V-Flyer

Having spent the last few days watching coverage of the disruptions to flights on BBC and Sky it would seem that the only airline affected has been BA.
Or so they would have you believe. Every news report shows only BA aircraft! No mention of the thousands stranded abroad with other airlines. No mention of VS just shots of BA metal in every report.
Do BA really need all this free coverage?? It seems so unfair to the likes of Virgin who I am sure would like some free publicity.
Maybe BA get a back hander from the news companies

To be fair to them - BA may have forced the issue to the benefit of all. Even as a VS fan I have to say I was impressed by Wee Willie this evening.

I read that Singapore are sending their A380.

It's a brilliant move by BA that has garnered huge publicity - and will erase recent memories of strikes and dare Unite to even think about striking again.

You have to remember BA are huge compared to VS, so it is natural that when talking about LHR BA is the focus. I actually think the news coverage has been well balanced with reporters all over the place.

I do agree with the others about how well WWW and BA have done to force the issue Does it back up many theories that the blanket ban was to severe and unnecessary, I guess we will never full find out.

Did BA and WW really force the issue?

Yes he was shouting about this but so were other airlines.

Surely the fligths that were in the air yesterday would have had to file flight plans to other airports - Glasgow / Edinburgh or on the continent otherwise they would not have been able to take off.

The fact that LHR opened is down to pure luck.

tontybear wrote:Did BA and WW really force the issue?...
....The fact that LHR opened is down to pure luck.

I don't agree. It is *mighty* coincidental that BA had 20+ a/c in the air heading towards the UK, mainly due to start arrive from 10pm onwards, and miraculously, full UK air space is then given the go ahead to open from 10pm.

BA have been very vocal on the issue with words and facts from their test flights, and must have had some info, along with data and proof from the other European carriers that it was safe to be flying. NATS, the CAA, Govt etc etc took to long IMO to start looking at, and accepting the information being provided to them. If they had refused BA to land any of these flights at LHR (EDI/NCL wouldn't have been able to handle them all) then they could have been facing serious questions and claims from BA and other airlines.

So the fact BA had a/c in the air, heading to London, I think did force the issue, it made the people calling the shots to seriously looking at the hard facts, which when they did, resulted in a full re-opening of air space.

I stopped using BA as my preferred airline for business and pleasure in the early 80's when their words and actions showed they treated the average passenger with total contempt. I do think their decision yesterday hastened the opening of the UK air space. Unfortunately I fear that if their PR and finances improve as a result, any lessons learnt will be soon forgotten.

Of course Willie forced the issue and good on him for doing it.