Viking Airlines
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Just for further clarification, ALL VIK and VKH Aircraft are flying today with the exception of SE-RHT which is AOG in GOT.
No aircraft have been 'ceased' or in fact 'seized' at any airport anywhere.
As far as both airlines are concerned it is 'operations normal'.
No aircraft have been 'ceased' or in fact 'seized' at any airport anywhere.
As far as both airlines are concerned it is 'operations normal'.
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Bye Bye Sunwing......
So, Phil Wyatt aka Black Pearl Investments and brother Dim Jim have done it again.
BUT from a professional pilot's point of view they (Viking) employ quite a lot of British pilots at a time when the employment market is pretty bloody quiet, so hat's off to them for that, so long may Viking exist. Send back the Canadians - they should not be over here anyway when so many UK pilots are out of work or forced by circumstances to work in deserts n dumps for Flydubai or Arik. The same goes for ALL non-EU nationals.
I hear on the grapevine the Sunwing crews did not even have UK work permits and were just winging it anyway. Immigration please take note. These sorts of arrangements are crap for our people and should be stamped on. Hard. Sorry Canadians, we don't like to see anyone out of work, but we have to look after our own first.
Good luck Viking. We look forward to seeing you around for years to come - at least your crews are EU!! Concentrate on the business using your own a/c and all those ex XL, BMI and SAS guys you have. There is a wealth of talent there and such a shame Vik got tied in with the Sunwing operation.
BUT from a professional pilot's point of view they (Viking) employ quite a lot of British pilots at a time when the employment market is pretty bloody quiet, so hat's off to them for that, so long may Viking exist. Send back the Canadians - they should not be over here anyway when so many UK pilots are out of work or forced by circumstances to work in deserts n dumps for Flydubai or Arik. The same goes for ALL non-EU nationals.
I hear on the grapevine the Sunwing crews did not even have UK work permits and were just winging it anyway. Immigration please take note. These sorts of arrangements are crap for our people and should be stamped on. Hard. Sorry Canadians, we don't like to see anyone out of work, but we have to look after our own first.
Good luck Viking. We look forward to seeing you around for years to come - at least your crews are EU!! Concentrate on the business using your own a/c and all those ex XL, BMI and SAS guys you have. There is a wealth of talent there and such a shame Vik got tied in with the Sunwing operation.
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Viking deathwatch
Waiting to see what develops with Viking as I have a group of 11 divers flying to the Red Sea in October with them. I am expecting to see Viking run into trouble shortly. They have lost business from Kiss and reports like these: Viking Airlines Customer Reviews - SKYTRAX 
don't instill much confidence in Viking.
Steve
don't instill much confidence in Viking.Steve
Thrush,
The sunwings deal is a two way street. Rumour (take note of that word please) is that up to 100 EU crews (that is 200 pilots) are needed by Sunwings this winter - being the peak holiday period in Canada. Those pilots will be sourced from (possibly among other companies) TUI and Viking. In the case of Viking they also take two 737-800s which in the UK winter season would be a drain on the company when work in Europe is slack - they also take some 737s from TUI but I am unsure of how many.
This probably ruffles the feathers of some Canadian pilots, as it does yours, but the result is to give year round employment for pilots from both sides of the Atlantic who might otherwise find themselves out of work in the UK winter/Canadian summer.
It also gives Viking flexibility. Rumour (that word again) is that the three aircraft referred to on the Viking airlines website to be grounded are the Sunwings aircraft which will be returned to Canada two months earlier than planned, thus possibly avoiding job losses amongst Vikings permanent crews.
As the Canadian pilots are employed by Sunwings, which is a Canadian company, they may not need work permits as they are not employed or paid in the EU.
The sunwings deal is a two way street. Rumour (take note of that word please) is that up to 100 EU crews (that is 200 pilots) are needed by Sunwings this winter - being the peak holiday period in Canada. Those pilots will be sourced from (possibly among other companies) TUI and Viking. In the case of Viking they also take two 737-800s which in the UK winter season would be a drain on the company when work in Europe is slack - they also take some 737s from TUI but I am unsure of how many.
