British Airways

[White Heather]

Oldendays, there was a day in the early 90's when just about every airport in the UK that wasn't North of LBA was closed with fog and we had somewhere in the order of 58 diversions. On that day, we had virtually the entire 1-11 500 fleet at LBA, plus 737-200's, ATPs and various other airlines including Aer Lingus, Dan Air, and Swissair. So yes, you are right - the did operate into LBA occasionally and sometimes their pax were transferred over the hill and flew out from LBA, so they weren't always empty when leaving.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I could be wrong but wasn't the Swissair a wide body- A310 possibly?. Aircraft were parked all over the place that time, all along 01/19 BA BAC1-11's and 737's were definitely seen at Leeds, but only as diversions. I believe we once had a merchantman too. I remember working at the airport one evening when we had lots of diversions, due snow elsewhere (late 70's), one aircraft was a BA 737 diverted from LGW, operating from Lisbon.

LbaYorkie

 

[Moo2009]

Any one any more info when flights will be on sale

[ Post made via iPhone ]

 

[wawkrk]

The Swissair was indeed an A310 and it parked in the pan. The passengers had to wait hours as there were no steps available.The entire Manchester BA BAC 1-11 fleet operated all day or maybe two days from LBA.

 

[lbaspotter]

Guys and gals lets not go off topic. Remember this is about BA now not yesteryear.

[ Post made via Android ]

 

[oldendays]

I'll just reply to White Heather for courtesy's sake then, as requested, we can go back to British Airways...

I too remember those occasions in the late eighties/early nineties when the BA 1-11s (and other diverted jets) were operating out of LBA. However, by then, the runway had been extended so performance was less of an issue.

I don't expect there will be any performance issues with the BA A320-class aircraft. As with the 1-11s, minimal fuel, not huge pax numbers (although that would be nice) and BMI have already proved the job can be done. As for full CAT 2 and 3 capability for BA, we'll have to see.

 

[lbaspotter]

The British Airways, Airbus A319 fleet will I understand be able to accept a CATIII approach on to LBA's Runway 32 in Foggy weather conditions. But it will all depend on if the flight crew are CATIII rated at the time or not..

I know BMI's Airbus A319's use to able to accept a CATIII's approaches on to Runway 32 as they did it several times before changing to the smaller Embrear 145 regional jets..

 

[leedslad]

Sorry as a total layman - can someone let me know:

What "Cat(egory)" rating does LBA have? And what does not having the next level up prevent us from having?...

 

[User0001]

This is the proposed timetable for BA at LBA, effective Oct 28th 2012:

BA8583 LBA 0615 LHR 0720

BA8582 LHR 1105 LBA 1210
BA8585 LBA 1320 LHR 1420

BA8576 LHR 1730 LBA 1835
BA8593 LBA 1910 LHR 2015

BA8578 LHR 2130 LBA 2235

All will be operated by A319/A320 in a BA config, and is not yet envisaged that an A321 will be used. Also, until the logistics of the bmi merger are sorted, flights will unfortunately run from T1 and not T5.

All subject to final confirmations, so the usual disclaimer of 'don't shoot the messenger' if it changes.

 

[White Heather]

Thanks for that User 001. If the times remain as they are , they are superb for the business and interlining traveller, and I know there will be a lot of happy business people, all of whom have been banging the drum for the return of LHR flights since BMi pulled off the route. I cannot see anything but success with those times, even if T1 has to be used for a while. Having flown from MAN to Montreal with BMi and Air Canada 2 years ago I found the transfer system at LHR really good - absolutely no problem at all, although obviously a change to T5 in the future will be even better.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Timings are pretty good. Do we know yet when service is likely to commence?

LbaYorkie

 

[oldendays]

Leedslad,

Leeds Bradford Airport has an instrument landing system (ILS) on each runway. The system on RW14 is CAT1 only, the system on RW32 is CAT2/3. In simple terms it means a suitably equipped aircraft together with a suitably qualified crew can make an approach and landing to RW32 in conditions of poor visibility which would otherwise be likely to force a diversion. Because RW14 is only CAT1, the forward visibility has to be that much better otherwise an approach can not be attempted.

That's my understanding anyway. Hope it helps !

 

[wawkrk]

I would just add to that oldendays just to put some meat on the bones.
Generally with some variations.

CAT 1 - RVR (Runway Visual Range) 800m Decision height 200ft

CAT 2 - RVR 350m decision height 100ft

CAT 3A - RVR 50m decision height less than 100ft or no decision height

CAT 3B - RVR 50m decision height less than 50 ft or none.

The last two will be full autoland I assume.

