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The “curse of BA” struck its latest big launch today when the plane operating its new business-only service from London City Airport broke down.
Passengers on the second day of the new London to New York route were told of a fault with an engine, as they waited in the Docklands terminal.
The service was launched to much fanfare yesterday by chief executive Willie Walsh — 18 months after the disastrous opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5. Yesterday Mr Walsh said: “We believe that this service is going to be fantastic.”
Today's 12.50pm departure was given the prestigious 001 flight number that was once assigned to Concorde.
Return tickets for the journey cost £1,900.
Passenger Tom Otley, editor of Business Traveller magazine, was due to fly on the stranded Airbus 318.
Writing on his Twitter site, he said: “The captain has just advised the flight will now not be departing until 14.30pm...The part is one of the aircraft's engine sensors which has been delivered from Gatwick.”
Later he added: “It will take 30 minutes to fit, followed by an extensive testing regime as it's a major engine part.”
A BA spokeswoman said: “We're very apologetic that there's been a problem.
“Yes, it's unfortunate but we have to fix it, we have to put safely first.
“It's a minor technical problem and our engineers are working on it right now.”
Reader views (4)
Are we surprised? "NO"
Absolute joke that this type of plane (A318) is being allowed to run from London City Airport. BA & LCY should get real and realise that this airport cannot handle larger jets. Noise & Air pollution around the airport is unbearable for the locals who have not been taken into consideration at all by LCY or the Council (Newham).
Profit over people should be their motto!
- Conerned In Newham, South East London
Oh willie - while I despise your utterances on 3rd runways as akin to the 'dark satanic mills' school of industrial development and I have yet to hear you acknowledge any of the health impacts your business is responsible for delivering on west londoners I could (almost0 feel sorry for you on this one if it was not just totally hypocrisy to talk green while delivering carbon mad transport solutions.
- Christian Ball, London, UK
BA...........HA HA.........
- Dave, london
Come fly with me come fly with me!! If only! Suppose BA now stands for brokendown again!!
- Peter, Vienna, Austria