This probably ruffles the feathers of some Canadian pilots, as it does yours, but the result is to give year round employment for pilots from both sides of the Atlantic who might otherwise find themselves out of work in the UK winter/Canadian summer.
It also gives Viking flexibility. Rumour (that word again) is that the three aircraft referred to on the Viking airlines website to be grounded are the Sunwings aircraft which will be returned to Canada two months earlier than planned, thus possibly avoiding job losses amongst Vikings permanent crews.
As the Canadian pilots are employed by Sunwings, which is a Canadian company, they may not need work permits as they are not employed or paid in the EU.
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NCL-RHO appears to be operating today as normal (nothing to the contrary on the airport website).
A quick glance over the NCL schedule implies that Kiss also had seats on a few flights operated by Saga Airways of Turkey, I presume these will be for the chop as well? Did they use any other carriers from other airports in the UK?
My thoughts go out to anyone feeling insecure over this whole situation, never good when hard earned holidays are looking in doubt, not to mention people's careers. I really can't believe people can be wishing this airline's collapse, and I really hope that these rumours are exposed as just that. Regardless of bitterness towards Directors et al, don't forget that its the everyday gfolk that suffer IF an airline collapses. Its the ground staff, its the crews, its the passengers who have looked forward to their week in the sun etc etc.
RTG!
A quick glance over the NCL schedule implies that Kiss also had seats on a few flights operated by Saga Airways of Turkey, I presume these will be for the chop as well? Did they use any other carriers from other airports in the UK?
My thoughts go out to anyone feeling insecure over this whole situation, never good when hard earned holidays are looking in doubt, not to mention people's careers. I really can't believe people can be wishing this airline's collapse, and I really hope that these rumours are exposed as just that. Regardless of bitterness towards Directors et al, don't forget that its the everyday gfolk that suffer IF an airline collapses. Its the ground staff, its the crews, its the passengers who have looked forward to their week in the sun etc etc.
RTG!
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Ryanair have launched a resure fare of £69 (one way taxes included but excluding baggage fees)
Luton - Lanzarote
Stansted - Lanzarote
Liverpool - Lanzarote & Tenerife
Glasgow PIK - Alicante, Faro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malaga & Tenerife
Passengers must have a book ref.
News : ?Kiss Good Bye to High Fares?
Luton - Lanzarote
Stansted - Lanzarote
Liverpool - Lanzarote & Tenerife
Glasgow PIK - Alicante, Faro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malaga & Tenerife
Passengers must have a book ref.
News : ?Kiss Good Bye to High Fares?
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I think he means rescue
looks like Barry's sarcasm mode = ON
but if not ...looks like a typo
also the flights are from Lanzarote \ Tenerife -> UK
click on the link in the previous comment
but more importantly...
Ryanair trying to sink more of their rivals with comments?
“Ryanair advises all passengers to book only with financially stable airlines. By booking with Ryanair passengers will secure the guaranteed lowest fares and can be sure that Ryanair will still be flying when their flight date arrives. With over €3billion in cash Ryanair is one of the most financially robust airlines in Europe.”
but if not ...looks like a typo
also the flights are from Lanzarote \ Tenerife -> UK
click on the link in the previous comment
but more importantly...
Ryanair trying to sink more of their rivals with comments?
“Ryanair advises all passengers to book only with financially stable airlines. By booking with Ryanair passengers will secure the guaranteed lowest fares and can be sure that Ryanair will still be flying when their flight date arrives. With over €3billion in cash Ryanair is one of the most financially robust airlines in Europe.”
Last edited by carlrsymington; 18th Aug 2010 at 13:11. Reason: accuracy... maybe?
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Thrush,
"So, Phil Wyatt aka Black Pearl Investments and brother Dim Jim have done it again."
"BUT from a professional pilot's point of view"
Insulting a colleague isnt what I would call the comments from a "professional" (pilot) however I digress.
