Air Omega

[Findo]

The other threads seem to have wandered off the subject.

Air Omega are advertising today for reservations staff based in Ayrshire. They quote that the airline will be expanding into business class flights.

No routes mentioned but the previously speculated routes are not what I would have expected for business services. Maybe a chance on low cost fares but at premium rates ?

Hope they get it right and prove me wrong :O :O

[737James]

Air Omega are launching a twice daily EMA -PIK service on 1st December im not sure about what aircraft they are operating or what prices they are offering.
It will be interesting to see how they compete against Baby and Easyjet on the same kind of catchment area.

[egnxema]

A call to the Air Omega reservations number, advertised on the EMA website and I was told that EMA had jumped the gun slightly, but that Air Omega is on the way and they will be launching on January 5th 2004.

Noticed that bmibaby had reduced next summers EMA - EDI flights from 4 per day to 2 per day.

Plus, E - MAG had an posting with a rumour that easy hope to base 7 x 737 - 700 at EMA next year, can any easy or baby boys and girls shed any light on these topics??

egnxema

[Chillwinston]

and the a/c they will be operating on said route?

[Findo]

PIK - EMA does not look sensible for a full service operation trying to compete with low cost carriers.

Wonder it it might continue through to Berlin ? PIK did say that they were in discussions with several airlines about replacing the Germania service to Berlin.

:)

[Babylon]

The original idea was to operate the 146/RJ, but I have also heard that they may be considering the B717. It's still early days, so we'll have to wait and see as to whether they manage to get off the ground!

[GroupCaptain]

Anyone know how Omega intend selling tickets? Internet, agents or what? Seems bullish to be starting operations in January when flights cannot be purchased by now (or can they?)

[Eddy]

Air Omega are planning to operate ABZ-STN and one other domestic route. The talk about Boeing 737s is, I'm guessing, a rumor that has got out of hand!

The plans are to fly BAe 146s on their domestic routes.

They are currently rectuiting station staff for Prestwick.

Check the website : http://www.air-omega.de/index-e.html for contact details.

[IanH]

Had a look at the website........

I cant see the section about recruiting staff at PIK.......

Can you assist ?

Ian H

[Eddy]

Hi Ian

The recruitment for staff at PIK is being done a little on the Q.T., I think. Certainly, it hasn't been widely advertised.

An ad DID appear in Flight International, though it was a month ago or so. I do believe that they still need people and are very much accepting applications.

I suggest simply sending your CV with covering letter to the email address listed here : http://www.air-omega.de/kontakt-e.html.

Best of luck.

[Twin Pioneer]

If you get hold of a copy of this weeks Ayrshire Post, you
will be able to read the ad in the jobs/recruitment section.



Twin Pin
:D

[Findo]

Twin Pin - would that be the reservations ad in my first posting here or is there another one for airline staff ?

;) ;)

[Take up the Hold]

The timetable for the PIK-EMA service is in the link below.
Twice a day Monday to Friday, but no weekend service.
TUTH

http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/site/scheduled/prestwick/

[XSBaggage]

Findo (and myself in another thread) has suggested that PIK-EMA may not be the most wise given the established routes from GLA by bmibaby and EZY, but this timetable appears to be suicidal if Omega are aiming at the business market. PIK has had enough temporary residents recently in Germania and FlyGlobespan.

Also, if this is the only service planned to be operated out of PIK surely utilisation is a little low? Are the original plans to be a combined freight / pax operator still in place? And I do agree with the GroupCaptain that flights starting in Jan would need to be on sale by now.

[Findo]

Interesting times TUTH. Presumably the aircraft does not start it's working day on this run so where does it go / come from before this service. An early morning PIK - BHX - PIK is possible but would it make money on a full service flight ?

3 dead hours to fill between these service so another domestic rotation from PIK after ariving from EMA . The BAA information board at ABZ had a cancelled AOW flight from PIK the other day around lunchtime so this could tie in.

Presumably this means 2 aircraft if an ABZ - STN service is also planned.

:confused: :confused:


My guess -

0630 - PIK - BHX - PIK
0900 - PIK - EMA - PIK
1215 - PIK - ABZ - PIK
1440 - PIK - EMA - PIK
1745 - PIK - BHX - PIK
2045 - PIK - ABZ - PIK

Sat / Sun Palma and Teneriffe

Hope they have deep pockets !! :eek: :eek:

[kpiko3]

Findo,

Was Teeside not a route discussed in another thread,I would chop off your proposed second rotation to ABZ and fill Teeside in there.
Also,there could be another baser aircraft so possibly that could fill in the 3 hours before the EMA flight

Kpiko3

[Findo]

Aberdeen - Stansted


STN (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=84092&command=displayContent&sourceNode=83929&contentPK=7988286)



PIK to ??? doesn't look like 5th January unless they announce something soon


PIK to ? (http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5021574.html)

[Findo]

Looks like Air Omega are continuing to be unpredictable.

They are advertising today's Aberdeen Press & Journal saying they have a new launch date of 3rd February for Aberdeen-Stansted.

Their website still states a launch date of 5th January and none of the links work.

Will they be around for even less time than ALEX ?


Air Omega UK (http://www.flyao.co.uk)

Makes the Air Scotland launch seem almost professional by comparison. :{ :{

[FarNorth]

Air Omega reservations were allegedly still taking January flight bookings for ABZ to STN on 30th December, agencies at ABZ were allegedly geared up to start operations on 8th Jan until the start was suspended at the last minute.

Rumour has it that the sub charter operator that was lined up to operate on Omegas behalf starting on 8th January was unable to proceed in January for reasons not disclosed. It is not clear if the operator in February will be the same sub charter company.

Hopefully the startup in February will proceed more smoothly, however the ABZ-LON (LHR, LTN, STN, LGW) market is likely to be much oversubscribed once BMI start competing with BA on the LHR route.

Current Omega publicity is offering a 3 class cabin (First, Business, Economy) which seems like it could be a little OTT for the market!

Good luck to Omega and all the other LON routes and operators, I doubt very much that the market in the Aberdeen area can be grown much and that all that will happen is a dilution of the existing market, much as seen with Eastern and BMI on the ABZ-NWI route.

Who will still be there in a year out of BA / BMI / EasyJet / Omega remains to be seen.

[FarNorth]

From the Aberdeen Press & Journal of 5th Jan 2004

The first air passenger service from Aberdeen to London Stansted in over six years has been cancelled.

Air Omega UK Ltd announced the reintroduction of the route last month.

But the airline pulled the plug on today's launch date just five days ago.

It is not known why the newly formed subsidiary of German cargo airline Air Omega has cancelled the flights - the first of which was expected to take off from Dyce this morning at 6.25.

But last night, the airline was still advertising the service on its website www.flyao.co.uk with a moving banner, stating: "Fly from Aberdeen to Stansted every weekday from January 5, 2004."

It is not known how many passengers had booked a place on today's flights or if they will be refunded.

A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport confirmed that the airline informed staff by e-mail on Wednesday that the Dyce to Stansted service was being postponed until February.

He said Air Omega UK did not give a reason why the launch had been put on hold.

The service, which was axed by KLM six years ago, is now expected to begin at the start of next month.

The spokesman added: "The service has not been available for a considerable amount of time, but there are other alternatives to fly from Aberdeen to London."

British Airways already operates to Heathrow and Gatwick, and easyJet to Luton.

Suzanne Reid, the company's general manager, previously said Aberdeen-Stansted would be the airline's first passenger route, and would lead to the creation of 20 flight deck and cabin crew jobs in Aberdeen.

Air Omega UK plans to operate four flights each way from Monday to Friday with a single Boeing 737 130-seat aircraft.

The first flight heading south at 6.25am is now scheduled for February 3.

The last flight of the day will arrive in Aberdeen at 9.45pm.

Tickets will be available in three classes - first, business and economy, with fares starting at £70 one-way.

Air Omega UK is expected to assess later whether it should introduce a weekend service.

No one from Air Omega would return calls from the Press and Journal last night.

Link to original article;
Press & Journal Article (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=84092&command=displayContent&sourceNode=83929&contentPK=8369751)

[FarNorth]

The launch of a new air service between Aberdeen and London Stansted was postponed today - because only 10 bookings were made for January.

