25th Oct 2007 07:04
British Airways PLC25 October 2007 BA ENDS UK FRANCHISES British Airways is to end its franchise agreement with GB Airways from March2008 and intends to start services on some of the routes operated under thefranchise. British Airways plans to start services from Heathrow to Faro and Malaga andfrom Gatwick to Faro, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma and Tunis. The newservices will start from March 30, 2008. The airline will also end its franchise with Loganair from October 25, 2008 andbegin a codeshare arrangement with the Scottish carrier. British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh, said: "UK franchises have outlivedtheir purpose. easyJet has made an offer to buy GB Airways and this has enabledus to end the franchise agreement early. We had an option to buy GB Airways butwe rejected it. "We have a significant base at Gatwick and our focus will be on maintaining anddeveloping it as an integral part of our business." There will be a transition period until the end of the franchise agreements.British Airways, GB Airways, easyJet and Loganair are committed to ensuring asmooth transition for passengers during this period. GB Airways will continue to operate as a British Airways' franchise partner ontheir existing network to destinations in Europe and North Africa until March29, 2008. Loganair will continue to operate as a franchise partner on Scottishroutes until October 25, 2008. The deal between GB Airways and easyJet is expected to be completed within eightweeks. During this period flights will operate as normal. On completion,passengers can accept to be rebooked on easyJet or will be entitled to a fullrefund. ends October 25, 2007 106/KG/07 Notes to editors: The BMED franchise ends on October 27, 2007. Certain information included in these statements is forward-looking and involvesrisks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections relating toresults of operations and financial conditions and the Company's plans andobjectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions ofthe Company's Business Plan programs, expected future revenues, financing plansand expected expenditures and divestments. All forward-looking statements inthis report are based upon information known to the Company on the date of thisreport. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise anyforward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future eventsor otherwise. It is not reasonably possible to itemize all of the many factors and specificevents that could cause the Company's forward looking statements to be incorrector that could otherwise have a material adverse effect on the future operationsor results of an airline operating in the global economy. Fuller information onsome factors which could result in material difference to the results isavailable in the company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2007, whichis available on www.bashareholders.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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