Thats very good, but are these guys all available from their current jobs to fly over here at short notice !?!

Guys, with all due respect, but some of you are over-reacting. This is precisely what the CEO wanted to achieve. All he is aiming for, is spreading fear to help him negotiate a better ( read:worse) collective work agreement.
Don't panic and seek legal advice, chaps.
Good luck!

Let's not exaggerate: the 744 and 748 are common types and you don't need a special rating to fly a 748.

All you need is a quick transition course of a few days, I think the FAA minimum is 2 days. :hmm:

From "rumours" it appears that Cargolux Italia is currently running with nearly 30 pilots for 1 aeroplane, is this a normal Crew index in the cargo business? I thought a crew Index of 6-7 max 8 would be enough!

Who know what?
 

What I realise by reading all these stuffs here, is that nobody knows anything! Thanks to PPRUNE that stands for "Rumour Network".
However, somebody knows many things: M. Akbar Al-Baker. Is there anybody who's ready to ask him his point of view? That would help, isn't it?

the management at cv needs to address cost issues and productivity top down and not the other way..in 2008 -2009 crisis certain members of cv wanted to downsize to 8 aircraft,fortunately one vp maintained that a 14 a/c fleet would survive and consequently this proved correct with a return to profits when others were suffering. if the arabs go there will others more than willing to fill the gap.. believe me..:D

Tank2Engine, thank you, yes, I am well aware of the requirements for the "conversion" to the -8 having done it myself !

My point was that the whole Cargolux Italia scenario seemed unlikely, and giving them all a quick conversion to the -8 was included in my doubts.

The FAA or Boeing quote of a 2 day course is absolutely ridiculous in my humble opinion.

Well...if the Arabs let CV go down the drain then those same Arabs (read: QR) will fill probably the void. :suspect:

It's a win-win situation for them; spend a few million (perhaps the equivalent of one 777F) to buy only 35% in a company, run it into the ground, and then take all it's assets/customers/employees/routes.

To quote Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels: It's a deal, it's a steal, it's the Sale of the f*kcing Century!" In fact, f*kc it Nick, I think I'll keep it" ;)

Suppose, hypothetically speaking, that a new business plan only caters for 5-7 aircraft in LUX and mass lay-offs are required, then that problem will be solved instantly as hundreds of -8 rated pilots will flood the market. Given a choice, I would guess that those laid off pilots will probably prefer a new base in MXP over one in DOH.

IMHO it could be a zero sum game, you don't need any new or additional -8 pilots. The only thing required is to (forcefully) transfer a bunch of already -8 rated pilots by making them redundant in once place (LUX) whilst waving a new and lower contract in front of their faces from another place (MXP or perhaps DOH). :{

Shareholder structure to stay the same at Cargolux

Photo: Guy Jallay
(CS) The distribution of shares among Cargolux shareholders is to remain the same, ministers confirmed to unions at a meeting on Thursday.

LCGB President Patrick Dury said that Economy Minister Etienne Schneider and Transport Minister Claude Wiseler had confirmed that the current structure of shareholder would remain in place, even should the company be recapitalised.

In the meeting unions demanded that the Luxembourg social model be upheld and they asked for clarification on the structural changes Cargolux is envisioning.

While unions agreed that there were difficulties in the industry, representatives said it was time to stop toying with employees' fears. They added that it was in the best interest of Cargolux to motivate its employees.

Ahead of the meeting, Economy Minister Etienne Schneider had said he wants to keep maintenance operations of the air freight carried in Findel, saying that ways would have to be found to make the sector competitive.

Next week Tuesday, representatives of the government, the unions, as well as Cargolux, Luxair and lux-Airport will meet for a round table discussion on the future of the Luxembourg air transport sector.

Lux Wort paper reporting that staff, with Union support, planning a demo in front of Parliament on Nov 13 . Big question is why the government , 65 % share holder, seems to be sitting on its hands. CV and LG are major employers.

Not recent but still interesting: Cargo expansion for Qatar Airways - The National

It's all widely known and and largely outdated blablabla about "it would make a very potent airline between us and them." In the mean time, 1,5 years down the road, the facts are telling a totally opposite story, perhaps that's the only interesting thing about it. Humorous however, is that as usual, "Mr al Baker declined to provide actual figures." :)

Here's another nice (and more recent) interview in which Mr. al Baker dodges the whole QR profitability issue. Lot's of rumours and hearsay, but nothing official black on white in the form of an annual statement. So, before they have a go at the profitability of CV, I really wonder how much money does the QR cargo branch make or lose every month flying cargo at rock bottom rates in order to gain market share with brand new and expensive 777F's? :suspect:

topic went very quiet... everything fixed? all happy again at cv?

Not really

Flight Global reporting that Qatar is ditching its stake in Cargolux. What happens now?

http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/qatar-pulling-out-of-cargolux-say-airline-sources.html?utm_source=googleNews&utm_medium=organic&utm_ca mpaign=news_feed

Good news or really bad news???

