FRESHAER
FreshAer
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Coventry, UK
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Seems very similar to the Air-Scotland/Electra contract??
No-one could figure out (not even the CAA i think!!) if Air-Scotland needed an ATOL to be able to sell the tickets, and they got it all sorted in the end with a hell of a long winded method of Air-Scotland.com being "Ticket Provider" for Electra Airlines Scotland, subsidiary of Electra Airlines S.A. or soemthing like that!!
Essentially, FreshAer and Air-Scotland go round shouting about how they're a new airline when really there pretty much a tour operator, selling seats on other airlines services. But then are they a tour opearator as they have exclusively contracted Electra/Air Holland/Iceland to fly for them?? Think this was the controversy over air-scotland, and perhaps the "liscence" problem described in the reports here??
Oh well hope it gets sorted, but it is starting irritate me these "Airlines" that aren't really airlines at all......
No-one could figure out (not even the CAA i think!!) if Air-Scotland needed an ATOL to be able to sell the tickets, and they got it all sorted in the end with a hell of a long winded method of Air-Scotland.com being "Ticket Provider" for Electra Airlines Scotland, subsidiary of Electra Airlines S.A. or soemthing like that!!
Essentially, FreshAer and Air-Scotland go round shouting about how they're a new airline when really there pretty much a tour operator, selling seats on other airlines services. But then are they a tour opearator as they have exclusively contracted Electra/Air Holland/Iceland to fly for them?? Think this was the controversy over air-scotland, and perhaps the "liscence" problem described in the reports here??
Oh well hope it gets sorted, but it is starting irritate me these "Airlines" that aren't really airlines at all......
Join Date: Apr 2000
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Not sure about FRESHAER but the original plan for Air-Scotland was for them to use Electra as a start up, as Easyjet did with European?, then apply for their own AOC. Not sure how that is going to work now that the deal with Air Holland is more of a "co-operation". I guess the plan is still to apply for their own AOC.
Join Date: Jan 2000
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Maximus, I can confirm your comment that Bob Laird is not involved in this project as he has just put out a note to this effect following his name appearing in the press. Seems to be a case of the directors of FreshAer being "economical with the truth".
Mmmm the 2 do go together very well don't they - FRESHAIR and COUGAR - disappeared into........
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Airline stops taking new route bookings
An airline planning to launch several new routes from Ireland in October has decided to stop taking bookings.
Freshaer.com had planned to open several new routes between Dublin, the UK and Spain.
However, it emerged that although Freshaer was taking bookings for its autumn start-up, it was not properly licensed to do so in this country.
The company claimed it was entitled to sell seats pending the issuing of a license to operate. However, the commission for airline regulation has said this is not the case.
Today, the company said it had taken what it called the regrettable decision to stop taking bookings and to return money paid by passengers until the license was issued.
Freshaer.com had planned to open several new routes between Dublin, the UK and Spain.
However, it emerged that although Freshaer was taking bookings for its autumn start-up, it was not properly licensed to do so in this country.
The company claimed it was entitled to sell seats pending the issuing of a license to operate. However, the commission for airline regulation has said this is not the case.
Today, the company said it had taken what it called the regrettable decision to stop taking bookings and to return money paid by passengers until the license was issued.
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A director has also resigned following after his conviction for fraud came to light.
http://www.fxcentre.com/news.asp?739068
http://www.fxcentre.com/news.asp?739068
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Looks like the DTI have been on their case for months.....(this is from today's Irish Times):
Tuesday, 12th August, 2003
The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has stated that FreshAer, the company planning to set up a budget airline in the Republic, illegally offered shares in the business to the public and broke a number of other laws governing investment and equity offerings.
UK-based FreshAer this week stopped selling flight tickets for its proposed services from Dublin, which were due to begin in October. The company also pledged to refund all money collected from Irish consumers. The Irish Times understands that this amounts to approximately €250,000. Bibit, a German merchant bank is holding the money on trust.
The DTI began investigating FreshAer in May. According to a letter from its deputy inspector of companies, Mr John Gardner, to former FreshAer director Mr John Roche, the company appeared to breach both the English Companies Act 1985 and the Financial Services and Markets Act (FISMA) 2000.