Air Omega UK Ltd also said technical difficulties had played a part in the decision to cancel the launch.

But despite the route was still being advertised on its website this morning.

Air Omega last month announced the first air passenger service from Aberdeen to London Stansted in more than six years.

But just five days ago, it announced it was changing the launch of the service to February 3.

Today, the airline's general manager Suzanne Reid, said a lack of bookings for January and some technical difficulties had forced the changes.

Ms Reid said the firm was seeking an operator to run the service.

Air Omega UK plans to operate four flights each way from Monday to Friday with a single Boeing 737 aircraft.

The airline has advertised a helpline for passengers on 0800 199 950.

Press & Journal Article (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=8373888)

[FarNorth]

NEW RIDDLE IN STALLED AIR SERVICE TO STANSTED

DAVID TELFER AND JOHN THOMSON

09:00 - 06 January 2004

The mystery surrounding the airline which postponed plans for a new Aberdeen-Stansted service deepened yesterday.

It emerged that the couple who lived at an address given as the company's former registered office had no knowledge of the situation.

It also appeared that Air Omega was in breach of the Companies Act.

The airline does not yet have a plane to run its service.

The company is also known to have outstanding bills running to more than £5,000 with one Aberdeen company - with final notices served but no response from Air Omega.

Air Omega said early in December that it would be starting four return flights on weekdays between Aberdeen and Stansted.

The airline told Aberdeen Airport last week that it was postponing the new flights until February 3.

Suzanne Reid, the general manager of Air Omega UK, yesterday blamed a lack of bookings for January and technical difficulties.

She also admitted the company was still seeking an operator to run the service.

Other executives at the airline's German headquarters in Nobitz were not available to talk about the situation.

Managing director Armin Peuker was either busy or in meetings and unable to take the Press and Journal's calls.

Air Omega in Germany is a cargo carrier and its website says it runs just two Embraer EMB-120 ER cargo planes.

The Aberdeen-Stansted service, which will use just one aircraft, is its first venture in passenger services.

Two of the UK's largest aircraft-chartering companies said they had been in discussions with Air Omega, but the talks had now ended.

Companies House said Air Omega appeared to be in breach of the Companies Act as it had not yet registered the names of its directors, despite being incorporated on December 3, 2002.

Section 288a of the act demands that directors are notified to Companies House within 14 days of their appointment.

Companies House also said Air Omega had changed its registered office from Troup House, Gamrie, near Macduff, on November 28 to Liberator House at Prestwick Airport.

Troup House was previously owned by Adam and Kathleen Reid, but was put on the market last year at offers of more than £350,000. The house has since been sold.

The Reids moved to Millbrex Church, Millbrex, Fyvie.

Mr Reid, a plumber, said their link with Armin Peuker began when he offered to buy their former home at Troup Lodge.

He stayed with them for two months at the end of 2002 until they asked him to leave.

Mr Reid said: "We never knew he was using Troup House as a registered address. It was only some time after he left when a pilot from Germany phoned asking for Air Omega that we realised."

He added: "When he was with us, he was always going to do great things but never did them."

Mr and Mrs Reid said they first met Mr Peuker about three years ago when he arrived at Troup House out of the blue and told them he was interested in buying it.

"He told us to get it valued and he would give us £50,000 above that price," said Mr Reid.

The couple learned that he was also interested in buying a hotel and a castle in the Banff area about the same time.

At Christmas three years ago, he brought some friends to stay at Troup House and later arranged a property survey, which resulted in an offer to Mr and Mrs Reid.

Mr Reid said: "Then the terrorist attacks happened in America and he said he could not raise the money."

After further assurances that he was still interested in buying Troup House, he told Mr and Mrs Reid about two years ago that he had sold his home in Germany.

Mr Reid said: "He told us he was moving here to start a business at Inverness Airport but that never happened."

In September, 2002, he arrived at Troup House and said he now had money for the purchase, which he could get in October.

Mr Reid said he moved in furniture and some belongings with their wary approval, but October came and went without any sign of the money.

