse.
Where as the intention behind “Life Well Travelled” was comfort and well being for all passengers and a “softly spoken, strongly felt” brand, there is now more of an emphasis on progressive forward-thinking values, in addition to thoughtful, high quality service.
Whilst the rebrand is relatively modest and won’t win awards for breaking new ground, the supporting ads do feature much greater diversity. This is something which, if truth be told, many of Cathay’s local rivals are not known for.
Cathay Pacific has also confirmed that its bespoke craft ale “Betsy Beer” will return to the airline later this year. It also promises to add more entertainment choices to its in-flight entertainment system which it claims will offer the broadest content of any airline in Asia. WiFi will also be available on all flights by the end of this year.
Cathay Pacific is also due to take delivery of the first of 21 Boeing 777-9 aircraft from 2021.
To mark the relaunch Cathay Pacific has released a new “Masterbrand” film as well three shorter films highlighting its network, fleet and lounges.
The brand refresh follows Cathay Pacific ending its long-standing relationship with the advertising agency McCann last year with the appointment of VCCP and Publicis Groupe.
Singapore Airlines is currently undertaking a review of its brand identity and it will be interesting to see whether it is prepared to make a break from the era of “Singapore Girl”.
BA Boeing 787 at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (Image Credit: British Airways)
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British Airways has applied blanket cancellations to its five times weekly service from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi during June & July 2019.
BA73 from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi is cancelled on 8, 9, 10, 11 and 21, 22 June 2019.
BA72 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow is cancelled on 9, 10, 11, 12 and 22, 23 June 2019.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled are entitled to a full refund. Alternatively, passengers can fly on an alternative BA operated flight between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi within three days of the original date of travel. However, any additional expenses such as ground transportation will be at the passenger’s expense.
Affected passengers should check the status of their booking at ba.com and contact either BA or their travel agent.
The reason for the cancellations is ongoing maintenance requirements to Rolls-Royce engines of its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Whilst the issue is expected to abate by the end of the year, it won’t be until 2020 until it is fully resolved.
British Airways has announced additional cancellationsbetween Heathrow and Abu Dhabi in early July:
BA73 from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi is cancelled on 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 & 8 July 2019.
BA72 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow is cancelled on 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9 July 2019.
In addition to the options above, affected passengers can also fly on BA operated flights between London Heathrow and Dubai. However, any consequential costs such as ground such as ground transportation will be at passengers’ expense.
Update 1 July 2019
For passengers whose flights have been cancelled between 2 and 9 July, BA is also offering re-accommodation via Bahrain, connecting to/from Etihad Airways between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. BA may also re-accommodate some passengers on direct Etihad Airways services between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi.
More to read on British Airways Disruption
Here are our latest posts on disruption affecting British Airways:
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Montreal Lobby (Image Credit: London Air Travel)
Hello and welcome to the The Atlantic Update for Wednesday 8 May 2019, 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 BST.
The Queen Elizabeth Hotel Montreal Remembers John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Bed In For Peace”
In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held a “bed in for peace” in Amsterdam and Montreal to protest against war and violence around the world.
In Montreal, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their bed in at The Queen Elizabeth hotel for a week from 25 May to 2 June. It was here they penned and recorded their peace anthem “Give Peace A Chance”.
There are also a number of more accessible events, including tours of the suite and special displays in the hotel’s capacious and very well-appointed lobby, which include sound and video projections.
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Montreal Lobby (Image Credit: London Air Travel)Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Montreal Lobby (Image Credit: London Air Travel)Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Montreal Lobby (Image Credit: London Air Travel)Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Montreal Lobby (Image Credit: London Air Travel)
As for the hotel itself, it underwent a complete refurbishment in 2017. You certainly cannot fault the quality of the refurbishment and the hotel’s extensive facilities. However, the one problem is simply its sheer size. This does manifest itself in a very busy pool area and frequent queues for lifts.
