Blue Wings

[Lauderdale]

scheduled and charter airline Blue Wings has suspended
flights after hitting financial problems.
Dusseldorf-based Blue Wings, which launched services in 2003,
operates nine Airbus A320s primarily linking Germany with
Turkey and Russia. It has a further 20 A320 family aircraft
on order
A Blue Wings spokesman confirms that the German CAA (LBA) has
suspended the airline's operating licence.
According to Flight's ACAS database, Blue Wings owns all but
two of its nine A320s. One of the remaining aircraft belongs
to Jetscape. The owner of the final aircraft is unknown.


Looks like we aint out of the woods just yet! :sad:

[Towerman]

All the owned aircraft are subject to finance and banks are far less likely to knee jerk react like lessors and seize the aircraft.

Blue Wings has a complex ownership and financing structure with Zurich based Alpstream AG and National Reserve Corporation a Russian giant behind it so there should in theory be no shortage of funds.

[HeadingSouth]

...yet they still take bookings on their website. Interesting...
Makes me wonder what happens to my €€€ for my flight booked on May 1st to Antalya. Thank goodness it's a LoCo :oh:

[Heavydriver]

just heard that Blue wings is gone bankrupt is this true ?.:sad:

[Kerosene Kraut]

All I know is that the german CAA "LBA" had not prolongued their german "Betriebsgenehmigung" (administrative permit to operate, not AOC) beyound the end of march due to financial reasons.

German language source only:
LBA widerruft Betriebsgenehmigung von Blue Wings - FLUG REVUE (http://www.flugrevue.de/de/zivilluftfahrt/airlines-flugbetrieb/lba-widerruft-betriebsgenehmigung-von-blue-wings.9259.htm)

edited for clarification

[LandASAP]

BlueWings has ceased operation at 31th March 2009 after the LBA didn't extend there temporary operational approval. More to read only in german

aero.de - Luftfahrt-Nachrichten und -Community (http://www.aero.de/Betriebsgenehmigung_fuer_Blue_Wings_nicht_verlaengert_8230.h tm)

So, it's no April fool hoax. I saw some of there planes in DUS today already stored.

Greetings,
Michael

[K.Whyjelly]

just heard that Blue wings is gone bankrupt is this true ?.:sad:

Subject first aired yesterday over in the Airlines,Airports and Routes forum........

http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/368112-blue-wings-suspends-operations.html

[captainspeaking]

You can also wave bye bye to Kayala Airline in Saudi Arabia as from today.

Defunct airlines since 2000 (http://www.airlineupdate.com/airlines/defunctairlines/defunctairlines_index.htm)

[lederhosen]

There seems to be some possibility that they might be able to start operating again. However the situation does not look good. Blue Wings committed to a big increase in capacity linked to their part owner (a russian oligarch) buying a big tour operator, specialising in trips to Turkey. The Russian could not raise the money to buy Öger tours who then decided not to put all their eggs in one basket and did not put the expected flights Blue Wing's way.

Combined with the current economic crisis it is a tough time. It is doubly unfortunate for a number of Airbus pilots who have seen Aero Lloyd, Fly FTI etc. go down. Given the overall downturn it may however save a number of other operators if they do not reappear.

[MaxBlow]

Heard that money is not an issue - gee, I bet everybody heard that before at some point in his/her career :}

I wouldn't call them defunct yet. Let's see if they come up with plan B :\

Good luck to them!

[conradmueller]

Bluewings will have no chance anymore once flights have been stopped, as 80% of their business is done with Oeger Turk Tur and Oeger Tours.
They have already swiched to Hamburg International and Germania

[Towerman]

If my understanding is correct, there was to be a further decision / announcement today (6th April) as to whether BW would recommence services or cease operations entirely. (?)

[MaxBlow]

They're back in the air after five weeks. This sure shows some commitment doesn't it ?

:ok:

[conradmueller]

The first flight took off today from DUS to Karaganda (KGF).

[Avman]

Saw Bluewings very much operational with a dozen or so movements when at DUS some weeks ago.