Viking Airlines
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spicejetter
I too am no armchair CEO but I would expect any CEO worth his/her salt would have some sort of due dilligence on one of its biggest customers so perhaps just perhaps there is a bit of risk analysis and planning in place "just incase"
The dont have a fleet of three, they have a fleet of 6 plus three aircraft wet leased from Sunwing, thats a total of 9 so disposing of three still allows a respectible operation of 6 aircraft.
The reference to the Middle East is their programme of flights to Iraq.
OA
I too am no armchair CEO but I would expect any CEO worth his/her salt would have some sort of due dilligence on one of its biggest customers so perhaps just perhaps there is a bit of risk analysis and planning in place "just incase"
The dont have a fleet of three, they have a fleet of 6 plus three aircraft wet leased from Sunwing, thats a total of 9 so disposing of three still allows a respectible operation of 6 aircraft.
The reference to the Middle East is their programme of flights to Iraq.
OA
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Are you surprised by the reply? Do you know how frustrating it is reading drivel on here from people like he says do a little research. Yes some people hate PW/Viking/XL etc etc. But everyone who works at Viking does so to keep current, keep paying the bills and keep their family together. There are people at Viking who probably feel the same but having morals at the expense of your family by either having to live abroad and commute back or be out of work is not for everyone. Regardless of where any profits go the main thing is to provide for yourself and family.
As for people posting on here that they hope the company goes under. Words fail me. If that were to happen the money men wouldn't lose their house and car just a business. The knock on effects for the workers however would be far more outreaching. Fathers being on a different continent to there kids, bankruptcies, strained marriages and so on i'm sure you get the idea and to wish that on someone that you don't even know? What a great person you are and hopefully I never have to sit next to you.
And yes I do work for Viking they gave me a job and brought me back from Nigeria and everyday that I go to work I do the best that I can for them and i'm proud to work there.
You will also know that like most of the spineless on here I don't hide my name anyone that works with me knows who I am it is also my hotmail address. It might be an idea for some of you out there to do the same. It would make you slightly more accountable for your words and perhaps you wouldn't post so thoughtlessly.
As for Viking they employed full time pilots and summer contractors. No full time pilot redundancies and there is a plan afoot to give the summer connies some work. Not sure we can ask for more than that in the present climate.
As for people posting on here that they hope the company goes under. Words fail me. If that were to happen the money men wouldn't lose their house and car just a business. The knock on effects for the workers however would be far more outreaching. Fathers being on a different continent to there kids, bankruptcies, strained marriages and so on i'm sure you get the idea and to wish that on someone that you don't even know? What a great person you are and hopefully I never have to sit next to you.
And yes I do work for Viking they gave me a job and brought me back from Nigeria and everyday that I go to work I do the best that I can for them and i'm proud to work there.
You will also know that like most of the spineless on here I don't hide my name anyone that works with me knows who I am it is also my hotmail address. It might be an idea for some of you out there to do the same. It would make you slightly more accountable for your words and perhaps you wouldn't post so thoughtlessly.
As for Viking they employed full time pilots and summer contractors. No full time pilot redundancies and there is a plan afoot to give the summer connies some work. Not sure we can ask for more than that in the present climate.
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Well said and seconded Ben. 
I have already posted something very similar and am glad more of us are showing our support.
All of these people bad mouthing everything are simply ignorant, they always fail to remember the workforce! The ramifications of these comments reach further than just Viking staff but to all levels of the industry.
I guess people are only happy when they are moaning or giving their two pence worth of uninformed garbage! Of course all of you complaining about the management are on the board and therefore know exactly what has happened and where it all went wrong. Basically the same as football supporters thinking they can do a better job at managing that anyone else!
As someone caught up in the XL collapse I joined Viking to prevent being sent abroad to work.
I have already posted something very similar and am glad more of us are showing our support. All of these people bad mouthing everything are simply ignorant, they always fail to remember the workforce! The ramifications of these comments reach further than just Viking staff but to all levels of the industry.
