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Was killing some time reading the posts here from over the weekend and genuinely couldn't/ cant understand your motivation!
Made me think, how much of his life is he wasting posting here, which made me do some basic maths, which then shocked me even more which made me write a post!
Each to there own.....
I read this BB occasionally but rarely post.
Genuinely can't work out your motivation big blue, you claim to have no position in IAG, you claim you like to share a differing opinion to rampers, you write long winded often irrelevant posts and clearly waste a lot of your life on a bulletin board that you're not even invested in
Lets say your posts average 5 minutes to write, that means over the past year, you have invested 14 days of your life here (over 300 hours)
wow
As much as I love the A380, as an investor, I dont think they are the solution.
Much better getting a load of A350's/ 787's for the point to point's across the pond and use the new 777x when it comes into service for JFK/ MIA etc (hoping they introduce a first cabin on the new aircraft)
Ive held BA shares for the last 20 months but rarely post.
Sightwatcher, I'm not sure I buy the "fund raising" in the new year but you never know.
Whats surprising me on this dip is how the covid surge across Europe is having such a major impact on IAG. Iberia could be impacted but they've actually been the most (only) profitable arm this year and they always take a dip in the off season for spanish travel (bar the long haul network across the pond). Aer Lingus is doing more from the UK but they could be impacted if Ireland keep going up but again, not a huge concern.
The UK made a bold move to open society back in June (a move BJ has slated for), this decision to reduce restrictions lead to the highest cases throughout Europe between July - October yet the NHS has handled the situation well.
Its like the EU are now playing catch up with the UK/US in terms of infection rates whilst we're still averaging 30-40k per day despite the colder weather and hospital admissions remain below 10k. The fact so many have had covid give us slightly more protection than the EU which makes me think we wont have any more lockdowns.
This is key in terms of how it affects long haul travel between the UK - US, flights are expensive currently (run a search on business class fares travelling between the Uk- North America and you'll see what i mean.). This is our bread and butter and as long as flights continue, BA/ IAG can ride this storm
I have two more trips in the next 3 weeks to the US and the seat map is showing very limited availability which is a huge positive for IAG shareholders.
I'm tempted to double my holding at these levels, my only concern is a new variant (its been a while since delta came on the scene!)
Ive not sold but struggling to understand the reason behind the up tick today. I know Iberia and Aer Lingus are starting to fly slightly more flights but nothing major.
I cant see the US allowing brits in until October now sadly
I dont think todays news will be anything special.
However, I do think the 24th could be the day we need. I think they will confirm double vaccinated travellers will be able to travel almost restriction free to amber countries.
Obviously some of the Amber countries wont allow us to enter but Spain/ Greece and Caribbean islands will welcome us with open arms!
Sorry, loyal to BA (I hate flying Easy Jet/ Ryan Air) and BA is becoming even more of a low cost airport.
Bar Qatar/ Emirates / Turkish/ TAP who all have limited (one/two destinations max) they're all low cost (or very small national airlines).
Only Mint will have an offering to the US and the capacity to the Caribbean will be dramatically reduced (Jet Blue from later this year)
Such a shame as LGW was becoming a great airport with great connections
Adding to my ost below, just seen this on turning left for less. I hope its not correct regarding the 3rd august as that wipes out one of my holidays
Since the government announced a delay until 19 July for “freedom day”, the travel industry experts have begun to speculate that this means that there will be no more countries added to the green list until 3 August, the first review date after 19 July. Sadly, given the way the government has been going, it’s definitely a possibility. The traffic light system was introduced as a way to allow people to travel safely using data from the Joint Biosecurity Centre to determine which countries were safe. That seems to have completely gone out of the window given that we now have more cases and variants than many of the places on the amber list!
