Kiss Air
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An interesting question indeed. A non-EU airline can fly from the UK outside the EU if it has an established operation in the UK and if the foreign destination country chooses to accept these arrangements.
There is not a hope in hell of the Turkish authorities accepting a Swedish carrier to fly Gatwick-Dalaman. They have always protected their home airlines (more than UK PLC has done!) and will continue to do so. The Egyptians might let a Swedish airline fly Gatwick-Sharm if they are given enough cash to make them complicit.
If Kiss want to fly their full programme then they will either need to lease the aircraft into a UK AOC holder or get a UK AOC full stop. Rumours of Kiss buying the Markoss operation at Biggin Hill are probably not misplaced - it would be a useful flag of convenience.
The denials by Kiss of involvement by PW are just unbelievable. 99% of industry people will tell you that PW is involved if you did a quick survey to establish their views. No one, but no one, believes the stories being put about that he's not behind it. Two ex-XL people at Meridian Aviation is company but six is a crowd. As for the spelling mistakes - well, it was always ironic that the Icelandic people at XL could spell and use punctuation marks far more competently than the Brits.
There is not a hope in hell of the Turkish authorities accepting a Swedish carrier to fly Gatwick-Dalaman. They have always protected their home airlines (more than UK PLC has done!) and will continue to do so. The Egyptians might let a Swedish airline fly Gatwick-Sharm if they are given enough cash to make them complicit.
If Kiss want to fly their full programme then they will either need to lease the aircraft into a UK AOC holder or get a UK AOC full stop. Rumours of Kiss buying the Markoss operation at Biggin Hill are probably not misplaced - it would be a useful flag of convenience.
The denials by Kiss of involvement by PW are just unbelievable. 99% of industry people will tell you that PW is involved if you did a quick survey to establish their views. No one, but no one, believes the stories being put about that he's not behind it. Two ex-XL people at Meridian Aviation is company but six is a crowd. As for the spelling mistakes - well, it was always ironic that the Icelandic people at XL could spell and use punctuation marks far more competently than the Brits.
Join Date: Dec 2001
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couldn't posibly comment
slots and flight times look very familiar and look like they were in the schedule pre 9/12.................
and it looks like 3 a/c Lgw and 2 Man...........
Ref UK/ NON EU OPS; AIR MALTA have operated to SSH ex MAN under KM flight numbers this year
and it looks like 3 a/c Lgw and 2 Man...........
Ref UK/ NON EU OPS; AIR MALTA have operated to SSH ex MAN under KM flight numbers this year
how sad
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From a totally selfish point of view I am pleased that another operator is going to fly a MAN-HRG sector, because TCX have got a stranglehold on that route presently and can charge whatever they want. It was not surprising to see their prices raised as soon as XL went bump. Who can blame them? After all, business is business and they have grasped the opportunity.
We need to see someone other than TCX from Manchester. I own a property near Hurghada and am now having to travel to Gatwick (easyjet) or Glasgow (flyglobespan) to obtain reasonably priced flights. Even with fuel costs for my car, I am still saving up to £100/person.
We need to see someone other than TCX from Manchester. I own a property near Hurghada and am now having to travel to Gatwick (easyjet) or Glasgow (flyglobespan) to obtain reasonably priced flights. Even with fuel costs for my car, I am still saving up to £100/person.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Coop see sense though
The boss of The Co-operative Travel has pledged never to work with new seat-only start-up Kiss Flights, but other agents are considering striking deals.
Kiss directors, who previously worked for Freedom Flights before its parent XL Leisure Group went bust last month, were spotted
holding meetings with retailers at last week’s Travel Convention.
The sight prompted Co-op managing director Mike Greenacre to fume: “Under no circumstances will we do business with Kiss.
“The XL failure will cost £60-£80 million and anyone contemplating doing business with Kiss can be doing so only for some short-term benefit. There’s no long-term reason because other operators and airlines will fill the gap.”
Greenacre said he had made his position clear to Kiss after learning it had sent passwords and brochures to each of his retail divisions.
“I sent an abrupt email telling them to withdraw all passwords and that any bookings that had been made would not be paid for and should be cancelled,” he revealed.
Greenacre controls 550 agencies, 600 homeworkers and two call centres.
But TTA director Todd Carpenter said Greenacre’s criticism was “harsh” and revealed he had been in talks with Kiss since Michael Smith left Freedom Flights to set up the new company, several months before XL collapsed.
Advantage confirmed it had met with Moss but would consult members before signing a deal.
Commercial director Julia Lo Bue-Said said she understood Greenacre’s position, but added: “You have to keep personal and emotional feelings out of it and if Kiss fills a gap, such as to Sharm and the eastern Med, we need to look at it.”
Aito chairman Derek Moore added that his members were likely to set up commercial deals with Kiss, even if it “left a bit of a bad taste”.
On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott reminded agents they had supported Peter Long, Manny Fontenla-Novoa and himself when they set up Sunworld three days after the collapse of ILG in 1991.
“I understand people’s pain but we need seats and I will be supporting Kiss all I can,” he said.
