NEWS: More details on BA B777 routes with Club Suites & BA looks at 3D printing for planes

More details on B777 routes with Club Suites

Yesterday I wrote about the new B777-300ER layout with Club Suites and the routes it was currently on. BA have now filed the list of the new B777-200ER and 300ER routes and flight numbers as follows:

Planned new 4-class 777-200ER to operate following routes during summer season:
London Heathrow – Abuja
London Heathrow – Abu Dhabi
London Heathrow – Bahrain – Dammam
London Heathrow – Moscow Domodedovo
London Heathrow – Nassau – Grand Cayman
London Heathrow – Newark
London Heathrow – Toronto

Planned new 4-class 777-300ER  is due to enter operation in the 3rd quarter of 2020, on London Heathrow – New York JFK route:
BA175/116 05SEP20 / 03OCT20 / 10OCT20 / 19OCT20 – 24OCT20
BA173/112 01AUG20 – 24OCT20
BA115/176 02SEP20 – 23OCT20 (Day x6)
BA113/114 16OCT20 / 17OCT20

There are other B777-300s that will follow, so you can expect more routes to be added over the next few months for next year.

As always I advise caution on booking a flight relying on it having the new Club Suites as aircraft swaps happen frequently. But if you want to book a flight to that destination you may as well try and coincide it with a Club Suites flight. 

HT: Routes online

BA looks at 3D printing to reduce delays and reduce emissions

British Airways is exploring the possibility of using 3D printers to create aircraft parts in the future. These printers would be located at airports around the world to reduce delays for customers and emissions caused by transporting items.

The airline’s innovators predict that non-essential cabin parts will be first on the list to be generated, including pieces of tray tables, entertainment systems and toilets. While these components do not impact the safe operation of the flight, they can reduce the number of seats or toilets available for customers and cause delays as engineers wait for the parts to be flown to wherever the aircraft is.

Ricardo Vidal, Head of Innovation at British Airways, says this area of technology has never been more important to ensure sustainability and a seamless travel experience:  “We work with start-ups and innovation partners from around the world to explore and implement the very latest technologies, from artificial intelligence to speed up turnaround times to biometrics, helping us to deliver a seamless airport experience for customers. 3D printing is yet another advancement that will keep us at the forefront of airline innovation.”

3D printing is an essential step towards the sustainable future of aviation, as the printers can produce parts that, while as strong and durable as traditional components, weigh up to 55 per cent less. Every kilogram removed saves up to 25 tons of CO2 emissions during the lifespan of an aircraft.

British Airways’ exploration of 3D printing follows the airline’s BA2119: Flight of the Future programme in celebration of it’s centenary. It’s research into the future of the customer experience suggested that within the next decade, biological scanners gathering travellers’ physiological and nutritional needs could suggest food and drink to meet individual requirements and print these onboard the aircraft. In addition, the research predicts that jet lag could become be a thing of the past, with 3D printers producing personalised health supplements.

British Airways’ top ten predictions for how 3D printing could be used by airline’s in the future:

1.                   Cutlery

2.                   Products for amenity kits, such as toothbrushes or combs

3.                   Tray tables

4.                   Aircraft windows

5.                   Inflight entertainment screens

6.                   Seats

7.                   Baggage containers

8.                   Circuit boards for electrical components

9.                   Flight deck switches

1.                 Aircraft shells