Flybe-9
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Wales
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Exactly this kind of nonsense. What a ridiculous knee-jerk, 'looking for a bogey-man' thing to say.
Do you really think Branson runs Virgin Atlantic?
Why does nobody point accusing fingers at equal shareholders Stobart? Or. if you prefer something maciavellian, Cyrus.
But as others have said, the finger pointing should be aimed at previous senior management.
Just for the record, I'm not into taxpayer bail-outs either.
Do you really think Branson runs Virgin Atlantic?
Why does nobody point accusing fingers at equal shareholders Stobart? Or. if you prefer something maciavellian, Cyrus.
But as others have said, the finger pointing should be aimed at previous senior management.
Just for the record, I'm not into taxpayer bail-outs either.

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin don't have a good track record when it comes to any other transport other than Virgin Atlantic itself. They failed the railway, LittleRed, Virgin Express, Virgin Sun, VirginBlue/Australia, Virgin America (?) and Virgin Nigeria! Why would anyone want to partner with them? The brand is blinding everyone to the reality.

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 635
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE=FFMAN;10684169]Exactly this kind of nonsense. What a ridiculous knee-jerk, 'looking for a bogey-man' thing to say.
Do you really think Branson runs Virgin Atlantic?
Tell me are you naturally so rude, or have you had to work at it??..asking for a friend
Do you really think Branson runs Virgin Atlantic?
Tell me are you naturally so rude, or have you had to work at it??..asking for a friend

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Stockport MAN/EGCC
Age: 69
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin don't have a good track record when it comes to any other transport other than Virgin Atlantic itself. They failed the railway, LittleRed, Virgin Express, Virgin Sun, VirginBlue/Australia, Virgin America (?) and Virgin Nigeria! Why would anyone want to partner with them? The brand is blinding everyone to the reality.
Thanks
David

Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: On the road
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin Little Red, Express, America, Sun, Trains west coast, Trains east coast, Cola, Vodka, Brides, Student, Cars, Vie (cosmetics), clothing, Ware (underwear, Megastore, Pulse, Games, and now Connect....
OK some were the subject of predatory takeover (America, being one)
Trains - due to the pretty poisonous tie-up with Stagecoach Virgin lost the West Coast line and simply overbid on the East Coast...
OK some were the subject of predatory takeover (America, being one)
Trains - due to the pretty poisonous tie-up with Stagecoach Virgin lost the West Coast line and simply overbid on the East Coast...

I doubt he was hardly aware of the minority stake VS acquired last year

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51453196 Government in talks about taking a stake in flybe, with giving loan as in a Warren Buffett style purchase shares at a pre arranged (low) price once the airline has returned to health.

I feel very really sorry for the staff, having been there myself with ailing airlines on and off over the years...
But I am now extremely uncomfortable that HM Govt may give the floundering cash haemorrhaging unhealthy Flybe a low interest loan of at least £100m plus deferred tax bills just to get them through this winter...
Then what? Another cash injection or we have this same conversation in 3 months time?
The 3 ''takeover'' investors (who include VS's SRB and whose branding will be on the tickets and on the side of the planes) who all said they would save Flybe are not coming to the table with much so it seems. Why?
I agree Flybe operates a selection of UK feeder routes to enable connectivity for business, and probably vital for some communities - But you could say so did BMA, Dan Air and others, but no one from the Treasury saved them nor Thomas Cook & Monarch for instance. (1000's of jobs lost)
Would HM Govt give BA any financial assistance - No, are you mad...
The Govt are stepping in and taking back Rail Franchises from the likes of Virgin East Coast, Northern Rail and likely SWR...Will they truly bail out Flybe?
With HS2 getting the green light Adonis says today that regional airports and air travel will not see any gain from them (Govt)...Quite a statement from him.
But I am now extremely uncomfortable that HM Govt may give the floundering cash haemorrhaging unhealthy Flybe a low interest loan of at least £100m plus deferred tax bills just to get them through this winter...
Then what? Another cash injection or we have this same conversation in 3 months time?
The 3 ''takeover'' investors (who include VS's SRB and whose branding will be on the tickets and on the side of the planes) who all said they would save Flybe are not coming to the table with much so it seems. Why?
I agree Flybe operates a selection of UK feeder routes to enable connectivity for business, and probably vital for some communities - But you could say so did BMA, Dan Air and others, but no one from the Treasury saved them nor Thomas Cook & Monarch for instance. (1000's of jobs lost)
Would HM Govt give BA any financial assistance - No, are you mad...
The Govt are stepping in and taking back Rail Franchises from the likes of Virgin East Coast, Northern Rail and likely SWR...Will they truly bail out Flybe?
With HS2 getting the green light Adonis says today that regional airports and air travel will not see any gain from them (Govt)...Quite a statement from him.

Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Wales
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's political the new UK government can't be seen to let an airline fail especially one that serves the regions that it wants to boost connectivity too.
As for BA yes they would bail them out as they provide the UK with massive global presence and connectivity.
As for BA yes they would bail them out as they provide the UK with massive global presence and connectivity.

It's political the new UK government can't be seen to let an airline fail especially one that serves the regions that it wants to boost connectivity too.

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are a lot of measures that could be employed to boost regional connectivity, like the reduction/removal/rebate of APD for UK domestic flights, that might require a bit of imagination to get past state aid rules, but should be possible. Giving all airlines, rather than a financial basket-case an APD reduction/removal/rebate seems like a better way to encourage connectivity between the regions and direct links from the regions to neighbouring countries. The question is what does regional connectivity really mean? Connecting the regions to each other while avoiding London, or connecting the country via London? Given the chronic lack of investment for CrossCountry over the past decade, or more, I wonder if the latter is more important for Whitehall?

Hopefully in any package HMG will embargo any asset-stripping transfer of LHR slots to VS/DL, or ensure that they are sold at market rate with any proceeds going to pay back the loan.
Also would be sensible, if the aim of any aid is truly regional support, that Flybe LHR slots are used for UK regional services and not redeployed to non-UK destinations (and perhaps even UK ones) already served (e.g DUS), where duplication would contribute nothing except VS/DL feed?
Also would be sensible, if the aim of any aid is truly regional support, that Flybe LHR slots are used for UK regional services and not redeployed to non-UK destinations (and perhaps even UK ones) already served (e.g DUS), where duplication would contribute nothing except VS/DL feed?