The couple eventually asked him to leave in December, 2002, and, apart from one telephone call, have heard little about him since.

Mr Reid said: "He was a very plausible kind of lad and would charm you and promise you anything.

"When he was with us I should have seen there was something wrong.

"We were not out of pocket with him but we just had a couple of years of hassle."

Alan Trotter, managing director of Southend Airport-based Flightline, which specialises in "wet leasing" aircraft - complete with flight-deck and cabin crew - said his company had talked to Air Omega back in November.

"They don't have their own aircraft and were talking about us flying the route for them, at least initially," he said.

"I don't know exactly what happened but the discussions seem to have vaporised in the mists of time.

"The last we heard they were still awaiting licence approval from the German authorities."

Flightline operates out of Aberdeen as a contractor to the oil industry providing air services to support North Sea oil operations.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that a German air licence held by Air Omega would allow it to operate anywhere within the European Union.

Other sources at Aberdeen Airport yesterday said: "The airline had a steep curve to climb to get operational."

The trading-standards departments at both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils said they had received no complaints about Air Omega.

The London-based Air Transport Users Committee, which represents the interests of airline passengers, also said it had not had any calls about the airline.

A spokeswoman said they had dealt with several airlines in the past that had started routes but then failed.

The spokeswoman advised all passengers to pay for their flights by credit card rather than cheque or cash since the cards offered some protection.


Press & Journal Article (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=84092&command=displayContent&sourceNode=83929&contentPK=8384902)

[FarNorth]

MYSTERY OVER DELAY OF NEW AIRLINE SERVICE

KAREN GRANT

16:00 - 06 January 2004

Official records show that the airline behind a new Aberdeen to London service is properly registered.

Air Omega UK Ltd, which was to launch its Aberdeen to London Stansted services yesterday, postponed the move because it did not have an operator to run the route.

The firm also claimed a lack of demand forced its decision.

But today Companies House said reports that the company had not properly registered were unfounded.

It had been claimed Air Omega could have been inbreach of the Companies Act because it had not registered the names of its directors within 14 days of registering the company.

But today a spokesman for Companies House said its records showed that the company complied with regulations.

He said Air Omega UK Ltd was registered as a company at Liberator House, Prestwick Airport, on December 3, 2002.

He said that on the same day both a company director - Armin Peuker, of Troup House, Gamrie, Aberdeenshire - and secretary - Peterhead solicitors' firm Stewart and Watson - had been appointed.

The Companies House spokesman said: "On the face of things, the company has complied but if people think some of the information is incorrect, they should write to Companies House in Scotland."

No one at Air Omega could be contacted today to comment.

A spokesman at Stewart and Watson declined to comment.

Air Omega's January flights launch - between Aberdeen and Stansted - has now been postponed until February 3.

The Aberdeen-Stansted service, which will involve just one aircraft, is understood to be the firm's first passenger service.

Air Omega UK plans to operate four weekday flights each way with a single aircraft.

Press & Journal Link (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=8387281)

AIR OMEGA BOSS INSISTS NEW FLIGHTS WILL LAUNCH

IAN FORSYTH

09:00 - 07 January 2004

The businessman behind plans for a new Aberdeen-Stansted air link claimed yesterday that it would still go ahead, despite the start date being postponed.

Armin Peuker, managing director of Germany's Air Omega, said the only thing now required was permission from German authorities for an addition to the company's existing air-operator certificate to allow it to fly larger passenger planes.

He also said a possible breach of the Companies Act over failure to register the names of directors was the result of a mix-up and would be rectified soon.

Mr Peuker has set up a sister business, Air Omega UK, to run its operations in Britain. As well as Aberdeen, there are plans for services out of Prestwick.

He said over £60million was being spent buying two 110-seat planes for the UK routes.

Staff were also said to be in place to fly the aircraft.

Mr Peuker added that £750,000 had been spent to date on planning the operation.

Asked about any unpaid bills, he said: "We have paid up pretty much everything."

This is despite one Aberdeen company being owed more than £5,000 by Air Omega UK.

Mr Peuker was adamant the Aberdeen-Stansted route would get off the ground, and insisted: "It's only a question of time."

And he maintained the airline had funds to start the route.

The Aberdeen-Stansted service was due to start on Monday, but this has now been postponed until February 3.

Mr Peuker said the request for the addition to Air Omega's air-operator certificate had gone to the German authorities at the start of December.

"We hope to have clearance in the next two to three weeks," he said.

No information on the status of this application was available yesterday from the LBA, the German equivalent of the UK's Civil Aviation Authority.

However, Mr Peuker's reason for the delay in starting the Aberdeen-Stansted service appears at odds with the explanation given by Suzanne Reid, general manager of Air Omega UK.

She blamed the postponement on a lack of bookings for January - rumoured to be as low as 10 - and technical difficulties, as well as an operator still being sought to run the service.

She could not be contacted for further comment yesterday, despite repeated attempts by the Press and Journal.

Air Omega was founded in Germany in 2000 and now operates three aircraft - two cargo planes and one 30-seat passenger plane.

Mr Peuker said Air Omega had a 100% safety record.

The airline boss said he and his business partner, German lawyer and accountant Stephan Hartmann, were the shareholders in both the German and UK businesses.

Companies House said earlier this week that Air Omega UK appeared to be in breach of the Companies Act as it had not yet registered the names of its directors, despite being incorporated more than a year ago.

Section 288a of the act demands that Companies House is notified of directors within 14 days of their appointment.

Mr Peuker said this was due to a missing form and the completed document would be filed with Companies House in a couple of days.

Air Omega UK changed its registered office from Troup House, Gamrie, near Macduff, on November 28 to Liberator House at Prestwick Airport.

The former owners of Troup House - Adam and Kathleen Reid - told the Press and Journal that Mr Peuker had stayed with them for two months at the end of 2002.

But the Reids said they never knew he was using Troup House as a registered address.

Mr Peuker denied this. "We even had a telephone line installed in the house for the company," he said.

Press & Journal Link (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=8398765)

[FarNorth]

AIR OMEGA IS FORBIDDEN TO TAKE OFF

JOE WATSON

09:00 - 08 January 2004

The airline planning to launch an Aberdeen-Stansted service has had all its operations in Germany grounded, the Press and Journal can reveal.

The LBA, Germany's equivalent of the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed yesterday that Air Omega's air operating certificate was at a "standstill".

A spokeswoman said Air Omega's three aircraft - two cargo planes and one 30-seater passenger plane - had been grounded since December but would not say why.

Without an air operating certificate the airline cannot fly any of its planes.

Armin Peuker, the managing director of Air Omega, confirmed the airline's operations were at a standstill. But he said this was common practice in Germany when a new investor took a stake of more than 50% in an airline.

Mr Peuker said his business partner, Stephen Hartmann, had intimated some time ago that he wanted to leave at the end of 2003. A replacement investor had been found, but Mr Peuker declined to name the individual.

He stressed that the airline's operating certificate had not been withdrawn but put on hold while the company was restructured, to allow the new investor to join the firm.

Mr Peuker, who expects the situation to be resolved in the next two to three weeks, said the air operating certificate would then be restored, allowing the airline to operate the larger passenger aircraft needed for the Aberdeen-Stansted route.

Air Omega UK had been due to start the service on Monday, but this has now been postponed until February 3. The airline's UK arm also has plans to start flying from Prestwick.

Mr Peuker said yesterday the airline would be leasing two 110-seat planes. He had said on Tuesday it was possibly going to spend £60million buying the planes for the UK routes.

An Aberdeen Airport spokesman said it would be inappropriate to make any statement, adding it was a matter for Air Omega, which was founded three years ago.

"They will not operate until they have everything in place," he added

The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible only for UK-registered aircraft.

But it did acknowledge that restructuring a company could be among a multitude of reasons for having an air operating certificate removed.

A CAA spokesman said: "The air operator's certificate covers a wide range of safety and financial requirements. It can cover whether or not the management have the necessary ability to run the company to how it is financed.

"It could also cover whether or not the tyres are pumped up on the planes."

The Department of Transport, which is responsible for aircraft from outwith the UK operating in British airspace, was asked to comment. But it did not return the Press and Journal's calls.

