Viking Airlines
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jonieveson
You are right. They used charter carriers like Monarch who have now publicly stated that they no longer wish to be associated with Olympic.
Olympic is probably the last of the "7 nights in Crete, self catering for £99"
tour operators. The others have long disappeared.
Charter airlines are waking up to the fact that they aren't doing themselves any favours flying for people like that.
Cheap seats "PW style" are subsidised by the credit card companies who have to refund strranded passengers at the end of the season.
A holiday costs what it costs. There is no magic formula. If you are offered a holiday for £99, it's a scam, that someone has to pay for.
You are right. They used charter carriers like Monarch who have now publicly stated that they no longer wish to be associated with Olympic.
Olympic is probably the last of the "7 nights in Crete, self catering for £99"
tour operators. The others have long disappeared.
Charter airlines are waking up to the fact that they aren't doing themselves any favours flying for people like that.
Cheap seats "PW style" are subsidised by the credit card companies who have to refund strranded passengers at the end of the season.
A holiday costs what it costs. There is no magic formula. If you are offered a holiday for £99, it's a scam, that someone has to pay for.
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From what i'v heard the pilots were screwed over royally and are owed wages from september and october also owed is redundancy notice period pay, accrued leave, expenses, per diems, flight pay etc.
Money owed ranges from £11,000 up to around £20,000 for the captains. That is per pilot of course! I believe the pilots have taken legal action against Viking, Viking Hellas and the CEO of Viking. This is most likely the REAL reason Viking Hellas has changed its name to 'fly Hellas'.
Money owed ranges from £11,000 up to around £20,000 for the captains. That is per pilot of course! I believe the pilots have taken legal action against Viking, Viking Hellas and the CEO of Viking. This is most likely the REAL reason Viking Hellas has changed its name to 'fly Hellas'.
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Just heard that Olympic have secured two aircraft from Strategic Airlines for their summer programme.
Strategic Airlines, isn't that the airline which had its French AOC revoked by the DGAC on safety grounds ? Seems the airline had a few Kelloggs cornflakes tokens left and traded them in for an AOC in Luxembourg. The French market is understandably up in arms and fails to understand how Luxembourg could possibly grant an AOC to Strategic, just weeks after the French CAA had revoked their French AOC.
Good choice, Olympic. The words frying pan and fire come to mind.
Strategic Airlines, isn't that the airline which had its French AOC revoked by the DGAC on safety grounds ? Seems the airline had a few Kelloggs cornflakes tokens left and traded them in for an AOC in Luxembourg. The French market is understandably up in arms and fails to understand how Luxembourg could possibly grant an AOC to Strategic, just weeks after the French CAA had revoked their French AOC.
Good choice, Olympic. The words frying pan and fire come to mind.
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And what exactly does this have to do with Viking?
In answer to your question, Strategic Airlines are an Australian airline which did have a French subsidary that was closed down as a result of having its AOC revoked last year. Strategic will start a UK division in time for the summer (see here) which Olympic would be using.
Maybe because they have evidence that the airline has no safety issues? A country is not going to award an airline an AOC just to annoy a fellow country - safety checks do have to be carried out and Luxembourg are clearly satisfied with the result!
In answer to your question, Strategic Airlines are an Australian airline which did have a French subsidary that was closed down as a result of having its AOC revoked last year. Strategic will start a UK division in time for the summer (see here) which Olympic would be using.
The French market is understandably up in arms and fails to understand how Luxembourg could possibly grant an AOC to Strategic, just weeks after the French CAA had revoked their French AOC
Last edited by sam1993; 10th Feb 2011 at 17:00.
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I'm smelling a rat with Tor Air too. A Swedish company, operating for Al Naser Airlines from LGW via Malmo to Baghdad (sound familiar?). And then they suddenly pick up some of the other old Viking Hellas routes under their own flight numbers (see the flytorair website).
Then comes along Sky Middle East airlines operating to BGW also, operating A320's under Tor Air flight numbers.....
Maybe I'm being synical. Or very suspicious, but all looks too familiar for comfort.
