Astraeus
Astraeus delays
Anyone know why AEU are posting some very lengthy delays today? (22 hours on a Hurghada flight and 17 hours on Olbia)?
Members of my family on Olbia.
Thanks for any info.
Members of my family on Olbia.
Thanks for any info.
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Earlier today I booked a holiday and I find that I will be flying with Astraeus. Having never heard of this airline, it seemed prudent to do some delving and this in turn led to Astraeus' web site and also to this thread. Through my hobby as a glider pilot I am familiar with PPRUNE though not as a contributor, this being only my 2nd post in as many days, but in the area of fundraising, mergers and acquisitions I do have some experience and I hope that I can add some value.
I see on Astraeus' website that it says it’s been funded by the venture capital company Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity - colloquially known as AMJ.
Financing that involves venture capital almost certainly requires that some form of clear exit route is in place.
Depending on the investment focus and strategy of the venture capital firm, it will usually seek to exit the investment in the portfolio / invested company within three to five years of it making its initial investment and, while an initial public offering may be the most glamorous and heralded type of exit for both the venture capitalist and the owners of the company, most successful exits of venture investments occur through a merger or acquisition of the invested company from which the venture firm will receive stock or cash from the acquiring company.
From a venture capitalists point of view, it would be a rare thing if various exit options weren't part of Astraeus' business plan, else wise how would AMJ, along with Astraeus’ investing Directors, propose the repayment and release of the investment and equity which they’ve made and developed in the company?
It is the expertise of the venture capital firm in successfully exiting its investment which will dictate the overall success of the exit, both for themselves and the owners of the company. AMJ will certainly be looking to see a significant return upon its investment, just as surely as are Astraeus' investing Directors.
All of this aside, I hope that at 6'4" I'll be afforded a comfortable flight with Astraeus.
I see on Astraeus' website that it says it’s been funded by the venture capital company Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity - colloquially known as AMJ.
Financing that involves venture capital almost certainly requires that some form of clear exit route is in place.
Depending on the investment focus and strategy of the venture capital firm, it will usually seek to exit the investment in the portfolio / invested company within three to five years of it making its initial investment and, while an initial public offering may be the most glamorous and heralded type of exit for both the venture capitalist and the owners of the company, most successful exits of venture investments occur through a merger or acquisition of the invested company from which the venture firm will receive stock or cash from the acquiring company.
From a venture capitalists point of view, it would be a rare thing if various exit options weren't part of Astraeus' business plan, else wise how would AMJ, along with Astraeus’ investing Directors, propose the repayment and release of the investment and equity which they’ve made and developed in the company?
It is the expertise of the venture capital firm in successfully exiting its investment which will dictate the overall success of the exit, both for themselves and the owners of the company. AMJ will certainly be looking to see a significant return upon its investment, just as surely as are Astraeus' investing Directors.
All of this aside, I hope that at 6'4" I'll be afforded a comfortable flight with Astraeus.
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It all depends on when and where you are going. The majority of AEU flights from LGW are on the 757, each seat having 36 inches of legroom, so at 6ft4, you should'nt have a problem. Alternatively, you may get a flight on one of the 737-300s, where the legroom is the standard charter config. Rows 1 ABC and 14A and 14F all have bags of legroom. Where are you going and when?
Regards
Mike
Regards
Mike
Family eventually delayed about 20 hours.
However, were very well looked after, sent to a decent hotel, given food & drink etc.
Certainly no complaints about Astreus (or was it the charterer - a subsidiary of Thomson?).
However, were very well looked after, sent to a decent hotel, given food & drink etc.
Certainly no complaints about Astreus (or was it the charterer - a subsidiary of Thomson?).
Astraeus to fly to Atyrau?
I have heard that Astraeus (sp?) may be opening a route to Atyrau (Kazakhstan) from Gatwick. Anybody know if there is any truth in the rumour?
If it is true it will be welcome news as the twice weekly Schipol - Atyrau - Almaty flight is regularly 100% full. Not very comfy on a 4.5 hour flight with less than spectacular cuisine.
