NZ767 From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 1620 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (11 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1951 times:
26 February,
BA777 positioned Wellington-Auckland
Had been in Wellington since 22 Feb.
Queen flew via Air Force 727 this same morning.
27 February,
Carried the Queen Auckland-Adelaide.
Planeguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1899 times:
She could've saved taxpayers' money by taking a Freedom Air flight out of Hamilton. She should do the same at home by flying on Ryanair.
TOMASKEMPNER From Mexico, joined May 2001, 389 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1896 times:
I read that the British Royal Family got rid of their private jet in order to save money by flying on commercial airlines.
My question is : BA is always the choice or they also fly Virgin and BMI ?
Mr. Branson was a very close friend of Diana, so maybe this is not amusing for the queen and prefers to fly her kingdom´s flag carrier.
Other question is :
She obviously flies on BA´s first class cabin, but does Buckingham Palace gets the entire F cabin, so the queen doesn´t have to share it with other passengers and have more security and privacy ?
I know that Prince Charles will arrive to Mexico City on March on a regular BA flight, and that Prince Andrew was on BA´s LGW-ATL on Sept.11
P.D. ; I find it rare for one of the wealthiest women and families of the world not having a private jet. Royals from Brunei, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and many others have one
NZ767 From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 1620 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1890 times:
The two BAE146s that the Royal family travel on, or used to, are Royal Air Force aircraft so if in fact they don't use them anymore, then they've probably been reallocated to other duties.
I really don't know about this one.
About the Queen using Virgin or BMI, well I don't know if the decision is actually up to her.
All I can say is, it was nice to see something really out of the ordinary at my local airport for once where nowadays the largest we get to see are 737-300s and a couple of 737NGs.
Why doesn't one of the world's richest families have their own private jet?
Well, unlike the Royals of Brunei, Saudi Arabia, etc, they would probably come in for a lot of criticism if they did as the British monarchy are largely funded by the British taxpayer and aside from that, it's simply not their style to flaunt their wealth in the same way as the others do.
So, you're not going to see Prince Charles buying Prince William an A340 for his next birthday.
An you're right THOMASKEMPNER, she does in fact use BAs first class cabin.
Do you really expect her to travel Economy?
The reality is that the 777 she used on this trip was a chartered aircraft so it was just her, Prince Phillip and their entourage on board.
Her first ever commercial flight, by the way, was on an Air New Zealand 747-400 from LHR to AKL via LAX and on that occasion, the first class cabin was outfitted just for her.
Lj From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4149 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1880 times:
NZ767, the British Royal Family does use the 146s. Prince Charles used it when he went to The Netherlands for the wedding of the Dutch Crown Prince (with around 18 guests). BTW they have three 146 Royal Flight 146s.
TOMASKEMPNER From Mexico, joined May 2001, 389 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1810 times:
In some of her trips to Mexico, Queen Sophia of Spain flies IBERIA. Last time she flew to MEX with IB, they closed the entire upper deck for here. My mother was on that flight and told me about the huge security measures and the smooth flight it was.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12715 posts, RR: 80 Reply 12, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1804 times:
Only about 8% of 32 Sqn. RAF BAe-146 and BAe-125 aircraft operations are tasked for Royal duties, the rest is political/military VIP tasking.
And each time the Royal Family pay the Ministry of Defence a fee.
A few years ago, the two RAF Wessex helicopters allocated to Royal duties were withdrawn. There was no direct replacement, on the few occasions a chopper is required a S-76 leased from a commercial operator is used.
BA have long had royal VIP kits, dating back to the 50's with BOAC.
In my time at BA, I've seen L1011's/B747-236 and 436/B777's and on one occasion Concorde (the Queens US tour in 1991), have a VIP kit fitted in the forward cabin.
Despite anything written on his aircraft, Branson's Virgin is not the UK flag-carrier, despite that regrettable 'World Images' period at BA.
RAF VC-10's are sadly hardly used now, maybe if the proposed fitment of 4xV2500 engines had been approved in 1990, they would now be more economic and eviromentally acceptable for regular civil airport operations.
Such as from the LHR VIP suite, where the VC-10's used to be a much more common sight.
Sponsor Message: 
From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1449 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 1620 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 315 posts, 
From Mexico, joined May 2001, 389 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4149 posts, 
From Hong Kong, joined Nov 2000, 559 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Printer friendly format 