Firstly the Sunwing crews do indeed have work permits, Viking worked extensively with the UK Border Agency to ensure that EVERY crew member operating here in the UK did so legitimately, regardless of whether they were here for a day, a week or for months at a time.
With regards to your issues with Canadian crews operating here in the Europe/UK - this isnt unique to Viking and has been and is being done by numerous other UK and European airlines, including the big two groups of TOM and TCX, if only the brits travelled as well !!
End of rant to Thrush but moving on in general.....
The debate as to whether Viking will "survive", I find the debate quite unhealthy and goulish, your words whether spoken or written are obviously your own point of view but can only go to damage the company in the long term, what suppliers are you discouraging from working with Viking? how many staff are now concerned about their future? and ultimately how many fare paying passengers reading this will not book with Viking just because of your hearsay and gossip.
Very few people on these forum's know the true position of Viking which is exactly why nobody was on here predicting the demise of Kiss, Goldtrail, Sun4U, let alone the numerous airline failures in the last few years.
I think if we all put as much effort into supporting this industry (industry not airline) that is on its knees the sooner it can get back to being a leading force in Worldwide and European aviation and not a second rate industry financed outside of its home country.
End.
OA
"So, Phil Wyatt aka Black Pearl Investments and brother Dim Jim have done it again."
"BUT from a professional pilot's point of view"
Insulting a colleague isnt what I would call the comments from a "professional" (pilot) however I digress.
Firstly the Sunwing crews do indeed have work permits, Viking worked extensively with the UK Border Agency to ensure that EVERY crew member operating here in the UK did so legitimately, regardless of whether they were here for a day, a week or for months at a time.
With regards to your issues with Canadian crews operating here in the Europe/UK - this isnt unique to Viking and has been and is being done by numerous other UK and European airlines, including the big two groups of TOM and TCX, if only the brits travelled as well !!
End of rant to Thrush but moving on in general.....
The debate as to whether Viking will "survive", I find the debate quite unhealthy and goulish, your words whether spoken or written are obviously your own point of view but can only go to damage the company in the long term, what suppliers are you discouraging from working with Viking? how many staff are now concerned about their future? and ultimately how many fare paying passengers reading this will not book with Viking just because of your hearsay and gossip.
Very few people on these forum's know the true position of Viking which is exactly why nobody was on here predicting the demise of Kiss, Goldtrail, Sun4U, let alone the numerous airline failures in the last few years.
I think if we all put as much effort into supporting this industry (industry not airline) that is on its knees the sooner it can get back to being a leading force in Worldwide and European aviation and not a second rate industry financed outside of its home country.
End.
OA
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Please stop posting...
Button - please will you STOP posting.
Just so you are aware, VIK AB head office is in ARN, and VKH head office in ATH so if they are going for 'crunch meetings' they should be on the VIK689 tomorrow to ARN...
Who is Mark? Whoever he is, he certainly isn't a Director.
Your posts are causing more negative comments than positive. I have now bitten my tounge long enough... please will you "shut up" for the sake of all those that are employed by Viking (including yourself it appears).
As already said, there is a plan in place which will work providing people like you dont keep on 'fuelling the fire' with negative / unconstructive / unfactual comments.
Just so you are aware, VIK AB head office is in ARN, and VKH head office in ATH so if they are going for 'crunch meetings' they should be on the VIK689 tomorrow to ARN...
Who is Mark? Whoever he is, he certainly isn't a Director.
Your posts are causing more negative comments than positive. I have now bitten my tounge long enough... please will you "shut up" for the sake of all those that are employed by Viking (including yourself it appears).
As already said, there is a plan in place which will work providing people like you dont keep on 'fuelling the fire' with negative / unconstructive / unfactual comments.
Button-pusher;
Seconded.
If you are a Viking please consider that you may be doing more harm than good .
Ps I see I have been "penciled in" for the 445 to Ace on the 12th, my employer obviously has faith .