FreshAer ran foul of the legislation when it published a prospectus on its website in the spring. The DTI found that it was possible for members of the public to download the prospectus and a share application form from the site. Mr Gardner's letter states that, as FreshAer was a private company, it was a criminal offence to do this.
FreshAer has since removed the prospectus and application forms from the website.
It was also in breach of an FISMA provision banning anyone who is not authorised by the British Financial Services Authority (FSA) from offering shares to the public. Mr Gardner warned that this was also a criminal offence.
The company's prospectus did not comply with the English Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 on a number of fronts. It failed to advise readers to seek professional advice and the price at which shares were offered varied from day to day, according to Mr Gardner.
Mr Gardner's letter states that this offence was "exacerbated by the fact that FreshAer sought and ignored legal advice on the content of the prospectus". He points out that the document failed to state the minimum amount amount of shares that it was seeking to place, which is a breach of the Companies Act.
According to the letter, the company raised a total of £10,000 sterling (€14,200) from four individual investors. It is not clear if the investments came via the website or through another channel. Mr Gardner ordered that the subscriptions be returned.
Mr Roche was one of the company's original directors and shareholders. However, he had resigned before it published its prospectus. Last night, he said his name appeared on the document without his knowledge or consent. Nobody was prosecuted as a result of the DTI investigation.
It also emerged yesterday the Iceland Air sister company, Luftleidir, which was supposed to provide the FreshAer service when it began in October, has stopped negotiating with the company. A Luftleidir spokesman said the talks ended at the weekend and added that it was unlikely that it would enter into any agreement with the British-based business.
FreshAer has begun the process of applying to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) for its airline and tour operator licences. It is likely to take at least six months to get certification.
The firm had been running a promotion with the Evening Herald newspaper offering free flight vouchers to readers. A spokesman for Independent News & Media, which owns the paper, said it had not issued any vouchers after learning FreshAer was not licensed.
Tuesday, 12th August, 2003
The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has stated that FreshAer, the company planning to set up a budget airline in the Republic, illegally offered shares in the business to the public and broke a number of other laws governing investment and equity offerings.
UK-based FreshAer this week stopped selling flight tickets for its proposed services from Dublin, which were due to begin in October. The company also pledged to refund all money collected from Irish consumers. The Irish Times understands that this amounts to approximately €250,000. Bibit, a German merchant bank is holding the money on trust.
The DTI began investigating FreshAer in May. According to a letter from its deputy inspector of companies, Mr John Gardner, to former FreshAer director Mr John Roche, the company appeared to breach both the English Companies Act 1985 and the Financial Services and Markets Act (FISMA) 2000.
FreshAer ran foul of the legislation when it published a prospectus on its website in the spring. The DTI found that it was possible for members of the public to download the prospectus and a share application form from the site. Mr Gardner's letter states that, as FreshAer was a private company, it was a criminal offence to do this.
FreshAer has since removed the prospectus and application forms from the website.
It was also in breach of an FISMA provision banning anyone who is not authorised by the British Financial Services Authority (FSA) from offering shares to the public. Mr Gardner warned that this was also a criminal offence.
The company's prospectus did not comply with the English Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 on a number of fronts. It failed to advise readers to seek professional advice and the price at which shares were offered varied from day to day, according to Mr Gardner.
Mr Gardner's letter states that this offence was "exacerbated by the fact that FreshAer sought and ignored legal advice on the content of the prospectus". He points out that the document failed to state the minimum amount amount of shares that it was seeking to place, which is a breach of the Companies Act.
According to the letter, the company raised a total of £10,000 sterling (€14,200) from four individual investors. It is not clear if the investments came via the website or through another channel. Mr Gardner ordered that the subscriptions be returned.
Mr Roche was one of the company's original directors and shareholders. However, he had resigned before it published its prospectus. Last night, he said his name appeared on the document without his knowledge or consent. Nobody was prosecuted as a result of the DTI investigation.
It also emerged yesterday the Iceland Air sister company, Luftleidir, which was supposed to provide the FreshAer service when it began in October, has stopped negotiating with the company. A Luftleidir spokesman said the talks ended at the weekend and added that it was unlikely that it would enter into any agreement with the British-based business.
FreshAer has begun the process of applying to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) for its airline and tour operator licences. It is likely to take at least six months to get certification.
The firm had been running a promotion with the Evening Herald newspaper offering free flight vouchers to readers. A spokesman for Independent News & Media, which owns the paper, said it had not issued any vouchers after learning FreshAer was not licensed.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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FreshAer were advertising at last nights Bradford v Hull rugby league match which was shown live on Sky. looks like their promotional people are still doing the business.
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Although Freshaer has been lost in trhe great lowcost airline scamble the question is..could it be revived?? With Aer Lingus a shambles and Ryanair still ignoring its Dublin base to a degree, it would appear that there is still room for another (lo-cost?) airline provided it had the right management.
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Snifferdog:
Why would anyone want to revive Freshaer specifically? Based on the Freshaer prospectus I saw, the project was ill-judged, inadequately researched, and thoroughly unconvincing: the wrong aircraft, the wrong routes, and a competitor assessment best described as pathetic. Freshaer belongs in the grave.
I'm not quite sure about your assertion that EI is "a shambles". Yes, a lot has been thrown overboard in terms of repositioning the product. Yes, there are question marks ahead (privatisation delays etc.) But from the cheap-seat-seeking passenger's point of view, the airline has done a great job of becoming relevant again and it's getting those bums on seats (and profits into the bank) better than ever before.
And finally: if a low-cost airline came into Dublin, to fly (for example) Hahn, Bergamo, etc., how long exactly do you think it would be before Ryanair found a temporary accommodation with the airport to enable them to kill off any possible competition? That's if MO'L and co. even needed to bother. Frankly a low-cost jet startup attempting to base itself in Dublin would need one hell of a business plan (and deep pockets) to ever get into the air.
Why would anyone want to revive Freshaer specifically? Based on the Freshaer prospectus I saw, the project was ill-judged, inadequately researched, and thoroughly unconvincing: the wrong aircraft, the wrong routes, and a competitor assessment best described as pathetic. Freshaer belongs in the grave.
I'm not quite sure about your assertion that EI is "a shambles". Yes, a lot has been thrown overboard in terms of repositioning the product. Yes, there are question marks ahead (privatisation delays etc.) But from the cheap-seat-seeking passenger's point of view, the airline has done a great job of becoming relevant again and it's getting those bums on seats (and profits into the bank) better than ever before.
And finally: if a low-cost airline came into Dublin, to fly (for example) Hahn, Bergamo, etc., how long exactly do you think it would be before Ryanair found a temporary accommodation with the airport to enable them to kill off any possible competition? That's if MO'L and co. even needed to bother. Frankly a low-cost jet startup attempting to base itself in Dublin would need one hell of a business plan (and deep pockets) to ever get into the air.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Yeah Cyrano, but apart from that Freshaer were great. It's not as if EI or FR are actually doing a good job out of Dublin and with the excellent facilities and connections provided by Dublin Airport it's only a matter of time before someone steps into this gaping hole.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Freshaer
That was my understanding also. For years people have complained the service onboard the lowcost carriers-but it seems that they forget the price of their ticket aswell.
But I though that freshaers idea was not to go fully to the lowcost idealism, but instead have some sort of business class with a little better service there than in the economy still keeeping the prices reasonably low in both classes.
I read somewher that their main routes would have been between Ireland and England? But isnt there a lot of business and regular travellers flying between London and Ireland who probably would pay just a bit more to get a class of wine etc. for free.
But I though that freshaers idea was not to go fully to the lowcost idealism, but instead have some sort of business class with a little better service there than in the economy still keeeping the prices reasonably low in both classes.
I read somewher that their main routes would have been between Ireland and England? But isnt there a lot of business and regular travellers flying between London and Ireland who probably would pay just a bit more to get a class of wine etc. for free.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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DW11
.....with the excellent facilities and connections provided by Dublin Airport.....
If you're referring to EIDW on the East Coast of Ireland it must have got one hell of a facelift over the last 24 hours, becuase the one I remember as of yesterday morning is chaos and probably the last airport I would choose to connect through!
.....with the excellent facilities and connections provided by Dublin Airport.....
If you're referring to EIDW on the East Coast of Ireland it must have got one hell of a facelift over the last 24 hours, becuase the one I remember as of yesterday morning is chaos and probably the last airport I would choose to connect through!
