British Airways in 1989

Tags: British Airways in 1989. BA Shuttle relaunch.
First Gulf War. BA Club Europe launch. British Midland British Airways Domestic routes. Flybmi.

There is a strange irony that just after publishing this film (Feb 2019) the subsidiary airline that was BAs main rival during the 1980s and 90s ((British Midland - later BMI) itself ceased operations. Flybmi was originally a feeder regional airline for British Midland but both Flybmi and BMI/ British Midland are now consigned to history.
Back in the late 1980s this film hints at the level of threat BMI was to BAs operation - offering a much superior onboard cabin service which included a full meal service. The response by BA to this threat in their own “backyard” was the relaunch of the Supershuttle domestic service - featured in this film.

This film captures the post-privatization optimism of British Airways during the late 1980s before the impact of the recession, First Gulf War; liberalisation of the financially lucrative Atlantic routes and spiralling costs experienced by the airline in the early 1990s.

Here is an airline confident in its' own brand, identity and place in the European and World stage; building new links with partners and acknowledging the value of developing a European "Hub and Spoke" operation in Brussels.
In our Brexit era times, this film is sadly nostalgic for a time that has probably gone forever.... What airline could now spend £11m (how much is that worth 30 years on?) and put on such a lavish event like the Super Shuttle relaunch featured in the film and could confidently explain the strategy to charge higher prices because of the value of added service delivered in the brand and product?

For those looking for aircraft nostalgia- here are some memory evoking glimpses:

2.26 - Landor Livery BA 757 and British Midland Airways Boeing 737-400 G-OBMF (I remember both these aircraft types well and flew on them many times!)

4.17 - Lovely shot of a 757 lifting off from Heathrow 27R

5.00 5.10 - teasing glimpse of the Boeing 747-200 / 100 series.

5.17 to 5.39 - BA 737-200 series and Sabena 737-200 series - once so common at Heathrow.

6.54 - a sight rarely seen - a Sabena Boeing 747-300 series - same "hump" as the 400 but without the winglets. Few were produced and all are long gone now.

7.16 - tantalising glimpse of the Tri-jet tail of a BA Tristar - G-BHBR "Bude Bay". I remember flying back from the newly opened “station” in Chennai (Madras) India, on sister Tri-Star G-BHBO "St Magnus Bay" in 1989. A great aircraft....

And not forgetting of course, the Senior Leadership within the airline - Lord King (Chairman) and Sir Colin Marshall (Chief Executive) - both now passed away.

Enjoy this film and I hope for those who remember the times, it will bring back some memories and for those not familiar with that time, you enjoy some great vintage aircraft (and glasses!) from the 1980s!