Your posts are causing more negative comments than positive. I have now bitten my tounge long enough... please will you "shut up" for the sake of all those that are employed by Viking (including yourself it appears).
As already said, there is a plan in place which will work providing people like you dont keep on 'fuelling the fire' with negative / unconstructive / unfactual comments.
As already said, there is a plan in place which will work providing people like you dont keep on 'fuelling the fire' with negative / unconstructive / unfactual comments.
If you are a Viking please consider that you may be doing more harm than good .
Ps I see I have been "penciled in" for the 445 to Ace on the 12th, my employer obviously has faith .
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Thrush,
For every two Canadian Sunwing pilots there are five BRITISH Cabin Crew. Do you want to see them out of work? Please don't be so bl*%dy selfish 
Viking is a team effort, whether it's check-in staff, loaders, caterers, pilots, admin or cabin crew, any reduction to the fleet size will affect a large number of people.
Rant over.
BUT from a professional pilot's point of view they (Viking) employ quite a lot of British pilots at a time when the employment market is pretty bloody quiet, so hat's off to them for that, so long may Viking exist. Send back the Canadians
Viking is a team effort, whether it's check-in staff, loaders, caterers, pilots, admin or cabin crew, any reduction to the fleet size will affect a large number of people.
Rant over.
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Are there no MODS on this forum anymore???
Since when has a title like the one on this thread done anyone an once of good??
Seriously people.... For those employed with viking frankly wise up... do you honestly believe posting the utter rot that gets banded around the galley on a public forum is in anyway a good idea??? If you're, in my opinion wrongly, that worried about your job use your typing hands to get your CV up to date and send it out rather than fueling the fire and spreading the unfounded rubbish that if not checked would have the ability to end your career.
Rant over i gotta get to bed have to go fly tomorrow...
Since when has a title like the one on this thread done anyone an once of good??
Seriously people.... For those employed with viking frankly wise up... do you honestly believe posting the utter rot that gets banded around the galley on a public forum is in anyway a good idea??? If you're, in my opinion wrongly, that worried about your job use your typing hands to get your CV up to date and send it out rather than fueling the fire and spreading the unfounded rubbish that if not checked would have the ability to end your career.
Rant over i gotta get to bed have to go fly tomorrow...
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Viking bust?
I note with interest that this Viking bust thread has been running since 01 Feb 2009.
It uninformed rubbish then and apart from the odd gem is now, I have no doubt that with the demise of Goldtrail & Kiss things will get tough for a small airline like Viking, but the rubbish that has been posted above if seen by the general public via a search engine is likely to make them think twice about using any small airline.
What this thread is doing is pushing the public towards the likes of Ryanair, do you guys realy want the likes of MOL to have his foot on the windpipe of aircrew employment? what would that do to the T's & C's ?
To the public I would say always use a credit (not debit) card to book any airline ticket and use the airline that best meets your needs, that way you get the product that you want and your money is safe.
It uninformed rubbish then and apart from the odd gem is now, I have no doubt that with the demise of Goldtrail & Kiss things will get tough for a small airline like Viking, but the rubbish that has been posted above if seen by the general public via a search engine is likely to make them think twice about using any small airline.
What this thread is doing is pushing the public towards the likes of Ryanair, do you guys realy want the likes of MOL to have his foot on the windpipe of aircrew employment? what would that do to the T's & C's ?
To the public I would say always use a credit (not debit) card to book any airline ticket and use the airline that best meets your needs, that way you get the product that you want and your money is safe.
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I assume some people on here will be thinking that I am jumping with joy at this latest news regarding Kiss Flights and Viking Airlines being a former XL pilot but I am not.
I am however very angry at how criminals like Phil Wyatt et al can do this twice in as many years. Surely questions now need to be asked at the highest level.
I'm surprised that nobody else has noticed that it's all very convenient to go bust at the busiest and the most profitable time of year after thousands if not tens of thousands of deposits have been paid.
