MK Airlines banned from movements Filton
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They will need all the luck in the world. Oil prices are approaching $90 a barrel Brent and expected $100 for the second half of this year! They better lease a couple o 800's for starters!
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Magma Aviation
I don't know what all the surprise is about - this is surely the worst kept secret for ever!
And what are Magma Aviation - is it just another reformed MK - in which case it will go in exactly the same way?
And what about the creditors (again) - where is the CAA financial oversight in all this?
And what are Magma Aviation - is it just another reformed MK - in which case it will go in exactly the same way?
And what about the creditors (again) - where is the CAA financial oversight in all this?
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Quote: Mighty
Magma Aviation
"if the ceo of mka found out about this earlier, he would have fired their arses!"
Wow that would be something!
They are all not getting paid, are all owed wages, and under all sorts of scrutiny from the CAA and the taxman, so they would be trembling at the thought of getting fired?
Come on get a grip. MK is on the brink.
Time to move on!
MK have been very lucky to have good people who hung on for so long.
Magma Aviation
"if the ceo of mka found out about this earlier, he would have fired their arses!"
Wow that would be something!
They are all not getting paid, are all owed wages, and under all sorts of scrutiny from the CAA and the taxman, so they would be trembling at the thought of getting fired?
Come on get a grip. MK is on the brink.
Time to move on!
MK have been very lucky to have good people who hung on for so long.
Join Date: May 2002
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Just heard a nasty rumour... MK has imploded again. All the remaining 3 aircraft have been grounded.
Anybody know if it is true????
If so, my thoughts go out to those who still remain in the company.
Anybody know if it is true????
If so, my thoughts go out to those who still remain in the company.
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Dont think that has happened yet, however my source fully expects the AOC to be revoked by the CAA tomorrow and once the last aircraft arrives in OST then they are grounded.
Guess it is time to lock the doors and put the keys through Krugers letter box.
Best of luck to the ones that gave their all.
Guess it is time to lock the doors and put the keys through Krugers letter box.
Best of luck to the ones that gave their all.
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MK Shuts Down
Voluntary shutdown as of today!
Without the financial resources to maintain necessary safety and service levels, MK Airlines will suspend its flights today, according to online news source IFW
Without the financial resources to maintain necessary safety and service levels, MK Airlines will suspend its flights today, according to online news source IFW
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EGMH..a down, not yet out, formerly awesome airfield
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from air cargo news
MK Airlines has suspended all flying after the struggling cargo carrier failed to secure sufficient funding to continue its operations.
The struggling UK-headquartered B747-200 freighter airline only exited administration last June with the promise of new investment. However, this appears to have failed to materialise and the future is now in extreme doubt.
Air Cargo News believes that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) visted MK's headquarters last week after learning that the airline was under financial stress. It is believed that staff salaries had been unpaid for several months and fuel and handling bills were also in arrears.
The airline is believed to have had until today to find new investment, but failed – the CAA having no alternative but to suspend the airline's operating certificate.
In a statement, the airline's prime customer – Panalpina – said: "Panalpina has been informed by its partner MK Airlines that the carrier is temporarily suspending its operation due to a lack of adequate resources. According to MK Airlines it cannot maintain a service and safety level expected.
"Panalpina and MK Airlines have been close partners for many years, cooperating mainly on the traderoute between Europe and Africa. Panalpina has secured sufficient capacity to guarantee its customers uplifts and highest service quality as usual. The company has worked out alternatives for the short-, medium- and long term, ensuring a smooth service for all customers."
The struggling UK-headquartered B747-200 freighter airline only exited administration last June with the promise of new investment. However, this appears to have failed to materialise and the future is now in extreme doubt.
Air Cargo News believes that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) visted MK's headquarters last week after learning that the airline was under financial stress. It is believed that staff salaries had been unpaid for several months and fuel and handling bills were also in arrears.
The airline is believed to have had until today to find new investment, but failed – the CAA having no alternative but to suspend the airline's operating certificate.
In a statement, the airline's prime customer – Panalpina – said: "Panalpina has been informed by its partner MK Airlines that the carrier is temporarily suspending its operation due to a lack of adequate resources. According to MK Airlines it cannot maintain a service and safety level expected.
