New Airline to Sierra Leone

[Gunship]

Just heard on the radio (98,1) that a new airline will start to fly London - Freetown on 24 May 04.

"Astra Airline". Only other details was that they will also fly "other routes".

Contacted my men at DCA and they said " Kevin Mc Phillips" is behind it. It is a travel agency in London and presently issue tickets for SNA.

They also have "nothing to do" with SNA.

DCA was a bit surprised as they talked to them in Dec 03 the last time :ugh:

So let's see ;)

Cheers and have a great week (for those that started their week today) :E

Gunnsss

[Gunship]

A friend phoned Kevin McPhillips and he reckons he will just do the ticketing.

The airline is actually called "British Astraeu" .. that was the spelling he was given ? :hmm:

[ChiefT]

I guess the guy is simply chartering an aircraft from "Astraeus", a british charter carrier operating 737-300 and 737-700 aircraft.
737 means a tech stop on the way to Freetown.

[Gunship]

Ahhh chief that might be just that (will keep you updated)

PS: The refuel stop is NOT going to get them any more passengers unless the air fares are dropped remarkebly !

[finnman]

have contacted Kevin Mcphillips who advises that it is in fact
UK airline Astraeus who is set to commence 24 May on
Freetown route-traffic rights etc are in hand.
He adds that should Astraeus commence services,his travel
agency would include them on his programme along with SNA.
Aircraft will be B757 (180 seats) should be nice and roomy

[Gunship]

Thanks for that Finnman.

Yip, a B757 will be MUCH more acceptable.

It might be African travel but people want room and no unnecessary stop - overs.

Thanks for the update :D

[CrashDive]

ChiefT - you seem to have got your facts muddled !

Astraeus operate the B737-300, the B737-700 and, coming very soon, a B757 ( in 180 seat config ).

You might also be interested to know that Astraeus regularly operate the routes: London Gatwick - Banjul / Gambia ( ~ 2405 Nm )
London Gatwick - Malabo / Equatorial Guinea ( ~ 2879Nm )They have flown these using B737-700 aircraft and these flights are conducted without need of a tech-stop, i.e. very much non-stop from departure to destination - the B737-700 has a VERY long range ( as does a B757 ).

Thus, flying from London Gatwick to Freetown ( ~ 2632Nm ) is more than within the capabilities of either a B737-700 or B757-200.

Plus, as finnman and Gunship suggest, a B757 with 180 seats will indeed be very comfortable prospect, and certainly so with the very high standard of service that comes with the Astraeus product.

[Gunship]

Thanks for your response Crashdrive.

Plus, as finnman and Gunship suggest, a B757 with 180 seats will indeed be very comfortable prospect, and certainly so with the very high standard of service that comes with the Astraeus product.


Great to hear this.

It was damn embarresing (the least I can say) that Icelandic Air would not give pax to SL blankets or cushions ...

We all know thwy stowed them away but this was local knowledge to all of us.

Good ridance .. I really wish the new guys well as a "professional outfit".

If the Price is right - SNA will not alst very longer.

SN Brussles is very good - but I just hate the Brussels change - over. People that flies that route to London is purely fed - up with SNA. (roughly about 20% of the pax on SN Brussles flies to London).

Cheers,

Gunnss

[Homer Jay 148]

Hi Gunship

Astraeus are planning to use the B757 for this op with the seating config reduced 148 giving 32-36inch Leg room, which should improve the comfort levels, Still waiting to hear when this operation will commence all been well June 11th,

[Gunship]

:ok: Thanks for the news HJ 148.

In this week SLNA just announced changes (that suits nobody) so they have one less customer.

SN Brussles just annpounced a $700 increase (which I can not believe but will verify)

So if the price is right - these guys will be "very Welcome" - especially no stop - overs :ok:

Cheers and tx again.

[Engineer]

Gunship

Remember to keep the baggage allowance within the legal limit this time :D

[Gunship]

:p

*** Blush ... Blush ... Blush ... ***

:oh:

[ChiefT]

$700 increase? Sounds too much, possibly 7%

I guess, that SNA will disapear soon.

[finnman]

dear oh dear sna
understand todays service to fna is dealyed 24 hrs
flight to be operated by air slovakia with 757

[ChiefT]

Hi folks,

is there any confirmation, that Astraeus will start flights to FNA?

How's about regional flights within Africa, are the services reliable? Who is operating beside Bellwview and GH? Thanks!

[Gunship]

The Astraeus guys where her last week and said they start 12 June.

Still some paperwork that needs clarification.

[ChiefT]

Just saw that they will lease a B757 for this...

[Gunship]

:ok: Yip Chief that is correct and they start Monday 14 June 04 with direct flight - take off plus minus 1400, arriving 1930, returning 2200 to London.

Apparenly the same sequence on Friday's, but definatly the first flight is Monday 14 June 04. :D

Cheers

[London Jets]

Homer Jay 148

the 737 fleet is 148 seat config and the 757 is 186 seats

LJ

[Gunship]

Lo LondonJet,

Will the 757 have a business / first class area ?

Cheers

Gunss

[London Jets]

Gunss

The 757-200 is ex - Av8 and is 186 seats in a one class config.

I was on the proving flight on the 21st May, LGW - LGW, Flt No: AEU757 and I couldn't believe the legroom we got, I'm 6'4" and there was loads of room. Really nice aircraft.

