Delayed Oasis flight still waiting green light to fly over Russian airspace

[gday809]

The inaugral flight of budget carrier, Oasis Airlines, has suffered a setback. Its first flight from Hong Kong to London's Gatwick Airport has been delayed for four hours. The airline is still waiting for final approval to fly over Russia airspace. The plane is carrying a full complement of more than 300 passengers, including the airline's top executives.The Civil Aviation Department says it's pressing Oasis to make arrangements to ensure that passengers still on board the delayed flight are properly catered for.

[Fly747]

It is now delayed until tommorrow. What a disaster on the first day. I hope they recover, good luck to them.

[Glass Half Empty]

more greasing of palms required!!!

[Taildragger67]

Times (London) story:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2421197,00.html

[Pinoy Pilot]

http://corp.oasis-air.com/hk/en/pr.aspx?pr_id=OHKAGenHKPREN061026

[AAIGUY]

Looks like it is on stand again right now..perhaps they are on their way today!!

[777300ER]

I'm all for competition. In fact I think competition is healthy. Are they seriously expecting to make money though charging $1000 HKD for long haul flights to Europe? :ugh:

[AAIGUY]

mm... the same way Ryan Air does for .01 cent a flight. There are only so many seats at that price. The ones paying 15,000 HKD one way make up for it.

[AAIGUY]

Watching it pushback now..

[AAIGUY]

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/Oasis6.th.jpg (http://server6.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=Oasis6.jpg)


And they're airborne.
Godspeed!

[gday809]

ATC Scripts + Photos

http://www10.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=2617146&extra=page%3D1

[flyer_spotter]

I saw it from the bridge between CX City and KA house when it departed. Wasn't that heavy at all.:ugh: I was listening to my scanner and that Oasis pilot said '123.8, Asi...Oasis 700' I bet he was going to say Asiana, as there was one about to depart at that time.

Anyway, some pictures here: http://the-wu.org/hkgspotting/viewtopic.php?t=2144&start=15

[Barbossa]

I was with one of Oasis' managers yesterday during a conference call he had with the ruskies..I heard every word. It was very clear that the ruskie boss of FANS is a Stalinist and yesterday's actions were actually an expression of his own hatred of the chinese. It was probably the most rascist diatribe I have ever heard. When told that there were 300 people sitting on an aircraft at that moment he said "I dont care - not my problem - now yours". The guy actually laughed. When asked to explain why they had issued a permit and then withdrew it at departure time he said "I give it and I take it away.Simple. Now you will feel the full force of Russian might". And he went on to say "we don't need you Chinese over Russian sovereign territory".

The Oasis guy was diplomatic to the end. I dont know how he held it together. I understand that he went straight around to Boeing who then helped builds routes around the Ruskie airspace.

[19weeler]

cx paid the russian authorities off to have the over-fly rights removed.
If anyone thinks this **** doesn't happen; wake up out of your "Cathay Kong" or "Hong Pacific" nightmare!
Ask the ex pres MG!!

[spannersatcx]

If they have that much influence how come they couldn't get the rights to fly HKG-SVO-MAN?

[flyer_spotter]

Also I heard earlier tha Oasis wanted to train their pilots at ZGSD but Cathay made things really difficult for Oasis and therefore they had to train them in Clark...and Cathay paid the Russians to do that 2 days ago?!:rolleyes:

"we don't need you Chinese over Russian sovereign territory".

Ummm wow, they said that is it because our CAD refused to allow Russian planes to fly into Hong Kong?

[alangirvan]

Well, the first 747 flight of all by Pan Am from NY to Paris. the plane went sick, and PA had to wheel out the back up plane - that would have been a worse problem for Oasis

[Barbossa]

....as a consultant I have spent lot of time with Oasis and I heard anecdotally that Cathay was actually willing to support Oasis on the issue over using one of the Chinese airports for training....but it involved a permission outside of Cathay's own permissions. Further the Chinese were okay with it but it did involve an extended application and Oasis didnt have time on their side.

At least at one level I know that Cathay has been a friend to the boys and no animosity exists, primarily because oasis has not asked Cathay or anyone else for any favours.

There are some pretty top guys at oasis at mid-management level; trouble is I dont think that there is enough of them.

[Pinoy Pilot]

Are the Russians still refusing access to their airspace? What would be their motivation to deny access?

[OldChinaHand]

Oh Pinoy Pilot,
I am sure you have discovered by now there is but one way to win a russian deal, Money, lots of it, every paw must be greased. Perhaps someone was forgotten in the greasing process, or someone with a Bigger Grease Gun came along.

Good Luck Oasis, that has been a honey of a route for some, alas you join the fray (or frenzy) at a tough time, some more hot competition gearing up. CX are sitting up and looking hard at the cheapie newbies.