BA Cuts LHR-SYD via SIN

[Neil R.]

From Airline Route Updates Blog

As per GDS timetable display on 16JUL09, British Airways is cancelling 1 of 2 Daily Sydney service

The Daily 777 London - Singapore - Sydney will end on 24OCT09. With this cancellation, Singapore is reduced from 2 to 1 Daily as well. Daily 747 service Bangkok continues.

The cancellation of Singapore - Sydney vv sector marks the end of BA's operation on this route for over 50 years

Schedule is the following:

BA011 LHR2115 - 1750+1SIN 744 D
BA012 SIN2255 - 0450+1LHR 744 D

BA009 LHR2130 - 1540+1BKK1705+1 - 0610+2SYD 744 D
BA010 SYD1730 - 2245BKK0010+1 - 0555+1LHR 744 D

Note that the title, halve/50%, is only restricted to BA's own operation. With QANTAS' joint-venture included, the reduction is only 5%

[Jon Harris]

This is not correct BA15/BA16 will still operate but only 5 times weekly during selected periods and with an upgauge to 744. The BA11/BA12 will LHR-SIN will remain daily, along with BA9/10. In essence it only represents a 5% reduction overall.

[Andrew P]

I read it different the LHR-SIN-SYD and vv will not operate for the months of November 2009 & March 2010, but will operate for Dec 2009, Jan 2010 & Feb 2010 and then with a 744

Banjo

[Kelvin R]

So there will no longer be WT+ or Y+ available as an evening departure from SIN-SYD direct and the loss of the afternoon SYD-SIN seats as well?

[Craig Sandford]

That leaves only QF6 on the evening SIN/SYD sector for OneWorld. I don't know what recent loads have been like, but most people on QF tickets were pushed to QF320 (BA11) in the past to leave space on the Frankfurt run.

If QF6 is still generating decent loads, will people be pushed to fly via MEL or BNE, or would QF consider an A330 as a separate flight? Or possibly making the QF82 SIN/ADL/SYD route a 7 day a week route?

Or another thought maybe mixing QF42 and QF82 to originate in SIN and fly alternate days via CGK or ADL?

Interested in others thoughts.

[Montague S]

don't forget QF 31/32...

[Brian Wilkes]

Should have kept the 777 going down the YMML, pick up some pax what ever number they my be then returned to LHR via SYD/SIN. They would have had a close to full a/c by the time it left Singapore for the flight home.

[Stefan Perkas]

Evening all,

Here is an update to the situation.

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE BRITISH AIRWAYS SUSPENSION ON THE LONDON HEATHROW - SINGAPORE - SYDNEY BA015/016 FLIGHT.

THE SUSPENSION IS IN EFFECT ON FOLLOWING PERIODS ONLY:
01NOV09 - 25NOV09
28FEB10 - 27MAR10

SIN DEPARTURE 1 DAY LATER TO SYD.
SYD/SIN DEPARTURE 2 DAYS LATER

REGARDLESS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME BA IS SUSPENDING THE ROUTE ON SELECTED DATES IN OVER 50 YEARS.

THIS SUPERSEDES THE POST FROM YESTERDAY ON 16JUL09, AND APOLOGIZE TO BRITISH AIRWAYS FOR THE SEMI-FALSEHOOD INFORMATION POSTED.

Source: Airline Route Updates

[Matt D]

BAs situation is dire and they are trimming wherever possible.

Their pension fund liability is approaching $6bn and for the last year have been losing more than $2million per day. These $2m daily losses don't look like changing anytime soon, so like many airlines things are very tough.

Matt

[NickN]

Thinking on a medium to long-term basis, what is going to help BA return to a profitable position?

Are they going to slash staff and routes? Obviously they can't keep asking staff to work for free!

I'd love to hear peoples thoughs on this as it is well and good to suspend ops on some routes at certain times but I doubt that will be sufficient to get them back into profit again.