LJ

[Gunship]

Tx LJ,

You convinced me .. I am 5vt 10 and 111kg but I am sure I can dribble the full frontal into leg room :D

Cheers - I am booking my ticket tomorrow.

Do you have exact times and days of flights ?

Will you be flying on it ? Let me know for a PPRUNE bash :)

[4HolerPoler]

Guns, your problem isn't legroom - you should be checking how wide the seats are. :)

Have a good flight & enjoy home.

4HP

[Gunship]

Ja swaer,

Wifey send me some pics from pupes course ...

remember the grey (fish smelling) overalls that we did our course in ??

My ID said I weighed 64 kg ... and the photo taken in the Berg's showed :D

Damn ... ok LJ it's the width that counts but must admit 4HP I am still not a Double Dave - it's just the beer pens that moerse groot :p

Take care swaer (you not perhaps visiting July ? )

[London Jets]

Gunss

From what I hear we are starting the flights on the 14th of this month but that is still to be confirmed. As for the frequency I am not sure but when I know I'll let you know.

Oh, and I don't think you should have a problem with the seat width either! :ok:

Best wishes

LJ

[Gunship]

Cheers LJ,

I will visit my friend tomorrow who is your sole agent here.

If I remember correctly he said the tickets and details arrives tonight with SNA (if they arrive) ;)

Cheers and thanks for the info

Gunsss

[TimS]

Here's the schedules distributed to GDS via OAG ......

5W 071 /W 15 LGWFNA 1515 2045 757 0 7JUN29OCT


5W 072 /W 1 FNALGW 2230 0555+1 757 0 7JUN25OCT

5W 072 /W 5 FNALGW 2230 0555+1 757 0 25JUN29OCT

Not bookable through GDS at moment.

Hope that helps

TimS

Mind you by my calculations that leaves two 757s (those that go down there on 11th and 18th July) parked in Freetown !!

I am sure there is some sort of logic, but b*%%ered if I know what it is.

TimS

[Gunship]

Thanks Tim.

Hope you are well. :D

I just spoke to Mr Khalill Lakiss - the local sole agent.

He advised me the first flight will be 14 June at 1015 from Gat and return Freetown at 2230.

Thereafter it will be Mondays and Fridays depart Gatwick at 1415 and depart Freetown 2230.

Price a GREAT / Fantastic $880.00 incl all taxes.

28 Inches legroom ... :E

SN Brussles via Ivory Coast and Brussles (I hate it) is now close to $1 300.00 !!!

So sad news for SNA ... me thinks ?

Cheers,

Gunsss

[Gunship]

With "British Astraeus" starting on 14 June and the fact that Sierra National Airlines has not arrived on 2 out of five schedules (the last being on monday) ...

The latest rumour is that Monarch is the latest airline to fly this route ! Just a romour though ... anybody know anything ?

Jet driver ?

PS: Monarch used to be SNA's partner for quite a while before.

[CrashDive]

Hi Guys ( & gals ? ),

I've just been aboard the Astraeus B757.

The aircraft is configured with 186 seats and accordingly the seat pitch is very impressive, i.e. 35" / 36". :ok:

Nb. To put that into perspective, most other (UK) operators typically configure their B757's with 230+ seats and a seat pitch of 28" - so Astraeus', by comparison, seems vast.

Furthermore, as the maximum passenger load has been tailored downwards, there will be less problems with baggage & freight bulking-out; something which seems a regular occurrence on West African routes ( e.g. what with all those televisions, gearboxes, and kitchen sinks et al ).

Needless to say, levels of comfort & service aboard this Astraeus aircraft are in a different league to what many will be have previously experienced.

[ChiefT]

If that is true, will Monarch flying on behalf of SNA gain or on its own account?

[Gunship]

Thanks for the info Crash Driver. :D Makes sence that most of us will big SNA farewell.

I had 2 PM's from PPRUNERS that I pressume is in the area (contact me again pse guys I deleted all my PM's by accident)

Here is the answer to your request :

The sole agent (up to now) is Khalill Lakiss and his details :

KARL TRAVEL AGENCY
24 RAWDON STREET,FREETOWN
TEL: +232-22-222492/228405/221008
FAX: +232-22-221008

[Puritan]

Guns... sorry mate, there’s a little bit of terminological inexactitude ;) : Company name = Astraeus Ltd
Call sign = "Fly Star"
ICAO flight number designator = AEU
IATA flight number designator = 5W
Ownership = Wholly British, split between investing Directors & Venture Capital
Primary domain name = flyastraeus.com (http://flyastraeus.com) ( only coz the one we wanted was not available when we first registered the domain; though, that said, we've actually since managed to grab 'astraeus.com' )

[Hamrah]

It appears that nearly all the facts are now out there, if not all in one place so:-

Astraeus, A UK airline will commence scheduled services between London Gatwick and Freetown on June 14th. The service will be twice weekly, operated by a 757 with 186 seats, giving 36in seat pitch throughout the cabin.

I will probably operate the first flight, which will have a 13 hour stopover before returning to UK. Thereafter the flights have 2 hour turnaround in Freetown.

I would be interested in getting in touch with any PPRuNeRs who are in Freetown regularly.

[Gunship]

Lo Hamrah,

I am your man ;) Send you a PM.

Cheers,

Gunnsss