Air Caledonia
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Fun while it lasted...
Well, I don't know what the record is for the shortest life span of an airline, but this must be a good contender.
Our first flight was on 6 December, and the last has already been done. Bandit goes back tomorrow. In truth, ACS has been doing most of our flights this week in the 404/402.
I'm sure some people will feel smug and say "I told you so", and they were right, but I hope they remember that it means there are people about to find they have no job to return to in January. Happy F*****g New Year!!!
I should be alright, but I know others that won't be.
I hope the people who have already booked with us get their money back.
Cheers
JF
Our first flight was on 6 December, and the last has already been done. Bandit goes back tomorrow. In truth, ACS has been doing most of our flights this week in the 404/402.
I'm sure some people will feel smug and say "I told you so", and they were right, but I hope they remember that it means there are people about to find they have no job to return to in January. Happy F*****g New Year!!!
I should be alright, but I know others that won't be.
I hope the people who have already booked with us get their money back.
Cheers
JF
Last edited by Jockflyer; 31st Dec 2004 at 09:58.
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JF - sorry to hear how things have turned out.
Do you think things would have been different if the routes had been started in the summer months when the weather conditions at SYY and up the whole west coast would have been more favourable, allowing a passenger base to develop.
Do you think things would have been different if the routes had been started in the summer months when the weather conditions at SYY and up the whole west coast would have been more favourable, allowing a passenger base to develop.
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Of course it's sad when a new operator goes to the wall.
Sorry to say but knowing where this lot came from I find that statement all too familiar. However, did they have their own AOC or was it a case of using Keenairs'?
Prestwick does have potential, but it needs an operator with a good strong background in airline ops, and experience of operating in Scotland...
Mark McG, on first reading your post it might seem churlish... you do have a point...
If you are wondering why it didn't work, well piss poor management by people who didn't have a clue what they were doing
Prestwick does have potential, but it needs an operator with a good strong background in airline ops, and experience of operating in Scotland...
Mark McG, on first reading your post it might seem churlish... you do have a point...
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Hi Meeb,
didn't mean to come across like that.
A colleague of mine used Air Caledonian to get to SYY last week, as they were substantially cheaper than BA from GLA and BMI from EDI.
didn't mean to come across like that.
A colleague of mine used Air Caledonian to get to SYY last week, as they were substantially cheaper than BA from GLA and BMI from EDI.
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Air Caledonian
Jockflyer, I've just looked at the teletext arrivals for today and if what you said about Air Caledonian having flown it's last flight was true then surely the flights would have been cancelled! Not accirding to teletext they're not. I also called Air Caledonian and they told me that the airline has definately NOT flown it's last flight!
CSF101 from Prestwick to Derry (STA 0740 at LDY) did operate this morning, though it was almost two hours late, arriving Derry at about 0930. If they have flown their last flight, then who is operating these movements today?
Join Date: Nov 2000
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The Bandit is going today. The last few flights will be flown by ACS.
Some of you will note that I have deleted some of my earlier statements. Not because they aren't true, just that it was perhaps foolish of me to post them.
Trust me, the fat lady is about to sing. For the moment at least, its over.
Cheers
JF
Some of you will note that I have deleted some of my earlier statements. Not because they aren't true, just that it was perhaps foolish of me to post them.
Trust me, the fat lady is about to sing. For the moment at least, its over.
Cheers
JF
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Some more information which I got from another forum.
The EMB110 has been returned to Norwich and the services will continue using Air Charter Scotland Cessnas.
There was, from what I can gather, a sudden departure of the Ops Manager (ex BAW) this week back to England - that appears to have been followed by the many doom and gloom stories which now appear to be circulating. Jockflyer care to comment?.
They're not flying today as they normally only fly weekdays on their routes. They were flying yesterday and had extra flights too with pax in from Derry at 22.30.
I hear there is a new Ops Manager raring to go who is Scottish and understands the local aviation scene.
Maybe it is too early to write them of just yet.
The EMB110 has been returned to Norwich and the services will continue using Air Charter Scotland Cessnas.
There was, from what I can gather, a sudden departure of the Ops Manager (ex BAW) this week back to England - that appears to have been followed by the many doom and gloom stories which now appear to be circulating. Jockflyer care to comment?.
They're not flying today as they normally only fly weekdays on their routes. They were flying yesterday and had extra flights too with pax in from Derry at 22.30.
I hear there is a new Ops Manager raring to go who is Scottish and understands the local aviation scene.
Maybe it is too early to write them of just yet.
Last edited by Runway 31; 1st Jan 2005 at 17:59.
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Mmmm,
R31, I can confirm the departure of the ops manager, and the return to Norwich of the EMB110.
Interested to know where you got the info.
As for another ops manager waiting in the wings, thats news to me.
I've been with the "company" for a year now, so I'd like to think I know what going on. THere was a meeting on Friday , which I didn't attend, which was discussing what the future holds. I'll find out on Monday what was said, but the feeling before it was that it was all but over.
ACS may well continue to do the remaining flights, but I believe most of them have been cancelled.
Maybe I'm being kept in the dark here, and I've got it all wrong, but somehow I doubt it.
The company only has one a/c on its AoC, a PA31, which is not airworthy at the moment. I understand therefore, that the AoC is suspended. We were operating the EMB110 under another company's AoC, and we were basically ticketing agents. Whether that situation can continue with ACS running the flights is doubtful. I am led to believe that if our AOC is suspended, then we cannot act as a ticketing agent.
I post more info once I have it.
Happy New Year
JF
R31, I can confirm the departure of the ops manager, and the return to Norwich of the EMB110.
Interested to know where you got the info.
As for another ops manager waiting in the wings, thats news to me.
I've been with the "company" for a year now, so I'd like to think I know what going on. THere was a meeting on Friday , which I didn't attend, which was discussing what the future holds. I'll find out on Monday what was said, but the feeling before it was that it was all but over.
ACS may well continue to do the remaining flights, but I believe most of them have been cancelled.
Maybe I'm being kept in the dark here, and I've got it all wrong, but somehow I doubt it.
The company only has one a/c on its AoC, a PA31, which is not airworthy at the moment. I understand therefore, that the AoC is suspended. We were operating the EMB110 under another company's AoC, and we were basically ticketing agents. Whether that situation can continue with ACS running the flights is doubtful. I am led to believe that if our AOC is suspended, then we cannot act as a ticketing agent.
I post more info once I have it.
Happy New Year
JF
Last edited by Jockflyer; 1st Jan 2005 at 19:28.
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Jockflyer
That's not right about ticketing.
Air Scotland,who do NOT have an AOC,are ticketing agents for Greece Airways,who do have an AOC. So your outfit could legally continue,but think it has to be approved by the CAA.
Air Scotland,who do NOT have an AOC,are ticketing agents for Greece Airways,who do have an AOC. So your outfit could legally continue,but think it has to be approved by the CAA.
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when/if the BHD route will begin? - this was always well supported when Gill did it in the mid 90s.
.....
Prestwick was tried before from BHD by Gill a few years ago but fares were prohibitive
posted 15th September 2003 19:42
ALLMCC make up your mind
sorry to hear though that it appears to have failed ...always sad when a company spears in
Last edited by eastern wiseguy; 2nd Jan 2005 at 13:55.
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R31. What a/c are they using. JockFlyer did intimate that they would continue briefly using Cessnas. I noticed a J31 at PIK this morning, is it doing the flights. The fact that they have returned the Bandit speaks volumes IMO!
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Tommorows is flying aswell as I am flying with them to Stornoway tommorow. My Business partner is flying on from Gla at the more exoensive fare as the flight was full.
Doesnt sound like this airline is as dead as weve been led to believe
Doesnt sound like this airline is as dead as weve been led to believe
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As someone mentioned before, Highland Airways operated Gla - SYY for a short while with a Jetstream 31. I don't think the loads made irt worthwhile, but that was much to do with the flight timing and time of year.
Obviously Caledonian would have had a much better chance had they started up in the Spring and got established when the tourist loads were highest, but as can be seen with BMI Regional discontinuing for the winter, the loads will not be there this time of year.
There are a lot of factors involved in having any success on the Island routes. Loganair have been operating there a long time and know their market. It's also questionable if there would be enough traffic to justify more operators.
It can be a catch 22 situation when an established operator might pull out of a route because of poor returns due to low - cost compitition, only to leave the locals with an inferior service which may not best serve their needs.
RWY 31 _ I think you'll find that the Airport charges in the North are pretty high, as the costs of fuel etc. Also, how about up to £1000 to de-ice an aircraft that may only have a dozen or less pax?
Obviously Caledonian would have had a much better chance had they started up in the Spring and got established when the tourist loads were highest, but as can be seen with BMI Regional discontinuing for the winter, the loads will not be there this time of year.
There are a lot of factors involved in having any success on the Island routes. Loganair have been operating there a long time and know their market. It's also questionable if there would be enough traffic to justify more operators.
It can be a catch 22 situation when an established operator might pull out of a route because of poor returns due to low - cost compitition, only to leave the locals with an inferior service which may not best serve their needs.
RWY 31 _ I think you'll find that the Airport charges in the North are pretty high, as the costs of fuel etc. Also, how about up to £1000 to de-ice an aircraft that may only have a dozen or less pax?
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Highland did operate a very early GLA-BEB service - a combi flight with the mail, and then onto SYY.
Highland did a INV-GLA when Loganair ceased this early morning service, but only for a few months.
Highland did a INV-GLA when Loganair ceased this early morning service, but only for a few months.