NOW Aircraft...anyone know where they are?
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Most folk have forgotten the Now press release from last year announcing their intentions to operate fixed fares to Jersey etc.
It will be like a new airline again when eventually the web site goes live for booking. Well assuming it ever does?
I hope their live press release is backed up by massive and months long publicity. If you don't know about em, you cannot book with em!
Ryanair and easyJet are PR masters. Minnows need to face the fact that it will cost millions to publicise themselves, unless they come up with a cool media stunt and pursue it? TED the low cost arm of UniTED! Crap name, but so was Go, and what did they achieve, probably TED will do well if marketed massively?
Having an airline flying to brilliant destinations will fail.
Having an airline flying to brilliant destinations and telling all and sundry about it, just might work? The all and sundry part cost £££milons!
It will be like a new airline again when eventually the web site goes live for booking. Well assuming it ever does?
I hope their live press release is backed up by massive and months long publicity. If you don't know about em, you cannot book with em!
Ryanair and easyJet are PR masters. Minnows need to face the fact that it will cost millions to publicise themselves, unless they come up with a cool media stunt and pursue it? TED the low cost arm of UniTED! Crap name, but so was Go, and what did they achieve, probably TED will do well if marketed massively?
Having an airline flying to brilliant destinations will fail.
Having an airline flying to brilliant destinations and telling all and sundry about it, just might work? The all and sundry part cost £££milons!
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The first launch was this year, around March I believe.
On a seperate matter, and for what it's worth, a mate of mine in LATCC has been told that Eurocontrol are not too happy about the callsign and have asked NOW to come up with another one without the word "NOW" in it ! Keep the replies serious if you can, but does anyone have a suggestion as to what they could use? (jmc-man) I'm waiting !!!
I suggest "FLYAWAY"
On a seperate matter, and for what it's worth, a mate of mine in LATCC has been told that Eurocontrol are not too happy about the callsign and have asked NOW to come up with another one without the word "NOW" in it ! Keep the replies serious if you can, but does anyone have a suggestion as to what they could use? (jmc-man) I'm waiting !!!
I suggest "FLYAWAY"
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I believe their is some truth in this rumour. The authorities have given approval for “NOW FLY” henc it was used on the proving flight however NOW airlines have themselves had second thoughts and are applying for a new callsighn. After doing a search on this they have appear to have two approved callsighns but I cant find out what it is… All the same good to see that the company is ironing out problems before it’s to late.. Good look NOW I can’t wait to see a new operator in town. 
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How many more of these fledgling LCs' can continue to sart up particularly in what appears to be a shrinking or over supscribed market.
Are the rates of leasing really that cheap that a/c are readily avaible. My other concern is how are these companies finding the sources to bankroll them in the first place.
Will the release of UK registered Easy 737s' encourage more start ups.
The mention of LTN , STN both are well served by any number of LCs therefore I would have thought that new starters can only flourish at the less used airports hence the emergence of EMA, Coventry and maybe Gloucester.
What are your views on this ?
Are the rates of leasing really that cheap that a/c are readily avaible. My other concern is how are these companies finding the sources to bankroll them in the first place.
Will the release of UK registered Easy 737s' encourage more start ups.
The mention of LTN , STN both are well served by any number of LCs therefore I would have thought that new starters can only flourish at the less used airports hence the emergence of EMA, Coventry and maybe Gloucester.
What are your views on this ?
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PPT,
Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry if I seem tetchy, but as we all know, it is very easy to misinterpret others' posts, or to be misinterpreted by others. This can quickly end up in a bad spiral. It is also very easy to view some of the anti remarks as a slight on you personally, as none of us would have joined any company if we thought they had no future. The negative posts thus can be read as an insult to the intelligence and judgement of those who have joined new companies, especially when these remarks are made in the tone that some of the posters have used.
While the debate over whether NOW will start or not has been very circular (and most other start-ups have had similar trends in their threads), it's good to see that most posters are now accepting the information before them, rather than just pooh-poohing it. Even JMC-man and Tailscrape seem to accept that it will launch. I hope we can put the cynicism and bluster behind us, and debate issues based on facts rather than speculation.
Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry if I seem tetchy, but as we all know, it is very easy to misinterpret others' posts, or to be misinterpreted by others. This can quickly end up in a bad spiral. It is also very easy to view some of the anti remarks as a slight on you personally, as none of us would have joined any company if we thought they had no future. The negative posts thus can be read as an insult to the intelligence and judgement of those who have joined new companies, especially when these remarks are made in the tone that some of the posters have used.
