Aero Maleth Diversion
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 67
From: UK
I find it very strange that Maleth Aero use 9H-xFS ''Fox Trot Sierra'' as the last two letters of the reggies of all or most their Airbus A330 Fleet -
How confusing for Ops and Crews, and the rest....
Dan Air re-regd a Comet G-ARCP as it already had a 1-11 G-AXCP
BA did the same with a T3 and a 777.
How confusing for Ops and Crews, and the rest....
Dan Air re-regd a Comet G-ARCP as it already had a 1-11 G-AXCP
BA did the same with a T3 and a 777.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 630
Likes: 307
From: Darkest Lincs
Various posts on FB from future P&O cruisers from LGW, stating that they have received revised flight details, showing that their flights have been switched from Maleth to Norse.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 82
From: UK
Probably won't be cheap to bin Maleth off either, if that's what happening? (but who knows what contract/SLA was in place and if they're in breach?)
Maleth have been flying from LGW and MAN, so unless Norse are going to fly from MAN aswell (seems unlikely) it's probably not a complete replacement.
One suspects that P&O are learning a difficult (and perhaps costly) lesson as a result of all of this and it might be one of the reasons why they may be offering to unbundle fly-cruises going forward.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: UK
Flew back from Barbados today with Maleth, in spite of P&O’s appalling operational management it was a great fight with good cabin crew, food ok, 9H-EFS, in 2-4-2 with business class forward and mid, forward business had IFE
I think there’s some real issues with 9H-MFS and as such capacity problems for Maleth which may be why Norse are on the scene..
I think there’s some real issues with 9H-MFS and as such capacity problems for Maleth which may be why Norse are on the scene..
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 82
From: UK
Flew back from Barbados today with Maleth, in spite of P&O’s appalling operational management it was a great fight with good cabin crew, food ok, 9H-EFS, in 2-4-2 with business class forward and mid, forward business had IFE
I think there’s some real issues with 9H-MFS and as such capacity problems for Maleth which may be why Norse are on the scene..
I think there’s some real issues with 9H-MFS and as such capacity problems for Maleth which may be why Norse are on the scene..
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
I wonder if part of this problem was the shake out happening, following Covid? That shut down changed a lot of things and some boats were scrapped - perhaps leading airlines to presume that the market would not return for some time.
No surprise that VS did not want to be part of this plan. The Group now have their own cruise line and we may imagine that - wherever possible - pax are on their own airline. Also, now that Delta owns VS, they seem to want all VS craft to be directed to feed into the USA, not feeding another company's boats.
I sit to be corrected.
No surprise that VS did not want to be part of this plan. The Group now have their own cruise line and we may imagine that - wherever possible - pax are on their own airline. Also, now that Delta owns VS, they seem to want all VS craft to be directed to feed into the USA, not feeding another company's boats.
I sit to be corrected.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 630
Likes: 307
From: Darkest Lincs
I wonder if part of this problem was the shake out happening, following Covid? That shut down changed a lot of things and some boats were scrapped - perhaps leading airlines to presume that the market would not return for some time.
No surprise that VS did not want to be part of this plan. The Group now have their own cruise line and we may imagine that - wherever possible - pax are on their own airline. Also, now that Delta owns VS, they seem to want all VS craft to be directed to feed into the USA, not feeding another company's boats.
I sit to be corrected.
No surprise that VS did not want to be part of this plan. The Group now have their own cruise line and we may imagine that - wherever possible - pax are on their own airline. Also, now that Delta owns VS, they seem to want all VS craft to be directed to feed into the USA, not feeding another company's boats.
I sit to be corrected.
Thus P&O now find themselves with two ships in the Caribbean, (including the new Arvia with around 5500 pax) but cannot find enough aircraft seats to fill them. Pre-covid, P&O would probably have assumed that BA and VS would pick up the slack, but obviously neither airline now feels the need to operate low yield charter flights.
