BA Ops Change Hints At Possible Airbus Orders

British Airways (BA) is restructuring its flight operations unit into Airbus and Boeing divisions, fueling speculation that the airline may still be considering further Airbus acquisitions, including the Airbus A350-1000.

The restructuring along fleet lines is thought to be aimed at streamlining crew training and support requirements, and moves the airline away from the former long-haul and short-haul divisions that have been in place since the merger of British Overseas Airways Corp. and British European Airways in 1974. Airline insiders say the change reflects the airline’s view that aircraft type and flight deck philosophy have now become more important to operations than route structure and flying style.

However, because the change emphasizes the division in fleet, it also exposes the gap in the BA Airbus fleet line-up between the short-haul Airbus A320 family now in service and the yet-to-enter-service fleet of 12 Airbus A380s on order.

The airline previously said that, despite ordering six Boeing 777-300ERs, it still is considering the A350-1000 as part of its future large-twin fleet. BA chief Willie Walsh has acknowledged that the 777-300ER is a potentially obvious replacement for the Boeing 747-400 but, at the same time, has insisted the acquisition never indicated a longer-term preference over the A350 in the airline’s evaluation process.

BA already has ordered 24 Boeing 787-8/9s, which will replace 767-300ERs, but ostensibly selected the 777-300ERs as a stopgap, capacity-filling measure to cope with 787 delays. The long-haul fleet “big twin” contest is therefore still officially open, with the now revised A350-1000 up against whatever upgraded 777-300ER design Boeing may field from 2017 onward.

As it currently stands, BA crew aligned with the Boeing fleet have a relatively easy career progression through 737-400s and 767-300ERs and its 787-8/9 successors, to 777-200ER/300ERs and 747-400s. The Airbus crew, on the other hand, have a more cohesive training system, based on the common flight deck design approach adopted early on by the European airframer.