While the debate over whether NOW will start or not has been very circular (and most other start-ups have had similar trends in their threads), it's good to see that most posters are now accepting the information before them, rather than just pooh-poohing it. Even JMC-man and Tailscrape seem to accept that it will launch. I hope we can put the cynicism and bluster behind us, and debate issues based on facts rather than speculation.
HZ123 -
The reason for the popularity of the London area airports is simple. That's where most people live, it's where foreigners want to visit, and it's where the money is.
Look at the population living within 40 miles of Luton. Compare that with a similar radius around Gloucester, Bristol, Cardiff, Southampton, East Midlands, Newcastle and even Manchester. Foreign visitors want to go to London, they don't know much about the other cities, even though we know they are wonderful.
The LCC destinations from the provinces are predominantly leisure-orientated, and are therefore stealing seat-only business from charter airlines. From London, other routes are busy enough to support a choice of airlines (eg I think FR fly 7 times a day from STN to Rome, and that's in competition with EZY, BA and AZ). There is also a large enough and wealthy enough market for FR to fly to Rodez, Valladolid, Brescia etc and fill their aircraft. How well would (say) Jet2 do if flying LBA-Carcassonne?!?
The reason for the popularity of the London area airports is simple. That's where most people live, it's where foreigners want to visit, and it's where the money is.
Look at the population living within 40 miles of Luton. Compare that with a similar radius around Gloucester, Bristol, Cardiff, Southampton, East Midlands, Newcastle and even Manchester. Foreign visitors want to go to London, they don't know much about the other cities, even though we know they are wonderful.
The LCC destinations from the provinces are predominantly leisure-orientated, and are therefore stealing seat-only business from charter airlines. From London, other routes are busy enough to support a choice of airlines (eg I think FR fly 7 times a day from STN to Rome, and that's in competition with EZY, BA and AZ). There is also a large enough and wealthy enough market for FR to fly to Rodez, Valladolid, Brescia etc and fill their aircraft. How well would (say) Jet2 do if flying LBA-Carcassonne?!?
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LSG
Working at LHR the arse---- of the aviation world I am aware of your thread, the point I was making refers to new entrants into the LC market.
Surely with so much competition in addition to the established carriers chasing the cheap fares, newer outfits will have to look to the more remote airports to be able to compete.
Daily we read of yet another start up or proposed start up I say that such growth cannot continue for much longer.
Working at LHR the arse---- of the aviation world I am aware of your thread, the point I was making refers to new entrants into the LC market.
Surely with so much competition in addition to the established carriers chasing the cheap fares, newer outfits will have to look to the more remote airports to be able to compete.
Daily we read of yet another start up or proposed start up I say that such growth cannot continue for much longer.
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HZ123:
You're right that there is only so much demand or capacity, and there are a lot of apparent start ups. However, some of these new names are just re-brands, and the market still shows more demand. While the 2 dominant LCAs do take the majority of this trade, others like Jet2 appear to be doing well. Don't forget that EZY and Ryan are their own big problems at the moment, and both may end up having to drop significant numbers of routes. This will give some headway for niche providers.
You're right that there is only so much demand or capacity, and there are a lot of apparent start ups. However, some of these new names are just re-brands, and the market still shows more demand. While the 2 dominant LCAs do take the majority of this trade, others like Jet2 appear to be doing well. Don't forget that EZY and Ryan are their own big problems at the moment, and both may end up having to drop significant numbers of routes. This will give some headway for niche providers.
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All quiet on that front, although, apparently, those who have selected to be on wages are being paid, and those who decided to join at a later date have gone elsewhere. As always, waiting for the 737-300 to be handed over...
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Whippersnapper
I'm not sure I follow your logic. Ryanairs "problems " are that they may have to start paying more money to use some of the airports where they have enjoyed "artificial" subsidies (allegedly 
). Easyjets "problems" is difficulty in raising average yield over a 12 month period, resulting in a drop in profits as costs have increased.
It doesn't follow that either of these operators will drop routes ( especially profitable ones) for any reason. If they drop routes at all, it will because they can't get the economics to work...and surely that would be a good reason for any else attempting to run a low cost operation to avoid them.
The Low Cost Model relies on 2 things , Volume and Cash. Lot and Lots of people paying small amounts of money up front. It's a simple formula. If want an insight, read Barabara Cassani's book, and see how much GO lost before they bounced back...because they got the volume up. Somewhere between 15 to 20 aircraft is about right as a starting point.
Of the so called "Start-ups" out there all of them ( bar 1- the title of this thread) are bolt-on operations to an already existing operation, so the true costs and profits will be lost in the Group detail. It will be impossible to determine if any of them are making money in their own right. Only NOW will ( assuming it gets up an running) will be a truly independent operation, and will have one serious challenge in the existing marketplace to gain a strong enough foothold to grow to the level required to show sustained profits.
Don't forget that EZY and Ryan are their own big problems at the moment, and both may end up having to drop significant numbers of routes. This will give some headway for niche providers.
). Easyjets "problems" is difficulty in raising average yield over a 12 month period, resulting in a drop in profits as costs have increased.It doesn't follow that either of these operators will drop routes ( especially profitable ones) for any reason. If they drop routes at all, it will because they can't get the economics to work...and surely that would be a good reason for any else attempting to run a low cost operation to avoid them.
The Low Cost Model relies on 2 things , Volume and Cash. Lot and Lots of people paying small amounts of money up front. It's a simple formula. If want an insight, read Barabara Cassani's book, and see how much GO lost before they bounced back...because they got the volume up. Somewhere between 15 to 20 aircraft is about right as a starting point.
Of the so called "Start-ups" out there all of them ( bar 1- the title of this thread) are bolt-on operations to an already existing operation, so the true costs and profits will be lost in the Group detail. It will be impossible to determine if any of them are making money in their own right. Only NOW will ( assuming it gets up an running) will be a truly independent operation, and will have one serious challenge in the existing marketplace to gain a strong enough foothold to grow to the level required to show sustained profits.
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Anyone know how many 'bods' are actually gainfully employed at Now at present. Presumably all at Halycon House.
Whilst, from past posts, it would seem a new website is in the offing, the old website still lists many finance/admin jobs available plus flight/cabin crew. Surely these have been filled or is it just a case of the website never being updated. Either way, if journos from the trade/travel press look it up, it hardly instills any positive reaction. If they can't be bothered to update, it perhaps they should shut it down until such time if and when a launch is announced. New website to go with it at that time.
Whilst, from past posts, it would seem a new website is in the offing, the old website still lists many finance/admin jobs available plus flight/cabin crew. Surely these have been filled or is it just a case of the website never being updated. Either way, if journos from the trade/travel press look it up, it hardly instills any positive reaction. If they can't be bothered to update, it perhaps they should shut it down until such time if and when a launch is announced. New website to go with it at that time.
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JMC-Man:
The problems that I was referring to at Ryan Air and the possible reductions in routes is already observable - Strasburg, Charleroi and threats to withdraw from Kerry to name but a few. I believe that they also have to start paying for their 800s next year and that their load factor has dropped hence the acceleration of the 200 retirements.
As for easyJet, their main problem is a massive lack of crew, both pilots and cabin crew, and increasing difficulty in attracting suitable new candidates (hence the Berlin base). Rostering is unable to cope with the existing network resulting in crews having fatigue issues and a soaring sickness rate. They simply don't have the people to fly the aeroplanes. The yields at easyJet remain extremely good, but this is no low-cost airline; it's haemorraging money on pointless projects, sub-chartering and management bonuses.
The problems that I was referring to at Ryan Air and the possible reductions in routes is already observable - Strasburg, Charleroi and threats to withdraw from Kerry to name but a few. I believe that they also have to start paying for their 800s next year and that their load factor has dropped hence the acceleration of the 200 retirements.
As for easyJet, their main problem is a massive lack of crew, both pilots and cabin crew, and increasing difficulty in attracting suitable new candidates (hence the Berlin base). Rostering is unable to cope with the existing network resulting in crews having fatigue issues and a soaring sickness rate. They simply don't have the people to fly the aeroplanes. The yields at easyJet remain extremely good, but this is no low-cost airline; it's haemorraging money on pointless projects, sub-chartering and management bonuses.
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Powerjet1 I know 3 people who are actually employed and within Halcyon House, and being paid ! I think the website is just not being updated as the new one will no doubt go into full swing soon (hopefully).