BA Connect
Encyclopedia
BA Connect was a fully owned subsidiary
airline of British Airways
. Headquartered in Didsbury
, Manchester
, England
, it operated a network of domestic and Europe
an services from a number of airports in the United Kingdom
on behalf of British Airways
. The airline operated as a low-cost carrier
, with food sold via a 'buy on board' programme (except for flights to London City Airport
).
On 3 November 2006 British Airways announced the sale of BA Connect to Flybe
. It formally transferred to Flybe on 25 March 2007.
. On 30 July 1993 the company was renamed Brymon Airways Limited to reflect the operating name.
The company was purchased by British Airways
in 1993 and on 28 March 2002 it was merged with British Regional Airlines
and was renamed British Airways Citiexpress Limited operating as British Airways Citiexpress.
The regional operations of British Airways
at Birmingham and Manchester, and the operations of the former CityFlyer Express
, were integrated into the new airline later in 2002.
On 1 February 2006 the airline was renamed BA Connect Limited operating as BA Connect and operations moved to a low-cost carrier
model, with food sold via a 'buy on board
' programme (except for flights to London City Airport
). However, allocated seating and a baggage valet service was still available, while lounge access, tier points and BA Miles remained unaffected for those in the Executive Club. Operationally the new service came into effect on 26 March 2006.
BA Connect handled most of British Airways' domestic and European services that do not serve London Heathrow
or Gatwick
airports. It had hubs in Birmingham
, Bristol
, London City
, Manchester
and Southampton
. From these locations the carrier operated services to several northwest European destinations and also to Glasgow
, Edinburgh
and Aberdeen
. A few services also operated from Gatwick. In total, BA Connect flew from 17 airports in the UK and Ireland
on 63 routes to major or central regional airports.
On 3 November 2006, British Airways chief executive said that he had reached an agreement for Flybe
to purchase BA Connect. BA will ensure that Flybe has sufficient funding in order to achieve its growth targets and the transition out of current BA Connect fleet. In return BA will acquire a 15% stake in the new business. The acquisition (which does not include BA Connect routes to London City or from Manchester to New York) will significantly increase the Flybe route network in both the UK and continental Europe, making Flybe the largest regional airline in Europe. Retention of the London City routes will result in BA retaining the RJ100 aircraft for these domestic and European services.
BA had to pay Flybe a sum of money to take on the company due to Flybe actually taking on a company that will cost them money rather than make profits for the foreseeable future.
Much concern was made of the shedding of routes across Scotland, but Flybe have stated that BA Connect routes will be kept and expanded. On 6 March 2007 Flybe stated that they would not be operating any former BA Connect services from Bristol. Consequently the last flights on any of BA Connect's routes from Bristol was on 24 March 2007.
. Those that are not served by British Airways itself, mainly UK regional destinations, are listed in British Airways franchise destinations
.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
airline of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
. Headquartered in Didsbury
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, it operated a network of domestic and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an services from a number of airports in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on behalf of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
. The airline operated as a low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
, with food sold via a 'buy on board' programme (except for flights to London City Airport
London City Airport
London City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
).
On 3 November 2006 British Airways announced the sale of BA Connect to Flybe
Flybe
Flybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
. It formally transferred to Flybe on 25 March 2007.
History
The company was incorporated on 26 January 1970 as Brymon Aviation Limited which operated as Brymon AirwaysBrymon Airways
Brymon Airways is a former British airline with its head office in the Brymon House on the property of Plymouth City Airport in Plymouth, Devon...
. On 30 July 1993 the company was renamed Brymon Airways Limited to reflect the operating name.
The company was purchased by British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
in 1993 and on 28 March 2002 it was merged with British Regional Airlines
British Regional Airlines
British Regional Airlines was a franchise partner of British Airways based in Manchester. They operated a large network of domestic and european services from many UK regional airports....
and was renamed British Airways Citiexpress Limited operating as British Airways Citiexpress.
The regional operations of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
at Birmingham and Manchester, and the operations of the former CityFlyer Express
CityFlyer Express
CityFlyer Express was an independentindependent from government-owned corporations, short-haul regional airline with its head office in the Iain Stewart Centre adjacent to London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, England....
, were integrated into the new airline later in 2002.
On 1 February 2006 the airline was renamed BA Connect Limited operating as BA Connect and operations moved to a low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
model, with food sold via a 'buy on board
Buy on board
In commercial flight, buy on board is a system where food or beverages are paid for on board; often food or beverages are not included in the ticket price for certain fare classes....
' programme (except for flights to London City Airport
London City Airport
London City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
). However, allocated seating and a baggage valet service was still available, while lounge access, tier points and BA Miles remained unaffected for those in the Executive Club. Operationally the new service came into effect on 26 March 2006.
BA Connect handled most of British Airways' domestic and European services that do not serve London Heathrow
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
or Gatwick
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
airports. It had hubs in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, London City
London City Airport
London City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. From these locations the carrier operated services to several northwest European destinations and also to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. A few services also operated from Gatwick. In total, BA Connect flew from 17 airports in the UK and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
on 63 routes to major or central regional airports.
On 3 November 2006, British Airways chief executive said that he had reached an agreement for Flybe
Flybe
Flybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
to purchase BA Connect. BA will ensure that Flybe has sufficient funding in order to achieve its growth targets and the transition out of current BA Connect fleet. In return BA will acquire a 15% stake in the new business. The acquisition (which does not include BA Connect routes to London City or from Manchester to New York) will significantly increase the Flybe route network in both the UK and continental Europe, making Flybe the largest regional airline in Europe. Retention of the London City routes will result in BA retaining the RJ100 aircraft for these domestic and European services.
BA had to pay Flybe a sum of money to take on the company due to Flybe actually taking on a company that will cost them money rather than make profits for the foreseeable future.
Much concern was made of the shedding of routes across Scotland, but Flybe have stated that BA Connect routes will be kept and expanded. On 6 March 2007 Flybe stated that they would not be operating any former BA Connect services from Bristol. Consequently the last flights on any of BA Connect's routes from Bristol was on 24 March 2007.
Services
BA Connect operated from several destinations that are also served by the parent company, and are part of British Airways destinationsBritish Airways destinations
British Airways is one of few carriers serving destinations across all six major continents. Following is a list of destinations the airline flies to, ; terminated destinations are also listed...
. Those that are not served by British Airways itself, mainly UK regional destinations, are listed in British Airways franchise destinations
British Airways franchise destinations
British Airways flies to destinations on every inhabited continent. In addition to the comprehensive list of destinations offered by British Airways itself, many more towns and cities can be reached through BA's franchise and subsidiary operations...
.
Fleet
The BA Connect fleet included the following aircraft, before the sale to Flybe (March 2007)- 1 BAe 146-100BAe 146The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
(To FlybeFlybeFlybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
) - 2 BAe 146-200BAe 146The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
(To FlybeFlybeFlybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
) - 1 BAe 146-300BAe 146The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
(To FlybeFlybeFlybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
) - 10 Avro RJ100BAe 146The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
(To BA CityFlyerBA CityFlyerBA CityFlyer is a wholly owned subsidiary airline of British Airways based in Didsbury, Manchester, England. It operates a network of domestic and European services from London City Airport...
) - 6 Bombardier Dash 8 Q311 (To FlybeFlybeFlybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
) - 10 Embraer ERJ 145 EP (To FlybeFlybeFlybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
) - 18 Embraer ERJ 145 EU (To FlybeFlybeFlybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
)