The Rumour Mill Continues.
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The Rumour Mill Continues.
I've just heard two rumours, one curious and the other makes me glad I'm not Tech Crew.
1.It appears that the Fox/Lew consortium has almost signed for new aircraft, twenty-six A320s firm order and a mix of forty A319/A320 options. Considering the target market, can anyone enlighten me as to the possible reasons for A319s? I had heard that the initial order was to be A321s, why the smaller aircraft?
2. I hear there is a KD management proposal, which has the support of the AFAP, that, conditional upon the company remaining a SAAB operator, albeit with fewer aircraft, ex-CRJ pilots are to be given priority of employment on the SAABs, and the junior crews currently flying them are to be given the flick. The argument appears to be cost-based, in that it is cheaper to pay redundancy to junior crews than the CRJ people. Who'd be a KD F/O? Come to that, who'd be a career pilot?
Comments, anyone, remembering that they are only rumours, and I regret I can't divulge my sources!!!
Kind regards to all,
TheNightOwl.
1.It appears that the Fox/Lew consortium has almost signed for new aircraft, twenty-six A320s firm order and a mix of forty A319/A320 options. Considering the target market, can anyone enlighten me as to the possible reasons for A319s? I had heard that the initial order was to be A321s, why the smaller aircraft?
2. I hear there is a KD management proposal, which has the support of the AFAP, that, conditional upon the company remaining a SAAB operator, albeit with fewer aircraft, ex-CRJ pilots are to be given priority of employment on the SAABs, and the junior crews currently flying them are to be given the flick. The argument appears to be cost-based, in that it is cheaper to pay redundancy to junior crews than the CRJ people. Who'd be a KD F/O? Come to that, who'd be a career pilot?
Comments, anyone, remembering that they are only rumours, and I regret I can't divulge my sources!!!
Kind regards to all,
TheNightOwl.
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Nightowl, 2. Since being placed into Administration Hazelton have ceased being a Metro 23 operator. So I guess anything is possible. However an examination of the Kendell Route structure would indicate to you that a number of routes that the company flies are really only 19 Pax aircraft routes and further examination of the demographics would indicate that the situation is not likely to improve but perhaps gets worse. A couple of routes where you would think their is a possibility of improving market share are highly competetive routes and so I guess it might be better to make a profit with a lower capacity aircraft than a loss with a higher capacity aircraft. Kendell operate both 340A and 340B Aircraft and your posting would seem to indicate that any management buyout may include only company owned aircraft. It would also appear that by not remaining a metro23 operation the management buyout would not be involved in operations in South Australia. 
Night Owl,
Judging by the route structure that was detailed in the other thread, the A319 would be perfect for routes such as SYD-HBA, SYD-CBR, MEL-HBA etc.
In retrospect, the A319 should always have been part of the AN fleet, as too the A321, rather than the ridiculous 733/320 mix. Ahh, the joys of hindsight.
Cheers,
TL
Judging by the route structure that was detailed in the other thread, the A319 would be perfect for routes such as SYD-HBA, SYD-CBR, MEL-HBA etc.
In retrospect, the A319 should always have been part of the AN fleet, as too the A321, rather than the ridiculous 733/320 mix. Ahh, the joys of hindsight.
Cheers,
TL
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The rumour regarding KD goes hand in hand with the rumour that the only part of KD's operations with an interested party is SA's operations.
Following speculation in yet another thread, this party may well be Airlines of SA (which is Qantas linked).
If you cut SA, there is quite an argument for S340 only operations, with the possible exception of a couple of Victorian routes (Portland, King Island etc.)
Following speculation in yet another thread, this party may well be Airlines of SA (which is Qantas linked).
If you cut SA, there is quite an argument for S340 only operations, with the possible exception of a couple of Victorian routes (Portland, King Island etc.)
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The day that Ansett/Fox/Lew airlines has a fleet of 66 Airbus aircraft, I shall run for Prime Minister of Australia and if elected - shall Knight them both !!!!!!!
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Nightowl, your information is correct. Just one thing that you forgot to mention, not only is it cheaper for the CRJ pilots to get downtrained and lose their collegues to the inevitable, but its actually in the EBA. Last on, first off. This whole situation is terribly unfortunate, but that's just the way it is.
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Buster,
It was not RJH who arranged Abeles' knighthood. It was the LIBERAL Premier of NSW one Robert Askin for services (unspecified) rendered. You can be sure that, when it came to busines, loosely speaking, Abeles had flexible allegiances. You can thank Askin and Abeles for the fact that Australia still lacks an efficient rail freight system because freight which should properly travel by rail is conveyed over our national road system at great cost to the taxpayer for maintenance and repairs but at great profit to the trucking companies.....but NOT the DRIVERS!!!!Abeles laid the ground work for that with his union mates.
Only recently Tim Fischer has been pushing for a national rail freight system so it seems that, at last, at least one (ex) politician has woken up.
It was not RJH who arranged Abeles' knighthood. It was the LIBERAL Premier of NSW one Robert Askin for services (unspecified) rendered. You can be sure that, when it came to busines, loosely speaking, Abeles had flexible allegiances. You can thank Askin and Abeles for the fact that Australia still lacks an efficient rail freight system because freight which should properly travel by rail is conveyed over our national road system at great cost to the taxpayer for maintenance and repairs but at great profit to the trucking companies.....but NOT the DRIVERS!!!!Abeles laid the ground work for that with his union mates.
Only recently Tim Fischer has been pushing for a national rail freight system so it seems that, at last, at least one (ex) politician has woken up.
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Buster & GG you can relax, I don't think I could lower myself to a political career at this stage in life. Besides,Ansett/Fox/Lew airlines will never get much bigger than 30 aircraft as there is simply no market for it now. Qantas has effectively squashed any chance of significant competition being established in the short term (3 years)because of it's flooding of the market with cheap seats,using BA 747s & 767s. All under the guise of helping out the travelling public because of Ansett's demise.
Nontheless,they have marketed extremely well and have sold their product to thousands of passengers in the past 2 months.
Provided Lang Corp (and this is a BIG proviso because they really want Ansett's terminal space) don't throw a spanner in the works I can see, down the track Ansett & Virgin having 30 aircraft each and a market share of 40% (this will vary as it did with the two airline policy) and Qantas with 60% and being kept "honest" on the routes that are shared.
Nontheless,they have marketed extremely well and have sold their product to thousands of passengers in the past 2 months.
Provided Lang Corp (and this is a BIG proviso because they really want Ansett's terminal space) don't throw a spanner in the works I can see, down the track Ansett & Virgin having 30 aircraft each and a market share of 40% (this will vary as it did with the two airline policy) and Qantas with 60% and being kept "honest" on the routes that are shared.
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Whiskery, no BA 747's or 767's have arrived at QF for over a year now.
They are using NLH, (the BA lease 744) on domestic services, probably figuring if they are going to rack up the cycles on a -400 it may as well be one that will be going back to BA at some stage. (also probably vengeance on BA for foisting that particular bent piece of crap on them in the first place..
)
They are using NLH, (the BA lease 744) on domestic services, probably figuring if they are going to rack up the cycles on a -400 it may as well be one that will be going back to BA at some stage. (also probably vengeance on BA for foisting that particular bent piece of crap on them in the first place..
)
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Doesn't matter now it's all in the hands of Messrs Fox & Lew.
Mon, Nov 26 2001 3:54 PM AEDT
Fox-Lew deal definite for Ansett
Virgin, Lang in talks for Ansett assets
Ansett administrators have ruled out the possibility of the airline being sold to anyone other than the Lindsay Fox-Solomon Lew consortium.
Virgin Blue and stevedoring giant Lang Corporation submitted a late proposal rivalling the Fox-Lew bid.
But today administrator Mark Mentha ended speculation Ansett is on the market.
"The Fox-Lew deal, as far as the administrators are concerned, it's full steam ahead and we're going for launch in terms of the airline and the launch date is 31 January," he said.
Eleventh hour bid
Virgin Blue and Lang Corporation put forward a late bid to save the embattled Ansett airlines.
Representatives of both companies emerged from a meeting with Ansett administrators in Melbourne this morning.
Those involved in finalising the 11th-hour deal admitted details were scant.
They were waiting on Ansett's administrators to provide them with more facts and figures to help finalise their proposal.
The Virgin/Lang proposal would reportedly give greater return to creditors and does not rely on Government assistance. It would signal the end of the Ansett name and double the size of Virgin.
Not too late: Anderson
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson has refused to say whether the administrators moved too early on the offer from businessmen Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew.
But he says the administrator is obliged to consider the latest bid by the Lang Corporation and Virgin Blue airlines.
"They're very different bids," he said.
"I think the thing that we're looking for more than anything else is real competition and real choice in the aviation market."
Unions doubtful
Australia's peak union body says jobs should be the focus of any takeover of Ansett airlines' assets.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet has doubts about the viability of a deal between Virgin and Lang.
Mr Combet says his understanding is that the Virgin-Lang proposal involves only 2,000 employees from Ansett's workforce of 16,000.
"With the Fox-Lew proposal, there are about 4,000 jobs in a mainline airline plus about 2,500 others in regional airline plus another 2,000 in ancillary businesses," he said.
"So if you're looking at 2,000 jobs versus 6,000, 7,000 or 8,000 jobs, there's isn't much choice in it."
Last minute Ansett bidders Virgin Blue and Lang Corporation have admitted they're unlikely to succeed in buying the airline.
ABC Top Stories
Fox-Lew deal definite for Ansett
Mon, Nov 26 2001 3:54 PM AEDT
Fox-Lew deal definite for Ansett
Virgin, Lang in talks for Ansett assets
Ansett administrators have ruled out the possibility of the airline being sold to anyone other than the Lindsay Fox-Solomon Lew consortium.
Virgin Blue and stevedoring giant Lang Corporation submitted a late proposal rivalling the Fox-Lew bid.
But today administrator Mark Mentha ended speculation Ansett is on the market.
"The Fox-Lew deal, as far as the administrators are concerned, it's full steam ahead and we're going for launch in terms of the airline and the launch date is 31 January," he said.
Eleventh hour bid
Virgin Blue and Lang Corporation put forward a late bid to save the embattled Ansett airlines.
Representatives of both companies emerged from a meeting with Ansett administrators in Melbourne this morning.
Those involved in finalising the 11th-hour deal admitted details were scant.
They were waiting on Ansett's administrators to provide them with more facts and figures to help finalise their proposal.
The Virgin/Lang proposal would reportedly give greater return to creditors and does not rely on Government assistance. It would signal the end of the Ansett name and double the size of Virgin.
Not too late: Anderson
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson has refused to say whether the administrators moved too early on the offer from businessmen Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew.
But he says the administrator is obliged to consider the latest bid by the Lang Corporation and Virgin Blue airlines.
"They're very different bids," he said.
"I think the thing that we're looking for more than anything else is real competition and real choice in the aviation market."
Unions doubtful
Australia's peak union body says jobs should be the focus of any takeover of Ansett airlines' assets.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet has doubts about the viability of a deal between Virgin and Lang.
Mr Combet says his understanding is that the Virgin-Lang proposal involves only 2,000 employees from Ansett's workforce of 16,000.
"With the Fox-Lew proposal, there are about 4,000 jobs in a mainline airline plus about 2,500 others in regional airline plus another 2,000 in ancillary businesses," he said.
"So if you're looking at 2,000 jobs versus 6,000, 7,000 or 8,000 jobs, there's isn't much choice in it."
Last minute Ansett bidders Virgin Blue and Lang Corporation have admitted they're unlikely to succeed in buying the airline.
ABC Top Stories
Fox-Lew deal definite for Ansett
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Betedete,
the expensive pay out of the older pilots from the CRJ actually becomes a bottom line liability to a new owner.Downtraining a cost too.Hope your management proposal gets up for you because "the way it is" can change very quickly.
the expensive pay out of the older pilots from the CRJ actually becomes a bottom line liability to a new owner.Downtraining a cost too.Hope your management proposal gets up for you because "the way it is" can change very quickly.
Evertonian
Go Girl! Anytime, anywhere!!!! Last time I heard that, was at the ticketing counter!!! 
(not that theres anything wrong with that!)
Thanks RR. I didn't know who gave it to him, but he learnt his lesson well from RMA. The first takeover attempt in the early '70's by TNT over AN failed because of Reg's links with Bolte. Reg told him,
"You can't run around doing business, without knowing who the politicians are!"
As with the topic, BZF & RMM will be leaving Oz very soon, bound for the Emerald Isle...
(not that theres anything wrong with that!)Thanks RR. I didn't know who gave it to him, but he learnt his lesson well from RMA. The first takeover attempt in the early '70's by TNT over AN failed because of Reg's links with Bolte. Reg told him,
"You can't run around doing business, without knowing who the politicians are!"
As with the topic, BZF & RMM will be leaving Oz very soon, bound for the Emerald Isle...
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Glad to see some people are still having fun at the expense of the AN staff!
'Nightclub plan for Ansett jets'
From AAP
27nov01
ONE of the world's biggest dance music companies says it has made a late bid to turn Ansett planes into flying nightclubs.
The UK-based Ministry of Sound told ABC radio today it had put forward a proposal to Ansett's administrator to buy four jets.
The company originally planned to begin an airline in Europe but said the Ansett collapse had provided a good opportunity to acquire high quality planes and staff.
Commercial brand director Richard Mergler said with several modifications the planes would recreate the nightclub experience and fly to parties interstate and overseas.
"We're going to be doing Sydney-Melbourne to begin with where you fly from Sydney to Melbourne late in the evening, there will be DJs on board, special DJ decks will have been installed into where the business seats were," Mr Mergler told ABC radio.
"It'll just be a really fun atmosphere, they'll party all night in the town and if there's a big event that coincides with it, they'll obviously go to that."
'Nightclub plan for Ansett jets'
From AAP
27nov01
ONE of the world's biggest dance music companies says it has made a late bid to turn Ansett planes into flying nightclubs.
The UK-based Ministry of Sound told ABC radio today it had put forward a proposal to Ansett's administrator to buy four jets.
The company originally planned to begin an airline in Europe but said the Ansett collapse had provided a good opportunity to acquire high quality planes and staff.
Commercial brand director Richard Mergler said with several modifications the planes would recreate the nightclub experience and fly to parties interstate and overseas.
"We're going to be doing Sydney-Melbourne to begin with where you fly from Sydney to Melbourne late in the evening, there will be DJs on board, special DJ decks will have been installed into where the business seats were," Mr Mergler told ABC radio.
"It'll just be a really fun atmosphere, they'll party all night in the town and if there's a big event that coincides with it, they'll obviously go to that."
Evertonian
Too late Whiskery. There were lots of people already doing that at AN before the collapse. It was just one big party and the money would always flow..... 
