Viking Airlines is a new airline which started operations in May 2003 operating charter flights on behalf of a number of Tour Operators in the Mediterranean. In summer 2009 Boeing 737-800s will be added to the fleet, and the airline is going to fly from London Gatwick and Manchester to 11 beautiful destinations in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Egypt.
Flights operated by Viking with a couple of -800s (branded 'Kiss') by the looks of it.
Site looks very similar as the old XL one, i reckon it must be the guys who were behind Freedom Flights. As an agent, freedom flights are something similar is very much needed in the UK Leisure market, they will start with the usual gatwick and macnhester routes then will expand from there i reckon. Glad to see them back, they were great at what they did, lets just hope that Viking continue who will be operating the flights.
Good Luck Kiss Guys and Girls, glad someone will be back in the market to serve the independant agents, very much needed than the rip off big two.
I also as an Independant Travel Agent am really please - I will be signing up tomorrow. Its good news for all the small tour ops who relied on the XL flights like Mark Warner.
The Kiss team have many years of outstanding experience in the travel industry, up-to-the-minute market knowledge
Indisputably true. If what I am told is correct, this is the former XL people who were planning this set-up before XL ceased. Many years of outstanding experience and up-to-the-minute market knowledge which could not possibly have been matched by anyone else! How on earth are they allowed to get away with it so quickly?
"Good Luck Kiss Guys and Girls, glad someone will be back in the market to serve the independant agents, very much needed than the rip off big two."
"I also as an Independant Travel Agent am really please - I will be signing up tomorrow. Its good news for all the small tour ops who relied on the XL flights like Mark Warner."
What the hell is the matter with you 2? This company has just stranded thousands of people across the world due to mis-management and you're running to help the same people do it again!!!
You sum up everything that is wrong with the travel trade. Thank god for the internet so I can avoid having to use idiots like you 2.
start something, trade on the edge, build it up, try and smarten it up, find sugar daddy, continue to polish the particular turd till you either get out or as in the recent case it goes Tits Up then start again.
Whatever it might say on the outside, it's rotten to the core.
Kiss flights/airways has been registered as a company by an associate of PW.
The commercial director of freedom flights was 'sent' there a while ago
I'm guessing the commercial sales vehicle will be one of PW's other side companies, probably Meridian, run by his mate, who employed the old XL accounts guy recently.
it stinks, stinks, stinks, and if he ever has the neck to come out and front this up he could get lynched by the media.
to those who have lost their jobs who will not get into the new venture because they are not part of the same old inner circle who sold themselves to the devil years ago - you have my utmost sympathy.
Last edited by just_registered : 16th September 2008 at 23:28.
It stands as good a chance as any of success, and it won't have been exposed to the crap some of their soon-to-be peers have been over the past 18 months.
Good luck. Hope it works out. No reason why it shouldn't, despite what those who get their business acumen from ITN and the markets page of The Sun might think.
Im just expressing that the travel industry needs a independent charter airline. We cannot just survive with the big boys (TOM/TCX), just a few years ago we had Scandic, XL, Flying Colours, Caledonian etc. I agree though, it need to be well run to survive in this climate.
Air Ops=>Peach=>Caledonian=>Sabre=>Excel=>XL=>Kiss
You missed out Ambassador at the start of that list.
I feel desperately sorry for the people who have lost their jobs from XL at the hands of this mob. Surely the travel industry must be able to see through this charade?
I'm guessing the commercial sales vehicle will be one of PW's other side companies, probably Meridian, run by his mate, who employed the old XL accounts guy recently.
Make of this what you will, but guess who holds the ATOL (9853)...
Company Name:
Meridian Aviation UK Ltd
ATOL Number: 9853 Address:
Trading Names:
7th floor
Norfolk House
South Terminal
London Gatwick Airport
GATWICK, W Sussex,
RH6 0NN
Albert - thanks forgot "AMY" and have updated my list
another interesting Meridian Aviation anecdote, its run by PW's mate, AC, who also got all the XL Air Malta business via his door, and its just employed the wife of one of the XL directors. Its also been hoovering up former XL flights for some of the independent tour operators
will all the armchair numpties stop saying this is good news, you dont know what it means to be shafted by this shower
Muppet travel agents
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