British Airways Fleet Thread - 2021

janders · Thu Dec 31, 2020 4:44 pm

Welcome to the British Airways fleet discussion thread for 2021.

Please continue to add your comments below.

Link to previous thread > viewtopic.php?t=1444001

qf789 · Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:57 pm

British Airways 77W G-STBE suffered multiple bird strikes on approach to LOS on 30 Dec 20. Temporary repairs were made to the aircraft before returning to LHR

http://avherald.com/h?article=4e14aae6

VirginFlyer · Sun Jan 31, 2021 10:22 pm

[First post back after a bit of an absence - who would have thought working in aviation in 2020 would mean so little spare time!]

Now that 2020 and the 747-400 operation is in the rear-view mirror, can we confirm which 747-400s have been preserved?

G-BNLY - Landor Livery - Dunsfold
G-BYGC - BOAC Livery - St Athan
G-CIVB - Negus Livery - Kemble
G-CIVW - Chatham Historic Dockyard Livery - Dunsfold

Is that correct? If so, good to see the wishes expressed in last year’s thread for one in each livery to be preserved have been realised.

V/F

eurotrader85 · Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:13 am

Fourth BA 78K G-ZBLD headed to Victorville, CA for storage and according to SimpleFlying three more are expected to follow suit. Does anyone know how many 78Ks BA are expected to be delivered this year and further how many they put into storage? Understand Boeing has been a bit all over the place on its delivery schedule, and also UK govt is not making it easy for the industry with basically complete ambiguity on the status of the the forward summer vacation season but thought this variant was desired for cargo abilities, which has held up better.

https://simpleflying.com/british-airway ... 1613002167

LAX772LR · Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:31 am

eurotrader85 wrote:
Does anyone know how many 78Ks BA are expected to be delivered this year

B78X (ICAO) or 781 (IATA)... no such nomenclature as 78K.

-ZBLE, -ZBLF, and -ZBLG are all queued for production, relatively close to each other; and even with Boeing's recent slowdown to 5/mo, they should still all comfortably be delivered by early fall. This is, of course, assuming no further delays, like what the Merrill Lynch analysts are already predicting for Boeing.

ba319-131 · Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:54 am

I don’t think Boeing have delivered any 787’s in a few months, talk of production/quality control issues.....

factsonly · Wed Feb 17, 2021 4:42 pm

BA has flown its last A318 G-EUNA from Madrid to the Netherlands today - Febr. 17, 2021 - for dismantling at AELS:

- BA9279 MAD-ENS A318 G-EUNA

G-EUNA Airbus A318-100 seating C32 delivered Aug 2009 stored Mar 2020 flown to be dismantled at ENS Febr. 2021

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flig ... 9#26d7e854

An interesting routing over the Atlantic.

jumpjets · Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:45 pm

Does anyone have any insight as to why BA continued to take deliveries of its A350-1000s and 777-300ERs over the last year but not these latest 787-10s?

shamrock321 · Thu Feb 18, 2021 12:26 am

I believe 787 deliveries have been suspended temporarily due to quality issues.

LAX772LR · Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:05 am

jumpjets wrote:
Does anyone have any insight as to why BA continued to take deliveries of its A350-1000s and 777-300ERs over the last year but not these latest 787-10s?

No one's gotten any, for months. Alleged reasoning is above.

jfk777 · Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:52 pm

The 777-300ER are only 4 airplanes, they could retire 4 777-200Er.

TUGMASTER · Thu Feb 18, 2021 4:02 pm

jfk777 wrote:
The 777-300ER are only 4 airplanes, they could retire 4 777-200Er.

Believe the 351’s & 77W’s were original 744 replacements...
Current times made the Queen disappear quicker than we would have hoped, but the delivery’s continued.
As for the 781’s, BA don’t need the capacity or the headache of whatever the CHS quality control problems are, so they’ll go to storage so Boeing can fix. Fingers crossed.

A320B737NGCapt · Thu Feb 18, 2021 4:34 pm

TUGMASTER wrote:
jfk777 wrote:
The 777-300ER are only 4 airplanes, they could retire 4 777-200Er.

Believe the 351’s & 77W’s were original 744 replacements...
Current times made the Queen disappear quicker than we would have hoped, but the delivery’s continued.
As for the 781’s, BA don’t need the capacity or the headache of whatever the CHS quality control problems are, so they’ll go to storage so Boeing can fix. Fingers crossed.

From memory, I maybe wrong!
The 3 77W’s were ordered to replace the 3 77A’s, then an extra was ordered
18 350-1000’s to replace the low J 744’s.
18 777-9 to replace remaining 744’s, and 4 77E
Refitted 77W’s plus the 4 new ones (premium doors 1-4) to replace the high 86J 744 on routes, 777-9 operating where required.
12 787-10 were for expansion.

But as TUGMASTER stated 744’s have gone earlier due to the current circumstance’s. And the environment is ever changing unfortunately.

I also remember reading that 6 77E’s (I don’t know the registrations and this may have changed) are in long storage as they are surplus to requirements at present.

TC957 · Thu Feb 18, 2021 5:17 pm

factsonly wrote:
BA has flown its last A318 G-EUNA from Madrid to the Netherlands today - Febr. 17, 2021 - for dismantling at AELS:

- BA9279 MAD-ENS A318 G-EUNA

G-EUNA Airbus A318-100 seating C32 delivered Aug 2009 stored Mar 2020 flown to be dismantled at ENS Febr. 2021

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flig ... 9#26d7e854

An interesting routing over the Atlantic.

That surprising that it's gone for scrap, would have thought Titan or one of the exec jet co's would take it on as a sports team charter jet in that configuration.

N965UW · Fri Feb 19, 2021 2:30 am

factsonly wrote:
BA has flown its last A318 G-EUNA from Madrid to the Netherlands today - Febr. 17, 2021 - for dismantling at AELS:

- BA9279 MAD-ENS A318 G-EUNA

G-EUNA Airbus A318-100 seating C32 delivered Aug 2009 stored Mar 2020 flown to be dismantled at ENS Febr. 2021

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flig ... 9#26d7e854

An interesting routing over the Atlantic.

I was going to say, was there any specific reason for avoiding France? My guess is the aircraft had to fly over the UK in order to legally complete delivery to the scrapper (in the same way that new aircraft often need to enter a certain country's airspace in order to activate the contracts and legally take delivery).

airsmiles · Fri Feb 19, 2021 7:51 am

N965UW wrote:
factsonly wrote:
BA has flown its last A318 G-EUNA from Madrid to the Netherlands today - Febr. 17, 2021 - for dismantling at AELS:

- BA9279 MAD-ENS A318 G-EUNA

G-EUNA Airbus A318-100 seating C32 delivered Aug 2009 stored Mar 2020 flown to be dismantled at ENS Febr. 2021

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flig ... 9#26d7e854

An interesting routing over the Atlantic.

I was going to say, was there any specific reason for avoiding France? My guess is the aircraft had to fly over the UK in order to legally complete delivery to the scrapper (in the same way that new aircraft often need to enter a certain country's airspace in order to activate the contracts and legally take delivery).

They could have easily overflown the UK without making the massive detour out over the Atlantic. It’s not to do with avoiding France either as they could have taken a more overland route to the east. If the strange routing was based upon geography, I wonder if they needed to overfly ‘international’ airspace?

chonetsao · Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:33 am

Just for reference on BA's Club Suite aircraft in B777 fleet. Current aircrafts with new Club Suite configuration are as below:
B777-200ER LHR fleet:

8F49J40W138Y (complete :11/ to-be-refurbished: 11)
G-RAES
G-VIIB
G-VIIC
G-VIIE
G-VIIF
G-VIIG
G-VIIK
G-VIIL
G-VIIM
G-VIIN
G-VIIS
(Yet to be reconfigured are: G-VIIA/D/H, G-YMMG/H/J/K/L/N/O/P)

48J40W184Y (1/7)
G-YMMI
(Yet to be reconfigured are: G-YMMA/C/F/R/S/T/U)

B777-300ER with new Club Suite (4/12):
8F76J40W130Y
G-STBM
G-STBN
G-STBO
G-STBP
(Yet to be reconfigured are: G-STBA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L)

Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

GSTBA · Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:01 pm

chonetsao wrote:
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

Sorry but there are a few error with the info posted in regard to the 777-200ER plans.

A total of 26 aircraft will have Club Suites fitted.

777-200ER (8F/49J/40W/138Y) - 15 aircraft

Complete (12): G-RAES, G-VIIB, G-VIIC, G-VIID, G-VIIE, G-VIIF, G-VIIG, G-VIIK, G-VIIL, G-VIIM, G-VIIN, G-VIIS
Remaining (3): G-VIIA, G-VIIH, G-VIIJ

777-200ER (48J/40W/184Y) - 11 aircraft

Complete (1): G-YMMI
Remaining (10): G-YMMG, G-YMMH, G-YMMJ, G-YMMK, G-YMML, G-YMMN, G-YMMO, G-YMMP, G-YMMT, G-YMMU

G-YMMA, G-YMMR and G-YMMS were planned to be reconfigured in a high density configuration to operate from LGW prior to the pandemic. It is unclear if this will still happen or if they will be fitted in the 3 class club suite configuration.

If they are configured in a LGW high density configuration then they will be fitted with the same cabin as fitted it G-YMMB to F (32J/48J/252Y)

chonetsao · Thu Mar 04, 2021 5:28 pm

GSTBA wrote:
chonetsao wrote:
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

Sorry but there are a few error with the info posted in regard to the 777-200ER plans.

A total of 26 aircraft will have Club Suites fitted.

777-200ER (8F/49J/40W/138Y) - 15 aircraft

Complete (12): G-RAES, G-VIIB, G-VIIC, G-VIID, G-VIIE, G-VIIF, G-VIIG, G-VIIK, G-VIIL, G-VIIM, G-VIIN, G-VIIS
Remaining (3): G-VIIA, G-VIIH, G-VIIJ

777-200ER (48J/40W/184Y) - 11 aircraft

Complete (1): G-YMMI
Remaining (10): G-YMMG, G-YMMH, G-YMMJ, G-YMMK, G-YMML, G-YMMN, G-YMMO, G-YMMP, G-YMMT, G-YMMU

G-YMMA, G-YMMR and G-YMMS were planned to be reconfigured in a high density configuration to operate from LGW prior to the pandemic. It is unclear if this will still happen or if they will be fitted in the 3 class club suite configuration.

If they are configured in a LGW high density configuration then they will be fitted with the same cabin as fitted it G-YMMB to F (32J/48J/252Y)

Thanks. That is very helpful. I was not aware and could not find the reference on the future plan for the configuration, but only the aircraft was reconfigured. Thank you again and please keep us posted.

su184 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:03 pm

Passing by Heathrow now, found an A380 with the gates attached, checked on FR24, it is G-XLEI flying to MAD.
Any idea if it is a scheduled flight or crew re-qualification ?

DY789 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:07 pm

BA have been gradually returning the A380's to LHR for maintenance having been sat around for a year. Then flown back for storage.

Can't remember which reg's but I think XLEH & XLEF were at Heathrow a few weeks back. Now back in Madrid.

su184 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:11 pm

But this one was in terminal 5, so they might using the positioning flight as a revenue flight also.

Danhill1905 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:42 pm

su184 wrote:
But this one was in terminal 5, so they might using the positioning flight as a revenue flight also.

All positioning flights depart from T5 at LHR because it’s where the crew board. Doesn’t automatically mean that passengers are onboard.

su184 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:51 pm

Thank you very much

fcogafa · Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:57 pm

On 9th March G-XLEF flew to MAD as BAW460F, which is a scheduled callsign so maybe the positioners are being used for pax/freight

BealineV953 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:45 pm

su184 wrote:
But this one was in terminal 5, so they might using the positioning flight as a revenue flight also.

The flight number, BA9174, is in the sequence used by BA for positioning flights.
'BA source' reports that three A380 positioning services have carried cargo. When cargo was carried, flight numbers in the normal BA46* sequence were used.
See BA source (search on A380) for the details.

chonetsao · Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:58 pm

Here is a very recent article on BA's A380. Published on 15th March:

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news ... ill-return

Third paragraph has the information you needed to know when BA's A380 will be returned to passenger service.

BealineV953 · Tue Mar 16, 2021 2:02 pm

DY789 wrote:
BA have been gradually returning the A380's to LHR for maintenance having been sat around for a year. Then flown back for storage.

Over the past year BA's A380s have moved regularly. Many went to Chateauroux. Some went from there to Teruel, while others went to Madrid. One or two are stored in Doha.
As well as visits to LHR for maintenance, some have been to Manila for maintenance.
See BA source for the details.
I haven't sat and worked it out, but top of my head I'd say most of the fleet have flown from somewhere to somewhere in the last few months.

PSAatSAN4Ever · Tue Mar 16, 2021 2:18 pm

British Airways is still showing an A380 scheduled for LAX-LHR this September, along with a 777-300 (and two AA non-stops). For now, at least, that shows a strong level of commitment to the airplane.

DY789 · Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:25 am

BealineV953 wrote:
DY789 wrote:
BA have been gradually returning the A380's to LHR for maintenance having been sat around for a year. Then flown back for storage.

Over the past year BA's A380s have moved regularly. Many went to Chateauroux. Some went from there to Teruel, while others went to Madrid. One or two are stored in Doha.
As well as visits to LHR for maintenance, some have been to Manila for maintenance.
See BA source for the details.
I haven't sat and worked it out, but top of my head I'd say most of the fleet have flown from somewhere to somewhere in the last few months.

Was aware of Chateauroux, Teruel & Manila mx flights. Was unaware a couple are out in DOH!

skipness1E · Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:27 am

su184 wrote:
But this one was in terminal 5, so they might using the positioning flight as a revenue flight also.

Positioning flights tend to arrive and depart from T5, very rare and operationally challenging going directly to BA Maintenance as it invoves towing crews being escorted onto the active taxiway by the 27R holding point.
Any A380s in the schedule are placeholders, in my view there's very little chance they'll be needed before next summer, but time will tell. Just because it's scheduled as an A380 doesn't mean it will be, or is even likely to be IMHO. The summer schedule is up in the air and changing dramatically on an ongoing basis.

BealineV953 · Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:40 pm

DY789 wrote:
BealineV953 wrote:
DY789 wrote:
BA have been gradually returning the A380's to LHR for maintenance having been sat around for a year. Then flown back for storage.

Over the past year BA's A380s have moved regularly. Many went to Chateauroux. Some went from there to Teruel, while others went to Madrid. One or two are stored in Doha.
As well as visits to LHR for maintenance, some have been to Manila for maintenance.
See BA source for the details.
I haven't sat and worked it out, but top of my head I'd say most of the fleet have flown from somewhere to somewhere in the last few months.

Was aware of Chateauroux, Teruel & Manila mx flights. Was unaware a couple are out in DOH!

Using BA source:
In fact three are at Doha:
XLED flew LHR-DOH on 16DEC
XLEE LHR-DOH on 17DEC
XLEJ LHR-DOH on 16DEC
Three are at Teruel:
XLEA flew LHR-Teruel on 20NOV
XLEB Chateauroux-Teruel on 20NOV
XLEC Chateauroux-Teruel on 03DEC
The other six are at MAD, but a number have rotated through LHR for maintenance during March.

Crosswind · Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:06 pm

Almost correct;

Currently...
G-XLEA/B/C @ TEV
G-XLED/E/J @ DOH
G-XLEF/G/H/I/K @ MAD
G-XLEL @ LHR

CALMSP · Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:08 pm

I was surprised to see a few in DOH last week, not what one would think a great place for storage.

BealineV953 · Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:09 am

CALMSP wrote:
I was surprised to see a few in DOH last week, not what one would think a great place for storage.

Hello.
Qatar Airways owns 25.1% of IAG. I'm guessing that BA are getting a preferential rate for parking A380s there.

concordeforever · Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:36 am

A320NEO G-TTNO was delivered from Toulouse to Heathrow on March 6th as BA9250. It is due to enter service today, March 19th, on the BA1486 to Glasgow.

BrianDromey · Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:38 am

CALMSP wrote:
I was surprised to see a few in DOH last week, not what one would think a great place for storage.

It's warm and dry, low humidity year-round. Sounds like the perfect place to store aircraft. Most of the aircraft storage places are in the desert, or desert-like conditions.

CALMSP · Fri Mar 19, 2021 2:02 pm

BrianDromey wrote:
CALMSP wrote:
I was surprised to see a few in DOH last week, not what one would think a great place for storage.

It's warm and dry, low humidity year-round. Sounds like the perfect place to store aircraft. Most of the aircraft storage places are in the desert, or desert-like conditions.

low humidity year-round? It's an absolute furnace of humidity between May and September.

aamd11 · Fri Mar 19, 2021 4:37 pm

CALMSP wrote:
BrianDromey wrote:
CALMSP wrote:
I was surprised to see a few in DOH last week, not what one would think a great place for storage.