Kiss director Paul Moss declined to comment.
Kiss directors, who previously worked for Freedom Flights before its parent XL Leisure Group went bust last month, were spotted
holding meetings with retailers at last week’s Travel Convention.
The sight prompted Co-op managing director Mike Greenacre to fume: “Under no circumstances will we do business with Kiss.
“The XL failure will cost £60-£80 million and anyone contemplating doing business with Kiss can be doing so only for some short-term benefit. There’s no long-term reason because other operators and airlines will fill the gap.”
Greenacre said he had made his position clear to Kiss after learning it had sent passwords and brochures to each of his retail divisions.
“I sent an abrupt email telling them to withdraw all passwords and that any bookings that had been made would not be paid for and should be cancelled,” he revealed.
Greenacre controls 550 agencies, 600 homeworkers and two call centres.
But TTA director Todd Carpenter said Greenacre’s criticism was “harsh” and revealed he had been in talks with Kiss since Michael Smith left Freedom Flights to set up the new company, several months before XL collapsed.
Advantage confirmed it had met with Moss but would consult members before signing a deal.
Commercial director Julia Lo Bue-Said said she understood Greenacre’s position, but added: “You have to keep personal and emotional feelings out of it and if Kiss fills a gap, such as to Sharm and the eastern Med, we need to look at it.”
Aito chairman Derek Moore added that his members were likely to set up commercial deals with Kiss, even if it “left a bit of a bad taste”.
On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott reminded agents they had supported Peter Long, Manny Fontenla-Novoa and himself when they set up Sunworld three days after the collapse of ILG in 1991.
“I understand people’s pain but we need seats and I will be supporting Kiss all I can,” he said.
Kiss director Paul Moss declined to comment.
Seats are only useful if they are sustainable..
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Meridian chiefs' £2.8m pay day
Meridian chiefs' £2.8m pay day
source: TTG Live
Two bosses of Meridian Aviation, a flight broker that was used by XL Leisure Group and which now also trades as Kiss Flights, were paid a total of £2.8 million last year.
Graham Rolph and Andre Cachia received £2,850,907 in “directors’ emoluments” in the year to the end of March 2008, according to accounts filed earlier this month at Companies House. The highest-paid director received £2,019,152.
The previous year, the two men were paid a total of £2,555,255, with the highest paid receiving £1,680,170. Rolph stopped being company secretary on August 13 this year.
According to the accounts, during the two financial years to March 31 this year, the company had two directors and one employee.
The payments to the highest-paid director made him among the biggest earners in the industry.
It would put him ahead of what Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa stands to earn this year, whose £630,000 basic salary and potential 100% bonus could bring his package up to £1,260,000.
According to Meridian’s accounts, it made a pre-tax profit of £635,000 in the year to March 2008.
Graham Rolph and Andre Cachia received £2,850,907 in “directors’ emoluments” in the year to the end of March 2008, according to accounts filed earlier this month at Companies House. The highest-paid director received £2,019,152.
The previous year, the two men were paid a total of £2,555,255, with the highest paid receiving £1,680,170. Rolph stopped being company secretary on August 13 this year.
According to the accounts, during the two financial years to March 31 this year, the company had two directors and one employee.
The payments to the highest-paid director made him among the biggest earners in the industry.
It would put him ahead of what Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa stands to earn this year, whose £630,000 basic salary and potential 100% bonus could bring his package up to £1,260,000.
According to Meridian’s accounts, it made a pre-tax profit of £635,000 in the year to March 2008.
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Not sure if this is relevant to this thread, but some of my friends who are 'ex XL' cabin crew are being contacted direct by Viking & being offered direct interviews for jobs starting in November - seems like a violation of data protection if their details have been passed on somehow without their knowledge..?
On the other hand, a job is a job etc, so good luck to those who do find new employment ....
On the other hand, a job is a job etc, so good luck to those who do find new employment ....
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Two bosses of Meridian Aviation, a flight broker that was used by XL Leisure Group and which now also trades as Kiss Flights, were paid a total of £2.8 million last year.
Graham Rolph and Andre Cachia received £2,850,907 in “directors’ emoluments” in the year to the end of March 2008, according to accounts filed earlier this month at Companies House. The highest-paid director received £2,019,152.
Graham Rolph and Andre Cachia received £2,850,907 in “directors’ emoluments” in the year to the end of March 2008, according to accounts filed earlier this month at Companies House. The highest-paid director received £2,019,152.
.......PW
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The stench surrounding this whole thing is worsening. Is there any proof that PW is related to one of the Meridian directors? If so then I think some serious questions need to be asked. How on earth can XL get away with paying a fortune to this company to support its directors' salaries at that kind of level?
Re data protection and cabin crew - yes, again it looks like there is something untoward here. Someone involved in Kiss clearly has a contact list for XL cabin crew. Good of them to offer them a job. Shame no-one has done the same for any of the pilots really, isn't it.
Re data protection and cabin crew - yes, again it looks like there is something untoward here. Someone involved in Kiss clearly has a contact list for XL cabin crew. Good of them to offer them a job. Shame no-one has done the same for any of the pilots really, isn't it.