If it is true it will be welcome news as the twice weekly Schipol - Atyrau - Almaty flight is regularly 100% full. Not very comfy on a 4.5 hour flight with less than spectacular cuisine.
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Would be nice if it were true ?
Have been travelling to Atyrau through Baku, Istanbul & Moscow to avoid the Air Astana flight (although I also now have business there to take care of). I remember Astraeus very well from the Gatwick to Uralsk flights, would be nice to see them back in Kazakhstan again.
Air Astana is becoming a monster - internal flights are being substituted on a regular basis, ticket off staff don't seem to have a good attitude (I get the impression they are developing the old Aeroflot Syndrome) - for example I was allowed to check in for a flight from Uralsk to Almaty which was delayed 24 hours. I was flying Business Class and given a Business Class boarding pass & when the aircraft landed it was Sayakat and a Tu-154M with no Business Class. When I went to complain, I was rebutted and after some heated discussion managed to get a refund because of the downgrade. The aircraft the Air Astana agreed to take from Iberia never materialised, so they are still short.
Air Astana seriously need some competition & I hope when they open the new runway in Atyrau (which appears ready, but I am no expert), that new operators come and give them a rude awakening. Unfortunately I doubt this will happen due to the usual Kazakh Politics.
Poka
Have been travelling to Atyrau through Baku, Istanbul & Moscow to avoid the Air Astana flight (although I also now have business there to take care of). I remember Astraeus very well from the Gatwick to Uralsk flights, would be nice to see them back in Kazakhstan again.
Air Astana is becoming a monster - internal flights are being substituted on a regular basis, ticket off staff don't seem to have a good attitude (I get the impression they are developing the old Aeroflot Syndrome) - for example I was allowed to check in for a flight from Uralsk to Almaty which was delayed 24 hours. I was flying Business Class and given a Business Class boarding pass & when the aircraft landed it was Sayakat and a Tu-154M with no Business Class. When I went to complain, I was rebutted and after some heated discussion managed to get a refund because of the downgrade. The aircraft the Air Astana agreed to take from Iberia never materialised, so they are still short.
Air Astana seriously need some competition & I hope when they open the new runway in Atyrau (which appears ready, but I am no expert), that new operators come and give them a rude awakening. Unfortunately I doubt this will happen due to the usual Kazakh Politics.
Poka
Air Astana is a new operator run by mateys of the Kazakh President. The old operators and indeed several overseas operators of both schedules and oil industry charters were cleared from the scene to make way for them. Likewise routes were diverted from Almaty (the old capital and commercial centre) to Astana (middle of nowhere but the Pres lives there).
More routes may start up, or they may not. But if I had money to spend on route R&D I'd look elsewhere first.
More routes may start up, or they may not. But if I had money to spend on route R&D I'd look elsewhere first.
Have asked a few questions of a reliable source and am told:
Astraeus would like to fly to Atyrau, aiming to operate twice-weekly 757 from Gatwick.
Even if BA has trouble with crew hotels, Astraeus is planning a straight rotation as at just over 5hrs flight time it is shorter than some other routes on which Astraeus crews operate a full roundtrip in a duty day.
BA apparently still wants to fly to Atyrau as well, but the strength of Astraeus in the oil and gas market leads to confidence that the oil industry will prefer an Astraeus operation tailored to their needs. This certainly seems to be the case on the route to Hassi Messaoud - BA started competing with Astraeus in June and has hardly dented the Astraeus numbers. BA is carrying only ten to twelve pax per flight on a 737, which must be losing a fortune as they are offering low fares through under-the-counter deals to the oil companies to try to entice them aboard.
Astraeus has kept applying to the Kazakhs for permission to operate the route but has never received any formal acknowledgement of the application despite UK Embassy etc getting involved. UK airlines are allowed to fly three flights a week to Atyrau under the bilateral, and neither Astraeus nor BA is being allowed to fly there, which is apparently in contravention of the bilateral agreement.