"Panalpina and MK Airlines have been close partners for many years, cooperating mainly on the traderoute between Europe and Africa. Panalpina has secured sufficient capacity to guarantee its customers uplifts and highest service quality as usual. The company has worked out alternatives for the short-, medium- and long term, ensuring a smooth service for all customers."
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Just to clear all the *
* on the forum once again!
The CAA have never demanded the aoc from MK nor have they grounded the airline.
Mike Kruger surrendered the aoc.
The airline has not collapsed. Meetings will take place next week to see if funds can be raised to once again re-start operations. Fingers crossed.
Thank you Mike, all the staff, pilots, engineers, clients and suppliers that have supported us
* on the forum once again!The CAA have never demanded the aoc from MK nor have they grounded the airline.
Mike Kruger surrendered the aoc.
The airline has not collapsed. Meetings will take place next week to see if funds can be raised to once again re-start operations. Fingers crossed.
Thank you Mike, all the staff, pilots, engineers, clients and suppliers that have supported us
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MKA Freighter - You sound like the Captain of the Titanic...............
This outcome was always inevitable due to the type of aircraft MK operated and the rates that they charged (too low). Certain customers have milked the MK gravy-train for too long and now they will realise they will have to pay a lot more for the same level of service in the future.
As they say in the Startrek movies 'it's worse than that, it's dead Jim !'
Good luck to all the MK staff and crews and hope that they find gainful employment in the future. Mike is a survivor and I'm sure he won't be down for too long. MK join IAS, Tradewinds, Das Air and others and believe me, they won't be back.
This outcome was always inevitable due to the type of aircraft MK operated and the rates that they charged (too low). Certain customers have milked the MK gravy-train for too long and now they will realise they will have to pay a lot more for the same level of service in the future.
As they say in the Startrek movies 'it's worse than that, it's dead Jim !'
Good luck to all the MK staff and crews and hope that they find gainful employment in the future. Mike is a survivor and I'm sure he won't be down for too long. MK join IAS, Tradewinds, Das Air and others and believe me, they won't be back.
very sad all this, lots of very hard working guys (and gals ) who i hope are working on rambo`s theory that you cannot face saterday without a hangover,
let down by the suits,,,,,,,,,, very sad.
angry gs
let down by the suits,,,,,,,,,, very sad.
angry gs
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The G-MKBA and EA are both in Ostend now. The EA was towed this afternoon (after standing about 2 days on apron 2) to apron 1. The BA arrived today at +/- 18h20 LT (GMT +2) and after being unloaded it was also towed to apron 1.
I hope they won't be standing there for too long!
I hope they won't be standing there for too long!
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This is IFW's latest coverage:
Grounded MK Airlines returns operating licences - International Freighting Weekly - ifw-net.com
Grounded MK Airlines returns operating licences
Will Waters | Mon, 12 Apr 2010
Freighter operator tells customers its financial problems mean it can no longer maintain necessary service and safety levels
MK Airlines has suspended operations because of financial problems and returned its operating licence and air operator’s certificate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
A spokesman for the CAA told IFW that MK had voluntarily returned the licences at 8am this morning, but was unable to comment on the reasons for the airline’s actions.
Forwarding sources said the freighter operator suspended operations on Friday, having told customers it had become impossible, with its current financial resources, to maintain the service and safety levels expected.
IFW reported last month that the airline, which operated B747 freighters between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, was in financial difficulty and that some MK staff had been told not to expect wages to be paid for seven or eight weeks due to cash-flow problems.
MK had confirmed at the time that there had been a delay to some payments to staff, but had been optimistic that the recent revival in air freight demand and rates would ease its financial challenges.
MK’s biggest customer, forwarder Panalpina, confirmed on Friday that it had been notified of the suspension of flights, but said this would have no impact on the continuation of its Africa operations.
Matthias Frey, manager of Panalpina’s own-controlled air network, said: “Panalpina and MK Airlines have been close partners for many years, co-operating mainly on the trade route between Europe and Africa.
“Panalpina has secured sufficient capacity to guarantee its customers uplifts and highest service quality as usual.