Apparently the luxembourg government is already looking for new shareholders. In this case Volga-Dnepr

Article in german from a local newspaper:
Tageblatt Online - Qatar Airways könnte aussteigen - Nachrichten

It's official: Qatar Airways to split from Cargolux

LW Archive
(ADW) It is now official! Qatar Airways is pulling out of Cargolux and the Chairman of the Board Albert Wildgen is resigning. Rumours regarding the split circulating throughout the day were confirmed by Transport Minister Claude Wiseler to the "Luxemburger Wort".

On Friday a strategic Cargolux board meeting was held which included Qatar Airways head Akbar Al Baker.

What Qatar Airways wanted was the interim CEO and CFO of Cargolux, Richard Forson, to become the permanent CEO. However Luxembourg shareholders had ruled this out at a meeting that layed out the strategic future of the company, explained the Minister of Transport.

Akbar Al-Baker’s response was that there was no point in continuing with Cargolux and therefore Qatar Airways would pull out of the agreement.


Albert Wildgen, the outgoing Cargolux CEO
Albert Wildgen’s resignation

At the same time the resignation of Albert Wildgen as Chairman of Cargolux became known. According to RTL, he will still remain in the post until the end of November, a position he has only held since September 2011 as the successor to Marc Hoffmann.

Just how soon Qatar Airways will split from Cargolux and and who will take over their 35 percent of the company is not yet clear, emphasised Minister Wiseler.

If you think about it... the 35% will cost 3-4 football players (Soccer for the cousins)....

is this good or bad news?

On balance a good thing I would have thought.

The whole affair shows to me that the Qataris in general and AAB in particular are incapable of working in a democracy and their success relies on an autocratic management style and a servile, non-unionised workforce.

At least with the replacement shareholder there is a chance that there will be the possibility of social dialogue. Sink or swim, CV employees will have more input to their fate.

Standby for the rape and pillage of Oneworld next year, when QR becomes a full member next year.

Good luck guys, CV have survived worse moments than this before.

Well said young man,
I think every change is better than to work with AAB. Good luck for one world!
And maybe the government has learned to sell only 33% next time!
But at least he didn't come through with his ridiculous demands and aggressive and arrogant style, not a way to start synergies between partners.
Let's hope for the best!
Take care and enjoy the GP in Austin!

Crisis at Cargolux could affect 747 freighter orders
 

Crisis at Cargolux could affect 747 freighter orders | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times

Crisis at Cargolux could affect 747 freighter orders

Qatar Airways is divesting its 35 percent stake in Cargolux, leaving the launch customer for Boeing’s 747-8 freighter jet to face an uncertain future.

By Dominic Gates

Boeing delivered a 747-8 jumbo freighter to Cargolux Airlines on Monday, even as a major crisis unfolded back at the cargo carrier’s headquarters in Luxembourg that could derail future deliveries.

Cargolux confirmed Monday that Qatar Airways will divest its 35 percent stake in the company just 11 months after completing the investment.

According to reports in Europe, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker walked out of a stormy shareholders meeting after a half-hour Friday.

The Luxembourg government, which owns a majority share of Cargolux, that evening announced Qatar would shed its ownership stake. “Mr. Al Baker made a series of demands that were considered as being difficult to accept,” Cargolux spokeswoman Martine Scheuren told Bloomberg News.

The Boeing 747-8 delivered Monday, with a market value of about $185 million, was Cargolux’s sixth. The carrier has seven more on order.

The undelivered jets are worth $2.5 billion at list prices, though after standard discounts the real value, based on market data from aircraft-valuation firm Avitas, is about $1.3 billion.

The 747-8 has sold slowly. Boeing’s unfilled order book has less than 80 jets, or just over three years of production if all are delivered.

Boeing declined to discuss details of its customer’s business, but said it is working with Cargolux to deliver the remaining jets.

With the global cargo market depressed, Cargolux has been bleeding money. It lost $18 million in 2011, the third annual loss in four years.

The inflow of Qatari money was seen as a way to stabilize the airline.

However, the Qatari plans — which included cutting costs by closing a Luxembourg maintenance base and transferring some operations to Doha — didn’t sit well with the Cargolux unions or the government in Luxembourg, where Cargolux employs almost 1,200.

David Harris, senior editor of Cargo Facts, an industry newsletter produced by Seattle-based Air Cargo Management Group, said the government and Qatar Airways differed sharply over protecting local jobs.

“Luxembourg is a very union-friendly country and highly regulated,” Harris said. “There was a clash.”

Scott Hamilton, industry analyst with Leeham.net, said Qatar Airways was pressing Cargolux to open a hub in Doha and to use Qatar Airways’ 777 freighter jets instead of the larger 747-8s.

Qatar operates four 777 freighters, with four more pending delivery.

Hamilton said a source told him Qatar wanted Cargolux to cancel its remaining 747-8 orders.

Possible investors who might step in for Qatar’s stake in Cargolux are Russian carrier AirBridge Cargo and China’s HNA Group, owner of Hainan Airlines. HNA lost out to Qatar in bidding for the Cargolux stake last year.

Cargolux said Albert Wildgen, who was brought in as company chairman at the time of the Qatari investment, has resigned.

