News: British Airways Confirm Regional Shake Up
Flights > News > # 689 (10/01/2006)
 |
|
|
After months of speculation since the appointment of ex-Aer Lingus boss Willie Walsh, British Airways have confirmed plans for a shake up of their regional subsidiary, British Airways CitiExpress.
The regional airline, to be renamed BA Connect, aims to bring significant benefits to regional air travellers by offering more choice and even lower fares, with prices slashed by more than 40 per cent. The move has been prompted by continuing losses at the airline's regional subsidiary, believed to be in the region of £30m per year. This has been put down to increased levels of competition from no frills airlines, and the slowness of British Airways to respond to changing market conditions.
What's on Offer?
- A single class cabin on all aircraft.
- High-quality, buy on board, hot and cold catering.
- Year-round, changeable, one-way fares from as little as £25, including taxes, fees and charges.
- A new offering for business and frequent flyers called ‘BA Connect Plus’.
The major shake up will see restricted and non-changeable tickets disappear. All BA Connect tickets will be changeable (for a £30 fee on the lower priced fares), no matter how much they cost. The higher priced BA Connect Plus tickets will be changeable without any fee, and will also include seat selection at the time of booking, free lounge access and Executive Club frequent flyer points as well as BA Miles.
British Airways’ Club Europe brand will no longer feature on the regional services to Continental Europe. All customers will be eligible for membership of British Airways’ Executive Club, as well as having access to on-line check-in, on-line boarding pass printing, self-service check-in and a valet bag service.
BA Connect will take to the air on March 26, and bookings will be taken from February 1. Prior to the official relaunch, it is business as usual for customers, who may continue to make reservations for British Airways CitiExpress services through the normal booking channels.
What hasn't changed?
- The aircraft livery and staff uniforms will remain unchanged, apart from the name ‘BA Connect’, which will appear on the fuselage.
- Flights at London City airport, and also those of British Airways mainline at Heathrow and Gatwick, will continue to offer complimentary catering on shorthaul services and a separate Club Europe cabin on the European network.
- British Airways' daily flights from Manchester to New York, which are also operated by CitiExpress, are not affected by these changes.
David Evans, managing director British Airways CitiExpress, said:
“The restructuring of the regional business will set us apart in this fiercely competitive market. We have an innovative service promise for business and short-break leisure air travellers, offering year-round, one-way prices that match the no-frills airlines and the added service promise and resources of an airline of British Airways’ size and stature."
Add to:
Related Articles:
Related Airlines:
Related Airports:
