BA issues RFP for Long Haul Fleet [Archive]

Nonstop2AUH

2006-10-18, 05:54 PM

Interesting, thought they were pretty much committed to B for longhaul (and A for shorthaul) but looks like they are open to considering anything except the A340. Simplifying the fleet has been a big issue at BA since the '90s, when they were at some point operating IIRC as many as 4 or 5 longhaul types. They had 744s, 2 types of 747 Classic (PW-engined -100 and RR-engined -200), 767s, some former B. Cal DC-10s on the LGW fleet, and starting in about '96 the 777. I had imagined they wanted to ultimately narrow it all down to 777 variants but this RFP makes me wonder if they are looking at their major competitors (e.g. Virgin on the Atlantic, Singapore to Asia, Emirates in the Middle East/South Asia) and thinking they need something bigger, perhaps that has room to accomodate an enhanced premium cabin, like the 748 or the A380...