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Montreal Room (Image Credit: London Air Travel)
Also of note this week:
Lyft and Uber drivers are to stage industrial action in a number of US cities today. (Washington Post)
Why Miami Beach is spending so much on public art. (CityLab)
A look at the almost finished Proper Hotel Santa Monica. (Urbanize LA)
The Atlantic Update is published every Wednesday at 06:00 BST. If you have any comments, suggestions or tips then please drop us a line at mail [@] londonairtravel.com
Welcome to our Monday Briefing for the week beginning 6 May 2019.
18 months or so when Ryanair was on the receiving end of another periodic bout of public opprobrium, Eurowings posted the image above on social media as its Hallowee’n fancy dress outfit.
Ryanair is having the last laugh. In publishing its quarterly results last week, Lufthansa Group revealed an overall loss of €342m. Of its airlines, only SWISS was profitable and there were widening losses of €256m and €99m respectively at Eurowings and Austrian Airlines.
Eurowings has a complex history and operation with multiple air operating certificates. It has grown to become one of Europe’s biggest low cost airlines largely from the transfer to it of Lufthansa short-haul routes outside of Frankfurt and Munich (including routes to many cities in Germany at Heathrow), low cost long-haul flights initially from Cologne in 2015, and the acquisition of aircraft from Air Berlin in 2018.
Austrian Airlines is also feeling significant competitive pressure from the rapid expansion of Laudamotion, LEVEL and Wizz Air in Vienna.
To address this Lufthansa is focusing on improving productivity at Eurowings. It will also launch long-haul flights at Frankfurt later this year. Austrian Airlines is also to reshape its network and simplify its fleet, with a greater focus on Vienna.
There was a similarly downbeat outlook from Air France-KLM which reported a widening loss of €320m for the first quarter. International Airlines Group will report its quarterly results this coming Friday.
Heathrow Third Runway Judicial Review
As has been widely reported, the Mayor Of London, a number of London Borough Councils and Heathrow Hub Ltd have lost judicial review proceedings in the High Court against the Secretary of State For Transport concerning the decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow.
A judicial review concerns not so much the merits of the third runway at Heathrow but rather whether the Government acted lawfully in reaching its decision. It is a difficult test to meet and these cases are not easily won.
There are two judgments handed down by the High Court. One judgment is in the case brought by the Mayor Of London and London Borough Councils. A second judgment in the case brought by Heathrow Hub Ltd.
Few will probably be inclined to even begin reading either of the judgments, but a cursory scan of the cast of thousands involved, and their sheer length, illustrates just how complex airport policy and planning issues are.
Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Engines Update
Airlines are continuing to suffer from the impact of the grounding of Boeing 787s and additional maintenance to Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. At present, around 35 aircraft are grounded worldwide.
Rolls-Royce provided an update to investors last week, confirming that it has now settled compensation claims with airlines. Rolls-Royce has previously advised that the cash cost of disruption, which includes compensation, is £1.5bn. Rolls-Royce also expects the number of grounded aircraft to be in the single digit range by the end of 2019. Should this not be the case, IAG has made it clear this will have a significant impact on its long-term relationship with Rolls-Royce.
We continue to implement the fixes to improve the health of the Trent 1000 fleet. Retrofits of the new design of the Intermediate Pressure Compressor (IPC) blade for the Package C variant are underway. Additionally, inspections of Trent 1000 TEN High Pressure Turbine Blades (HPTBs) are progressing and work continues on testing a redesigned HPTB for the Trent 1000 TEN ready for introduction into the fleet in early 2020. Based on our current understanding of the situation and fleet management plan, our guidance for in-service cash costs on the Trent 1000 in 2019 and 2020, as published with our 2018 Full Year Results on 28 February, remains unchanged.
