Flightline into administration

[LBAlady]

Another sad day for another airline as from 0700h.

[STN Ramp Rat]

Another sad day and another bunch of good people on the street

[A2QFI]

Flightline.co.uk is still acepting bookings at 1033 today. Which one has gone under?

[Another procedure]

Very sad day, hope all the employees find a job soon. Seems loosing the Aberdeen contract was one of the final nails.

All the best.

[Re-Heat]

This? Aircraft Branded Wet Lease : BAE 146 Leasing (http://www.flightline.ltd.uk)

[JJ83]

Flightline has been placed in Administration.:mad:

[TwoOneFour]

Air Transport Intelligence reporting Flightline at EGMC in admin and ceased operations.

[CPL_Ace]

Flightline.co.uk is a completely different company. I believe they are a travel agent.
Flightline UK Ltd (a wet lease company based in Southend) is the unfortunate company.

[atcomarkingtime]

Reports are indicating that Eastern, who won the oil contract to transport personnel from EGPD to EGPM have started the contract 2 months earlier. They were due to take over in Feb 2009 with SAAB's. The EGPD BAA website does however show the flights operating via EGPB today.....

[beerfest666]

very sad day.
do you have a source??

[C195]

Does anyone here know how many flight crews and ground staff the company employed? How big was the operation? Sad news.

[dreamliner787]

So sad, another GREAT Airline, with a lovely bunch of people.

Again a pleasure working with you guys through the years :ok:
Your a fab bunch!

Good luck to you all.

Dream x

[HS-125]

Well, I was not expecting this one! I would of thougt Flightline would of been one of the airlines that would of sailed through the economic downturn! :sad:

[TRIM-RUN]

UK wet-lease operator Flightline goes into administration

UK specialist charter and wet-lease operator Flightline has stopped operating services and filed for administration.

The company's fleet primarily comprises nine British Aerospace 146 and Avro RJ regional jets but it is also listed as having a pair of Boeing MD-83s.

Based at London Southend Airport, Flightline has previously performed subcontract work for carriers such as Lufthansa, Qantas, British Airways and Air France.

A spokeswoman for the company confirms that operations have stopped and that it has "gone into administration", identifying KPMG as the administrator.

The company's fleet, according to Flight's ACAS database, is leased from a variety of sources including Finova Capital, Nex Aviation and International Lease Finance (ILFC).

Flightline was established in April 1989 and employs around 240 personnel. The company's operations include an aircraft engineering arm at London Southend.

It also set up a division, British Airline Management, in 2001 to conduct wet-leasing outside of the European Joint Aviation Authorities area.

[simfly]

I can confirm Eastern Airways are planned to do some flights to Shetland for Flightline's customer in Aberdeen today. 2 146's parked up over on the eastern side. Dejavu for the staff employed at Aberdeen as many of them went through the same in 2001 as British World employees. Must be around 20 pilots, 20 cabin crew plus engineers and ground staff there.

[daz211]

Well let us all be on our guard, expect the unexpected :ouch:.
They wont be the last, most of the xmas booking are in and money
cashed, there is along way to go until summer 2009 and I think
FEB/MAR/ARP will be very tough, people just dont like advanced bookings
anymore, not after XL anyway :uhoh:.

[TwoOneFour]

That's the Air Transport Intelligence story which Trim-Run's posted.

[fagend]

The 20 pilots etc... is only the ABZ base. Company as a whole employs around 500 staff (ground and air). Sad day, myself and and relatives and friends all included in the mess!! thoughts to all

[curry1983]

Hi,

I am also an employee of Flightline (or was :(...) Now, having missed the conference call this morning... (Due to not seeing the email in time...) I was just wondering if anything was mentioned in reference to how we go about retrieving monies owed - Outstanding wages etc? Any information on this subject would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Tuptaylor]

Hi, we caught some of the conference call. Apparently each employee will receive a letter from the Administrators - KPMG - which sets out the general situation and how things will proceed from here. YOu can then put in your own personal claim. As the company ceased operations today, we can expect only 2 days pay during December. I think this is an accurate summary of what we heard.