I guess people are only happy when they are moaning or giving their two pence worth of uninformed garbage! Of course all of you complaining about the management are on the board and therefore know exactly what has happened and where it all went wrong. Basically the same as football supporters thinking they can do a better job at managing that anyone else!
As someone caught up in the XL collapse I joined Viking to prevent being sent abroad to work.
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Ben
Well said Ben, I admire your honesty...
There are good people working at Viking (both in the office and in the air) working, as most of us do, to provide the best we can for our families...
There are spineless idiots on this site that sit at home (probably after a few large ones) posting utter rubbish!
I for one hope Viking survive and prosper .... Good luck to all.... !
There are good people working at Viking (both in the office and in the air) working, as most of us do, to provide the best we can for our families...
There are spineless idiots on this site that sit at home (probably after a few large ones) posting utter rubbish!
I for one hope Viking survive and prosper .... Good luck to all.... !
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Above I see posts from people who are just trying to do the best they can to keep a roof over the their heads and the children fed & clothed, Viking is the airline that they happen to work for and so they will be trying to make sure that they dont end out of work.
Also above I see people who have a grudge, the target of that grudge seems to be PW, Viking & the people who work for Viking. I cant help thinking that some of them are likely to be the people who during the XL days posted such vindictive rubbish about XL that I did not realise that it was XL they were writing about untill I got well into narative.
May be it was the attitude they showed in XL that resulted in the fact they did not get a job with Viking.
May be these people should look at the bigger picture, shops closing in the high streets, all sorts of businesses going bust and major cuts in public services. Hardly surprizing then that the low cost low margin travel companys feel cold wind of the economic recession.
Perhaps you should turn your anger on on the greed of bankers and the last govenment who spent money they did not have, It was they who got us into this mess.
But I expect that you are all so short sighted that you cant see past your own little world. I think this post to prevoke some sort on reaction and look forward to your explanation of how PW & Co are responsable for the economic crisis that is gripping the world economy.
Also above I see people who have a grudge, the target of that grudge seems to be PW, Viking & the people who work for Viking. I cant help thinking that some of them are likely to be the people who during the XL days posted such vindictive rubbish about XL that I did not realise that it was XL they were writing about untill I got well into narative.
May be it was the attitude they showed in XL that resulted in the fact they did not get a job with Viking.
May be these people should look at the bigger picture, shops closing in the high streets, all sorts of businesses going bust and major cuts in public services. Hardly surprizing then that the low cost low margin travel companys feel cold wind of the economic recession.
Perhaps you should turn your anger on on the greed of bankers and the last govenment who spent money they did not have, It was they who got us into this mess.
But I expect that you are all so short sighted that you cant see past your own little world. I think this post to prevoke some sort on reaction and look forward to your explanation of how PW & Co are responsable for the economic crisis that is gripping the world economy.
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As I am not an employee of Viking, nor been affected in any way by the demise of Kiss, Goldtrail or XL, I feel that I can comment on this debate objectively.
Looking at the bigger picture, yes, Viking are providing valuable employment for many people some of whom may have struggled financially or may have had to leave the travel industry altogether had Viking not expanded their operations into the UK.
This point is not in doubt and I would like to believe that everyone hopes that it continues this way.
On the other side of the coin there appears to be undeniable links between the management of Viking and the management of Kiss Flights which, due to the timing of the failure of Kiss (albeit their parent Flight Options) is bound to give rise to suspicions as to the credibility of the management of both companys.
Also to be considered following the failure of Kiss is the number of job losses not only at Kiss itself but also at associated businesses, indeed the speed at which Viking downsized must have resulted in quite a number of people becoming instantly unemployed. Then there is the tens of thousands of holidaymakers who have seen their hard earned annual holiday either severely disrupted or even lost and not to mention the demand on the CAA to rectify the resulting mess.
The point of the debate therefore should be directly related to the actions of the management of Kiss Flights and Viking that have been or are likely to be detrimental to the wellbeing of Viking Airlines.
