New Airline to Sierra Leone

[London Jets]

Gunss

The 757-200 is ex - Av8 and is 186 seats in a one class config.

I was on the proving flight on the 21st May, LGW - LGW, Flt No: AEU757 and I couldn't believe the legroom we got, I'm 6'4" and there was loads of room. Really nice aircraft.

LJ

[Gunship]

Tx LJ,

You convinced me .. I am 5vt 10 and 111kg but I am sure I can dribble the full frontal into leg room

Cheers - I am booking my ticket tomorrow.

Do you have exact times and days of flights ?

Will you be flying on it ? Let me know for a PPRUNE bash

[4HolerPoler]

Guns, your problem isn't legroom - you should be checking how wide the seats are.

Have a good flight & enjoy home.

4HP

[Gunship]

Ja swaer,

Wifey send me some pics from pupes course ...

remember the grey (fish smelling) overalls that we did our course in ??

My ID said I weighed 64 kg ... and the photo taken in the Berg's showed

Damn ... ok LJ it's the width that counts but must admit 4HP I am still not a Double Dave - it's just the beer pens that moerse groot

Take care swaer (you not perhaps visiting July ? )

[London Jets]

Gunss

From what I hear we are starting the flights on the 14th of this month but that is still to be confirmed. As for the frequency I am not sure but when I know I'll let you know.

Oh, and I don't think you should have a problem with the seat width either!

Best wishes

LJ

[Gunship]

Cheers LJ,

I will visit my friend tomorrow who is your sole agent here.

If I remember correctly he said the tickets and details arrives tonight with SNA (if they arrive)

Cheers and thanks for the info

Gunsss

[TimS]

Here's the schedules distributed to GDS via OAG ......

5W 071 /W 15 LGWFNA 1515 2045 757 0 7JUN29OCT


5W 072 /W 1 FNALGW 2230 0555+1 757 0 7JUN25OCT

5W 072 /W 5 FNALGW 2230 0555+1 757 0 25JUN29OCT

Not bookable through GDS at moment.

Hope that helps

TimS

Mind you by my calculations that leaves two 757s (those that go down there on 11th and 18th July) parked in Freetown !!

I am sure there is some sort of logic, but b*%%ered if I know what it is.

TimS

[Gunship]

Thanks Tim.

Hope you are well.

I just spoke to Mr Khalill Lakiss - the local sole agent.

He advised me the first flight will be 14 June at 1015 from Gat and return Freetown at 2230.

Thereafter it will be Mondays and Fridays depart Gatwick at 1415 and depart Freetown 2230.

Price a GREAT / Fantastic $880.00 incl all taxes.

28 Inches legroom ...

SN Brussles via Ivory Coast and Brussles (I hate it) is now close to $1 300.00 !!!

So sad news for SNA ... me thinks ?

Cheers,

Gunsss

[Gunship]

Latest Airline Rumour in SL ... Monarch !

With "British Astraeus" starting on 14 June and the fact that Sierra National Airlines has not arrived on 2 out of five schedules (the last being on monday) ...

The latest rumour is that Monarch is the latest airline to fly this route ! Just a romour though ... anybody know anything ?

Jet driver ?

PS: Monarch used to be SNA's partner for quite a while before.

[CrashDive]

Hi Guys ( & gals ? ),

I've just been aboard the Astraeus B757.

The aircraft is configured with 186 seats and accordingly the seat pitch is very impressive, i.e. 35" / 36".

Nb. To put that into perspective, most other (UK) operators typically configure their B757's with 230+ seats and a seat pitch of 28" - so Astraeus', by comparison, seems vast.

Furthermore, as the maximum passenger load has been tailored downwards, there will be less problems with baggage & freight bulking-out; something which seems a regular occurrence on West African routes ( e.g. what with all those televisions, gearboxes, and kitchen sinks et al ).

Needless to say, levels of comfort & service aboard this Astraeus aircraft are in a different league to what many will be have previously experienced.

[ChiefT]

If that is true, will Monarch flying on behalf of SNA gain or on its own account?

[Gunship]

Thanks for the info Crash Driver. Makes sence that most of us will big SNA farewell.

I had 2 PM's from PPRUNERS that I pressume is in the area (contact me again pse guys I deleted all my PM's by accident)

Here is the answer to your request :

The sole agent (up to now) is Khalill Lakiss and his details :

KARL TRAVEL AGENCY
24 RAWDON STREET,FREETOWN
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

[Puritan]

Guns... sorry mate, there’s a little bit of terminological inexactitude :

• Company name = Astraeus Ltd
• Call sign = "Fly Star"
• ICAO flight number designator = AEU
• IATA flight number designator = 5W
• Ownership = Wholly British, split between investing Directors & Venture Capital
• Primary domain name = flyastraeus.com ( only coz the one we wanted was not available when we first registered the domain; though, that said, we've actually since managed to grab 'astraeus.com' )

[Hamrah]

Astraeus to Freetown

It appears that nearly all the facts are now out there, if not all in one place so:-

Astraeus, A UK airline will commence scheduled services between London Gatwick and Freetown on June 14th. The service will be twice weekly, operated by a 757 with 186 seats, giving 36in seat pitch throughout the cabin.

I will probably operate the first flight, which will have a 13 hour stopover before returning to UK. Thereafter the flights have 2 hour turnaround in Freetown.

I would be interested in getting in touch with any PPRuNeRs who are in Freetown regularly.

[Gunship]

Lo Hamrah,

I am your man Send you a PM.

Cheers,

Gunnsss