“The company has worked out alternatives for the short, medium, and long-term, ensuring a smooth service for all customers.”
Airline sources said a team from the UK CAA visited MK Airlines two weeks ago to check whether MK had adequate resources to continue to guarantee safe flight operations.
The CAA team was expected to return to MK’s UK headquarters on Friday, in order to verify that certain changes had been forthcoming, including the payment of flight crew and other staff wages and outstanding debts to fuel and handling providers and air traffic control authorities.
Several airline sources said they expected the CAA to rescind MK’s air operator’s certificate on Friday, although the CAA told IFW MK had retained possession of its AOC and operating licence until this morning.
MK briefly ceased operating in mid-2008, when problems raising new funding forced the airline into administration, although it resumed flight operations in June 2008 after the company’s joint administrators secured an initial funding arrangement with Transatlantic Aviation, part of the Belfairs Management group.
After emerging from administration, it had been operating with a reduced fleet of just two or three freighters – compared with up to eight B747s three years ago.
Sources said promised additional funding from its new owners had not been forthcoming.
No one from MK Airlines was available to comment.
Grounded MK Airlines returns operating licences - International Freighting Weekly - ifw-net.com
Grounded MK Airlines returns operating licences
Will Waters | Mon, 12 Apr 2010
Freighter operator tells customers its financial problems mean it can no longer maintain necessary service and safety levels
MK Airlines has suspended operations because of financial problems and returned its operating licence and air operator’s certificate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
A spokesman for the CAA told IFW that MK had voluntarily returned the licences at 8am this morning, but was unable to comment on the reasons for the airline’s actions.
Forwarding sources said the freighter operator suspended operations on Friday, having told customers it had become impossible, with its current financial resources, to maintain the service and safety levels expected.
IFW reported last month that the airline, which operated B747 freighters between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, was in financial difficulty and that some MK staff had been told not to expect wages to be paid for seven or eight weeks due to cash-flow problems.
MK had confirmed at the time that there had been a delay to some payments to staff, but had been optimistic that the recent revival in air freight demand and rates would ease its financial challenges.
MK’s biggest customer, forwarder Panalpina, confirmed on Friday that it had been notified of the suspension of flights, but said this would have no impact on the continuation of its Africa operations.
Matthias Frey, manager of Panalpina’s own-controlled air network, said: “Panalpina and MK Airlines have been close partners for many years, co-operating mainly on the trade route between Europe and Africa.
“Panalpina has secured sufficient capacity to guarantee its customers uplifts and highest service quality as usual.
“The company has worked out alternatives for the short, medium, and long-term, ensuring a smooth service for all customers.”
Airline sources said a team from the UK CAA visited MK Airlines two weeks ago to check whether MK had adequate resources to continue to guarantee safe flight operations.
The CAA team was expected to return to MK’s UK headquarters on Friday, in order to verify that certain changes had been forthcoming, including the payment of flight crew and other staff wages and outstanding debts to fuel and handling providers and air traffic control authorities.
Several airline sources said they expected the CAA to rescind MK’s air operator’s certificate on Friday, although the CAA told IFW MK had retained possession of its AOC and operating licence until this morning.
MK briefly ceased operating in mid-2008, when problems raising new funding forced the airline into administration, although it resumed flight operations in June 2008 after the company’s joint administrators secured an initial funding arrangement with Transatlantic Aviation, part of the Belfairs Management group.
After emerging from administration, it had been operating with a reduced fleet of just two or three freighters – compared with up to eight B747s three years ago.
Sources said promised additional funding from its new owners had not been forthcoming.
No one from MK Airlines was available to comment.
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MK and Panalpina
Panalpina were MK's biggest (by far) client. They (Panlapina) have been under investigation for bribery for the past 2 years and as a result their traffic to Africa had dropped off dramatically. I do not understand how MK could have claimed that they expected business to improve when this was going on and why it took a visit from the CAA to convince them to voluntarily give up their AOC.
Why did the CAA not see this coming (after all they must read IFW and these forums!)?
This article was published by IFW 2 months ago..
