FlyGlobeSpan - 8 (merged)

[airhumberside]

For S09, Canadian longhaul will be operated by one B763ER, YHM, YVR and YYC. Another B763ER to operate SFB flights

The SFB aircraft will have one flight to Canada a week. There is no SFB flight on a Wednesday so it will do either DUB-YYC-YVR or MAN-BFS-YHM

[4567]

So much for expansion though these are difficult times.

Absolute shame to see the 752 going. I believe it fitted right into the GSM fleet to possible long-haul and also good for european flights ansd stand by.

Suppose we have all known for a long time MME was going but the short haul fleet is definetley going to feel the strain down to 7 a/c and on long haul if one of the 763's goes out of the game even for a couple of hours thats the strict timetable gone to pieces = repeat of S07!

[airnoc]

FlyGlobeSpan

Any chance GSM would come to noc to nyc & bos?. Had good passagers number in 2007 despite delays i am sure they are sorted by now.

[matkat]

With the bad publicity and hard time GSM received whilst at noc I very much doubt they will return, I was in the boardroom when the newspaper articles came in and TD was none to pleased.

[scotsunflyer]

With both B733 gone shortly, the B752 going in April, and the remaining B736 on dry lease to Egypt, that leaves only 5 B738 and 2 B73W for the summer short haul. (off which I cannot see how the EDI/BCN/EDI will operate on Fridays), and 2 B763 on hire to the MOD, with 2 B763 for the long haul ops, there doesn't look to be any spare capacity this year.

In fact I am suprised GSM are not bringing in another B738, as if there are tech problems then they could be facing a difficult summer. Hoepfully tho using the newer aircraft they wont have as many problems as the B733/6 did the last few years.

[gflynorw]

What airline are going to have spare aircraft??????? Globespan have never had spare aircraft!

[Skipness One Echo]

easyJet and Ryanair have spares available, as do BA. ie Larger airlines have the ability to juggle resting aircraft whereas as GSM have chosen to sweat their assets into the ground ( figure of speech that ). This can work well but only with a reliable fleet. Time will tell.

[Afinehelmet]

Many of us within GSM feel that only seven 737NG's to cover the summer programme just won't be enough. However, it would seem that the board believe that this is the way forward during the current economic climate.

Crews are being let go as the company has way to many having got rid of the 600's and 300's. Which is a real shame as many of us feel that following the loss of a few airlines last year, now could be a good time to be aggressive and expand into the vacuum that's been created.

There certainly seems to be a bit of re-structuring at present.

[Lorek]

concerning all the fleet changes etc. do you guys know if globespan willl be looking for temporary crew for summer 2009 ? I used to fly with them last year and would really like to come back.

[webby1919]

With the extra A/C leaving the fleet over W08, the requirement for crew over S09 will be reduced. Doubt we will be needing as many crew as last year. 4 A/C gone since S08, 20 crew per A/C, 80 crew approx no longer required. We do have B763ER coming online next month, not sure if this is for ACMI work though.

[4567]

Anyone slightly worried we could be about to see a repeat of S07?
Though it could be even worse this time with even less a/c for a tight (extremly tight) schedule!

[gflynorw]

Honestly...it's not even summer yet and it's started!

[4567]

Now, Now never hurts to think ahead!

[GSM SCOT]

S09

More reliable aircraft this year and not as busy a flight schedule this summer so no, not worried about a repeat of S07

[LPFR]

Seven 737NG, will this be the GSM short haul fleet for this summer? So will GCEJP be back from lease by summer?

And how many of them will be based in EDI and GLA?

[scotsunflyer]

Summer 09 should be:

Shorthaul

EDI

B73H GCDEG
B73H GCEJP (expected to EDI, end of April. GLA aircraft to cover until then)
B73W GSEFC

ABZ

B73W GSMJF

GLA

B73H GDLCH
B73H GSAAW
B738 GCEJO

Longhaul (2 based GLA, 2 based BZZ)

B763 GCDPT
B763 GGSPA
B763 GCEFG
B763 GCEOD

The following to be dry leased

B736 GCDKT (dry lease to Egypt)

The following to return to lessor

B733 GGSPN (due C check and handback during Feb))
B733 GOTDA (on C check, handback at present)
B752 GCEJM (due to handback end April)

[Hold position]

What will happen if the aircraft in Oman stays there? Are they going to get another aircraft or drop some of there flights?

[GSM SCOT]

Oman

It won't, it will be back in March

[malagajohn]

Its not all doom and gloom

From Todays Glasgow Herald

Flyglobespan Returns To Profit After Rethink On Destinations (from The Herald )

Flyglobespan returns to profit after rethink on destinations

Flyglobespan, Scotland's biggest airline, is on course to grow profits after returning to the black in the latest year, when it recorded a significant improvement in trading despite surging oil prices and the slowdown in consumer spending.

Tom Dalrymple, owner and chairman of the company, said that although many rivals had struggled in the year to October, Flyglobespan made a trading profit of £1.2m. It made a pre-tax loss of £19.3m in the preceding year.

The renewed success came after the company decided to focus on destinations in Europe after running into problems in the transatlantic market in the previous year.
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The company pinned the blame for the first loss in its 35-year history largely on problems with aircraft leased from Icelandair for flights to North America. It subsequently stopped operating flights using Icelandair planes and limited its operations to services it could provide with its own planes.

In September, chief executive Rick Green said Flyglobespan had been required to refocus on its short-haul European flights, cut back on transatlantic routes and work to ensure that it had the highest loads.

In a trading update yesterday, Dalrymple said the changes had paid off.

"We learned quickly from those experiences. Last year we flew only our own aircraft and the difference has been hugely satisfying - with record load factors for our sector.

"We are back into profit and, had the fuel rises not been so steep, that profit would have been considerably more. But, considering the difficulties of the sector, I have no complaints."

While some airlines have foundered in recent months, including Canada specialist Zoom, Flyglobespan appears to be in a strong financial position.

Dalrymple noted that Flyglobespan was free of debt. In addition to having cash reserves, the company has a significant property portfolio.

Green said: "Looking forward, our sales and revenues are on plan. Our core routes for 2009 are holding their popularity."

Flyglobespan axed routes from Glasgow to Boston and from Liverpool to New York that it had flown using Icelandair planes. However, the company still flies to North America. Last month it announced plans to start a service linking Glasgow with Halifax in Canada from May.

The company recently won contracts from the Ministry of Defence to fly to the Falkland Islands and Qatar from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

[4567]

Do you think SFB will be kept for W09 or for that matter do you think there will be any long haul a/c W09?

Seen as how the 752 is going (such a shame)