Countdown To New Aircraft Begins

British Airways is poised to become the first airline in Europe to introduce both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 into its fleet.

The airline will take delivery into the UK of its first two 787s on consecutive days, June 26 and 27, followed by its first A380 on July 4. They will arrive around mid-morning.

Keith Williams, chief executive, said: “The delivery of these exciting aircraft opens a new chapter in British Airways’ history. We are proud to be leading the way in Europe in operating both these aircraft types.

“Over the next 12 months, we will take delivery of new long-haul aircraft at an average rate of one every two weeks.

“These deliveries form the centrepiece of the £5bn investment British Airways is making in new aircraft, smarter cabins, superb lounges and new technologies to make travel more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

“Both aircraft types make major environmental advances and will contribute toward our ambitious targets for noise and carbon reduction.”
Following their arrival, both aircraft types will begin a complex ‘entry into service’ programme, which will see pilot and cabin crew training taking place at Manston Airport in Kent, customer service trials at Heathrow and short-haul flying for both aircraft, including flights within the UK.

Seats on the A380 are currently on sale for travel from October 15 to Los Angeles and from November 15 to Hong Kong. However the airline is advising enthusiasts eager to be on the very first long-haul services to hold off booking as the dates of the inaugural services are yet to be announced.

The first destinations for the 787s, and the date tickets go on sale, will be unveiled shortly.


Notes to Editors:
1. British Airways has ordered a total of 12 A380s, 24 787s and six Boeing 777-300ERs for delivery over the next four years. Twenty-two of these long-haul aircraft are scheduled to come into the airline’s fleet by the end of summer 2014.
2. The second A380 is due to be delivered in September 2013.
3. IAG (British Airways’ parent company) has announced that it plans to convert 18 existing Boeing 787 options into firm orders for British Airways, and order 18 Airbus A350s for the airline. They will be used to replace some of the airline’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft between 2017 and 2023.
4. Further information and a CGI video of the new A380 can be found on the airline’s website: http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/flight-information/airbus-a380. Similar details for the 787 will be loaded on to ba.com when the aircraft goes on sale in the near future (yet to be announced).