BA "confident" of competitiveness

British Airways (BA) is confident that it has a great deal to offer passengers, despite the availability of "no-frills" airlines.

According to a spokesperson for the firm, BA flies from "convenient" airports and provides good onboard services and "competitive" prices for its short-haul flights.

Following the news that budget airlines intend to offer routes to the US within a few years, BA's spokesperson argued that the firm was "confident" in its own brand and the services it offers.

"You have to look at the difference between flying on a two or three hour flight on a no-frills carrier, compared to a five, six hour flight," she remarked.

Last week, BA announced that it had ordered eight Airbus A320 aircraft to be delivered in 2008 - 2010.

The firm described the deal as a "first step" towards developing a short-haul fleet, while also replacing a number of aircraft from its Gatwick short-haul fleet.

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