However, interim CEO Richard Forson, a former CFO at Qatar Airways, will stay on.

Citing the “many significant challenges facing Cargolux,” the carrier said in a statement that it now faces a “difficult phase of restructuring.”

Dominic Gates: (206) 464-2963 or [email protected]

I am very interested to know hot they are going to fix it.

I wonder what is the new shareholders composition and how much is public money.

And to finish, anybody care to share their thoughts to what might appen to CARGOMED? I have just learned they just promoted a couple of first officers, after just one year. Well done!

regards
REMAX11

one of the biggest issues of AAB was to bring maintenance from this high cost environment to the Gulf.
One of the most regarded maintenance facilities is LH, located in the country with one of the highest labour costs. Funny enough this is where most of the VIP 747s are being outfitted and maintained!?!
CV maintenance is one of the best you can find on this planet, so maybe there is a way to build them up in respect to destroy them for some low cost pakistani substitute.
Just my few cents.....

16 totally agree with what you said. After all, a Ferrari owner goes not take his car to the local Dacia dealer for servicing. By the way, my first contact with CV was back in the CL44 days.......:eek: :ok:

Mine wasn't,
but I have the pleasure to operate a/c under the supervision of cv maint for more than 14 years and I can tell you, you will not find a finer bunch of dedicated mechanics in this industry_ total support with not being supported by their superiors. those guys make your little pilots life a lot more easy and they are great fellows>
My high regards to every one of you!!! Anytime!

from ch-aviation.chso how does it look like now guys? any hope of future recruitment? happy christmas to everyone

Volga Dnepr said to be interested in taking over the ex Qatar shares.Lux government only holding shares until anothe buyer steps in according to the local media.

What's the latest?
 

Some friends ask me what's news in the community out there; will CV start hiring soon?

There are some rumours that they will increase the fleet to 20+ a/c, that is a few more than today.

Let us know...

According to local media, following companies are showing interest in taking over the ex Qatar shares : Hainan Airlines, Nippon Cargo, Volga Dnepr, Cobelfret, Silkway, Centurion Air Cargo, and local based private equity firm Saphir Capital Partners. As a massive financial input is required to keep things going, i would think thought of fleet expansion is somewhat optimistic............

@jungleland
if a company needs cash urgently to keep things going, the last thing to think about is probaply "expanding" their fleet. My guess is, the company will have to shrink to survife, but, that´s just my 50 cents!

The new strategy will be revealed next Tuesday (5th Feb). Until that date, any rumor is just that, a rumor... and I highly doubt one of the possible scenarios will be an expansion of the fleet.

According to local newspapers, two strategies are possible:

1. Oliver Wymeer recommends to reduce fleet size an cut salaries of all employees to save the company.

2. The management's own strategic task force wants to increase the number of the aircrafts without increasing the number of employees (pilots).

For the moment option number 2 seems to be the more favorable even though no further details are given and of course in this case, you need to have a few courageous investors wanting to shell out lots of money (close to a billion in the next 1-2 years)

When will they publish the strategy they're going to choose?

According to the newspaper linked below, the findings will be presented on Wednesday and then, supposedly, on Thursday the board will decide although a definite decision is not very likely.

Wort.lu - Eine schwierige Woche für Cargolux

So its expansion to 18 a/c, and +60 pilots then? (according to PPJN)

Good to see, if true.

Good day all !

Seriously considering Cargolux in the future, I am requesting the following informations updated from Cargolux Pilots please:

_ todays roster with how many days you can expect with your family per month.
_ how much you get pay per year at the beginning all included ?

Also, what about living few hundred Kms from LUX in Paris area for example ?
And, how is the "Tiredness" factor for crew now in 2013 ?

Thank you very much for your time !!

Tripjet320.

@tripjet

Thanks for considering CLX. ;)

A lot of your requested information can be found in this thread already.

Income depends on your family status and number of kids.
Expect 6-700 € per month more if you are married.
After 600 hrs on type you move to the SFO scale.

Per diem is not bad and some consider it part of their salary.

Days OFF are 3+1 and 6+1 per 28 day roster period, resp. 9+1.

CLX loves to hire people that are living close to LUX.
At least you should convince them that you intend to move close to LUX.
Many people commute in a range from 200 to 700 km by car, some by plane.

Tiredness depends on the actual trip you are doing. There are busy ones and not so busy ones with more or less night duties and with standard or augmented crew.

For example:

LUX-LOS(124:30)NBO(23:00)MST-LUX

LUX-IND-ORD(84:25)LAX(75:05)SEA(72:00)PIK-LUX

LUX-MIA-IAH(29:00)JFK(44:37)MEX(19:48)LAX(27:05)YYC(12:40)MSP-LGA(25:03)MXP-LUX

LUX-AMM-GYD(24:00)PVG(24:40)OVB(25:00)KMQ(71:45)ICN-OVB(28:15)LUX

This is just about layovers (block to block).
The above samples do not reflect if you are operating and/or positioning or doing a commercial positioning.

In my opinion flying for CLX is less tiring than flying shorthaul nowadays.
But this might not be true for everyone.

Good luck!