Rumour is that Astraeus have been awarded the traffic rights to operate to Pakistan from MAN with Global Spirit (lots of burning of midnight oil by British Embassy).

So when are the 74's arriving then?

Had posted this elsewhere, then though about the thread regarding AAE making a move on Astraeus..... which seems to have disappeared?

So Astraeus get the traffic rights (with Global Spirit) and then get AAE to operate (wet lease whatever..) the flights? Neat huh.

(edited to correct spelling.....again)

Classic or -400 ?

Global Spirit Airlines- a subsidiary of UK based Jeffery International Group will launch flight operations between Islamabad and Manchester in July.
"The maiden commercial flight with over 400 passengers on board will land into Islamabad from Manchester on July 06", Chairman of the Jeffery International Group Tasejad Jeffrey told a press conference here Monday.
He was flanked by the Group Managing Director of the airlines Subthain Jeffrey, Regional Director Jafar Mehdi and International Director of sales David E. Collick.
He said the Global Spirit will be one of the two western airlines into Pakistan and the first ever British Pakistani airline created. The airline will also be first ever private airline to be permitted to fly on an international sector.
He said the airline will use well maintained ex- British airways' Boeing 747 wide bodied aircraft and will operate in three classes, Nawab class being Business First product, Spirit Class- Premium Economy product and Economy Class.

10 Jan 2005

To be ABSOLUTELY clear...

Astraeus applied for traffic rights in 2004 as a request for a former customer.

Astraeus has NO plans to operate this route on anybody's behalf.

Astraeus has NO plans to operate 747's

Astraeus has NO involvement with Air Atlanta.


H

"The maiden commercial flight with over 400 passengers on board will land into Islamabad from Manchester on July 06",
Sold out already, that's good going! So is this Global Spirit outfit independent?

"The airline will also be first ever private airline to be permitted to fly on an international sector"

What are they talking about?

I believe that refers to the fact that only PIA are allowed by the Pakistan Authorities to operate international services from Pakistan. The other private airlines only operate internal services.

Sorry amend that - Aero Asia operate to the Gulf States. However PIA still have long haul.

......What am I thinking about...Global Spirit is a UK company????

Quote:

To be ABSOLUTELY clear...

Astraeus applied for traffic rights in 2004 as a request for a former customer.

Astraeus has NO plans to operate this route on anybody's behalf.

Astraeus has NO plans to operate 747's

Astraeus has NO involvement with Air Atlanta.


H

Un Quote.

So when you applied in 2004, did they issue them to you and have you released them, now that you have "NO plans to operate this route". I'm not sh*tstirring but it is important to get this point clarified, because what I'm hearing is that the rights have been granted to Global Spirit/Astraeus. If that means Global Spirit are not telling the full story to the Pakistan Authorities well then that's something that can be worked on.

Thanks

Yak97,

I am not aware that we have been granted the route licence, but I will check.

I again emphasise we have NO plans to operate this route.

H

Astraeus was granted traffic rights at the time. We have since terminated our designation so that any other party can apply to the Pakistani authorities in their own right for their own traffic rights and presumably they would be able to obtain those rights in the same way as we were able when we applied. As Hamrah states, we have no ongoing involvement of any nature in any project to fly to Pakistan (or fly 747s for that matter).

Thanks for the info, much obliged

Just watching Bruce Dickinson's TV show, "Flying Heavy Metal" and it showed Astraeus crews doing base training on an all white 747 ... with an Icelandic registration ...

Just watching Bruce Dickinson's TV show, "Flying Heavy Metal" and it showed Astraeus crews doing base training on an all white 747 ... with an Icelandic registration ...

Bruce was the only one with an Astraeus Hi Vis vest. The rest all had Air Atlanta vests ...... which was nice ;)

Got the makings of a short term operation irrespective of star status.

Yak97's post with the press release says ex BA 747s. Surely this suggests it will be European operating the flights?

Why on earth would it be European?

Of the ex BA 747-200s:
XA went to Air Atlanta
XB was scrapped
XC was scrapped
XD was last seen in Roswell
XE went to European and is flying with them
XF went to European and is flying with them
XG was in storage missing a few engines
XH was at European and engineless
XI was scrapped at Cardiff
XJ is in service with Air Atlanta
XK is in service with Air Atlanta/Garuda
XL went to Air Atlanta, not sure if still in service
XM is in service with Air Atlanta/Malaysian
XN is in service with Air Atlanta
XO is in Amsterdam with no engines in EAAC colours
XP is in service with Air Atlanta/Malaysian

Air Atlanta thus have far more of the ex-BA 747s than European. Betting is that the Global Spirit flying is to be done by G-BDXJ under Air Atlanta's AOC.

[Before anyone chimes in, there were one or two other "BA" 747-200s like the MEA Combis and the original freighter, but these left the BA fleet long long ago and well before any of the aircraft listed above.]

Great research Flightrider. I stand corrected.

And why would it not be a European Air Charter 747-200 if they have the capacity?

Does anyone know whether it is actually planned as a scheduled or charter service?