Olympic Airlines are a good bet. They already operate Dash 8 100s so are maybe looking at expanding out to the Dash Q400.
My guess is, if as Jethro's listings are correct Flybe maybe looking to sell a couple of Q400s. A deal could be done whereby these Q400s could be bought by Olympic, the pilots could be trained inhouse down at Exeter during this time Flybe pilots could operate the schedule. Olympic may buy a couple of new Q400s from Flybe thus reducing the number of backed up aircraft Flybe have.
Flybe makes money by utilising and selling aircraft, training pilots and providing contract pilots win win win situation.
A letter in our crewroom yesterday explained things a little more clearly....
- 4 Q400's going to Athens along with the required number of crew. To operate under Olympic Airways between Aug 2009 - Sep 2010.
- Staff will be hotel based so full duty pay will be paid.
- Expect going out there for 2 weeks at a time. It looks like we might be expected to do 5 on / 2 off / 5 on and then back home (although this bit is purely guesswork - nothing confirmed on the letter)
- Not sure about route network although in terms of the flight crew they're likely to send out there will probably depend on the category of the aerodromes we'd be flying to. Provided we don't need any extra training in the sim (like Chambery) - it may well be simply a case of making a bid.
We've plenty of FO's - no issues finding them. Just wonder if we've enough Captains to cover.
Haven't got the letter to hand so can't write it out word for word...
For someone who does not have the letter to hand, you appear to be well informed. Perhaps I could ask you to go to your crew room and copy the letter on here.
FF
Please ignore my last post, it appears you are correct and I apologise for my somewhat cynical post - I ought to have checked first! Too many earlies and feeling a bit tired.
Best. FF
Depends on the wind, it could do it at a push but would imagine a tech stop would be needed. It would certainly be needed flying Westbound with the predominantly prevailing westerlies.
As far as I am aware the SAS a/c are going back as we receive the ones back from Wideroe
"Flybe Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jim French has been recognised in the 2009 Queens Birthday Honours’ List with a CBE for his services to the UK airline industry."
Last edited by Maverick8701 : 13th June 2009 at 19:17.
He has his doubters but no-one can deny that Jim saw the way ahead, changed the airline and has kept us in business when many have failed. I for one am grateful that we have him at the helm....
Hearing a Rumour at Manchester that Flybe are going to change handling agents. Not sure how trueful this is, because no one at the current handling agent seems to know anything about it.
Flybe have gone public with the Olympic Air deal (below). I know someone has already said this but it strikes me as a very clear (and I guess, profitable) way of finding a use for aircraft during a downturn.
Flybe tie-up with Olympic Air on regional flights 16 June 2009 <Europe’s largest regional airline to provide up to 4 aircraft with co-operation in multiple fields providing further boost for Flybe brand awareness>
Flybe, Europe’s largest and most successful regional airline, is delighted and proud to announce its support for the summer start-up of Greek airline, Olympic Air.
By providing Olympic Air with four Bombardier Q400 aircraft, with pilots, cabin crew and engineering support, the deal is yet more evidence of Flybe’s growing reputation as a quality provider of professional ‘turn-key’ solutions in the global aviation market.
The ‘wet lease’ arrangement is from August 2009 until September 2010, at which point, the aircraft will return to Flybe. Based in Athens, the aircraft will become part of the New Olympic business and, operating under the Flybe Airline Operating Certificate (AOC), will be fully crewed by Flybe pilots and cabin crew and maintained by Flybe engineers.
The deal, which was officially announced at the prestigious Paris Air Show is the latest in a line of innovations which have highlighted Flybe’s ability to not only ride out the recession but place it in a position where it will emerge stronger and more competitive when the upturn arrives.
In what is a major extension of the Flybe brand, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jim French says: “The partnership with Olympic Air is an exciting development for Flybe. Following on from our Air Transport World Regional Airline of the Year award, this is a major extension of the Flybe brand and is a very important milestone in Flybe’s development.”
He adds: “The Flybe business model has been a great success over the last eight years and as a result I am proud that we will be one of the very few airlines likely to announce a profit for the 2008-09 financial year.
“Over the past 18 months or so, Flybe has been offered literally dozens of opportunities to start up or support start-ups globally all of which, until this one, we have declined. Flybe’s senior management team is 100% convinced that this partnership with Olympic Air is a tremendous opportunity and dovetails perfectly with our brand. We look forward to it being a great success.”
and since when did a contract make that much difference??
An overseas contract like this secures employment for 4 aircraft, 30 odd flightdeck and the associated cabin crew, which would otherwise have been in danger of being put out to graze.
I would say that is a pretty significant difference, as will the next contract when it is announced
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