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Guys - Can we please move on from here -PLEASE.
I know there are many off you that have been bitten hard, especially when it was the job you loved. It took me ages to move on myself when the airline that i had the most fun at went belly up. Luckily, i can still remember the fun summer days that i had there.
Companies go and restart as something else all the time throughout the country, its just that this gets more publicity because it was on such a huge scale. Directors / Managers etc will always loop around the rules and still have their fingers in the pies in some form, if everything is done legally which it looks like it is then having PW involvement is no big deal as i expect he is employed as something but not on a directors level within merdian aviation. I'm guessing here but theres allways a way round the rules.
Kiss Flights has also landed a big contract with the Global Travel group, one of the largest Travel Agents Consortiums in Britain so Kiss Flights will be sold by hundreds of agents across the UK and it is also very welcomed by most of the Trade. Again, despite what has happened, business is business.
Guys i know what your feeling but unfortunately all morals go out the window when companies go under, people who you respected and trusted sometimes end up not being the case. I hope something comes out of the launch for the those who may still be needing to find a job when Kiss and Viking start.
Cheers
I know there are many off you that have been bitten hard, especially when it was the job you loved. It took me ages to move on myself when the airline that i had the most fun at went belly up. Luckily, i can still remember the fun summer days that i had there.
Companies go and restart as something else all the time throughout the country, its just that this gets more publicity because it was on such a huge scale. Directors / Managers etc will always loop around the rules and still have their fingers in the pies in some form, if everything is done legally which it looks like it is then having PW involvement is no big deal as i expect he is employed as something but not on a directors level within merdian aviation. I'm guessing here but theres allways a way round the rules.
Kiss Flights has also landed a big contract with the Global Travel group, one of the largest Travel Agents Consortiums in Britain so Kiss Flights will be sold by hundreds of agents across the UK and it is also very welcomed by most of the Trade. Again, despite what has happened, business is business.
Guys i know what your feeling but unfortunately all morals go out the window when companies go under, people who you respected and trusted sometimes end up not being the case. I hope something comes out of the launch for the those who may still be needing to find a job when Kiss and Viking start.
Cheers
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I find it intriguing that Kiss have a published schedule ex LGW..where have they got the slots, as far as I understand the XL slots are in the hands of the administrator who has the remit to obtain the highest price for them ? allegedly MON/EZY both trying to buy some of these slots...
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I thought slots are not "owned" and therefore cannot be sold? If they aren't operated for 80% of the time then they go back into the pot to be reallocated by ACL or have I got that wrong?
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cuerdley1989: Thomsonfly also fly from Manchester to Hurghada on a Friday through the winter in addition to Thomas Cooks Tuesday & Fridays flights.
All the tour operators bumped there prices up as soon as XL went under.
I know of a case with Monarch (Avro), where first thing in the morning the day after XL's colapse they had seats at £1000 for a family of 5, and by that evening they had gone up to £6500.
All the tour operators bumped there prices up as soon as XL went under.
I know of a case with Monarch (Avro), where first thing in the morning the day after XL's colapse they had seats at £1000 for a family of 5, and by that evening they had gone up to £6500.
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So sad to see so many people that gave their all and worked so hard still suffering with little/no money. As well as the customers out of pocket, while some unscrupulous people continue to line their pockets and live the high life without any conscience - you know who you are 
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PW and his ilk are w@nkers and t0ssp0ts, but probably just on the right side of the law. Thats not the issue IHMO
I find it more depressing that people cant move away from these companies and will go back for more of the same.Comfort zone, rehired, stockholm syndrome after a few carrots have been dangled and taken. Start up rosters, messed up days off. Come on guys put the extra in its a great place with great people. Slowly over a few years it will take on the form of a proper company, IT led rostas , crew forums, new orders for kit,long haul re brand, new routes bullish hiring.(were working on it , next season it will all be sorted.) People will reminiss about XL, gsm,jet 2 ,whomever, get comfortable,mortgaged, move to the new bases , take out trg bonds , work with "a great" bunch of people ........Then one day .....boom ...it will go tits up again and the cycle starts again.
And so it goes ad nauseum.
Oh and while Im at it. Its XL.GONE so move on
Edit: Bad taste comments removed.
I find it more depressing that people cant move away from these companies and will go back for more of the same.Comfort zone, rehired, stockholm syndrome after a few carrots have been dangled and taken. Start up rosters, messed up days off. Come on guys put the extra in its a great place with great people. Slowly over a few years it will take on the form of a proper company, IT led rostas , crew forums, new orders for kit,long haul re brand, new routes bullish hiring.(were working on it , next season it will all be sorted.) People will reminiss about XL, gsm,jet 2 ,whomever, get comfortable,mortgaged, move to the new bases , take out trg bonds , work with "a great" bunch of people ........Then one day .....boom ...it will go tits up again and the cycle starts again.
And so it goes ad nauseum.
Oh and while Im at it. Its XL.GONE so move on
Edit: Bad taste comments removed.