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Post by christoff on Nov 14, 2018 8:46:26 GMT
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Post by michael on Nov 14, 2018 21:27:31 GMT
Sad but how ironic,since since .they hoped Loganair would flounder after the broke off the agreement with them.
That's the Loganair that has won European Regional Airline of the year 2018, and had a good reputation in Scotland for 55 years.
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Post by Jeff on Nov 15, 2018 10:31:17 GMT
Why spend money on a new scheme if money was so short ?
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Post by Jeff on Jan 11, 2019 11:53:31 GMT
Now bought by Virgin, not sure of the ins and outs as of yet, hopefully some repaints in line for the Q400s soon 😊
Reading some gumph at work which is saying flybe will be rebranded as ‘Virgin Atlantic’ in time
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Post by jargon on Jan 11, 2019 13:17:35 GMT
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Post by Jeff on Jan 11, 2019 16:22:05 GMT
The BMI Embraers and ATPs along with AirUk’s F27s were a nightmare for carrying cargo and I dont see the Q400s being any different 🙈
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Post by keefyboy on Jan 11, 2019 16:50:16 GMT
I must admit that I'm a bit surprised by the Virgin takeover given their track record with smaller aircraft. However, it's very easy to loose the plot these days with who owns whom and what the ulterior motives might be. I had a quick look on Wiki and (if it's to be believed and factually correct) below are a few extracts to add to the confusion:
Ownership
Virgin Group sold a 49% stake in the airline to Singapore Airlines in 1999 for £600 million.[40] On 14 May 2008, Singapore Airlines formally announced an invitation for offers for its Virgin Atlantic stake, and publicly acknowledged that its stake in the airline had "underperformed".[41]
In November 2010 it was reported that Virgin Atlantic had appointed Deutsche Bank to begin a strategic review of options for the airline following the tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines.[42] By February 2011 it was confirmed that SkyTeam members Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines had appointed Goldman Sachs to advise them on a joint potential approach for Virgin Atlantic. Etihad Airways was also reported to be considering a deal,[43] and Willie Walsh, chief executive of International Airlines Group, stated that they would be interested in the airline, but only for the lucrative take-off and landing slots it holds at Heathrow Airport.[44]
On 11 December 2012, Delta Air Lines confirmed the purchase of Singapore Airlines' 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic for £224 million, with plans to develop a transatlantic joint venture. Regulatory approval from the United States and European Union was granted on 20 June 2013,[45] and the purchase was completed on 24 June.[46] In December 2012, International Airlines Group CEO, Willie Walsh, suggested that the loss-making company would be history within five years. "I can't see Delta wanting to operate the Virgin brand because if they do what does that say about the Delta brand? I just don't see that the guy [Branson] has anything that stands out in terms of what he has achieved in the industry."[47]
In July 2017, Virgin Group agreed to sell a 31% stake in the airline to Air France-KLM for £220 million, leaving it with a 20% holding.[14] The deal is scheduled to be completed in early 2019.[15]
Little Red
Further information: Virgin Atlantic Little Red
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A320-200 Little Red operated by Aer Lingus
British Midland International provided domestic and European feeder traffic into Heathrow Airport in partnership with Virgin[61] until it was purchased by British Airways' parent company International Airlines Group in 2011. The Lufthansa-owned airline had faced heavy annual losses of more than £100 million. Under the terms of the takeover, IAG had to relinquish some former BMI domestic slots at Heathrow. Virgin Atlantic purchased enough slots in 2012 to enable it to launch a domestic service on 31 March 2013, under the Little Red brand, operating a total of 12 daily services from London to Aberdeen (three), Edinburgh (six), and Manchester (three).[62] The airline wet-leased four Airbus Airbus A320-200s from Aer Lingus, operating with Virgin Atlantic livery, under a three-year contract.[63][64]
In September 2014, it was reported that Virgin was considering closing its domestic brand after suffering heavy losses,[65] with Civil Aviation Authority figures confirming an average seat occupancy level of just 37.6% in 2013.[32] The 12 daily pairs of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow cannot be sold to be used for long-haul routes.[66]
On 6 October 2014, Virgin confirmed that the Little Red service would cease; flights to Manchester ended on 28 March 2015 and flights to Edinburgh and Aberdeen ended on 26 September 2015.[67]
Virgin Atlantic International Limited
On 13 April 2015, Virgin Atlantic incorporated a new subsidiary - Virgin Atlantic International Limited (VAIL).[68] In November 2015, VAIL obtained its own Air Operators Certificate and Operating Licence, and commenced operations with two former Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited operated Airbus A330-300 aircraft taking over routes previously operated by Virgin Atlantic Limited between London Gatwick and Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada and Tobago.[69] These flights are operated on behalf of Virgin Atlantic.[70]
Upon incorporation as an AOC holder, the majority of Virgin Atlantic's landing slots at London Heathrow Airport were transferred to VAIL, allowing Virgin to access the value of the carriers slots by 'mortgaging' them through open investment from capital markets, the first time in Europe a company has used airport take-off and landing slots to generate money in this way.[71][72]
Flybe takeover bid
On 11 January 2019, Virgin Atlantic formed the Connect Airways consortium with Stobart Aviation, to make a takeover bid for Flybe.[73] The deal is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2019[74] and would see the consortium combine Flybe and Stobart Air with Virgin Atlantic to create an integrated carrier operating under the Virgin Atlantic brand.[75] Flybe and Stobart Air would however retain their own Air Operator Certificates.[76]
PS: Personally, I've always found Virgin to be top notch in all classes despite what Willie Walsh might think. My first Virgin flight was in 1988 when I travelled to Orlando on a Martinair DC10 (chartered as the Virgin Jumbo was in for a service - I think it's still in service with RNLAF as a tanker). A highlight for me was travelling First Class to Barbados and having slightly staggered from the first class lounge to my seat - we were offered champagne before take off. Now that's what I call service.
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Post by Jeff on Jan 11, 2019 18:57:07 GMT
Nice summary 😊, and Im pleased you enjoy the service provided
Just to add to the confusion, the LHR flybe slots, which were virgin reds and previously bmi but which are owned still owned by IAG are called remedy slots..... introduced to avoid the monopolies and mergers inquisition after BA bought BMI...... as far as Im aware, these slots have to be used on domestic flights for 5 years ( from the date the airline starts using them, happy to be corrected on that) after 5 years they can then be used for something else.
More mud in the water, the recent 787 issues that airlines have been having have resulted in airlines having to overcome aircraft shortages, BA went down the leasing route, VS approached it differently by purchasing some very cheap 330s from the Air Berlin failure. VS now finds itself ( and were told this was planned) with 3 extra aircraft once the 787s start coming back online. We wernt told what they would be used for thhough
Its a massive jigsaw puzzle in a big box with no picture on the front atm 😂
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