Panalpina shareholders demand answers
Damian Brett | Fri, 12 Mar 2010
Anger over forwarder's falling market share over past two years
Panalpina has vowed to hold on to its market share over the coming 12 months after losing ground to competitors last year.
The forwarder’s annual results telephone conference with shareholders and analysts yesterday became heated, with one shareholder demanding someone “step up and take responsibility for the poor performance”, referring to market share lost over the last two years.
In response, CEO Monika Ribar said she also felt frustrated over losing ground to competitors and blamed exposure to trade lanes hit hard by the recession and an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over alleged corruption in Nigeria under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
She said: “It is not easy being under investigation for two years, and it is not making the situation any easier. But it is our target to grow in line with the market.”
Chief operating officer Karl Weyeneth added: “In terms of volume, on our really key lanes, such as Far East westbound, transatlantic and transpacific, we did not lose share in 2009.
“The share loss came from lanes where we had a lot of business affected by the FCPA, such as African oil and gas business, where we lost dramatic share.
“You can say the whole FCPA and Nigeria situation reflects badly on the management, but the fact is that as long as we are still involved in the investigation we will continue to lose market share, because our customers have internal regulations which prevent them from doing business with companies which are under investigation by the DoJ.
“As soon as this investigation is over, we will win some of this business back. Customers have told us ‘as soon as you have settled the FCPA, we will do business with you again’.”
Panalpina said it also suffered due to its high proportion of business with large companies that reduced their volumes last year.
However, these larger clients were starting to increase their volumes again, especially in the hi-tech and telecoms industries.
Panalpina also revealed that last year it faced an “unprecedented squeeze” on its gross profit per unit, which declined by 30% year-on-year in Q4 for both air and ocean, because of a lag between rates rising and passing the increases on to customers.
The situation improved in January and February for its air sector, but its ocean sector’s profit per unit declined even further because ocean rates continued to increase.
In case rates from carriers continue to increase this year, Panalpina is trying to get customers to sign contracts allowing the forwarder to implement peak season surcharges, exit clauses and volume caps.
Why did the CAA not see this coming (after all they must read IFW and these forums!)?
This article was published by IFW 2 months ago..
Panalpina shareholders demand answers
Damian Brett | Fri, 12 Mar 2010
Anger over forwarder's falling market share over past two years
Panalpina has vowed to hold on to its market share over the coming 12 months after losing ground to competitors last year.
The forwarder’s annual results telephone conference with shareholders and analysts yesterday became heated, with one shareholder demanding someone “step up and take responsibility for the poor performance”, referring to market share lost over the last two years.
In response, CEO Monika Ribar said she also felt frustrated over losing ground to competitors and blamed exposure to trade lanes hit hard by the recession and an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over alleged corruption in Nigeria under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
She said: “It is not easy being under investigation for two years, and it is not making the situation any easier. But it is our target to grow in line with the market.”
Chief operating officer Karl Weyeneth added: “In terms of volume, on our really key lanes, such as Far East westbound, transatlantic and transpacific, we did not lose share in 2009.
“The share loss came from lanes where we had a lot of business affected by the FCPA, such as African oil and gas business, where we lost dramatic share.
“You can say the whole FCPA and Nigeria situation reflects badly on the management, but the fact is that as long as we are still involved in the investigation we will continue to lose market share, because our customers have internal regulations which prevent them from doing business with companies which are under investigation by the DoJ.
“As soon as this investigation is over, we will win some of this business back. Customers have told us ‘as soon as you have settled the FCPA, we will do business with you again’.”
Panalpina said it also suffered due to its high proportion of business with large companies that reduced their volumes last year.
However, these larger clients were starting to increase their volumes again, especially in the hi-tech and telecoms industries.
Panalpina also revealed that last year it faced an “unprecedented squeeze” on its gross profit per unit, which declined by 30% year-on-year in Q4 for both air and ocean, because of a lag between rates rising and passing the increases on to customers.
The situation improved in January and February for its air sector, but its ocean sector’s profit per unit declined even further because ocean rates continued to increase.
In case rates from carriers continue to increase this year, Panalpina is trying to get customers to sign contracts allowing the forwarder to implement peak season surcharges, exit clauses and volume caps.