Maybe someone with more knowledge can correct me.

wawkrk

 

[lbaspotter]

This is the proposed timetable for BA at LBA, effective Oct 28th 2012:

BA8583 LBA 0615 LHR 0720

BA8582 LHR 1105 LBA 1210
BA8585 LBA 1320 LHR 1420

BA8576 LHR 1730 LBA 1835
BA8593 LBA 1910 LHR 2015

BA8578 LHR 2130 LBA 2235

All will be operated by A319/A320 in a BA config, and is not yet envisaged that an A321 will be used. Also, until the logistics of the bmi merger are sorted, flights will unfortunately run from T1 and not T5.

All subject to final confirmations, so the usual disclaimer of 'don't shoot the messenger' if it changes.

Going by that planned scheduled it looks to be good for interling passengers. And maybe for the few odd point to point day trippers.

User001 seen you work for British Airways and appreciate you might not be able to say anything at this time, but can you update us on how things are progressing regarding the route been officially announced and flights been put on sale?

 

[User0001]

Im not allowed to say anything more than I have posted Im afraid.

Once I am authorised, I will post. However, the press team do tend to get in there first, so you may well see a press release before I manage to confirm for you, so keep your eyes peeled.

 

[tk343]

http://www.flightmapping.com/news/b...ring-new-heathrow-flights-from-leeds-bradford

 

[Moo2009]

Does anyone no when these flights will be officially announced seams to be dragging since the IAG press release last month

[ Post made via iPhone ]

 

[tleeds]

Does anyone no when these flights will be officially announced seams to be dragging since the IAG press release last month

[ Post made via iPhone ]

The original date that was mentioned was October this year, but I'm not sure how achievable that date is.

 

[tleeds]

The article that Jasond4 kindly posted (Dated 06th June 12) hosts some very interesting information regarding the possible LBA-LHR route! Thanks for posting it Jason!

[textarea]So what does British Airways see in operating flights to Leeds Bradford?

Clearly, the accountants can see profits where BMI previously could not, and the clue must lie in the ability of British Airways to feed their European and long haul flight route network from the Yorkshire area.

If there is one northern English city which has so far been able to sustain its two core London flight routes (Heathrow and Gatwick) then it is Manchester, a fierce rival to Leeds on the other side of the Pennines. Yet these routes are about far more than connecting either of these cities to London, as perfectly good train services are available from Euston and Kings Cross respectively.

On British Airways' flights from Manchester to Heathrow, it is usual for around three quarters of passengers to be transferring onto other European and long haul flights, and we would expect a similar proportion on any new service to Leeds Bradford.

These international flights are also subject to Air Passenger Duty (APD), but passengers are not stungproportionately in the same way that they are for local domestic hops. Also, the ability to tap into the British Airways worldwide network from Leeds Bradford means that there is a lot more potential to pick up valuable business passengers, and even long haul leisure passengers, where the costs of using, taking off from and landing at airports becomes a lot less significant.

When BMI operated flights from Leeds Bradford, they were as often as not feeding passengers into somebody else's airline to make a profit on the long haul route, whereas the expanded British Airways will largely be feeding their own flights, and this is the crucial difference that may well keep the accountants happy.

The gap clearly exists for British Airways to reassess the Leeds Bradford route, especially as there are relatively few feeder flights currently operating from the Yorkshire airport.

For example, there are no flights to Frankfurt from Leeds Bradford to plug into the Lufthansa network, whereas the only flights to Paris from Leeds Bradford are operated by Jet2 and not by Air France, so no through connection is provided. Leeds Bradford airport has done extremely well out of the low-cost flights revolution, having served as the first base for Jet2 and more recently as a Ryanair base, but the airport does much less well out of the traditional network airlines.

Naturally, passengers from the north-east might well be asking "what about us"? If flights from Heathrow to Leeds Bradford can return, will British Airways also be looking at flights from Durham Tees Valley airport to complement their existing flights from Newcastle? This doesn't seem very likely at present, as Leeds Bradford airport has a much bigger and more wealthy catchment area than Teesside. We would expect to see flights from Liverpool to Heathrow returning before BA looked again at the Northeast.[/textarea]

 

[White Heather]

Relatively speaking, its not very long at all since BA first announced this, and it was made clear then that it was subject to a negotiated contract with LBA re landing fees etc. That won't happen so soon, despite the fact that LBA will be very keen to ensure that all their previous work isn't wasted and BA are signed up. The consultative meeting last week was cancelled, which is rare, because that usually means that none of the airport directors are availablel - there are normally two present, but if the MD is away, just one takes the meeting. So its possible that something big cropped up on that day - possibly a meeting with BA, possibly something else.

Personally I would expect an official announcement within the next month if flights are to start in the winter season.