Companies House said earlier this week that Air Omega UK appeared to be in breach of the Companies Act as it had not yet registered the names of its directors, despite being incorporated more than a year ago.

The act requires notification within 14 days of directors being appointed.

Mr Peuker said this had been due to a mix-up and would be rectified when the relevant form was returned to Companies House.

Air Omega UK changed its registered office from Troup House, Gamrie, near Macduff, on November 28, to Liberator House at Prestwick Airport.

The former owners of Troup House, Adam and Kathleen Reid, said Mr Peuker stayed with them for two months at the end of 2002 but they never knew he was using Troup House as a registered address.

Mr Peuker has denied this was the case.


Press & Journal Article (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=8412591)

[rabcnesbitt]

Offices in PIK have been closed since before Christmas. I went passed them twice this week and no movement, no lights etc.. I always wondered about setting up offices in PIK and then operating from ABZ

They failed to turn up for a Xmas Royal Mail Booking on 15th Dec without giving notice and eventually stated that the weather was to bad for them to take off at Altenburg on the 14th then I found out the aircraft was in Saarbrueken at the time. I believe the AOC was pulled twice in 2003.

All porkers are fed and ready to fly.

[Meeb]

So where is that muppet who posted on here from Air Omega...? Yeah, thought as much.

What is it with aviation in Scotland, dreamers and clowns... what with that disgrace of an 'airline' Air Scotland....

...just knew it would all end in a total mess... :rolleyes:

[kpiko3]

Least we dont give up hope like some parts of the country.There is still a chance I say.

"Keep the heeds up"

Kpiko3

[BombardierCR7]

kpiko3 - "death by press" unlike other parts of the country!

[FarNorth]

I think 'death by press' is a little unfair. The reports I posted from the Press & Journal seem objective under the circumstances, Air Omega had their right of reply as shown in the articles.

The company took money (whether 10 seats had been sold or a 1000 makes no difference) and was still taking reservations up until 2 days before the launch date. AO must have known at that point they could not make the start date of beginning of Jan.

This episode of shoddy mismanagement and appalling public relations is what the Press & Journal gave front page headlines to 3 days in a row.

Come on Air Omega it's time for some damage limitation if you really are going to get this (or any) service operating.

[virginblue]

And I told you so....

This is what I posted in September 2003...

"Air Omega GmbH's AOC was withdrawn by the Luftfahrtbundesamt in mid-July (if memory serves), resulting in the two E120 being grounded at Cologne and Coventry (and the contracts with ChannEx and Atlantic Airlies going bust) . ...

I would like to stress that Air Omega UK went public in Germany in April 2003 with big plans for a network of scheduled services from Augsburg (AGB) with a fleet of four FD 328-300s. The airport started promoting the services, an amateurish web-site was up and running but in the end, nothing happened at all on the promised dates (early June that was).

The people at Air Omega GmbH also were quite keen to point out that there were no ties between them and Air Omega UK other than that a (rather notorious) shareholder in Air Omega GmbH was the man behind Air Omega UK...."


Absolutely no surprise at all. There is some reason why a certain Mr. P. is now trying his luck in Scotland where nobody knows him....

[ChiefT]

I think the people in Scotland will now know him!

If not: PEUKER is his name.

[Hawk]

Can we focus on the problems not the personalities..dont want to see a thread moving into personal abuse.

[FarNorth]

AIR OMEGA FAILED TO GET MIDLANDS ROUTE STARTED

IAN FORSYTH

09:00 - 21 January 2004

The airline behind the postponed Aberdeen-Stansted service was due to start another service in Britain which never got off the ground, the Press and Journal can reveal today.

Air Omega UK was to begin flying the Nottingham East Midlands-Prestwick route on December 1, but this never happened.

A spokeswoman for the English airport said yesterday: "They approached us around September or October about starting this service. We even printed it in our scheduled guide. But we were then informed by Air Omega UK that the start was being put back to January, but it hasn't got off the ground."

The spokeswoman said the airport had since been unable to contact Air Omega UK, adding: "As far as we are concerned, the new service isn't going ahead now."

