Silver Boy - all the details of the money raised and accounts are in the investors section on the silverjet website. The think that is killing the airline is the cost of fuel which must be around twice of what was expected when they did the buisness plan. You can lookup the cost of jet fuel at www.ft.com and is around $900/tonne. That may require $25k-$35 to cross the pond just in fuel costs.

The airline is totaly dependant on a large drop in fuel cost for it to it keep going.

Being broke is normal for an airline. An established airline can operate for decades while broke as long as it does not need to expand. To expand you need more cash which is when the books become vital.

IFM's at Silverjet
 

IFM's at Silverjet. You have all flown before. You are familiar with the industry. Most airlines pay an overnight allowance and grooming allowance except Silverjet. The company does pay for breakfast which is the cheapest meal of the day. An overnight allowance contributes towards the cost of 3 meals while away. If Silverjet pay for breakfast what then happened to lunch and dinner on a 30 hour layover in New York?

Grooming allowance...all airlines contribute towards the cost of looking good.

IFM's you are aware that other airlines have unions in place to ensure that days off, rest periods and pay conditions are protected. Has the idea of starting a union amongst youselves been raised? Leadership starts from the top.

Curious to know what makes you want to work for Silverjet?
...the question is not designed to be sarcastic but genuine.

Leadership starts from the top?
 

And familiarity breeds contempt... Maybe Our Onboard management team are more than aware of the effects a union can have... Take a look at the VS strike thread as an example...

As for allowances, alongside receiving breakfast, we are paid flight pay. The likes of other legace carriers receive sector pay only. Thus they have allowances down route. Having discussed it with some of the crew onboard, our flight pay for a typical EWR layover is more than what Virgin Atlantic receive in both sector pay and allowances combined...

And we get a free meal, plus discounts off food and drinks at our hotels! Not a bad deal really...

As for protection of rest periods, days off etc... Rest periods are mandatory... It is up to the indivdidual how they choose to rest. If they wish to spend all day shopping in Manhattan when they have a night sector home, that is their choice. The company are providing adequate facilities to gain rest down route...
As for Days off... Your informants seem to fail to inform you that they are sometimes 'requested' to work on a day off... they don't have to, there is always such a word as No...

Grooming allowances... Silverjet crew members, a quick phone call to your local tax office will confirm your allowances by adjustment of your tax code! If you weren't in the know, tell them you work for an airline... You may be pleasantly surprised!

Not Poo Pooing your idea IFS, but hopefully proving a point that with discussion, the involvement of a 3rd party should be a very last resort!

3rd party
 

A union should be the first point of call not the last. A union represents, protects and enforces your rights. A strike is only ever a LAST resort when management and crew fail to reach an agreement. The pay conditions at Virgin Atlantic have been questionable. So that is not a good comparison to Silverjet's conditions. Most hotels offer crew discounts regardless. So that is nothing new. Grooming allowance. Crew should not have to chase the tax man to recieve this. Get a union.

Thank-you for your insight.

Dear JalStacey
 

I saw your comments insulting Ryanair staff and felt compelled to respond.....

I used to work for Ryanair a while ago, and am fully aware of all the things within the company that need ammending, however Ryanair was a starting block in my career that has thrust me forward to rewarding opportunities. How dare you insult people like myself, if only I was as great a person as you JalStacey, then maybe I wouldnt have been stupid enough to work for a company that actually turned my life around.

Now a word of advice.....it is a very ugly person that looks down on people and feels superior due to things such as job status, background etc, and you dear are one of them. Dont ever forget that there will always be people in the world richer, bigger, and better than yourself.

Good luck in your career, with that attitude your going to need it.

hello everyone now please stop slagging the company off...people who have left the company just remember it did'nt work for you ...now if people at silverjet needs a union they will get one....we are all a were of the do's and don'ts ....lets enjoy the ride...ok we have some people at silverjet who think they are above everyone else but you get that in any job...just let them get on with it ..because at the end of the day it's you with the smile on face and not them....:)

Silverjet - The Unsivilised Place to Work (going bust?)
 

Best on board,

Note you haven't replied to my last post, but I guess you are now busy fighting the pro-Union people instead of me.:rolleyes:

"As for Days off... Your informants seem to fail to inform you that they are sometimes 'requested' to work on a day off... they don't have to, there is always such a word as No..."


My roster is bad enough without that added complication. :mad:

I agree however that I can say no.

I do not agree with your use of 'Requested' - unless you count the same meaning as someone saying 'if you don't the flight will be cancelled'.:yuk:

"Not Poo Pooing your idea IFS, but hopefully proving a point that with discussion, the involvement of a 3rd party should be a very last resort!"

Perhaps we have got to that stage already with the management, as other people are now suggesting?



Judder-100,

Thanks for the post.

hello everyone now please stop slagging the company off...

o.k. I'll put my rose-tinted glasses on,:8 only be positive and ignore all the mistakes and problems in the company.

Come to think of it I might also stand to be elected to government in the Labour party!:rolleyes:


Yes let's get on with the job. But no - debate and truth is fundamental to change for the good.

Silverjet has the potential to be so much more, however it is held back by the very people at the top who are meant to be leading it. :ugh:


But the way the financial side is looking, this may all not matter shortly!



Befree,

Thank you for your post and information.

"An established airline can operate for decades while broke as long as it does not need to expand. To expand you need more cash which is when the books become vital."

Two problems here, we are not established and we are expanding.

After reading this, I thought I would read the information that you directed me to, and I drew the following conclusions from it:

Revenue last six months £30.6 million
Cost of provision of everything except ticket sales, marketing and all employees £30 million.

So the loss of £12 million is employees, marketing, ticket sales e.t.c.

So if we ran the airline without any employees or sales it would work - great!:ugh:

O.K. so far so good / bad?:confused:

The first thing that really worries me:

The revenue was broken down -

Scheduled £12.2 million - Charter £18.4 million. Does this mean that the revenue from Flyjet has actually been the big revenue contributor to date?

Sure with the Flyjet operation out of action the loss will be less but so will be the revenue, and pro-rata it appears that the loss could be greater.:eek:

Now here is what really worries me.

Everything hinges around carrying 80%+ loads.

Not difficult to work out on a 100 seat aircraft.;)

I for one am not seeing this!:uhoh:

Even in the report it states that the number of passengers, not load factor, has increased by 38%. This is due to the second aircraft. Surely this should be 100% with a second aircraft, or 200% now with 3, just to stand still?

I know it early days, but the potential for even greater losses is certainly there, and I am really concerned that without Flyjet the situation might be worse.:{

You highlight the price of fuel, and with that unlikely to decrease, and combined the airlines inability to gain sufficient credit to buy in advance, I can see why this is not going to go away.

I see the directors are putting in £1/2 million of their own cash, but at the rate the operation is burning money that cash alone would only last 2 weeks.

So my conclusion is that the next few months will be make or break for the company, and without the further cash injection that we are seeking the operation would collaspe. :eek:

Real pleased I haven't any shares in the company, that's if I could afford them!:rolleyes:

I ran all of my thoughts past an accountant friend of mine, and after seeing the report he drew that same conclusions. 'Befree' any comments?


I off to check whether my salary has been paid this month........:uhoh:


Happy Flying, job hunting, salary payment checking e.t.c.


Silver Boy. x

Silverjet - The Unsivilised Place to Work (going bust?)

VS2BA
 

Hi All
After reading the posts from Silverboy I would think very carefully about the move to Silverjet.
As we know at VS we get between $180 and $220 allowances for a nightstop NY depending on trip and with my £45 sector pay and take home of £1450 - £1500, their salary seems very attractive but do the maths.
I am also in the BA holding pool for EF LHR. Hold out for that.
x:)

Amicus the Union
 

"Are you concerned over some of the practices going on in SilverJet? Do you wonder if some of your rights are being walked over? If so, you’re not alone. A number of your colleagues have already been in touch with us. Some are worried about the fact that many of you haven’t received a pay slip for months, some over rostering which they consider to appear arbitrary and unfair; others have been union members at previous airlines and just know what a difference for the better having the union can be. Cabin Crew at SilverJet have told us they want to join Unite and make a difference." Quote from:
http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=6870

amicus the "union"
 

Oh my god
Siverjet buddies - so sound like you need a union.
Go straight to T&G - don't bother with Amicus. Look at the mess the VS lot are in right now. I'm no expert but have heard that Amicus is eventually merging with T&G anyway, a far stronger union which incidentally a good few VS crew are already in (out of personal choice). I have no faith in Brian Boyd and Amicus just now so it will be an intersting few months ahead. Dreaded by all involved. Anyway this is sounding like a VS union rant which it is sooo not but just get some sort of representation there and quick sticks!! All I want to say is you are a unique and small collection of I'm sure great guys and gals - just choose representation carefully. After all it is 3 weatherspoons prices double vodka and cokes out of your salary afterall every month!
Hope you have nothing but good times ahead peeps. xx

Absolutely, go for T&G.

You need a union, no doubt about it and they are, from my experience, better at getting things agreed by management. It sounds like rostering is one of your biggest problems. Tackle this and they may stop people leaving. A rigid set of terms and conditions will also stop you from being rostered back to back to backs and ensure you have adequate rest at home.

You also need to consider things that are personal to each individual, such as disciplinaries. You could be falsely accused of something by a passenger who doesn't get their way or another crew member who thinks promotion requires grassing up colleagues and you need someone to fight for you.

I have been down this road personally and was well supported, managing to keep my job and seniority. Other people in my situation were represented by other unions and didn't fare so well.

They will also protect your promotion opportunities, ensuring wherever possible that senior crews are recruited from within and not directly from outside. With the CAA's "one year rule" this may not always be possible but they will have to at least try to recruit from within.

VS LHRCSA
The Rostering of back to backs is a interesting point. In the eyes of the CAA / CAP371 it's a complete no no. 18-30 hour rest periods, non acclimatised, day night day night ops possibly even now a mix of East - West ops with DXB now being flown. I'm sure you know the score more than I do.

The problem for the Company is it may have no choice, all it's trips seem to be 24 hr bullets. If you do a 3 day bullet do you really want 1 -2 days off before you go out again?. Why not roster back to backs then have 3-4 days off. There may be a social element to the practice of Rostering back to backs.
What about sby coverage, all these things need to be considered before a Union comes in. If its a no-no why has BA built a Hotel opposite the Compass Centre full of crew on back to backs, surely the CC Union would veto it?.

It's only been going for 6 months, I suspect a lot of crew were sitting around when the 2nd aircraft was decked, at least give it a chance :\

I am more than familiar with BA's back to backs having been crew for them. The difference is that:

1. They are limited to one per 28 days (unless called from standby)
2. Crew are given a hotel room (as you mentioned)
3. Crew are paid a payment
4. 3 MBTR days are awarded

I have never said they are a no-no. All I have said is that a union will help to agree acceptable terms between crew and the airline and make sure the airline sticks to them.

I can fully understand the need for back to backs. I do remember reading when Silverjet first started recruiting last year, that back to back trips would be the usual format.

I'm not trying to force BA ideals onto Silverjet but would recommend bringing in a union to do what's right for Silverjet's situation. If I was Silverjet's management, I would be encouraging it. That way everything is agreed and there won't be any confusion.

Flyjet/Silverjet
 

Well there's a surprise, when all is said and done it turns out Flyjet was the one holding up Silverjet, bit galling to all ex Flyjet staff who received less flight duty pay than SJ, and who also didn't receive trinkets like necklaces and pens along with their wings.

To all SJ employess - I do genuinely feel for you (however being ex Flyjet I can't help but draw comparisons with the situation you're in), however to the management of SJ I cannot help but smile - what goes around, comes around as you are finally starting to find out

Flyjet/Silverjet
 

Well Said!!
I bet the managment are bricking themselves with the talk of having to recognise a union.
At one of the first meetings at LGW when SJ took over they went out of their way to discredit a union and told us that the union was only serving their own purpose and that they did not want a union at FJ.
The did everything they could to avoid union recognision at FJ and used the way our contracts were made out to pass the buck. It is nice to see now that they may have no choice. As said in the previous post what goes around comes around, it is only a matter of time.
As I have said in previous post I do feel sorry for the CC but managment have what is coming to them and it looks like it has already started. Crew seem very unhappy and leaving in great numbers and shares dropping like a stone. Wonder when the investors will say enough is enough and take what little money they have left after putting so much in!
Also interesting to find that SJ CC are posting here as at the meeting we were all threatened if we posted on here.:D

Afterthought
 

Was just thinking if SJ do have to recognise a union and they end up striking they have someone who has had a lot of experience in post to deal with strikes as he was in BA when they were striking!!! ;) Say no more!!!

Bring back the charter side of the airline
 

Bring back the charter side of the airline.....you know it makes sense.

:):):)

:D:D:D

:ok::ok::ok:

Bring back the charter side of the airline
 

Cos lets face it, it was the charter side that was making the profit to hold the schedule side up ;)

Thanks
 

Well Said you

Hey guys, i have recently applied to Silverjet and i have an interview with them next week.

I'm really worried about it after reading some of the comments.

Can Anyone provide any information on what the Interviews have been like recently. :bored:

If your currently working for BA, however bad you see it Silverjet could be leaping from the frying pan into the fire.
Silverjet what I read here has the same "issues" and sounds just like another airline which flew from LTN about 10 years old..which isn't round now.
Personally Silverjet is chasing the wrong market. There are already 2 business class only airlines from STN plus the traditional airlines from LHR flying to New York. Dubai is well served by EK and BA etc..
I feel Silverjet would be doing some what better with 2 class cabin offering an enharnced economy service more room etc and an ecomony cabin poss on 757. Business class ex Luton?
People in the LTN catchment area would use such a service if priced correctly for holidays and business but Silverjet loose out on the short breaks due to there fares and so paxs use LHR or LGW and now AA STN service.
Silverjet looks the weaker carrier and especially with AA on the STN service, one of these carriers will loose out.

Thanks for your comments Tiger.
Being LTN based means our customers do not have to go through the Hussle and Bussle of getting to and through LHR. The M25 at the moment can be a nightmare, I am sure you are aware. The express train from Kings Cross to Luton Parkway takes 25 minutes, with a Silverjet taxi waiting for you on arrival...
Our customers only have to arrive 30 minutes before departure if they have no luggage to check in, no standing in queues, private security... Please tell me which of the airlines you have mentioned offer such a service? Our aim is to eliminate the stress of travelling as much as possible... Have you the seen the results of the studies we performed at LHR... Some people border line heart attack before they have even got to their lounge seat. Not appealing.

With the utmost respect to all airlines out there, regarding our 2 competitors down in STN... A Customer once told a colleague of mine

"EOS and Maxjet may have a red carpet leading up to their check in desks, but Ryanair Passengers walk all over it..."

No disrespect to the very profitable Ryanair, but do you get my point? Silverjet Offer something no other airline does. If customers choose to fly AA, and receive AA service, that is their choice...

We pride ourselves on one key factor... We may be the 3rd all Business Class Carrier to have launched... But we are the 1ST BRITISH, British Manners, British Service... Very Sivilised...

Safe Fying to all of you out there, and may I be one of the first to you wish you a Merry Sivilised Christmas, and a Sensational New Year...

BoB

Just found this on another part of PPrune,
Would what it could mean dor Silverjet, hpefully good news for you guys.

I respect your comments and think is great that you respect the airline, and a few passenger comments are good and encouraging. I was brought up in St Albans and live west of Luton. I know the area. I also worked for British Rail before becoming crew so fairly knowable on ground access. I am LHR based.

All the good things said still doesn`t stop an airline going into demise if its business plans are wrong. You bring up Ryan Air. I agree I don`t think they treat their passengers well, and the crew are treated even worse, however Ryan Air`s bottom line is amazing.
I think that Silverjet would be better offering a 2 class cabin I`ll give you Business Class if you like, but an economy section would give the company quick cash when times get tough. You`d get paxs of North London , Herts Beds and Buck thinking of "popping" over to NY for weekend etc, however the fares put Mr Mrs Joe Average off and use BA VS AA UA etc where fares can be low as £250 approx..
Zoom`s Gatwick New York would be the model to use at Luton.

If Zoom did start that route, think Silverjet would find it very hard to compete.

American`s STN service will also have connections across the US as well.

MAxjet can keep flying as long as people are happy to deal with them.
If people think it is the end then they will stop booking or supplying to them.

The stock market still thougth they were worth £50m when the shares were suspended.

If this does not upset Silverjet current fundraising then they will have 6-9 months more cash to burn. The problems start if the sale-and -leaseback is undermined by a lack of confidance.

If you need a safe job it is worth avoiding the start-ups like Maxjet and Silverjet. it is different if you are young without a large house to pay for.

obviously lots of research was done before silverjet was launched and if it wasn't a viable business model then they wouldn't have had the huge investment to start up. the idea is fantastic but who exactly are they aiming their product at? it cant be the business market, not enough frequencies. nor can it be most holiday makers, again limited routes and higher prices in this economic climate. so who does fly with silverjet?

Silverjet was planned a few years ago when fuel was cheap and growth in passengers was rapid. They will have projected that they can make it work with planes 65% full.

Since then the fuel has doubled, planes have failed C checks and ADP has doubled. the planes were 55% full last month even after they have spent a fortune on PR.

Just some tips for some of you that are going for interview at SJ or any airline, based on my experience of airlines and running a customer service training company.

The most important aspect for anyone who wants to be sucessful in any customer service position is to have the ability to be servile. Put simply if you are not a yes sir, no sir, three bags full, person you are not really suitable.

Some people, who are in the minority, are capable of modifying their behaviour to fit in with the above but a large majority are just not suitable for this type of work, you cannot train adults in basic courtesy and servility, it is something your parents should have done a long time ago.

If on reading the above you find yourself aggrieved or annoyed this is further proof you are just not suitable.

I used to use several classic examples in training, this is one of them.

A senior airline executive and his wife and children were travelling abroad on one of the company’s flights. The manager used the staff car park to park his car and gathered his family at the nearby bus stop to wait for the staff bus. They were very soon joined by a company cabin crew member who did not know the manager.

The manager tried to make conversation with the cabin crew member, who was due to be on the same flight as the manager but every pleasantry was met with single word answers and very obvious disinterest to the point that the whole family later commented upon it.

The bus arrived and everyone got aboard. The cabin crew member got on and went to sit by another company cabin crew member. She had never met this girl before and introduced herself and struck up an immediate conversation which lasted non-stop till the bus reached the terminal.

If you cannot understand the lesson of the above you should also question your suitability for customer service work.

To better understand the above and customer service consider that you will meet and make many friends when flying but very few of them will put bread on your table.

However do not worry about not being suitable as most companies have a large percentage of these people working for them but if you want to be successful at interview try and understand and learn about the art of customer service. Not only will it improve your job opportunities it will improve your personal relationships and social life too!

servile

1. of or pertaining to a slave
2. submissive or slavish

:rolleyes:

Er...as an experienced flight attendant myself I provide good customer service without thinking I'm in a menial position. As cabin crew we are mainly onboard for safety anyway. If people want submissive young girls serving them maybe they should fly a Far Eastern carrier.

I don't expect the cashier in Tesco to be like a slave to me nor do I act like this onboard. You can be pefectly pleasant by being polite and friendly without having to kowtow!

Hang on a minute, you kidding me.

No offence but I have been in customer service for 10 years, and not once has anyone during any training told me to be yes sir, no sir 3 bags full, like some servent in the victorian ages.

I and crew I work with provide the best customer service possible, to help achive this is 'Adapting to different pax, and their needs'.
Yes it is good customer service to be polite, assist the pax with relevent requests and be there for them.
But at the same time it is important for pax to respect your position as a crew member and your primary role SAFETY.

Silverjet - The 'Unsivilised' Place to Work!
 

Hello Befree,

Thanks for the post and updates.

"If you need a safe job it is worth avoiding the start-ups like Maxjet and Silverjet. it is different if you are young without a large house to pay for."

Looking at the financial side of Silverjet I have to agree, but would also add that because the management are so desperate to make this work they will do anything, including running the company very poorly with regards to staff relations, and dishing out spin at every opportunity.:yuk:

'Apparently' we have an unlimited source of funding!:rolleyes:

Strange that, they were saying the same at Maxjet.:uhoh:

I hope that the R.Bros. have deep pockets and a lot of sense, otherwise this is going to be one big mess. I really hope I am proved wrong!



"Silverjet was planned a few years ago when fuel was cheap and growth in passengers was rapid. They will have projected that they can make it work with planes 65% full.

Since then the fuel has doubled, planes have failed C checks and ADP has doubled. the planes were 55% full last month even after they have spent a fortune on PR."

Interesting comments Befree.

Various figures have been quoted to us, although the figure of 80% full is normally used.

I have just worked out the average percentage carried out on all my flights over the last 2 month. Wait for it -


It's a staggering 39%. :eek:


So unless something drastic happens soon, or as 'Beston Board' seems to suggest he/she is the only person working really hard and carrying all the passengers,:yuk: the company is not in good shape.:uhoh:

What really worries me is without the cash coming from the charter side (Flyjet), where is all the revenue going to come from?

We will barely have enough to switch on the lights in the buildings and the planes, and will be carrying people at a huge loss. This should be the big month for New-York, but I for one am certainly not seeing it in terms of passenger numbers.:uhoh:

With the price or fuel not likely to drop, and the airlines inability to gain credit, it all looks like another Maxjet disaster.:sad:



Airbourne-Adamski,

Thanks for the post.

"Hang on a minute, you kidding me.

No offence but I have been in customer service for 10 years, and not once has anyone during any training told me to be yes sir, no sir 3 bags full, like some servent in the victorian ages."

Perhaps "llanfairpg" has some merit in his post.;)

It sounds very much like working for Silverjet!

Yes Sir / No Sir to management - Yup.

3 bags full - Yup.

Some servant in the Victorian ages - Silverjet definitely.:yuk:

Come to think of it, the Silverjet management would have been brilliant at running a work house in the Victorian ages, only problem is they haven't worked out yet that people can actually leave these days, and boy oh boy they have been and continue to do so.:{



Well I am off to put my CV into overdrive, sleep, write Crimbo cards, avoid my Silverjet slave masters e.t.c...


Wishing everyone regardless of their views a Merry Christmas.:)


Silver Boy. x

Silverjet - "The modern day Victorian work house - Unsilivised"

No disrspect to you guys at SJ,

But of my crew was chatting (Galley FM as usual) and saying her friend left us at easy for SJ and is now desperate to leave SJ due to poor wages, bad management, no care for staff, not much work and generally not a good place to work (apart from her crew colleges).

I am so suprised things have got like this for you guys (if its all true)
I hope all turns out well for you guys one way or another.

Silverjet - The 'Unsivilised' Place to Work!
 

Airbourne-Adamski,

Thanks for the post.

"But of my crew was chatting (Galley FM as usual) and saying her friend left us at easy for SJ and is now desperate to leave SJ due to poor wages, bad management, no care for staff, not much work and generally not a good place to work (apart from her crew colleges)."


Unfortunately you don't surprise me - although 'not much work' is different to the norm. Most crew are exhausted with back to back flights to New York and Dubai.

The big problem with Silverjet, as you have hit on the head, is bad management and no care for staff. It deteriorates on a daily basis, and as long as the people at the top remain, things will never improve for us or the health of the company.:mad:

Most of them are running from other companies and are desperate to control things by brute force rather than respect and intelligence.:ugh:


Your friend is not in a minority. We have had several people join at levels including IFM, go through the months of training and investment, and then leave shortly afterwards. Some of them have been excellent people to work with.:{


We have recently even had one SC leave within a week of going on line!!!!!!!


Guess what the company just shrugs it off as if there are plenty more out there. Not believing in the brand, wrong beliefs e.t.c.......:yuk: When will they get real?:mad:


Sad thing is your friend had something to judge Silverjet by, and therefore an idea of how an airline, or for that matter any company should be run.

If they could, I am sure they would crew our planes totally with people without aviation experience. Great on paper, no complaints, just God help them when there is an incident that would quickly become an accident without people with experience.

Thankfully the CAA stops us doing this totally.:D


Unless things change dramatically, and by that I mean, management, price of oil and passenger numbers, Silverjet looks like another Maxjet!:(


I sincerely hope that someone in management is reading this, and I'd be kidding myself if they weren't, and for the first time steps back and smells the coffee. I'll probably just get another threat from them.:mad:


The recipe is there for the company, but just like the Titannic so are the ice-bergs which are getting perilously close!!!:eek:


Well I am off to put my CV into turbo-boost, take out life insurance, avoid my Silverjet slave masters e.t.c...


Wishing everyone regardless of their views a Happy New Year.:)


Silver Boy. x


Silverjet - "The modern day Victorian work house - Unsilivised"

Another 10% has been chopped off the shareprice today. With the shares how 75% off their peak it is going to be very hard for them to ever raise any more cash. It seems to be following the exact same path as Maxjet but 9 months later. When you start a new route it will lose money until it gets established. Even then it will lose money if you cannot get the loadfactor up past breakeven point. We will know in a few days how bad the December load factors were. It is very possible that the Newark route is still a long way from break even. Come March the cost base will rise with two more planes. It was just past that point that maxjet failed.

share price now 48p and decending !

Priceless1 - Regardless of the merits of Silverjet as a concept, airline or employer the next 12 months or so are going to quite tough for all airlines, with increased competition due to Open Skies, companies and consumers tightening their belts, banks being much more reluctant to lend money etc.

The established carriers are much better placed to ride this out and now is not the time to join a loss making start-up - as I say - regardless of whether it is any good or not.

From the horses mouth...
 

Hopefully to add some balance to the scale for those who are considering joining us...

To quote our CEO,

“We are delighted to announce another record month of passenger statistics representing an increase of 10.5% since November and 77% since August. Forward bookings remain strong for both our New York and Dubai services and yields remain ahead of expectations. The feedback from our customers and media in respect of Silverjet’s Dubai service has been fantastic and we remain very confident about this new route.
“During the month we booked a significant number of MAXjet passengers on our New York service as a result of our successful promotion to honour the MAXjet ticket price for a limited number of seats, following MAXjet’s filing for bankruptcy. Silverjet is in a very strong position, not only with our superior service in terms of our 30 minute check in, flat bed and private jet experience, but also our financial position having just raised a further £22m of investment to fund our growth. Before MAXjet ceased to operate, our average yield was over 50% higher than MAXjet’s and our revenue per aircraft was two and a half times higher than MAXjet’s in our first half year of operation, as well as our fuel cost per sector being 23% lower.
“In addition to seeing an increasing number of enquiries from corporate customers, we continue to see a very encouraging rise in the number of repeat customers. I am delighted to report that over 20% of our customers who are booking have flown with Silverjet at least once before.
“With the well publicised possibilities of strike action in the coming weeks at BAA operated airports and with one of our competitors, we are also seeing a strong increase in bookings from corporate customers who are normally restricted from flying only with specific airlines. In addition, our Silverjet Set company loyalty scheme introduced in November has seen over 700 registrations since launch and is proving hugely popular with Silverjet’s business travellers."

A Happy New Year to everyone out there... I hope it is a prosperous one for you...

BoB

spin
 

It is remarkable how that can make poor traffic numbers sound good.
They are very careful of what they compare.

increase of 10.5% since November is when they added 15.5% more seats.
77% since August is when they went from 1 plane to 3, capacity up 169%.

The planes are only 52.8% full when they would need maybe 80% full to cope with the high fuel costs.

The rest of the stats are rubish as well. 23% higher sector fuel for maxjet is due to them going to the west coast. The revenue per aircraft is carefully using the first 6 months when Silverjet had only one plane.

The £22m will mostly be burned in operating costs. The planes are all on lease so they own very little in the way of assets.

Thank you Befree, your aptitude for figures and monetary based facts is well above par. You deserve a great amount of credit for your abilities.
I would ask that we do not forget the human factor involved in any airline though. My heart goes out to all the crew and staff at MAXjet... Being advised on Christmas Eve that you are going to be out of a job is not a very welcome Christmas Present in my eyes...
As we are now one of the two remaining specialised carriers that are operating at the moment, the pressure is on for us to perform to our highest abilities.
The demise of MAXjet will of course have a knock on effect in regards to peoples efficacy of 'all business class' carriers. Silverjet have to prove that we can still offer an excellent service at an affordable price (compared to what you would have to pay for the legacy carriers)...
As part of the inaugral crew, Silverjet is not just a job for me... Alongside many of my colleagues, we helped write the service standards, have been involved with management directly on improving the airlines offerings and have seen Silverjet grow from 30+ cabin crew to over 200 now. (In the space of a year this is quite an expansion, I'm sure you will agree...)

Whilst I fully respect your input and factual based calculations, please spare a thought for the emotional aspects that are involved. Disparaging remarks already made by crew members (and former crew members) on this site are read by many crew within the company, can we not spare a thought for them?

We do have many outstanding features to our product that even the likes of EOS do not match. Private lounges and a 30 minute check in are proving to be a real winner. Our Inflight service is run by some of the most amazing crew I have ever had the pleasure of working with. My colleagues really are an asset and true credit to themselves. With the minimal exception, the crew on board blow me away every flight with their abilities...

Like any business risks are involved, if you look at some of the established airlines, they are struggling to make the grade at the minute. We will have to keep an eye on the horizon and see how business pans out... I can assure you though, I for one will be giving my all to see that Silverjet goes from strength to strength... All I can do is try...

Thanks

BoB