I think it only natural for anyone to raise valid suspicions of the business conduct of any management personnel based on their previous business activities. As for me, I am highly suspicious of some form of unethical practices somewhere along the line, based solely on the timing of the demise of Kiss Flights after all it is high summer and the nature of their business is not exactly high capital outlay upfront. However, I am perfectly willing to have an open mind on the subject if someone can convince me that Kiss Flights were actually a profitable company pulled under by a bankrupt owner. But I suspect we will never know the truth
Looking at the bigger picture, yes, Viking are providing valuable employment for many people some of whom may have struggled financially or may have had to leave the travel industry altogether had Viking not expanded their operations into the UK.
This point is not in doubt and I would like to believe that everyone hopes that it continues this way.
On the other side of the coin there appears to be undeniable links between the management of Viking and the management of Kiss Flights which, due to the timing of the failure of Kiss (albeit their parent Flight Options) is bound to give rise to suspicions as to the credibility of the management of both companys.
Also to be considered following the failure of Kiss is the number of job losses not only at Kiss itself but also at associated businesses, indeed the speed at which Viking downsized must have resulted in quite a number of people becoming instantly unemployed. Then there is the tens of thousands of holidaymakers who have seen their hard earned annual holiday either severely disrupted or even lost and not to mention the demand on the CAA to rectify the resulting mess.
The point of the debate therefore should be directly related to the actions of the management of Kiss Flights and Viking that have been or are likely to be detrimental to the wellbeing of Viking Airlines.
I think it only natural for anyone to raise valid suspicions of the business conduct of any management personnel based on their previous business activities. As for me, I am highly suspicious of some form of unethical practices somewhere along the line, based solely on the timing of the demise of Kiss Flights after all it is high summer and the nature of their business is not exactly high capital outlay upfront. However, I am perfectly willing to have an open mind on the subject if someone can convince me that Kiss Flights were actually a profitable company pulled under by a bankrupt owner. But I suspect we will never know the truth
Last edited by TSR2; 21st Aug 2010 at 23:38.
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The article you guys are referring to can be found here: -
Two years ago Phil Wyatt wept on TV when XL Airways collapsed. Now it¿s happened all over again | Mail Online
Two years ago Phil Wyatt wept on TV when XL Airways collapsed. Now it¿s happened all over again | Mail Online
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From Horses Mouth
I have not responded for nearly two years as to the specualtion and rumours that have been written about my family and I
Its time to put the record straight.
I made a big mistake employing Peter Owen as CEO of XL and stood back whilst still the largest SH (part time dep Chairman) serving 1 years notice and basically let him and his army of consultants and so called experts destroy a business I had built since 1999 along with great people such as Steve Tomlinson and Eamonn Mullany and a superb Management Team and staff who were commited and deicated to delivering a safe a secure operation and product second to none
Some people on this forum are bitter as they have been misled as they do not have the facts -
I am NO Criminal as has been stated on this forum.
Peter Owen personally owes me well in excess of 1M UKL and I have taken the legal steps to collect this loan that was afforded to him prior to joining XL as a short term loan.
Whilst he was employed XL he subsequently went bankrupt for monies owed to some other third party that was anuled.
Becauxe Owen could no longer continue as a Director, I was left with no option but to return as CEO and pick up the mess which he and his team had created.
I was mislead and informed as were the board that Peter Owen and he his many consultants were near to finalising the refinacing of XL Sadly the whole thing was a staged by PO to generate huge consultancy fees from XL.