In case you missed it:
BA has unveiled its new Club lounge at New York JFK. BA’s press photographer is flying to New York today to photograph the lounge so more photos should be available shortly. (London Air Travel)
Aer Lingus, four years later than planned, is to introduce its new “AerSpace” premium seating on select short-haul routes. (London Air Travel)
Also of note this week:
A snippet on the BA vs Financial Times battle: This article by The Guardian’s media editor Jim Waterson suggests that the decision to remove the FT from BA aircraft and lounges actually came from Willie Walsh at IAG. BA’s parent company does not usually get involved in the minutiae of BA’s service offerings. (The Guardian)
A “blueprint” for direct high speed rail services from London to Bordeaux is presented to the Mayor of Bordeaux. (Railway Gazette)
The Connect Airways consortium is seeking to recover funds in the tens of millions withheld from Flybe by credit card processing companies. (Financial Times)
Monocle 24 continues its review of the “golden era” of civil aviation with a look at Braniff’s uniforms designed by Emilio Pucci and its advertising campaign “The End of the Plain Plane”. This edition also features interviews with former cabin crew from the 1960s from airlines such as Continental. (Monocle)
Qantas has appointed Tino La Spina, currently Qantas Group CFO, as CEO of Qantas International following the sudden departure of Alison Webster. The prospect of a management reshuffle has prompted speculation whether Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder is preparing to replace Alan Joyce as CEO. According to commentary in the Australian press, Alan Joyce is likely to stay on for another three years, most likely to see out Qantas’ centenary next year and the launch of non-stop flights from London to Melbourne and Sydney. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Virgin Atlantic marks the thirtieth anniversary of its in-house engineering team. (Virgin Atlantic)
Our Monday Briefingis published every Monday at 06:00 BST. If you have any comments, suggestions or tips then please drop us a line at mail [@] londonairtravel.com
Aer Lingus Airbus A320 aircraft (Image Credit: Aer Lingus)
Aer Lingus is to introduce a new short-haul premium fare called “AerSpace” from Sunday 1 September 2019.
This was due to be introduced some four years ago. However, its launch was long delayed, partly due to the acquisition of Aer Lingus by IAG.
At the outset, it’s important to emphasise this is not the re-introduction of business class on Aer Lingus short-haul flights. It is a new category of economy fare, albeit with many features of short-haul business class in Europe.
The main benefits of AerSpace are free changes and flight refunds, automatic standby for earlier flights, Fast Track security, lounge access, priority boarding, dedicated overhead bin space, and a free middle seat.
Passengers can also choose free food and drink from Aer Lingus’ Buy on Board menu. However, there will be no divider between AerSpace and the rest of economy. At present, AerSpace appears to be limited to just four seats in the first row of economy.
Aer Lingus Short-Haul Economy Fares
AerSpace fares command a premium of around £40 over Aer Lingus’ existing “Advantage” flexible economy fare.
Although Aer Lingus does not call AerSpace business class, some third party websites do identify it as such. The cabin also seems to use booking classes J, C, and I which are used by other airlines for business class:
Aer Lingus Aer Space on ExpertFlyer
AerSpace will be available on Aer Lingus routes from London Heathrow to Belfast, Cork, Dublin and Shannon and from London Gatwick to Dublin and Knock.
It should also be added this fare is not currently available when booking a short-haul flight only itinerary as a codeshare through BA. However, if you are connecting to a long-haul business class flight, you should be booked into an AerSpace seat on Aer Lingus short-haul flights.
More details on Aer Space are available at Aer Lingus.
British Airways Lounge, South Terminal, London Gatwick (Image Credit: British Airways)
One of the many frustrations of short-haul travel in Europe and beyond is the lack of consistency in the ground experience at airports, particularly when flying to London.
BA inevitably does not have lounges at every airport it serves. It has also in recent years added a significant number of new seasonal short-haul routes.
BA has been progressively securing access to more third party lounges on its short-haul network. Last year, it secured lounge access at Bordeaux, Ibiza, Innsbruck, Krakow, Oporto, Reykjavik-Keflavik and Seville.
BA has today, Wednesday 1 May 2019, announced it has secured lounge access for eligible customers, eg Club Europe and Silver and Gold Executive Club cardholders, at a number of airports on its short-haul network. These are Dalaman; Heraklion, Crete; Olbia, Palermo, Paphos, Rhodes, Split and Thessaloniki.
Most of these airports are summer seasonal short-haul routes. Here are full details of summer seasonal BA routes at Gatwick and Heathrow. As these are third party lounges their size and the quality of facilities will vary widely.
British Airways partnership with Marks & Spencer “M&S On Board” (Image Credit: British Airways)
British Airways has today, Wednesday 1 May 2019, refreshed its Marks & Spencer Buy On Board menu in its EuroTraveller short-haul economy cabin.
