Economy Class & Beyond

IAG goes for Gogo – 2KU and high speed internet coming to British Airways and others

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It's taken a long time, but it seems IAG Group (including British Airways) are finally going to press ahead and install WiFi on their planes, provisioned by Gogo. British Airways Boeing 747-400 at New York JFK - Image, Economy Class and Beyond This will be first customer that Gogo has snagged in Europe for the 2KU product. Gogo will be supplying IAG with 2KU to be installed … [Read more...]

The European Commision approves the sale of Aer Lingus

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The European Commission has approved the sale of Aer Lingus to International Airlines Group subject to conditions. Aer Lingus Airbus A320 in retro colours at Dublin Airport - Image, Economy Class and Beyond The main conditions that International Airlines Group will have to for-fill include: The release of five slots pairs at London Gatwick for competitions to compete on … [Read more...]

Ryanair to sell its stake in Aer Lingus to IAG

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The ballad of the sale of Aer Lingus continues, with Ryanair to sell its stake to International Airlines Group. Ryanair currently hold  29.8% of its competitor Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus Airbus A330 taxing at Chicago O'Hare, Image - Economy Class and Beyond The action by Ryanair will allow International Airlines Group (owner of British Airways, Iberia and Vueling) to … [Read more...]

Iberia mangment and unions fall out – strikes ahead

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After a short period to negotiate, Iberia and its unions have once again fallen out over job cuts, with 5 days of continuous strike action to take place. No date has currently been set, although it is expected to take place in the 2nd half of February. The Unions rejected a plan that would cut the initial 4500 job cuts to 3,147, 30 percent,  lower wage reductions and … [Read more...]

A letter from Diamond Club

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I hate the post some days. Be it bills or letters about the lack of stability in my real world job (oh yes, than you Andrew Lansley MP for South Cambridgeshire, Ex Secretary of State for Health and  for adding a layer of uncertainty to my post so I might not make it past 1st April 2013 in my current job). Sometimes it brings joy in the form of membership kits, but … [Read more...]

4500 jobs to go at Iberia

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It seems IAG's patience with Iberia is running out quickly, as it announced today a sharpening of the job axe. Up to 4500 positions are up for the cut, along with five long haul aircraft and 20 shorthaual aircraft to be removed for the Iberia mainline fleet (156 planes down to 131 planes). This will also reduce Iberia's routes by 15%, to focus on the profitable routes. … [Read more...]

IAG takes a very hard look at Vueling – considering takeover

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For International Airlines Group, it's been a rather good year getting control of British Midland Airways in the United Kingdom. However, in Spain things have been a bit more fraught. The setting up of Iberia Express has caused a lot of friction between the management and the pilots and cabin crew. Well it looks like the management are looking for a way out - and its … [Read more...]

Bye Bye (BMI) Baby….

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It's getting close to closing time for the Low Cost Carrier offshoot of BMI - BMI Baby. With the final flights set for the 9th September (Sunday this week), they've put a little ditty out on their website: BMI Baby was create out of the spare Boeing 737's BMI mainline had leftover after mainline switched to Airbus operations. Based out of different airport during its … [Read more...]

IAG turns in a loss

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International Airlines Group (BA/Iberia/BMI) is having a bad time of it - loosing €390m  ($476m; £306m) loss for the six months to the end of June. This is especially bad as the group turned in a €39 million pre-tax profit in the same period in 2011. Revenue increased in the period by10% to €8.5bn vs €7.8bn in the same timeframe. Whilst revenue has been up, costs has also … [Read more...]