British Airways adds second LCY-JFK with G-EUNB

British Airways inaugurated the second daily London City - Shannon - New York service today with the addition of flight BAW 003. Today's service was operated by the second A318 to be delivered, G-EUNB.

BA to go twice daily on LCY-JFK

With it's second A318 aircraft having been delivered to British Airways the carrier is increasing frequency on the LCY-SNN-JFK-LCY route to twice daily from Tuesday next October 13. BAW 003 will depart London's docklands at 16:00, arriving in JFK at 20:25. The return, BAW 004 departs JFK at 21:50, arriving in London City at 10:25, all times local.

G-EUNA inaugurates BAW 1 from LCY to JFK

Flight BAW 001, operated by G-EUNA on finals to Shannon's R24 this lunchtime

It is six years since the 'Speedbird 1' call sign was retired with the last Concorde operations, but today it was brought back to life when British Airway's new premium only London City to JFK service took to the air. Flight BAW 1 departed London's dockland at 11.50 utc and just over one hour later it touched down on Shannon's R24 at 12.54 utc. Taxiing to it's stand the flight was greeted by the Shannon Airport Fire & Rescue Service who provided the traditional water cannon salute. 
British Airways Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh predicted that the service will be profitable within it's first year of operation and was among the passengers on the first flight commanded by Capt. Dave Thomas.

G-EUNA receives the water cannon on the Shannon ramp, copyright picture by Malcolm Nason

The new service is to be operated by two specially configured A318-112 aircraft, the first of which registered G-EUNA was delivered to the airline on August 28 last. In the interim the aircraft has been used for crew training purposes at London City Airport. The eventual pilot pool strength will reach sixty pilots once the second aircraft is delivered. Until the second aircraft is delivered the flight schedule will operate on a daily return basis, except Saturday when LCY Airport is closed. From mid October the schedule increases to two return flights per day, except Saturday. Flight BAW 1 departs LCY at 12.50 with BAW 2 departing JFK at 6.30 pm. Flight BAW 3 will depart LCY at 4.00 pm with the return departing JFK at 9.50 pm, all times local. Since the aircraft have been equipped as the 'airborne office' the service is being targeted at the frequent City business traveler who needs to be constantly contactable.

The A318 aircraft are configured with 32 lie flat seats

The short runway length at LCY prevents the A318 from uploading the full fuel load required to make LCY-JFK in one leg. As a result the flight has to make a fuel stop at Shannon on the westbound leg only. Whilst laying over at Shannon for the 45 minute stop the passengers clear full US Immigration, Customs and Border Protection so that they land in the US as domestic passengers, thus avoiding the lengthy queues in JFK. 
The Shannon stopover is also being used by BA to 'slip' a crew. The airline's flight crew are based at London's Gatwick Airport where their working day begins. To avoid the possibility of a crew being out of hours by the time they reach JFK due to en route delays at LCY or SNN the airline is 'slipping' a crew at Shannon.
In June, Lufthansa Technik subsidiary Shannon Aerospace announced that it would be providing line maintenance for the BA service at Shannon.

G-EUNA operates proving flight on LCY - SNN - JFK

In preparation for the commercial launch of it's new premium only London City - Shannon - JFK service later this month, British Airways operated a route proving flight today. Flight BAW 9152 was operated by A318 registered G-EUNA which was delivered to the airline on August 28 last.

BA commence selling LCY-NYC

British Airways today started selling tickets for it's new premium service which will serve London City Airport and New York JFK. The first flight will take to the air on September 29 with a daily return except Saturday when LCY is closed. The service will increase to two flights per day from mid October. All flights will be operated by A318 in a 32 seat lie flat layout.

Weekend leisure fares start from £1901.10 and business fares start at £4,912.10 rising to £5,625.10 for fully flexible.

BAW 001 will depart LCY at 12.40 and arrive at JFK at 17.05 with a westbound fuel stop allowing passengers to avail of the new full US CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) clearance at Shannon.

The return, BAW 002 departs JFK at 18.30 and arrives in LCY at 07.05 the next morning, flying non stop.

BAW 003 will depart LCY at 16.00 and arrives in JFK at 20.25, again stopping at Shannon. BAW 004 will depart JFK 21.50 and flies non stop to LCY arriving at 10.25 the following morning.

Shannon arrival times will be approximately 1 hour after departure from London.

Commenting on the new service, BA's chief executive Willie Walsh said that "In the harshest trading environment airlines have experienced, we believe that it is more important than ever to embrace the future and innovate. That is what this historic new route is all about. Reviving the BA001 flight number for the first long haul route out of London City could not be more appropriate."

BA remains committed to Trans Atlantic premium service

British Airways said today that it remains committed to it's all premium class flight from London City to New York, in spite of the recent downturn in business travel. British Airways has seen a collapse in first and business class travel in recent months. The new service which will stop at Shannon on the westbound leg will be operated by A318 aircraft with 32 lie flat seat - beds. Passengers will also avail of full customs and border patrol clearance at Shannon and enter the US as domestic passengers. When the service commences later this year there will be two services per day, Monday to Friday with one on Sunday but none on Saturday when LCY is closed. BA has said that it is disappointed with the uptake by business travellers for it's London Gatwick - New York service which will end on October 25 next.

BAW 2137 makes emergency landing

Today's BAW 2137 routing Gatwick - Tampa diverted into Shannon on a security alert. The flight, operated by B777-223ER registered G-VIIO landed on R06 at 14.06z. The aircraft was parked in the middle of the field where the passengers were disembarked and bussed to the terminal. The aircraft resumed it's journey, departing at 17.25z. Picture above G-VIIO is seen in the midst of a May Monsoon with a Shannon Airport Fire and Rescue tender in attendance.

G-TTOB delivered to BA at LHR

Former easyJet and GB Airways Airbus A320-232, msn 1687 has been delivered to British Airways at Heathrow. The aircraft arrived in Shannon on December 9 last and has been receiving treatment at Shannon Aerospace since. As part of the lease hand back the aircraft was painted in full BA colours. Shortly after lunch today the aircraft departed Shannon for Heathrow as the BAW 9259.

BA quit DUB-LCY route

British Airways ceased services on  London City - Dublin on Monday of this week citing a shortage of aircraft and reduced uptake for seats on the route. Following the recent incident at LCY in which an RJ100, one of 12 BA aircraft based at the docklands airport, damaged a nose gear, the airline has been short on capacity. In addition, Flightline had operated 12 flights per day on behalf of BA before the former went into administration before Christmas. an airline spokesperson confirmed that following the bottom falling out of the financial services market that there had been a "distinct reduction in bookings". When all these circumstances were added together, the airline decided to drop the route from it's schedule.

BA reconfirms LCY-SNN-JFK

Speaking in Hyderabad, India today, British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh confirmed that the premium only service linking London City with JFK would be pushing ahead this autumn. Mr. Walsh also confirmed that the service which will fuel stop in Shannon and avail of full US pre clearance on the westbound leg had been reviewed in light of the current economic climate but the decision to implement the service was unchanged. 

The service will be charged at a premium over and above flights originating in Heathrow  as research has shown that passengers are willing to pay the difference. It is expected that BA's overall London-JFK capacity will be reviewed once the LCY service commences.

Passengers will be able to send text messages and use the internet aboard the flights, a move which represents the first use by a UK airline of live communications on a transatlantic flight.  

BA passengers to use Shannon pre clearance

British Airways have announced that westbound passengers on their new London City - JFK all business class service will be availing of the US pre clearance facility in Shannon once the new service commences in autumn 2009. The service will operated by A318 aircraft in an all business class layout. The aircraft do not have sufficient range to fly LCY-JFK non stop, thus necessitating a fuel stop in Shannon. The westbound service on the twice per day route will not have to stop in Shannon for operational reasons.

DUB-LGW to be first casualty of travel tax

British Airways are the first airline to announce the suspension of a scheduled service to Ireland as a result of the €10 travel tax  introduced in last month's budget.

In the Sunday Independent, BA's CEO Willie Walsh said that the route had been under review for some time but as a result of the imposition of the exit tax from March 30 "we have taken the decision to suspend our services from Dublin to Gatwick at that time."

As the "World's Favourite Airline" gives the thumbs down to the Irish Government's latest revenue earner, BA are soon to leave Irish skies once again. Pictured is Boeing 737-505, G-GFFG on finals to Dublin's runway 28.