BA to fly A380 on shorthaul?

British Airways is reportedly considering flying its A380s on shorthaul routes to build up crew training and familiarity.  Preparing for delivery of the first of 12 A380s in mid-2013, BA is looking at training options, which may include an intra-Europe program before launching the aircraft on longhaul services to the US and Asia.

Air France operated A380 flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow when it introduced the aircraft in June 2010.  Not only did it bolster training and familiarisation, but it afforded Air France a useful PR coup by exposing the new aircraft product to users of competitor services using discounted fares before launching the A380 on longhaul services.