So when John Smith speaks of criminals he should do his homework
Onto current matters
I am a SH in BPI and do own 40 p/c of Viking AB - Christian Tadjeran owns the balance
BPI have NO shareholding in Kiss and Kiss was a customer as was Goldtrail
to Viking and ALL transaction were on a arms length basis
If Viking did not exist the UK Market would be dominated by TCX/TUI
more than it is currently and the consumer would be penalised with high prices
The Viking Management Team led by Halldor Siguardson and Phil Lintott
Clarke are doing a good job reshaping Vikings business after these collapses to ensure it contiues to meet supply with demand - This regretably has meant cabin crew have had to be laid off as the 3 SWG units will return to SWG 29.8
My day to day involvement is minimal and only in capacity as consultant/investor - we have a great team of dedicated professionals in Viking as we did at XL and you will see the business become much stronger and focused under Halldor and Phil Lintott Clarke over the next 2 months
Viking need to downsize its UK fleet but this is at the expense of wet leased summer capacity and NOT core business or flight deck crew
Sunwing have been very supportive and I give them my personal thanks.
They are a great bunch of people and have shown Viking the suppot XL showed them when they established themselves...Thanks to ALL at Sunwing.
Vikings order books are good for Winter and Summer and I personally believe my investment through BPI will deliver great rewards. Viking has a
robust business in Iraq and from resort based locations for blue chip
clients.
I will make this one last point and that is I believe this site has great value but is being mis used by some for personal vendetta and smear and as professionals some of you that hide behind quite obvious alias believe you
are above the law.
Phil Wyatt
Its time to put the record straight.
I made a big mistake employing Peter Owen as CEO of XL and stood back whilst still the largest SH (part time dep Chairman) serving 1 years notice and basically let him and his army of consultants and so called experts destroy a business I had built since 1999 along with great people such as Steve Tomlinson and Eamonn Mullany and a superb Management Team and staff who were commited and deicated to delivering a safe a secure operation and product second to none
Some people on this forum are bitter as they have been misled as they do not have the facts -
I am NO Criminal as has been stated on this forum.
Peter Owen personally owes me well in excess of 1M UKL and I have taken the legal steps to collect this loan that was afforded to him prior to joining XL as a short term loan.
Whilst he was employed XL he subsequently went bankrupt for monies owed to some other third party that was anuled.
Becauxe Owen could no longer continue as a Director, I was left with no option but to return as CEO and pick up the mess which he and his team had created.
I was mislead and informed as were the board that Peter Owen and he his many consultants were near to finalising the refinacing of XL Sadly the whole thing was a staged by PO to generate huge consultancy fees from XL.
So when John Smith speaks of criminals he should do his homework
Onto current matters
I am a SH in BPI and do own 40 p/c of Viking AB - Christian Tadjeran owns the balance
BPI have NO shareholding in Kiss and Kiss was a customer as was Goldtrail
to Viking and ALL transaction were on a arms length basis
If Viking did not exist the UK Market would be dominated by TCX/TUI
more than it is currently and the consumer would be penalised with high prices
The Viking Management Team led by Halldor Siguardson and Phil Lintott
Clarke are doing a good job reshaping Vikings business after these collapses to ensure it contiues to meet supply with demand - This regretably has meant cabin crew have had to be laid off as the 3 SWG units will return to SWG 29.8
My day to day involvement is minimal and only in capacity as consultant/investor - we have a great team of dedicated professionals in Viking as we did at XL and you will see the business become much stronger and focused under Halldor and Phil Lintott Clarke over the next 2 months
Viking need to downsize its UK fleet but this is at the expense of wet leased summer capacity and NOT core business or flight deck crew
Sunwing have been very supportive and I give them my personal thanks.
They are a great bunch of people and have shown Viking the suppot XL showed them when they established themselves...Thanks to ALL at Sunwing.
Vikings order books are good for Winter and Summer and I personally believe my investment through BPI will deliver great rewards. Viking has a
robust business in Iraq and from resort based locations for blue chip
clients.
I will make this one last point and that is I believe this site has great value but is being mis used by some for personal vendetta and smear and as professionals some of you that hide behind quite obvious alias believe you
are above the law.
Phil Wyatt
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Philwyatt
I admire your guts for trying to put the record straight but many people I am sure will read it simply as an attempt to shift the blame for the demise of XL.
