BA launching LHR-MEL via KUL from January 2027 (BA33/BA34)

[SeatBackForward]

BA obviously doing the maths on competing against Project Sunrise to/from Australia.

 

[mviy]

BA obviously doing the maths on competing against Project Sunrise to/from Australia.

These flights would be more of a competition against QF’s MEL-SIN-LHR (changing to flight from SYD in SIN) than against Project Sunrise

Not sure whether BA would have enough destinations to justify competing with Sunrise with non-stop flights, but it would be nice if they do.

 

[elanshin]

These flights would be more of a competition against QF’s MEL-SIN-LHR (changing to flight from SYD in SIN) than against Project Sunrise

Not sure whether BA would have enough destinations to justify competing with Sunrise with non-stop flights, but it would be nice if they do.

As I mentioned, I don't think they're targeting QF crowd (or aussies). They're targeting British that they lost to ME3, SQ, QF who would rather fly BA because they're wed to BA, but up until now don't have a 1 hop option to Melbourne.

Using KUL is actually pretty nifty as there's also a big MEL - KUL market they can potentially siphon from as well.

 

[SeatBackForward]

These flights would be more of a competition against QF’s MEL-SIN-LHR (changing to flight from SYD in SIN) than against Project Sunrise

Not sure whether BA would have enough destinations to justify competing with Sunrise with non-stop flights, but it would be nice if they do.

It's BA signalling to potential customers from MEL wanting to go to LHR - one stop in Sydney, or one stop in KUL - your call.

But I'm no airline economist

 

[dajop]

The world doesn't revolve around QF, hate to break it to you all!

Fifth freedom head to head against MH. Through to LHR competing with any of a range of carriers. There's probably only a small subset of pax who actually preference single plane all the way through. Most are quite happy changing planes in SIN, HKG, BKK, KUL, or other Asian ports and used to be quite happy changing in DOH, DXB and AUH as well. As @elanshin points out probably particularly for the British market.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Fantastic news and also means we have a proper option to KUL that isn't LCC or MH

 

[tassie6]

I think a lot depends on whether there are further delays on getting new seats installed.

If they haven’t finished by the time this route’s launched, you could always fly well after it’s launched when the chances of all being refurbished would be higher.

Yep, of their 18 789s:
1 is refurbished
1 is in the shop currently
16 in old configuration

Their 788 reconfiguration was very approximately 12 aircraft over about 24 months

But given this service launches in Jan 2027, perhaps something like another 5 may be refurbished by then? With the rest over the following 18-24 months

 

[am0985]

Wouldn't mind doing the MEL - KUL leg on the old J layout. But definitely not the KUL - LHR leg!

 

[PERLHR]

Wouldn't mind doing the MEL - KUL leg on the old J layout. But definitely not the KUL - LHR leg!

Nah it's fine and doing it again in April. The seat is actually in my opinion more comfortable than the 350 suite.

Very similar timing to every other flight to London via Asia. Why does everyone want a 5am arrival into LHR?

Many are in transit and actually step of then onto BA for European or Domestic connections allowing to be at destination by noon or before.

It's also an add on to an existing flight (and slot).

 

[pauly7]

Great news and good for more OW options out of MEL.

 

[justinbrett]

BA obviously doing the maths on competing against Project Sunrise to/from Australia.

I think more they see the writing on the wall regarding the VA/QR JV (getting crowded to have a parallel QR/BA JV) and maybe recent events will drive more pax back to Asian connections (hell, QF found that out a decade ago)

It's BA signalling to potential customers from MEL wanting to go to LHR - one stop in Sydney, or one stop in KUL - your call.

But I'm no airline economist

BA pax (or anyone) can already fly MEL-SIN-LHR using QF/BA. BA already codeshares on QF MEL-SIN.

 

[LondonAussie]

As long as there's zero chance of the horrible ying-yang 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 business class cabins, this could be a good option going to Asia using the 5th freedom leg.

Having regularly been on both, the older seats are more comfortable for sleeping.

 

[transpactraveller]

I wonder how BA got the landing rights from the Australian government without any protest from Qantas or the opposition.

Remember the media and political circus when QR wanted to add flights into Australia...

 

[mviy]

I wonder how BA got the landing rights from the Australian government without any media fanfare or protest from Qantas or the opposition.

When QR wanted to add flights into Australia (and got rejected) it was national news.

It would not be a good idea to block a second BA flight into Australia each day when QF wants to increase to 4 flights a day to the UK.

A very different situation to the Middle Eastern carriers that fly much more than QF. Though I would’ve liked more competition to keep prices down.

Also the state and/or federal governments probably wanted these flights added for the potential for increased tourism from the UK

 

[justinbrett]

I wonder how BA got the landing rights from the Australian government without any protest from Qantas or the opposition.

Remember the media and political circus when QR wanted to add flights into Australia...

Australia and the UK have an open skies agreement, so no approval was required - they just have to get the slots at the relevant airports.

 

[dajop]

Australia and the UK have an open skies agreement, so no approval was required - they just have to get the slots at the relevant airports.

Yep, probably one of the easiest routes to add. Rights already exist. LHR slots already allocated to KUL service. MEL slots not difficult to get.

Only other question is around fifth freedom for Australia/Malaysia does BA already have that?

 

[AIRwin]

Only other question is around fifth freedom for Australia/Malaysia does BA already have that?

 

[markis10]

Using KUL is actually pretty nifty as there's also a big MEL - KUL market they can potentially siphon from as well.

History is littered with the graves of airlines who tried and failed on the KUL-Oz routes over the past 40 years including Lauda, Ansett and QF when AirAsia was just a glint in Tony’s eye, not to mention now they are around.

 

[LondonAussie]

Australia and the UK have an open skies agreement, so no approval was required - they just have to get the slots at the relevant airports.

Getting capacity into LHR is probably more important to Qantas and the Australian government than SYD/MEL is to BA and the UK government.

Qantas won’t make a fuss about BA. They want their LHR slots without a fuss too.

 

[mviy]

QF already has enough slots for LHR when they get back the ones they have subleased unless they decide to increase beyond 4 flights a day to the UK.