[cldrvr]

Curry,

According to ATI an administrator has been appointed, this means that the administrator is now in charge of the company and its assets including bank accounts and any cash holdings. The administrator will among other duties try to reach an agreement with the current secured debt holders and see if the company can be sold, broken up or restarted. All unsecured debt holders, such as among others employees that are owed salaries and or expenses will come last in line.

The administrator, KPMG is the one to contact if you are a debt holder, whether secured or un secured.

[Spitfire boy]

Any news yet on whether the Ford flights will continue operated by someone else? I note elsewhere a posting that the Ford US fleet grounded on cost grounds.

[BALLSOUT]

The employees claims for wages and holiday pay are treated as preferential claims. they will be paid before unsecured creditors.
The bad news is that it may take some time to sort this out. I have only just had my claim sorted out from the company i was with, that went bust in September 2001.
In the mean time, if there is no cash just now, there is a government fund that the administrators will give out the claim forms for. this will take a few months to pay out and it is capped at something like £230 per week claimed.
As I emember, they will pay this for any notice in leu etc, so you shold be able to claim 3 months notice at £230/week + outstanding pay and holiday pay. All at £230 per week, or what ever it is now.
The rest will probably take years.
Good luck guys, keep your chin up, You will get through this.

[jez d]

Press release from the administrators:

Jane Moriarty and Myles Halley from KPMG LLP were today appointed administrators to Flightline Limited. The company, which is based at Southend Airport, operates in the whole aircraft charter and ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) market.

Following the appointment of the administrators, the company’s Air Operating Certificate was suspended by the Civil Aviation Authority, and the company has ceased trading. 235 staff have today made redundant, however, a small number of employees remain to work alongside the administrators.

Jane Moriarty commented: “We are now undergoing an orderly wind down of business, with the aim of realising the value of any of the remaining assets for the benefit of creditors.”

[Daft Wader]

I think from memory that Govt payments are capped at £330 per week.
Think you might get more if you are over 44
Good luck to all the ex Flightline Bods
May the farce be with you
Daft Wader
:ok:

[DeltaIndiaSierraPapa]

Reading that press release, all I could thinks was Merry Fu$%&ng Christmas!

[Dash-7 lover]

Bloody shame - they were much cheaper than Titan and less arsey!!

[heidelberg]

Is this the same Flightline that operate BA services LCY/DUB/LCY?

If not who is the Flightline that operate the BA sesrvice ex LCY?

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Quote
I can confirm Eastern Airways are planned to do some flights to Shetland for Flightline's customer in Aberdeen today. 2 146's parked up over on the eastern side. Dejavu for the staff employed at Aberdeen as many of them went through the same in 2001 as British World employees. Must be around 20 pilots, 20 cabin crew plus engineers and ground staff there.

Reply
..........And how long will it be before T3 GOES UNDER AS WELL = 2 weeks?.

I see the GOOD old CAA are not making any comment, Or offering any help to the FEW remaining Airlines!!

Me thinks nothing left in 6 months...?

[Jean-Lill]

Is this the same FLightline that operate on behalf of BA on the LCY-NCE route?

I looked at the BA website and they are still advertising the service as operated by Flightline throughout December.

[BYALPHAINDIA]

Yes, Well it was until today!

[Skipness One Echo]

Me thinks nothing left in 6 months...?

If you hit the wee picture at the end that looks like a speech bubble you get funky blue quotes. Saves you writing er....."quote"

Private Fraser lives...."We're DOOOOOOOMEDDD Captain Mainwairing!"

One hopes that BA CityFlyer may take on some of the crew and airframes? Flightline were a large part of the LCY operation. Good luck chaps! ( and chap-esses )

[BYALPHAINDIA]

I hope so, But BA are in a 'Mess' of their own without having any 'Surplus' CASH to save FLT?

[dc9-32]

I wonder whether Mr Trotter will start something in the new year. Nice little company Fliteline, good bunch of people. What went wrong ??

[stormin norman]

Sad day for all but even the big players are having problems.A worrying time for the whole industry.


In an internal memo, distributed to BMI's staff on 26 November, Turner said: "Our financial results this year will produce the largest loss we have ever recorded by a considerable margin."
Turner also cautions that BMI will be "in intensive care" for considerable time, hindered by weakening demand and increasing non-controllable costs such as airport charges.

[captain_ramsey]

I am (was) a First Officer with Flightline and I am truly gutted at today’s news for everyone. For all former employees out there, thank you, it’s been a great pleasure working with you all. I would like to extend my thank you, particularly to the Captains who, naturally, I worked much closer with and who passed on a wealth of knowledge to me. I have had a fantastic two years and the flying culture in Flightline allowed me to learn a great deal. I was given a huge level of responsibility for my experience and am really grateful for the fun I had while it lasted.

It’s sad, but let’s face it, if we stay in the industry, we’ll see each other soon….

Good luck everyone and thanks again.

Rob Powell
[email protected]

[Inverted81]

Very sad news. Definitely didn't see that one coming! All the best everyone, hopefully speak to you over the airwaves again soon.

Inverted (Sumburgh radar 131.3)

[ciderman]

I left Flightline in August after working freelance for them for 10 months. Wonderful people who tried to treat you as a human being. Shame if that attitude cost them their business. Condolences to all.

[monkey_wrench]

The Ford RJ-100 (being leased from BAe directly by Ford) will go back into service once a new operator is found to provide cockpit and cabin crew...

[UFGBOY]

as an x XL body I sympathise; (high) age and length of service are a bonus as you recieve more from HM Govt.. takes up to a month to come through but it all comes inc. holdiay pay and back salary...

Chin(s) up all....

[cornishsimon]

i cant really contribute but sympathy to all concerned, hope that you all find further employment soon.

[Routair]

Im ex Flightline..left afew years back now, but they were such a great company to work for with EXCELLENT staff and even better attitudes towards everything!

Im in shock at this news, really thought they would ride the storm!

Very sad news, so sorry for all of you!

Brgrds

Routair

[CPL_Ace]

To echo my colleague, i too endured a very steep learning curve and have never had so much fun while learning so much from some extremely experienced flight and cabin crew. I shall miss you all.
I hope that other airlines will get to experience the professionalism and character of these people when they take them on in the future. It really has been a pleasure guys. Thanks!

[airscooter]

yes i to enjoyed employment with messers Trotter and Evans, Great company and great people, shame - if only it had been called Flightline Bank then the goverment would have donated a couple of Billion to help.
Good luck to all, and i just hope we see a new project in the future.

[Mister Geezer]

I am an ex Flightline Skipper and I ferried the Edinburgh based 146 back to Southend yesterday evening. The dedication, professionalism and camaraderie that staff have shown has always been outstanding and even after they were informed that were made redundant. I needed to get from Southend to Edinburgh asap due to personal reasons and I had arrived too late to fly up from any of the London airports. One of our company drivers offered without hesitation to drive me through the night to Edinburgh so that I could get on my way! Truly outstanding and a classic example of a (ex) Flightline employee going far beyond the call of duty so that the job could get done! :ok:

[fade to grey]

Absolute Carnage.........What a dreadful year for everyone !

Good luck to all involved, I hope you find something soon.
(went through same 2002 bmir 146 fleet)

[aw ditor]

Will Ford keep a 146 going, "privately"?

[Mister Geezer]

I would be amazed if we see G-OFMC fly in its current state again. Inflite engineers are confident it will be flying back in Jan but I have to beg to differ. Ford and General Motors are both on their knees and after asking US Congress for emergency funding, one of the prerequisites is that corporate travel is eliminated or scaled back and that is looking at the situation from a global perspective. :(

Remember that Ford once had their own in-house corporate operation with 737 BBJs but the infrastructure of such a organisation was obviously proving too costly. When taking the fragile state of the motor industry into consideration, I would say that any operation being taken back in-house would be a very remote possibility!

[flynowpaylater]

Firstly, what a curve ball, certainly didn't see that one coming. Great company, lovely people, good product.

Can anyone shed any light as to what pulled it down? - They seemed to flying quite a bit and doing OK.

[Ivan Taclue]

Flightline offered me the opportunity to 'cut my teeth' on the Bandit and then the 146. I have great memories of my time there and wish to thank all who made it possible. Just like so many of you I also got made redundant from 146 jobs twice in the last 10 years.

Is Southend jinxed? Channel Airways, BUAF/BAF, Routair, BWA, PrincessAir and now Flightline........

I wish all staff the best of British and hope you'll find some Christmas cheer in these troubled times.

Remember: one door closes, another one opens! (although in my case it slammed in my face)

Good luck, Ivan

[autoair]

Any news yet on whether the Ford flights will continue operated by someone else? I note elsewhere a posting that the Ford US fleet grounded on cost grounds.


Will Ford keep a 146 going, "privately"?

Ford Corporate position:

On Wednesday, our supplier Flightline informed us that they were unable to continue providing support for Ford Air services. As a result, please be advised that Ford Air services will not operate for the remainder of this year, effective immediately.
Anyone wishing to travel between London or Cologne commercially can use the current approval process to do so.Ford Air services will re-commence as soon as possible in the New Year.Updates will be available at: http://www.travel.ford.com/emea/fordFlight.htm
Corporate Travel Europe

[frostbite]

Noticed the absence of FL602 from the SEN radio on Monday morning but assumed perhaps because Ford were closed for December.

Great shame.

[BIGBAD]

I went thru this with Duo Airways in 2004 and can empathise with how the crew & staff feel.

It took several months to get the manditory redunancy pay from the government thru. In 2004 it was around about £270 per week, taxed of course ! I think it was probably a bit closer to 5 or 6 months for this.

We were also owed 3 months pay for lack of notice - i.e. because the company closed overnight and went into administration. This was paid by the administrators from what was left of the company funds. I think we got around about 3 pence in every pound owed , it ended up being several hundred pounds total payment . Even this small amount was only thanks to being in the position of preferential creditors as we were staff . However this wasn't paid until the administrators wound the company up - some 18 months after going into administration.

Bottom line is you don't get very much - either from the government or from whats left in the company and what you do get takes ages i.e. you can't depend on it.............

good luck to all the crews and staff

[Brain to Automatic]

Verry Sorry to hear Flightline have dropped into Admistration today.

I knew they did some work for ford and assorted football clubs, but I seem to remember they also flew for BA Cityflyer out of LCY. Anyone know what routes?

Good luck to all affected I hope they find a buyer

[basher2004]

Did LCY-SEN yesterday. The fueller came by - 'ow much mate ?' - even tho' the a/c was frozen. We wuz tempted to go on a serious jolly!
Thanks to 2 sound people in BA-LCY who got me onto the late Air Frog to Dub.
Got slaughterd in some pub in North Dublin, and am just out of the bed. The missus is delighted to have me home.
Take care all, and many thanks-Brian.
p.s. gizajob anyone?

[cometracer]

Having been involved with Flightline for three years, very closely indeed in the last three months, could I use the medium of PP to express my sorrow at the closure, and to express my thanks to all the wonderful people, in every department, at every base who worked so hard and gave so much support. It did not deserve to die

[AIRWAY1UK]

Having left the company almost four years ago I would like to say how gutted I feel to just hear this news, and sympathy to all those within from top to bottom of the company, you really were great. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you Flightline and feel very sad that others will no longer have that opportunity.I wish everyone of you well for the future.

[erniefly]

Another ex employee expressing my own sandness of this news. Left there 4 years ago after being based up in ABZ flying to SCS and back. Great people and on the whole a great company.
Good luck to everyone .
Cheers
Ernie

[timzsta]

Such sad news, coming less than 24 hours after the announcement regarding the purchase of the airport. Everyone at Flightline was so friendly and helpfull. Met the Chief Pilot, Capt Sutcliffe a couple of times at BALPA Employment conferences, he always gave one of the more amusing presentations! In my "other life" it was always a pleasure going into the Flightline Hangar and Offices to deliver and collect parcels. Dan in the Hangar and Julie in reception always had a cheerful smile no matter how miserable the weather was outside. I can also remember at least once sharing the circuit with a Flightline 146 doing base training, happy memories.

Good luck to everyone at Flightline. No flying for me tommorow, so I will have a glass of Port and a cigar in your memory tonight.

[Ivan Taclue]

Timzsta,

you must have met some of the crews in your other 'other life' doing despatch at STN?:hmm:

[Hot 'n' High]

What dreadful news! While I never worked for the Company, I always received most polite and positive responses from John S and Dave W to my e-mails regarding a 1st Officer position with the Company. To get any response from an Airline was rare; to get such a pleasant and positive reply simply spoke volumes about those two Gentlemen. And if Senior Managers are so pleasant - well, what a delight the rest of the Team must have been to work for/with!

To all at Flightline, words are totally inadequate! All the very best to you all at this dreadful time for you and your families. I hope 2009 brings better fortune for you all.

Regards,

H 'n' H

[bilderberger]

The sad thing is if they hadnt of bought in the likes of Halldor Hraffson and Gene Mashlan who knows hey the company would probably have still been going strong, Im sure there is many a people who would agree

[putneyuk]

John S is certainly a real gentleman and a pleasure to work alongside during the Palmair Flighline days with NT "peanut"

[Aphros]

Well I've just heard about Flightline and am deeply sorry. I worked for them after the demise of Debonair in '99, and again from August '04 until my retirement in '06. I think that it has all been said in previous postings: very good people, human trteatment, excellent training and some particularly interesting flying. I only left because I was enjoying the work very much and I felt it couldn't get much better (end of AF lease BHX-CDG).
So, a sincere best wishes to all the people caught in unemployment and hope that it won't last long. Nick C

[airfixed]

I wonder if any of the ex-Flightline guys now working for Eastern have any comments on how the Scatsta operation is going. How is the Saab coping with 06 on a wet and windy winters day? It must be a pleasure to fly a more up to date aircraft but is it the right equipment for the IAC contract? Any sign of a return to the 146/RJ or even a new type?

[Ballymoss]

I note you don't take PM's. Drop me a line, I have a question for you.

Rgds
The Moss:ok:

[Sir Geoffrey]

You clearly don't know your stuff,these gents have a reputation around the industry which remains intact!:ok:

[iwhak]

Sir Geoffrey.........Bilderberger hit the nail on the head :mad:

[Sir Geoffrey]

Did I say good reputation!:ok:

[bilderberger]

Sir Helmet

A Swedish Quality Manager based at a certain Stockholm 145 organisation summed up the likes of the Icelandic gimp very well I'd say. Do not trust the guy as far as you can spit - he qouted as he knew him from SAS.

And for Mashlan well just ask around 2 certain Manchester Base Maintanance organisation senior managements.

[Sir Geoffrey]

You ,don't need to convince me! Just someone in Sen nearly got killed the other night because the former AC had seen these posts got his wires crossed and thought the person concerned was you!

Take care!

Sir Geoffrey.:)

[girt big un]

chaps this has now got to stop ! Flightline was a great company and we all know it still should be here and it would of infact thrived in these economic conditions . 250 people lost their jobs and alot of us worked there for over a decade and we miss it !!! unfortunatley we were closed down due to the simple fact the airline industry is in turmoil and our main share holder/investor could not support the ongoing operation due to various reasons. the demise of the company was not the fault of the two chaps in question so please stop blaming them !