You state
If you really stood back and watched your company destroyed by a person you employed then you sir, must personally shoulder TOTAL responsibility for the reported £100 million debt that took your company under, the misery of unemployment for thousands of your employees and not to mention the tens of thousands of decent hard working people who lost their holidays.
With regards to Viking, you state
Yet you own 40% of the shares. Let's hope that your judgement of the ability of the Viking management team is better than your judgement of the XL management team.
You state
I made a big mistake employing Peter Owen as CEO of XL and stood back whilst still the largest SH (part time dep Chairman) serving 1 years notice and basically let him and his army of consultants and so called experts destroy a business I had built since 1999
With regards to Viking, you state
My day to day involvement is minimal and only in capacity as consultant/investor
Last edited by TSR2; 22nd Aug 2010 at 22:55.
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HP7, you need a reality check.
How many global airlines have gone bust in the last 10 years.?
How many American Airlines are in chapter 11 owing billions?
How many UK airlines have gone bust in the last 10 years owing millions and as you put it ruining peoples holidays?
I suggest stop playing judge and jury and come back down to earth.
We have the likes of EZY and Ryan to thank for the state of the UK market by means of educatating people to think that flying thousands of miles is cheap when it is not.
People need to pay more for their travels and then airlines may have a better chance of survival.
How many global airlines have gone bust in the last 10 years.?
How many American Airlines are in chapter 11 owing billions?
How many UK airlines have gone bust in the last 10 years owing millions and as you put it ruining peoples holidays?
I suggest stop playing judge and jury and come back down to earth.
We have the likes of EZY and Ryan to thank for the state of the UK market by means of educatating people to think that flying thousands of miles is cheap when it is not.
People need to pay more for their travels and then airlines may have a better chance of survival.
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PW.
Something doesnt stack up. I didn't believe your crocodile tears when my livelihood was pulled in XL and I don't believe your 'its not my fault' bleating now.
You say you have minimal day to day dealings just an invester.....absolute rubbish. Why when things start going wrong..on a day to day basis...do you get copied into the emails then enter into the operational arena directly...as per the emails which sometimes end up on the viknet email system...some of which would shoot you down immediately.
Why do you patronize your pilots by enticing them to fly for your Iraq airline on a captains salary of £3400 per month?
So does PLC have an MBA or any experience in the management of companies at boardroom level, which he can bring so that they can believe he'll be their saviour? I would wager that he won't be here this time next year and we know where he'll be!
I for one hope that you can keep going as I have many friends relying on Viking to pay the bills. All they ask for is the truth, and to be fairly treated.
Something doesnt stack up. I didn't believe your crocodile tears when my livelihood was pulled in XL and I don't believe your 'its not my fault' bleating now.
You say you have minimal day to day dealings just an invester.....absolute rubbish. Why when things start going wrong..on a day to day basis...do you get copied into the emails then enter into the operational arena directly...as per the emails which sometimes end up on the viknet email system...some of which would shoot you down immediately.
Why do you patronize your pilots by enticing them to fly for your Iraq airline on a captains salary of £3400 per month?
So does PLC have an MBA or any experience in the management of companies at boardroom level, which he can bring so that they can believe he'll be their saviour? I would wager that he won't be here this time next year and we know where he'll be!
I for one hope that you can keep going as I have many friends relying on Viking to pay the bills. All they ask for is the truth, and to be fairly treated.
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exviking
the fact you think you need a MBA to run a company amuses me....
Give me Someone who has gone though one of the toughest selection processes in the world (RAF Fast jet) held senior management positions in various airlines and has one of the most important qualities ' a hands on common sense approach' ...... any day..!
Give me Someone who has gone though one of the toughest selection processes in the world (RAF Fast jet) held senior management positions in various airlines and has one of the most important qualities ' a hands on common sense approach' ...... any day..!
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There a few things which surprise me among which the number of spelling mistakes.The other thing is if Mr Owen was the sole responsible for the XL debacle....why did Mr Wyatt and his company do business with Mr Owen again?????????? Can you explain the logic to me here.