Jetmagic chief executive resigns

[Tom the Tenor]

Cork's Evening Echo newspaper is reporting that Jetmagic chief executive, Patrick Raftery, has resigned.

Mr Raftery is to be replaced by Mr Terry Liddiard as acting CEO.

:confused:

[lowfaresbuster]

yes, this is confirmed in todays irish examiner:
Irish Examiner- Jat Magic Story (http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sgFBmjtH5UwTEsgDQQ5wn3uAIg.asp)

25/09/03
Jetmagic chief in 'surprise' resignation

By Sandra Hurley
THE chief executive of fledgling airline Jetmagic has left unexpectedly for "personal reasons".


Chief executive Patrick Raftery has been involved with Jetmagic for over two years and was one of the founders. He has been piloting the carrier since it began flights in March, but has left the company in a surprise move.

Mr Raftery resigned at a board meeting yesterday morning citing personal reasons. A spokesman for the airline said that the announcement was unexpected. "The resignation came as a surprise and is a matter of regret for the company."

Asked if Mr Raftery will be due a payout, the spokesman said he presumed he would.

Mr Raftery did not return calls yesterday.

He is a minor shareholder in the company and it is not clear if he will retain his holding.

A statement from the company added: "Patrick has spent most of the past two years in the creation and successful launch of JetMagic and the board is very much aware of the total commitment that was involved over this period.

"The board is also aware of the very considerable personal demands that the realisation of this ambition made on Patrick.

"The board would like to express its appreciation of the enormous part that Patrick played in bringing the company to its present position and in gaining the very high level of customer satisfaction it already enjoys.

"Whilst regretting Patrick's decision, the board understands his reasons, and wishes Patrick every success in the future."

Jetmagic has pitched itself as a low fares rival to Ryanair with added service. Based in Cork, it has expanded rapidly and flies to 19 European destinations.

Board member Terry Liddiard has been made interim chief executive while the company searches for another boss.

Despite turbulence at board level, Jetmagic has said it is on course to turn a profit this year, one year ahead of schedule.


I also heard that jetmagic had taken bookings on an announced Cork (ORK) to Paris (CDG) route, only to find they had not secured a landing slot, and were forced to book fares on Aer Lingus for these passenger to replace the flights they cannot operate.

[Bright-Ling]

When are they getting the flashy Embraer in to LCY then?

I asked a D328 crew the other day and he said maybe 4 weeks - maybe 4 months!

I take it the D328 crews are JetMagic?

[DW11]

Would this be the same Terry Liddiard of Fraggle Rock fame.

[virginblue]

The Dornier 328 crews should be Cirrus'.

[BRUpax]

The TRUTH is that it was on the cards for some time that Raftery would go and it was in fact NO surprise. His ideas contrasted greatly with others in the company.

[Eh Hello?]

Looks like the new leader has taken pretty swift action - their website now says: "Jetmagic would like to advise our Customers that our timetables have recently been modified. If you or someone you know have flights already booked with Jetmagic please contact us on 0818 200135 or [email protected] to confirm your booking and flight times.

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by our schedule changes and we would like to assure you that we at Jetmagic, are doing our best to make sure that interruption to your holiday or business trip will be minimal."

The website, which may just be in the process of being changed, currently does not show any winter services on Cork - Brussels, Barcelona, Nice or Rome and the Sunday Belfast has also gone. I suspect some of these were intended to go for the winter anyway but Brussels is disappointing, but not surprising given the reported loads. Business schedules remain on Edinburgh, Belfast, London City and Liverpool so hopefully these will perform well for them.

[FlyboyUK]

DW11

Yes it's the same Terry Liddiard!

[Bright-Ling]

VirginBlue

Thanks for that. They are very good operators whoever they are!

[Tom the Tenor]

Whilst it does appear that BRU is not bookable on the Jetmagic website after 23rd October all the other routes mentioned above, BCN, CIA, NCE are all still there bookable on numerous dates during the months of winter.

Pardon my ignorance but what is Fraggle Rock?

[goatbusters]

Yes, BRU has been dropped due to very poor loads but all other routes will remain for the time being.

[MEFLYBE]

Isn't Jersey known as fraggle rock?

It certainly is where i work!

Regards

Mike;)

[Wing Commander Fowler]

Fraggle Rock, Tom, is a throwback to the Muppets and the nickname given to the Isle of Man by Manx and British Regional guys..... How's yer life anyhow?

[james flynn]

Any info on jetmagics 3rd and 4th a/c,
Has the brussels situation put this back
Why did Patrick Rafferty leave.

[Tom the Tenor]

Time for some more upbeat news! Jetmagic are introducing a service from Cork to Paris CDG starting on 7th October operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sunday evenings at 6 pm and the service goes daily except Saturday from 26th October after the ending of the unsupported Brussels service.

Paris should do well. :ok:

[james flynn]

Thanks Tom the tenor for the latest update on Jet Magic, Its great to hear good news. That should put a stop to the kockers for a bit. Roll on profitability 2003!!!
Regards,
J.
:ok: :ok: