Manchester: British Airways/British Airways Cityflyer Discussions

[Land23R]

We are assuming it is to take over the AA services, but you never know, even if it seems highly unlikely they would launch 2 different routes! If it is JFK and ORD, the business, gold card holders/ frequent flyers etc. would still have the choice of the shuttle to LHR if their final destination in the US wasn't New York or Chicago, and they might prefer the longer flight with BA from London rather than transfer to a domestic AA flight.

On USPC, I don't think we should take it for granted that it would happen quickly. Even if we get approval from the US authorities, apart from the structure of the facility for which we believe space is safeguarded in the TP, there must be a lot of issues to thrash out in setting up such an operation. Do we know what sort of time lapse was involved at DUB before pre-clearance was fully established, or at other airports for that matter?

 

[Aceshigh]

Given they were /are building up Dublin it does seem an odd move unless of course DUB isn't performing as well as they wanted (although it appears to be doing pretty well).

I'm amazed they weren't just canned with BA punting pax via Dublin with some weasle advertising.

Re pre clearance I thought a poster on here had indicated it was pretty set for Mar 2018 ?

 

[Aceshigh]

Given they were /are building up Dublin it does seem an odd move unless of course DUB isn't performing as well as they wanted (although it appears to be doing pretty well to me).

I'm amazed they weren't just canned with BA punting pax via Dublin with some weasle advertising.

RE feed Flybe feed IAG with EI codeshare? would BA do a deal AND would it selective?

They would not want to compromise GLA EDI ABZ LHR feed.

Re pre clearance I thought a poster on here had indicated it was pretty set for Mar 2018 ?

 

[Land23R]

post deleted

 

[Land23R]

New suggestion elsewhere is that it's just a parking deal, although heaven knows why they would choose MAN rather than say Cardiff or Birmingham. We're not exactly flush with a/c stands. If true, more 'no divs' notams could be on the agenda.

Edit: Has the original posting about these 2 a/c been deleted?

 

[Yawner]

Nobody has provided an answer as to why 2 789s are actually coming, if they are actually coming. Most likely is training, next would be some kind of charter or mass booking on the shuttle and final possibility would be a marketing ploy (which could be new routes but I don't recall any airline ever sending 2 brand new aircraft to an airport to announce future routes)

Suggestions such as parking deals and testing diversionary capability are a bit far fetched. You'd need a plane full of passengers to test the latter.

 

[Land23R]

Latest theory from someone calling himself Porky Speedpig is that the 2 a/c are for temporary parking over the US Thanksgiving holiday, as a number of flights involving B789s are cancelled over a 2 day period, and space at LHR is at a premium.

Has a certain logic to it but perhaps User001 can confirm or otherwise.

 

[User001]

It is thanksgiving parking.

MAN has favourable parking rates for BA, which is why if BA has mass diverts to the UK regions, BA is quick to get the aircraft out of the other airports but not so bothered at how long the aircraft stay at MAN.

This coupled with the fact BA has B787 maintence cover at MAN, makes sense to park the aircraft here while Heathrow is full.

 

[Dobbo]

It would be a shame if this is not what it was speculated to be. However, the fact that a BA long haul from MAN rumour has: (1) not been dismissed out of hand as unrealistic; and (2) not "shot down in flames" (pardon the pun) tells us how far along MAN has come since 2008.

It is probably a matter of time before something like this happens, unless VS and TCX completely take over the market from MAN in the meantime.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

I suspect that the reason the BA rumour had credibility is a by-product of American Airlines' poor performance on MAN-JFK/ORD this year. Multiple cancellations in the critical weeks of high-season (especially early-August peak), terrible time-keeping, on again / off again B788's, lengthening off-peak service suspensions, uncompetitive fares / inferior cabin product. Several of us get the something must be done vibe concerning these services. As other carriers have introduced superior transatlantic products, American Airlines has gone backwards at MAN. Charlotte was pulled a year back and the remaining three routes are contracting with AA's response to the competitive challenge being to downgrade types and reduce frequency and operating season. Chicago was daily B763 all year round for many, many years (even with BMI A332's competing daily on the route). Contraction appeared unthinkable. But look at the MAN-ORD route now. AA management should be ashamed.

It's no wonder we were ready to believe that BA might step in. Think about that for a moment: BA!!! That such a rumour had any credibility at all shows how far American Airlines has sunk at MAN.

 

[Dobbo]

Indeed - and when you consider that AA's B763 and B752 might soon be up against VS's A333 year round at JFK you can easily see how they might take a further step back at MAN.

Equally, you could see UA change IAD to ORD and suddenly AA look in a perilous position at MAN.

I would not be shocked at all if BA were to step in. Emotionally it might be a big step, but in business terms it would be a fairly minor switch.

 

[Aceshigh]

Absolutely hilarious......

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/...hrow-runway-will-raze-his-hq?CMP=share_btn_tw

 

[Dobbo]

LHR may not have warned BA, but I find it hard to believe it was a genuine surprise!

 

[ethanegcc]

Even so (I've seen it on airliners.net) it is very funny.

 

[Dobbo]

Any shout on where they are parked?

 

[David_itl]

One went to gate 73. Other one headed in that direction.

 

[ethanegcc]

A couple of updates from PPRuNE - wonder if User can tell us anything more on here?

Posted on facebook: "BA are already setting up a short haul base at MAN to start May 2017 through their Cityflyer franchise. AA are reducing their service due to problems replacing their long haul fleet having to reduce their spending (They have already pushed back their A350 order by two years). AA are already pulling out of BHX. BA know that the JFK & ORD are important and will take over from AA in 2018 once the B777's have been reconfigured they are also adding the possibility of a LAX route as well to show their commitment"

There is rumour of BA city flyer opening a base in MAN for summer next year with an E190. Can anyone give me information regarding routes, announcements and when they will be bookable?

If true, it is certainly a start to BA showing some commitment to MAN, much like they have done to STN.

 

[Scottie Dog]

BA City flyer is, I understand, a series of charter flights Thursday to Sunday to various popular Mediterranean destinations. Personally I would prefer to call it a presence rather than a base.

 

[Aceshigh]

User can you reassure an old man.....and at least confirm the BA news isn't that the "mega news " you referred to a day or 2 back in conversation with Ethan isn't this BA news !

 

[IanFarquharson]

BA Cityflyer should have some weekend flying from MAN & BHX from May 17, likely to be single aircraft at both, so up to 5-6 flights.
BA long haul from the regions is unlikely (hope I am wrong)