The full menu and current prices can be viewed on ba.com. The main changes are changes to the drinks brands and special products to mark BA’s centenary.
Out goes Kenco & Java Republic coffee, Twinings tea, Highland Spring water, and Fever Tree tonic water.
In comes Cru Kafe coffee, Teapigs tea, Harrogate Spring water (also now on long-haul flights) and Schweppes tonic water.
Also added to the menu are a special Pickering’s gin and English Chapel Down white wine, both made exclusively for BA.
BA has also introduced a special Brewdog Speedbird 100 IPA to mark its centenary, which is also available on long-haul flights and selected BA lounges.
Norwegian Boeing 787 aircraft (Image Credit: Norwegian)
Norwegian Wet Leases
Norwegian has always prided itself on operating a young, fuel-efficient fleet of aircraft.
However, there are signs this week that Rolls-Royce engine issues for Boeing 787 Dreamliners are not going away for airlines.
Data from Flightradar and Norwegian’s website indicates that it has been forced to wet lease aircraft from a number of third parties to cover its long-haul schedule at London Gatwick. These include:
Flight DI7151/2 London Gatwick – Chicago O’Hare (leased Wamos Air Airbus A330 from Wednesday 1 May)
Flight DI7171/2 London Gatwick – Denver (leased Wamos Air Airbus A330 from Tuesday 30 April)
Flight DI7013/4 London Gatwick – New York JFK (leased Airbus A330 from Friday 3 May)
Flight DI7043/4 London Gatwick – Miami International (leased Privilege Style Boeing 777-200 from Tuesday 30 April)
Flight DI7057/8 London Gatwick – Orlando (leased Hi Fly Airbus A340 from Tuesday 30 April)
On this occasion Norwegian does not appear to be giving passengers a choice of rebooking on to alternative flights.
Heathrow – Charleston Returns Next Summer
BA launched its inaugural route from London Heathrow to Charleston a couple of weeks ago, a relatively rare occurrence of a low frequency seasonal long-haul route at Heathrow.
It will be some weeks before we ascertain how the route is performing in terms of load factors. However, based on current schedules, the route is due to return next summer, operating from an earlier start date of 29 March 2020, again on Sundays and Thursdays.
In Canada, large parts of New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec are hit by flooding. (CBC)
The Mayor Of Los Angeles announces a “Green New Deal” with the aim of substantially reducing the amount of driving in Los Angeles, with a target of half of all journeys being made by means other than a car by 2035. Given LA’s huge dependence on the car and prospective transport projects barely scratching the surface, this is going to be a huge task. (Curbed LA)
The New York Subway L line begins its regular shut downs at night and weekends for repair work. (Metropolitan Transit Authority)
Also in New York, the New York Times looks back at the original Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, demolished in the 1960s and replaced by the nightmare that is Penn station. (New York Times)
British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways)
British Airways has unveiled official images of its revamped Club lounge at New York JFK Terminal 7.
The new lounge opened last week and completes BA’s refurbishment of its lounge complex at New York JFK Terminal 7, after the new First lounge opened last year. The Concorde Room is not being refurbished.
The lounge structure is largely the same as before with an Elemis travel spa, self-service bars and a revamped pre-flight dining area (for evening flights). New facilities include a new entertainment room with audio visual equipment from Sony, a BrewDog craft beer room and a granite topped Quaich Bar, staffed by a bartender.
If you’ve not visited the lounge before, it is huge, something that is not conveyed in the press photographs. It is easily the biggest BA lounge outside of London.
The lounge is also available to eligible passengers travelling on other airlines operating at Terminal 7 such as ANA and Iberia. The lounge is open all day (though BA check-in desks aren’t). This lounge will have a relatively short life span. Terminal 7 is due to be demolished and BA is to join American Airlines in Terminal 8 from 2022.
British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways) British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways)British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways)British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways)British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways)British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: British Airways)British Airways Club Lounge New York JFK Terminal 7 Elemis Spa (Image Credit: British Airways)
Update: BA has released a short video tour of the lounge:
