BA ups capacity to match demand

BRITISH AIRWAYS is looking to
increase capacity during its peak
season with additional rotations
of the larger A380 aircraft and
reconfigured Boeing 737 on its JNBLHR
route. The airline wants to match
offering with demand, says Edward
Frost, regional manager, British Airways
South and East Africa.
From November 1 to December 31,
2016 and February 1 to 28, 2017,
the airline will deploy an A380 on
flights BA54 and BA57 on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays. A reconfigured
Boeing 747 will operate the service
on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
and Saturdays. The additional A380
combined with the reconfigured B747
rotations will see an overall increase
of nearly 500 seats offered per week
during peak season, says Edward.
“The route is busy in so far that
November to February is a great time
from a weather perspective and we
do see some people coming from the
UK to holiday in South Africa. There
are a lot of people [from South Africa]
wanting to see family and friends in
the UK for Christmas,” he says.
The A380 offers a total of 469 seats,
with 14 in first class, 96 in business
and 303 in economy.
The reconfigured Boeing aircraft will
operate with 14 first class, 86 club
world (business), 30 world traveller
plus (premium economy) and 145
world traveller (economy) seats. The
change sees an increase of 34 club
world seats, as well as a reduction of
six seats in world traveller plus and
40 seats in world traveller.
The airline currently offers two daily
direct flights to Heathrow: an A380
services flights BA56 and BA55 and
a Boeing 747 services flights BA54
and BA57.
From January 1-31, 2017 and March
1-25, 2017 the airline will only operate
the reconfigured Boeing 747 on flights
BA57 and BA54. An A380 will continue
to service flights BA55 and BA56.
Although the number of economy
class seats will decrease and
business class seats increase,
Edward says: “There are fewer
leisure travellers flying during this
period whereas business travellers
fly throughout the year.” ■BRITISH AIRWAYS is looking to
increase capacity during its peak
season with additional rotations
of the larger A380 aircraft and
reconfigured Boeing 737 on its JNBLHR
route. The airline wants to match
offering with demand, says Edward
Frost, regional manager, British Airways
South and East Africa.
From November 1 to December 31,
2016 and February 1 to 28, 2017,
the airline will deploy an A380 on
flights BA54 and BA57 on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays. A reconfigured
Boeing 747 will operate the service
on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
and Saturdays. The additional A380
combined with the reconfigured B747
rotations will see an overall increase
of nearly 500 seats offered per week
during peak season, says Edward.
“The route is busy in so far that
November to February is a great time
from a weather perspective and we
do see some people coming from the
UK to holiday in South Africa. There
are a lot of people [from South Africa]
wanting to see family and friends in
the UK for Christmas,” he says.
The A380 offers a total of 469 seats,
with 14 in first class, 96 in business
and 303 in economy.
The reconfigured Boeing aircraft will
operate with 14 first class, 86 club
world (business), 30 world traveller
plus (premium economy) and 145
world traveller (economy) seats. The
change sees an increase of 34 club
world seats, as well as a reduction of
six seats in world traveller plus and
40 seats in world traveller.
The airline currently offers two daily
direct flights to Heathrow: an A380
services flights BA56 and BA55 and
a Boeing 747 services flights BA54
and BA57.
From January 1-31, 2017 and March
1-25, 2017 the airline will only operate
the reconfigured Boeing 747 on flights
BA57 and BA54. An A380 will continue
to service flights BA55 and BA56.
Although the number of economy
class seats will decrease and
business class seats increase,
Edward says: “There are fewer
leisure travellers flying during this
period whereas business travellers
fly throughout the year.”