It's tragic that the Viking crew have not been paid, especially in this day and age. I know of Viking cabin crew who are still awaiting wages from last August and unable to get P45's. I hope the law suits against Messrs. Wyatt and co. are successful and they get what's owed.
Then comes along Sky Middle East airlines operating to BGW also, operating A320's under Tor Air flight numbers.....
Maybe I'm being synical. Or very suspicious, but all looks too familiar for comfort.
It's tragic that the Viking crew have not been paid, especially in this day and age. I know of Viking cabin crew who are still awaiting wages from last August and unable to get P45's. I hope the law suits against Messrs. Wyatt and co. are successful and they get what's owed.
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Northern Hero,
Viking Hellas has recently announced it is changing its name to distance itself from the bankrupt Viking Airlines. With this change comes the closure of the Gatwick base. Only bases in Greece and Cyprus will remain this summer using two Airbus A320's. Therefore, Tor Air will be operating Viking's planned summer programme as Viking now have no aircraft to operate it!
Regarding the Sky Middle East operation, as I understand it, Viking Hellas terminated its contract to operate these flights for Aer Olympic. Aer Olympic hvae now set up this operation jointly with Tor Air to ensure they still have flights to sell this summer.
Maybe this goes some way to explain things?
Viking Hellas has recently announced it is changing its name to distance itself from the bankrupt Viking Airlines. With this change comes the closure of the Gatwick base. Only bases in Greece and Cyprus will remain this summer using two Airbus A320's. Therefore, Tor Air will be operating Viking's planned summer programme as Viking now have no aircraft to operate it!
Regarding the Sky Middle East operation, as I understand it, Viking Hellas terminated its contract to operate these flights for Aer Olympic. Aer Olympic hvae now set up this operation jointly with Tor Air to ensure they still have flights to sell this summer.
Maybe this goes some way to explain things?
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sam1993
But the French are not satified at all. Stories of cracked windshields didn't help. Its was all over the press in France and will probably lead to a major fallout between Luxembourg and French authorities. Those of you who can speak French may endulge at www.tourmag.fr Just do a search for 'Strategic'.
What British consumers should ask themselves is this. Why do Strategic use a .co.uk website address, and proudly announce the opening of a new UK Division, yet opt for a quick fix, no questions asked Luxembourg AOC ? What's wrong with obtaining a proper 'all questions asked' UK AOC ?
Well there are at least half a dozen of French tour operators who cannot wait to enlighten Olympic.
Northern Hero
The Swedish company registery suggests that there has been a recent change of ownership and increase of share capital at Tor Air. Rumour (and this is only a rumour) has it that the Icelander and PW are at it again. I wouldn't be surprised if they are buying Tor Air to continue their ethnic programme to Iraq, now that European tour operators have wisened up to their game.
That's all.
- safety checks do have to be carried out and Luxembourg are clearly satisfied with the result!
What British consumers should ask themselves is this. Why do Strategic use a .co.uk website address, and proudly announce the opening of a new UK Division, yet opt for a quick fix, no questions asked Luxembourg AOC ? What's wrong with obtaining a proper 'all questions asked' UK AOC ?
Well there are at least half a dozen of French tour operators who cannot wait to enlighten Olympic.
Northern Hero
I'm smelling a rat with Tor Air too.
That's all.
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You cannot possibly be suggesting that Luxembourg authorities would put thousands of passengers safety at risk by awarding Strategic an AOC to annoy the French? I think perhaps not!
I can tell you now the relevant authorities would not allow the airline to begin flights if there was any doubt whatsoever about their safety! EVERY airline operating within the EU has to undergo the same safety checks and maintain the high standards expected, so whether the aircraft are registered in Britain or Luxembourg is completely irrelevant. 
Why do Strategic use a .co.uk website address, and proudly announce the opening of a new UK Division, yet opt for a quick fix, no questions asked Luxembourg AOC ? What's wrong with obtaining a proper 'all questions asked' UK AOC ?
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sam1993
In theory you are correct about the oversight from the regulatory authoritys under EASA but I can assure you that the standard of oversight decreases as you go south within Europe. (except in Malta that has first class oversight)
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You cannot possibly be suggesting that Luxembourg authorities would put thousands of passengers safety at risk by awarding Strategic an AOC to annoy the French? I think perhaps not!
Luxembourg is a tiny place. How do you expect them to exercise proper oversight over Strategic when their aircraft are based in the UK. I guess this is the exact reason why Startegic chose this bizarre setup.
UK CAA - forewarned is forearmed. Keep your eyes on those windshields
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Excuse me guys but having previously lived/worked in Luxembourg, for an airline, and unless things have changed, Luxembourg sub-contract out their Flight Operations Inspectorate to 'Bureau Veritas' of the French CAA.
So any suggestions that Luxembourg are trying to pee off the French, not oversee things correctly, blah blah blah are bullsh1t.
That said, take a French CAA 'Bureau Veritas' inspector out for a bucket of red wine of a lunchtime then you're sure to pass a Flight Ops Inspection!
So any suggestions that Luxembourg are trying to pee off the French, not oversee things correctly, blah blah blah are bullsh1t.
That said, take a French CAA 'Bureau Veritas' inspector out for a bucket of red wine of a lunchtime then you're sure to pass a Flight Ops Inspection!
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Tor Air in Viking markets
An interesting development in this branch of the market is that Tor Air is expanding operations into the UK, as well as getting two 737-300 for the summer. Their website is much like Viking's. The rather unknown and unsearchable Wings Recruitment Ltd is hiring cabin crew for a Gatwick and a Manchester base (Apply for the Cabin Crew job posted by Wings Recruitment Ltd | AviationJobSearch.com) and for cabin crew who must be able to operate into Iraq.
Is all this just a coincidence, or does it seem likely that someone is channeling funds that could have been used to clear off the rest of Viking's debt to their former employees into another non-suspecting blue-eyed Swedish airline keen to expand and wishfully disregarding where the funds are coming from and the list of defunct airlines in their trail, should this be more than a hunch?
Is all this just a coincidence, or does it seem likely that someone is channeling funds that could have been used to clear off the rest of Viking's debt to their former employees into another non-suspecting blue-eyed Swedish airline keen to expand and wishfully disregarding where the funds are coming from and the list of defunct airlines in their trail, should this be more than a hunch?
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How can people like this get away with setting up dodgy airlines every 2 yrs after the others collapse.
Torair and Viking are connected in a way. If you go to their new very basic www.flytorair.com it gives you a number you can book on. That number is the same www.flyviking.com used! the exact same.
And they seem to have similar strategy as viking had. They are selling flights to Malmo and Gothenberg. In basic terms they are selling tickets on what alot of airlines would just use as a positioning sector.
It really puzzles me as to who would invest with such people. Something will only be done about these airlines after a major incident/accident. And Tor air / viking aren't the only dodgy ones out there.
I know that these airlines aren't generally new start ups but i do feel sorry for the poor airlines who seemed to be promised loads of work and money and are left with a loss and redundancies, plus their name in tatters.
Torair and Viking are connected in a way. If you go to their new very basic www.flytorair.com it gives you a number you can book on. That number is the same www.flyviking.com used! the exact same.
And they seem to have similar strategy as viking had. They are selling flights to Malmo and Gothenberg. In basic terms they are selling tickets on what alot of airlines would just use as a positioning sector.
It really puzzles me as to who would invest with such people. Something will only be done about these airlines after a major incident/accident. And Tor air / viking aren't the only dodgy ones out there.
I know that these airlines aren't generally new start ups but i do feel sorry for the poor airlines who seemed to be promised loads of work and money and are left with a loss and redundancies, plus their name in tatters.
Last edited by Airbus321-200; 20th Feb 2011 at 12:03.
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Tor have one aircraft, a 734, which is leased to Iraqi Al-Nasiri Airways.
That would answer your query on cabin crew being able to operate in Iraq.
FlyTorair.com Limited appears to be a separate company to the airline, formed just this year in the UK. Looks like they are a ticketing agency.
That would answer your query on cabin crew being able to operate in Iraq.
FlyTorair.com Limited appears to be a separate company to the airline, formed just this year in the UK. Looks like they are a ticketing agency.
Last edited by IB4138; 20th Feb 2011 at 16:53.