Air Omega UK had also been due to start flying between Aberdeen and Stansted on January 5, but this was postponed until February 3.

The businessman behind the plans said on January 6 that the air link would still go ahead.

Armin Peuker, managing director of Air Omega in Germany, said then that the only thing now required was permission from German authorities for an addition to the company's existing air-operator certificate to allow it to fly larger passenger planes.

Mr Peuker's firm had set up sister business Air Omega UK to run its operations in Britain.

The managing director said two 110-seat planes were being purchased at a total cost of more than £60million to use on UK routes. He added that £750,000 had been spent on planning the British operation.

However, it emerged on January 7 that Air Omega had had all its operations in Germany grounded. The LBA, Germany's equivalent of the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed that Air Omega's air operating certificate was at a "standstill".

A spokeswoman said Air Omega's three aircraft - two cargo planes and one 30-seater passenger plane - had been grounded since December.

But the LBA would not give a reason for the situation. The spokeswoman added: "No further information is available."

Mr Peuker confirmed on January 7 the airline's operations were at a standstill.

But he said this was common practice in Germany when a new investor took a stake of more than 50% in an airline.

Mr Peuker said his business partner, Stephen Hartmann, had intimated some time ago that he wanted to leave at the end of 2003. A replacement investor had been found, but Mr Peuker declined to name the individual.

He stressed the airline's operating certificate had not been withdrawn, rather put on hold, while the company was restructured to allow the new investor to join the firm.

Mr Peuker had expected the situation to be resolved in the next two to three weeks. However, operations were still at a standstill yesterday and Mr Peuker could not be contacted for comment.

A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport said yesterday it had had no communication recently with Air Omega UK.

Press & Journal (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=8572496)

[Jetsearch]

Observed this a while and collected some news about what's happening to Air Omega.
If information is right Air Omega Germany is insolvent and declared insolvency which was basically the reason for putting the AOC on hold. Explanations of the Managing Direcor, that this procedure is standard if a new investor steps in are rubbish. Tracking flights, it seems that the flight operation was stopped few weeks before the authority took the AOC. Might be that some postholders stepped in before to stop it but I got no clear information about that.
Moreover, it seems that the German AOC was restricted to cargo transports. Guess that makes it difficult to perform passenger flights using the own AOC. There are some German airports waiting for the beginning of passenger flights performed by Air Omega UK as well. Seems that they are waiting for a year now, so PIK, STN, and the others have to wait in a queue. :E

Obviously, lots of debts are left at these locations and information flow was suddenly stopped, responsible persons were not available i.e. pretty much the same story. The press release were pretty much the same as well and (sorry to the admin) it is always the same name that appears. If the rumours are true, even the staff didn't know too much about the projects and learned from the press that they're gonna fly new routes. Must be a funny job.

Good luck to the people simply trying to do their jobs under these circumstances.

[FarNorth]

16:00 - 31 January 2004

New Aberdeen to London flights have failed to get off the ground - for a second time.

A question now hangs over the future of Air Omega UK's Aberdeen-Stansted service.

The airline first announced the new route last month with the first flights due to take off on January 5.

But the firm postponed the launch date to next Tuesday.

Air Omega said the delay was down to both a lack of bookings and because it hadn't sourced a plane operator to run its route.

But the airline has cancelled next week's relaunch date.

An Aberdeen Airport spokesman said Air Omega informed the airport yesterday that flights would not begin as proposed.

He said there had been contact with the company, but no new start date for the route had been confirmed.

It is not known how many people, if any, booked seats on the service.

P & J Link (http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=8689996)

[Jetsearch]

Still there are news about this strange topic. As far as it is recognisable, all the staff of the German part of Air Omega is fired but not from the side of upper management but the insolvency administrators. Seems that this is the real end of the story in Germany and two cargo aircraft are available now.

Mostlikely, this is at least a preview of what will happen in Scottland if it didn't, yet.

[virginblue]

Just for the record, Air Omega personnel (not the infamous Mr. P.)sent a semi-official "goodbye"-message from Air Omega to business partners a couple of days ago. It confirms that Air Omega is a thing of the past.