There is also a review of the traffic light system in general that would be implemented on 28 June. This is not just about which countries are on it, but also the rules in general. A further major review of the system is due for 31 July. No one has any real predictions that much will happen, but I still hold out hope that they may allow some easing of the amount of testing or quarantine for those fully vaccinated like most other countries are doing. After all, if they want to encourage younger people to get vaccinated, making travel easier could be one way to do it. Grant Shapps had said previously that they were looking at the issue, however, given the backlash over “covid passports” it could be viewed as discrimination.
For the first time this year, I don't feel very optimistic that travel between the US & UK will open before September.
I'm also now concerned that the next travel update will be a big disappointment as they'll struggle to justify mass international travel whilst we're still living under some restriction in the UK.
However, my theory is that they'll confirm on the 7th July that we'll enter stage 4 of the lockdown process on the 21st July and the travel update that is due on the 15th July (the one due in the next 10 days will be "no change") for travel from the 22nd July could be the moment we have all been waiting for. Whilst it might not include the US, I do think there could be a mass inclusion of Green list countries.
Lets just hope there are no weird new variants that come on the scene in the meantime. Might be a rough 4 weeks but there is light at the end of the very long tunnel.
I agree retirement plan.
There are hundreds of conditions that sadly cause death, if we can manage the hospitalisations then there is no reason why we should allow restrictions to remain.
With the vaccine rollout going so well, we need to move on. I really feel the government are terrified of labour/ voters saying that because they didn't do everything in their power, the 21st June deadline was missed (and allowing travel would be one of the things they would focus on)
I'm not all that optimistic we'll hear much good travel related news in June but still think July could be a lot more positive (as long as the delta variant is under control (if its not, countries may be on our green list but we wont be on theirs!))
I dont disagree with what your saying but I do think the 21st June is having a big part to play here.
I must admit, I thought the list of green countries would be quite long by June, back in the winter months when many places around the world were experiencing cases that were exceptionally high, you'd assume that when cases/ deaths were as low as summer 2020, the world would partially open up again but how wrong was I. Bar the US who can travel with ease to some places and those in the EU block, the rest of us are still so limited
Linkop - the government have certainly been over cautious imo.
I can semi understand Portugal with the Nepal variant (if its deemed the vaccine works against it, they'll need to re-think this)
I don't understand the Caribbean - the numbers are so low with good vaccination levels. Part of me thinks they're doing this to prevent labour and those who don't care about travel saying "if only you had been stricter on travel, the UK would have opened up on the 21st June"....
Same with the med islands..
Its going to dip, its hardly affecting things for BA (we had around 6 fights a day going to portugal (8 some days) - small fry in the grand scheme of things! Talk of a rights issue etc etc is complete rubbish!
No US this year and then yes, there will be funding issues
Brilliant! (NOT)
Posted at 13:4513:45
BREAKING
Portugal to be taken off green list
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
It’s understood Portugal is being removed from the green list and will be added to the amber list later today.It follows a meeting this morning between the UK and devolved governments and advice from the joint biosecurity centre. Sources tell me this decision will be announced later.
The Caribbean should be ok (but probably only Antigua and St Lucia despite both islands switching their marketing efforts to focus on US clients!)
they'll probably also include barbados knowing not many will travel there with the current quarantine on arrival.
The biggest win we can have today is the med and atlantic islands to utilise our A320/21 fleet
I must admit, I cant see todays update being positive for IAG.
In Europe, Aer Lingus and Iberia could be our rock for a couple of months but for BA its not going to be easy for the next 4-8 weeks.
I still live in hope the US will open in July but todays announcement could be depressing. If they are moving away from the "island" idea for the med, we could be in trouble.
The inclusion of finland is almost worthless for BA (we use Finnair as a code share on their metal currently). It would be great for Portugal to remain and i think it will for now - bigger risk is them taking us off their list!
Thats positive. There's a lot of anticipation regarding the meeting between Boris and Biden in Cornwall.
The expert travel bloggers still seem positive the link between the US and UK could open on the 4th July - I think its clear, it will be for vaccinated travellers only with flexibility for under 18's