No point going bust in the winter with just a couple of hundred deposits in the bank BUT this is exactly the time you would expect a company to go bust when cash flow is very tight and not at its busiest time of year unless foul play is involved.
I don't care about posting what some would deem negative points on here to try and prevent a self-fulfilling prophecy as I truly beleive that if the public had been made aware of the links between XL Airways and Viking Airways that this airline would have died long ago. Oh and just for the record so did Phil Wyatt when he decided to take the SECRET 50% stake in Viking just six months after the collapse of XL.
Oh and the ex XL guys and gals who are now with Viking I'm ashamed to say that I really don't have any sympathy for you (once bitten twice shy and all that) the people that I have a great deal of sympathy for are the poor buggers that Wyatt et al have screwed out of yet ANOTHER holiday.
For those that are not aware of the facts:
Viking Airways = Re birth of XL Airways bankrupt Sept 2008
Kiss Flights = Re birth of Freedom Flights bankrupt Sept 2008
I suspect very soon we will all be seeing Wyatt crying on TV about how it was everbody elses fault that Viking is no more, I just hope that this time he's taken some acting lesson for this years upcoming performance.
Never mind... for all you Wyatt fans out there he will be back next year you can count on that.
In fact I think we should have a little competition and lighten the mood in here a little..... who can guess what Wyatt will call his airline next year.... I'll start,
Kiss your money goodbye into my XL bank account airways
I am however very angry at how criminals like Phil Wyatt et al can do this twice in as many years. Surely questions now need to be asked at the highest level.
I'm surprised that nobody else has noticed that it's all very convenient to go bust at the busiest and the most profitable time of year after thousands if not tens of thousands of deposits have been paid.
No point going bust in the winter with just a couple of hundred deposits in the bank BUT this is exactly the time you would expect a company to go bust when cash flow is very tight and not at its busiest time of year unless foul play is involved.
I don't care about posting what some would deem negative points on here to try and prevent a self-fulfilling prophecy as I truly beleive that if the public had been made aware of the links between XL Airways and Viking Airways that this airline would have died long ago. Oh and just for the record so did Phil Wyatt when he decided to take the SECRET 50% stake in Viking just six months after the collapse of XL.
Oh and the ex XL guys and gals who are now with Viking I'm ashamed to say that I really don't have any sympathy for you (once bitten twice shy and all that) the people that I have a great deal of sympathy for are the poor buggers that Wyatt et al have screwed out of yet ANOTHER holiday.
For those that are not aware of the facts:
Viking Airways = Re birth of XL Airways bankrupt Sept 2008
Kiss Flights = Re birth of Freedom Flights bankrupt Sept 2008
I suspect very soon we will all be seeing Wyatt crying on TV about how it was everbody elses fault that Viking is no more, I just hope that this time he's taken some acting lesson for this years upcoming performance.
Never mind... for all you Wyatt fans out there he will be back next year you can count on that.
In fact I think we should have a little competition and lighten the mood in here a little..... who can guess what Wyatt will call his airline next year.... I'll start,
Kiss your money goodbye into my XL bank account airways
Last edited by 3REDS; 19th Aug 2010 at 08:22.
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3REDS couldnt have put it better myself
. As a former xl employee I feel it is disgusting what Wyatt and co have done yet again they should be banned from coming near any airline in the future
I do however feel very sorry for the employees who only really went there as missed aviation and it was a job based in the uk which were far and few between at the time (i'm talking on behalf of cabin crew).
It's the travelling public who want a cheap as chips holiday who then act surprised when it all goes wrong, Viking are just one of many they are not the first and will not be the last.
. As a former xl employee I feel it is disgusting what Wyatt and co have done yet again they should be banned from coming near any airline in the futureI do however feel very sorry for the employees who only really went there as missed aviation and it was a job based in the uk which were far and few between at the time (i'm talking on behalf of cabin crew).
It's the travelling public who want a cheap as chips holiday who then act surprised when it all goes wrong, Viking are just one of many they are not the first and will not be the last.