View Full Version : TRUE OR FALSE? OR JUST PLANE OLD PANIC?
toontartcart
27th Oct 2001, 15:27
the uk's biggest handling agent held meetings last week and staff have been warned a major charter carrier will go under very soon - a major loss for the agent. and another loss by means of klm uk at gla and ncl? are the boys in blue panicing and changing just for cost?
Herod
28th Oct 2001, 00:55
Pardon? KLMuk?
HOVIS
28th Oct 2001, 16:46
KLMUK is a tie up between klm and Air uk.
starship
28th Oct 2001, 21:05
Meetings were held (with the handling agent you are suggesting)and various points looked at.
At Newcastle, KLMuk have ended their contract with this handling agent, and have moved to the opposition (a newcastle based company). I believe this is due to cost reasons, as KLMuk have always used the former.....even when the flights were KLM mainline they did back in the 80's, and their new agent does undercut.
The seasonal staff have not been offered winter contracts with this handling agent, and others are waiting to see what is going to happen. The losses to this handling agent this year have been BIG. Gill Airways was bad enough for them, and now KLM. They have gained the contract with GO, however.
About the charter airline going under...I have not heared that one before, however know that the rumours which circulate around NCL are many and varied!
Cheers,
starship :)
[ 28 October 2001: Message edited by: starship ]
crewrest
28th Oct 2001, 22:39
OK, so which Major UK charter airlines are handled by the country's biggest handling agent then?
expedite_climb
29th Oct 2001, 00:11
Yes, but GO is their only airline they serve now in NCL, and that is on a free contract - i.e. they arent being paid to do it !
beamer
29th Oct 2001, 00:52
WHICH CHARTER AIRLINE ?
Well Air Two Bob only use the country's
leading ground handling company - presumably
ServisAir - at its smallest outstations so
I guess the loss of their trade would not be
critical so not them by deduction ?
toontartcart
29th Oct 2001, 00:59
its true that up in ncl rumours fly around like flies but this is the latest go in a big way at ncl (like brs)? and britannia willing to pay thousands to get out the current handling contract? to go to ServisAir? is it not airtours the big one on the edge?
starship
29th Oct 2001, 02:45
It is true that with the winter season here, the affore mentioned handling agent faces a difficult time at NCL with contracts.
The flights operated by the likes of Pegasus/Air Via/Onur Air/South Atlantic/Helios/Galaxy/Axon/Euroatlantic/
Hemus do not operate through the winter because they are to Turkey,Greece,Bulgaria etc.
The flights operated by Futura/Spanair/Air Malta, Eurocypria etc drop in frequency however still operate through, and the Excel flights which have been operating the last two weeks of the Air Scandic contract end now.
Gill and KLMuk were their mainstay at NCL, with Airtours being the biggest charter contract.
Britannia are still with the opposition, and have been since moving there in the mid 90's.
I do not believe that Britannia are in trouble....I think that would be a rumour. Anyone have any comment on AIH, AMM, JMC ?
How do you mean toontartcart Britannia are willing to pay money to be released from their handling contract?
Cheers,
starship :)
[ 28 October 2001: Message edited by: starship ]
toontartcart
30th Oct 2001, 00:07
starship, as you ask it is the latest rumour floating around ncl that britannia now wants to rejoin servisAir! i ask you all a question do klm uk know what they are letting themselves in for by going to what has to be the worst handling agent in the uk.
i have foung servisair professional and helpful during my years and good luck to them all over the uk!
lets hope the tides turn next summer and ServisAir has the last laugh. :p :p :p
Jacksman
30th Oct 2001, 00:59
Toontartcart !
In my experiences of Groundstar/Northeast Aviation at NCL and the sister-company (previously Northwest)at MAN I can honestly vouch for the staff at both bases, who do an excellent job with minimal staffing levels.
Their operation which serves BA and its subsiduaries to a high standard is geared up for prompt turn-arounds in a helpful and professional manner. Not wanting to start a slanging match by any means, but believe me Servisair quite often leaves a lot to be desired in it's level of service at some airfields whilst at the same time achieving good results at others!
Colt44
30th Oct 2001, 02:21
KLM uk have also given notice to Serviceair at Manchester.
As from the 1st Jan they will be handled by Aviance (Gatwick Handling).
I hope their dispatchers are as good as the Serviceair people.
starship
30th Oct 2001, 15:51
I know both companies all too well, and I could sit for hours and state their good and bad points. However, it is not appropriate to do so on this public forum.
Servisair have a good team at Newcastle and have often been station of the month for many airlines, several months in a row. They have to work very hard to keep that because of so many crews having their image of Servisair tarnished as a result of other stations. The staff there know that is the case too.
Servisair at NCL put alot of effort into their work with KLMuk and it, along with Airtours always seemed to be well looked after.
Groundstar at Newcastle have one excellent bunch of Despatchers, and every one of them knows their job PROPERLY. Nearly all are Licenced BA Load Controllers.
As for Groundstar being the worst handling agent in the UK - that is complete rubbish. I can tell you that I would never see some of the antics I see on certain docusoaps happen there...much more control. Infact Groundstar, if you really knew the company, you would say wiped the floor with the lot of them.
I don't work for either of these handling agents, however have had a close tie with both, and give my honest opinion.
Thinking of the Servisair guys and girls at this difficult time for them.
cheers,
starship :)
[ 30 October 2001: Message edited by: starship ]
[ 30 October 2001: Message edited by: starship ]
toontartcart
1st Nov 2001, 23:23
well said starship. good luck to all the guys and girls at servisair and indeed groundstar! hope things get busier with the go operation.
dumiel
2nd Nov 2001, 03:35
Servisair are recruiting ground staff at LGW like mad!!!!!!
I doubt that any of the major charte operators are about to go down. At this stage of the winter season it is quiet in normal times, so now holiday makers are waiting for things to settle before making bookings. True the operators are drawing their horns in, and cutting some aircraft from the fleets, but thet all have to be ready for next summer. I suspect that there is an element of trying to get tight contracts with the handling agents and their own staff.