The only statement from the Kazakhs has been about the unsuitability of the runway at Atyrau for the 757. This is odd given that Air Astana frequently operates 757s there itself.
Talks in London between UK and Kazakh authorities either next week or the week after might bring some more progress. Astraeus keen to start as soon as possible.
I think that was all - hope this is all correct...
Astraeus would like to fly to Atyrau, aiming to operate twice-weekly 757 from Gatwick.
Even if BA has trouble with crew hotels, Astraeus is planning a straight rotation as at just over 5hrs flight time it is shorter than some other routes on which Astraeus crews operate a full roundtrip in a duty day.
BA apparently still wants to fly to Atyrau as well, but the strength of Astraeus in the oil and gas market leads to confidence that the oil industry will prefer an Astraeus operation tailored to their needs. This certainly seems to be the case on the route to Hassi Messaoud - BA started competing with Astraeus in June and has hardly dented the Astraeus numbers. BA is carrying only ten to twelve pax per flight on a 737, which must be losing a fortune as they are offering low fares through under-the-counter deals to the oil companies to try to entice them aboard.
Astraeus has kept applying to the Kazakhs for permission to operate the route but has never received any formal acknowledgement of the application despite UK Embassy etc getting involved. UK airlines are allowed to fly three flights a week to Atyrau under the bilateral, and neither Astraeus nor BA is being allowed to fly there, which is apparently in contravention of the bilateral agreement.
The only statement from the Kazakhs has been about the unsuitability of the runway at Atyrau for the 757. This is odd given that Air Astana frequently operates 757s there itself.
Talks in London between UK and Kazakh authorities either next week or the week after might bring some more progress. Astraeus keen to start as soon as possible.
I think that was all - hope this is all correct...
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Astraeus to India
In my copy of today`s Sunday Times was an insert/leaflet for Voyages Jules Verne with holiday programme to India. Route was via Kiev and appeared that AEU were doing this one. Starts autumn time. Any more info?
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Yup, seems we are going, another minimum rest jolly apparently! Don't know the ins and outs of how the crew is going to work, but then when it comes to long duty patterns we do it well! VJV web site says it starts on 10th Oct (I think) Got to get a bit of a move on to reconfigure the a/c!!!!
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There is a lovely new Runway in Atyrau built by those nice people from Schiphol Airport. It's not open yet, but they have also upgraded the ramp area. Air Astana operate B752 on a regular basis to both Atyrau and Uralsk (Astreaus used to operate a B733 into Uralsk, via CPH on the way back).
Also a new Marriott Hotel is being built in Atyrau right next to the Mosque. Marriott have also built a new hotel in Aktau (though I believe it is not open yet).
BTW the Kazakh Government recided the law for all International Flights to operate via Astana.
Poka
Also a new Marriott Hotel is being built in Atyrau right next to the Mosque. Marriott have also built a new hotel in Aktau (though I believe it is not open yet).
BTW the Kazakh Government recided the law for all International Flights to operate via Astana.
Poka
Aksai Oiler glad to hear that they have given up on the idea of all international flights using Astana as the hub. It wouldn't have added much time onto my journeys to Atyrau........
I hope that the monopoly of Air Astana is broken as their twice weekly service to Atyrau is completely inadequate. It is even more crowded that the old Tu-134 charter was. With both TCO and Agip manning up in Atyrau through 2006 it's not going to get any better unless they get more aircraft servicing the route. A new terminal and improvements to the "VIP" lounge wouldn't go amiss either.
I would like KLM to start operating to Atyrau as it's easier to get to Schipol via Luton than it is to get to Gatwick for me!
I hope that the monopoly of Air Astana is broken as their twice weekly service to Atyrau is completely inadequate. It is even more crowded that the old Tu-134 charter was. With both TCO and Agip manning up in Atyrau through 2006 it's not going to get any better unless they get more aircraft servicing the route. A new terminal and improvements to the "VIP" lounge wouldn't go amiss either.
I would like KLM to start operating to Atyrau as it's easier to get to Schipol via Luton than it is to get to Gatwick for me!