It's warm and dry, low humidity year-round. Sounds like the perfect place to store aircraft. Most of the aircraft storage places are in the desert, or desert-like conditions.

low humidity year-round? It's an absolute furnace of humidity between May and September.

You sure about the humidity? Various sources out there, of course, but this one indicates that the highest relative humidity months are December & January. And even then, only at around 70% on average in those two months.

https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/ ... y_relative

CALMSP · Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:41 pm

aamd11 wrote:
CALMSP wrote:
BrianDromey wrote:

It's warm and dry, low humidity year-round. Sounds like the perfect place to store aircraft. Most of the aircraft storage places are in the desert, or desert-like conditions.

low humidity year-round? It's an absolute furnace of humidity between May and September.

You sure about the humidity? Various sources out there, of course, but this one indicates that the highest relative humidity months are December & January. And even then, only at around 70% on average in those two months.

https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/qatar/ ... y_relative

I lived there until last February, I can assure you, the summer months are insane with its level of humidity and dampness.

RexBanner · Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:09 pm

Given that a large amount of Airbus aircraft have been for the best part of a year sitting around getting soaked in the not so arid environment of Glasgow I think Doha would be described by most as infinitely preferable to that!

BealineV953 · Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:29 pm

A320B737NGCapt wrote:

I ...remember reading that 6 77E’s (I don’t know the registrations and this may have changed) are in long storage as they are surplus to requirements at present.

A quick update on 777s:
G-VIIO and IIP went into storage in March '20. They returned to service last month (March '21).
G-VIIT and IIW recently positioned to Teruel for storage.

airsmiles · Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:25 pm

BealineV953 wrote:
A320B737NGCapt wrote:

I ...remember reading that 6 77E’s (I don’t know the registrations and this may have changed) are in long storage as they are surplus to requirements at present.

A quick update on 777s:
G-VIIO and IIP went into storage in March '20. They returned to service last month (March '21).
G-VIIT and IIW recently positioned to Teruel for storage.

G-VIIV and G-VIIW are the two 777s at Teruel.

Galwayman · Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:23 pm

I see a BA flight from LGW to DOH in some dummy bookings I've made . Is that actually BA or a QR code share? Are those flights high density 777s or regular layout ? Thanks in advance for any insight ...

skipness1E · Tue Apr 20, 2021 1:20 am

It's supposed to BA operated but I can't for the life of me figure out why, given Qatar fly the route.

BealineV953 · Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:27 am

airsmiles wrote:
BealineV953 wrote:
A320B737NGCapt wrote:

I ...remember reading that 6 77E’s (I don’t know the registrations and this may have changed) are in long storage as they are surplus to requirements at present.

A quick update on 777s:
G-VIIO and IIP went into storage in March '20. They returned to service last month (March '21).
G-VIIT and IIW recently positioned to Teruel for storage.

G-VIIV and G-VIIW are the two 777s at Teruel.

Hello.
Apologies, you are right, thanks for the correction.

LAX772LR · Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:42 am

BrianDromey wrote:
CALMSP wrote:
I was surprised to see a few in DOH last week, not what one would think a great place for storage.

It's warm and dry, low humidity year-round.

The latter is certainly not an accurate description of DOH; the humidity there can be shockingly high at certain times of year!

Galwayman · Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:35 pm

skipness1E wrote:
It's supposed to BA operated but I can't for the life of me figure out why, given Qatar fly the route.

Yes agreed , it's a bit odd ,Was surprised that BA fly the route ....

jumpjets · Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:59 pm

Galwayman wrote:
skipness1E wrote:
It's supposed to BA operated but I can't for the life of me figure out why, given Qatar fly the route.

Yes agreed , it's a bit odd ,Was surprised that BA fly the route ....

I did wonder whether the BA plans to move routes like this and ACC* to LGW was to make the size of their operation at LGW more viable whilst their Gatwick short haul operations are closed and maybe get better utilisation out of the Gatwick long haul fleet.

* I am not sure whether ACC will now move as the Ghanaian authorities have objected.

xwb777 · Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:23 pm

BA is scheduled to operate the A380 to Dubai starting from 01AUG21.

Source: BA booking engine

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