British Airways

[LBAYORKIE]

Hopefully this will spur BA into action. Failing that Flybe need to have a codeshare with them or one of the major alliances.

 

[KARFA]

Hopefully some useful codeshares!

When flybe1 and Loganair fell out I think BA decided to codeshare with Loganair instead and pull all codeshares on flybe1, so I imagine oneworld codeshare are unlikely. The Loganair route from MME is codeshared with BA, and even bookable as a standalone BA codeshare, you don't have to be connecting on to a BA flight from LHR.

I suspect flybe2 would use T2 at LHR (T5 and T2 are the only terminals able to handle domestic flights) so I would think flybe2 should ideally look to star alliance as most of those airlines use T2 and there are not any competing *A airline I can think of feeding in to LHR from BHD/AMS/LBA.

I guess going back to VS/DL may be an option as well, but tbh it didn't really do much for flybe1 when the airline was supposed to feed in to those airlines.

I think connections would be key. I doubt there is going to be sufficient point to point traffic from LBA-LHR to keep it going.

BHD and AMS there is a lot of point to point, but they will be up against stiff competition from well established airlines so I have no idea how they intend to differentiate from them. Price may be an option to undercut the competition, but then it becomes even more important to fill every seat.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

A code share with the Star Alliance would be a good starting point but still second best to BA in my opinion. In the same way any LHR service is better than none but there's nothing like having the flag carrier on the route. Similarly turbo props do not have the same passenger appeal.

I'm due to travel to London in July so hopefully flights will be bookable soon.

 

[lbaspotter]

Having Flybe on LBA-LHR, I wonder if it might prompt BA back?

 

[AirBingley]

Having Flybe on LBA-LHR, I wonder if it might prompt BA back?

The new Flybe Management team has an existing history with BA / BA Connect (and a number of other airlines per their website) so possibly there might be some work going on here as I doubt they will try it without any sort of code share?

 

[A400]

Having Flybe on LBA-LHR, I wonder if it might prompt BA back?

Just need Flybe to announce it now!

 

[lbaspotter]

Can't see BA coming back on the LHR-LBA route anytime soon. especially with the excuse given for butchering the LHR-INV schedule from 2/3x down to 1x daily

BA to reduce Inverness-London flights over summer

Inverness Airport said the change to the popular Heathrow route appeared to be temporary.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[lbaspotter]

I wonder if BA have took any notice of the Flybe LBA-LHR route and it's failings this summer or if the has been any move from LBA or BA's managerment regards the continued suspension of service?

Also I see BA have codeshare on both the Aer Lingus services from Leeds-Bradford to Dublin & Belfast City meaning you can now book using up them saved Avios points.

 

[KARFA]

The dublin flights were always BA codeshared even when BA operated their own flights. The BHD ones too. Bear in mind spending avios to book flights isn’t linked to there being a BA codeshare. I think all EI flights are bookable with avios once they became a BA avios partner once they joined IAG.

I doubt the demise of BE on the route will change anything. BA are cutting flights and routes this winter so they won’t be re-starting LBA for a while yet (if at all).

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The dublin flights were always BA codeshared even when BA operated their own flights. The BHD ones too. Bear in mind spending avios to book flights isn’t linked to there being a BA codeshare. I think all EI flights are bookable with avios once they became a BA avios partner once they joined IAG.

I doubt the demise of BE on the route will change anything. BA are cutting flights and routes this winter so they won’t be re-starting LBA for a while yet (if at all).

You can use Avios on partner airlines but you cannot use companion vouchers, which is a big disadvantage.

 

[lbaspotter]

BA are cutting flights and routes this winter so they won’t be re-starting LBA for a while yet (if at all).

Yeah knew about BA cutting flights at LHR due to the slot & lack of security staff, but this came from a very reliable source some kind of discussion took place recently which were said to be constructive & plimary way forward was discussed.

Its reason I actually brought up the subject, as it sounded positive. But I agree with you that it could still be a long way off

 

[lbaspotter]

With the collapse of Flybe 7x daily slot pairs have just become available to British Airways at London Heathrow,
I wonder with reduced APD on domestic flights from March If a slot sitting exercise to Leeds-Bradford has just become viable too?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

With the collapse of Flybe 7x daily slot pairs have just become available to British Airways at London Heathrow,
I wonder with reduced APD on domestic flights from March If a slot sitting exercise to Leeds-Bradford has just become viable too?

Let's hope LBA are switched on enough to approach BA again. Seems like a good time to unsuspend the route.

 

[LBA4EVER]

The perfect time for BA to un-suspend the LBA-LHR route, until loads are better possibly use the smaller BA E190 on the route( sure plenty are in non op atm as there used a fare bit in summer months on specific med routes) then once the summer season arrives im sure loads will be ideal for the A319.

 

[gulftraveller]

BA mainline do not operate the E190.

They suspended the LBA route as it was economically unviable. Since then, the only change is that another airline (BE) also found the route economically unviable. LBA should stick at what it does well.

 

[KARFA]

They suspended the LBA route as it was economically unviable. Since then, the only change is that another airline (BE) also found the route economically unviable. LBA should stick at what it does well.

they suspended it at the start of covid because no one was travelling. as to whether it as economically viable before that point, BA had plenty of opportunity to ditch the route over the 8 years they operated it, but didn't. BA are not known for carrying on with loss making routes for long periods of time.

over the last few years before it was suspended loads were around 76%, whether that means good yields obviously that would only be internal information. it was very dependent on connections, i think it had the highest percentage of connections of all BA domestic routes, so until that connecting traffic came back for all the usual destinations it would't be sensible to restart it.

BA have also had their own capacity constraints coming out of the pandemic with lack of cabin crew means many routes have seen frequency cuts over this winter - MAN and NCL are only a few flights a day sometimes. so again until that is resolved it wouldn't make any sense to bring routes back.

i am not sure anyone on the outside can claim with any certainty that the route was economically unviable, or if they are privy to that kind of information i doubt they would share it online.

whether it does restart is anyone's guess. I hope it does, but it is quite possible it will not. i suspect if it did it would be no earlier than this summer, but i only say that because the capacity restraints on BA may be easing by then.

 

[LBA4EVER]

BA mainline do not operate the E190.

They suspended the LBA route as it was economically unviable. Since then, the only change is that another airline (BE) also found the route economically unviable. LBA should stick at what it does well.

I did have a sneaky feeling that BA mainline do not operate the E190 but just thought id put it out, thanks for the update.

 

[lbaspotter]

I've a had a good conversation with a current BA flight crew who's local and he says LBA-LHR is very much in there thinking of return.

 

[AirBingley]

I spotted in the financial press that rescue talks for Flybe3 (interested parties LH and KL) have now closed as of last night so with that in mind does this maintain a glimmer of hope for the return of BA to use those slots on an LBA service?

 

[lbaspotter]

Well the ex Flybe 7x daily London Heathrow slot pairs are to be handed back to British Airways this weekend.

Now wouldn't it be a good time to start a Leeds-Heathrow slot sitter especially seen as China & the far east is finally starting to reopen? They will need to use them or lose them..