To a certain extent, P&O have painted themselves into a corner. In order to fill their ships they are offering 14 day fly/cruises to the Caribbean at £1400 pp or less. They now don't have enough profit margin to find alternate charter flights to Maleth, even if any such operator exists.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 82
From: UK
I don't think your premise is correct. Yes, some older, smaller ships (not boats!) were disposed of during the pandemic. The problem lies in the fact that cruise lines were committed to purchasing ships, normally of ever bigger passenger capacity, whilst at the same time, during the pandemic, carriers were reducing capacity.
Thus P&O now find themselves with two ships in the Caribbean, (including the new Arvia with around 5500 pax) but cannot find enough aircraft seats to fill them. Pre-covid, P&O would probably have assumed that BA and VS would pick up the slack, but obviously neither airline now feels the need to operate low yield charter flights.
To a certain extent, P&O have painted themselves into a corner. In order to fill their ships they are offering 14 day fly/cruises to the Caribbean at £1400 pp or less. They now don't have enough profit margin to find alternate charter flights to Maleth, even if any such operator exists.
Thus P&O now find themselves with two ships in the Caribbean, (including the new Arvia with around 5500 pax) but cannot find enough aircraft seats to fill them. Pre-covid, P&O would probably have assumed that BA and VS would pick up the slack, but obviously neither airline now feels the need to operate low yield charter flights.
To a certain extent, P&O have painted themselves into a corner. In order to fill their ships they are offering 14 day fly/cruises to the Caribbean at £1400 pp or less. They now don't have enough profit margin to find alternate charter flights to Maleth, even if any such operator exists.
We enjoyed our cruise, our flights (with Tui) were professionally crewed and operated on time in both directions. And yes, it was what I think is great value for a carribean holiday where we experienced 9 islands, were mostly well looked after and entertained onboard, and also met some people who proved that the demographic of cruising is (thankfully) changing - lots of first time cruisers, more "younger" people and less "older" people who have cruised for decades and moan about how it's "changed" - the reality is that it needs to, and I think on that score P&O are having some success, although no doubt the attractive pricing is helping.
I did a "behind the scenes" tour on the ship (they used to happen, and stopped during covid times) and it was a real insight into the amazing logistics operation that happens below decks to make these holidays happen.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 67
From: UK
I wonder if part of this problem was the shake out happening, following Covid? That shut down changed a lot of things and some boats were scrapped - perhaps leading airlines to presume that the market would not return for some time.
No surprise that VS did not want to be part of this plan. The Group now have their own cruise line and we may imagine that - wherever possible - pax are on their own airline. Also, now that Delta owns VS, they seem to want all VS craft to be directed to feed into the USA, not feeding another company's boats.
I sit to be corrected.
No surprise that VS did not want to be part of this plan. The Group now have their own cruise line and we may imagine that - wherever possible - pax are on their own airline. Also, now that Delta owns VS, they seem to want all VS craft to be directed to feed into the USA, not feeding another company's boats.
I sit to be corrected.
Just wondered why they could not nicely have taken on the long-haul charters for P&O, and for others for next winter >?
Just a thought.....
Edit: it is possible that this pair are being withdrawn WFU from Virgin and this may not be a sublease.....
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 630
Likes: 307
From: Darkest Lincs
Re VS - I read just a day ago that VS are leasing out to THAI 2 x A330-300 later in the year G-VGBR & G-VNYC
Just wondered why they could not nicely have taken on the long-haul charters for P&O, and for others for next winter >?
Just a thought.....
Edit: it is possible that this pair are being withdrawn WFU from Virgin and this may not be a sublease.....
Just wondered why they could not nicely have taken on the long-haul charters for P&O, and for others for next winter >?
Just a thought.....
Edit: it is possible that this pair are being withdrawn WFU from Virgin and this may not be a sublease.....
Joined: Apr 2003
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 10,579
Likes: 803
From: Northumberland
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 82
From: UK
In other news I see that 9H-MFS has positioned to Chateauroux from LGW today, having made it back from BGI yesterday.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 630
Likes: 307
From: Darkest Lincs
Cheaper to store it there until next Friday, compared to staying at LGW ?
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,201
Likes: 347
From: London UK
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 2
From: Doncaster
Flew back from Barbados today with Maleth, in spite of P&O’s appalling operational management it was a great fight with good cabin crew, food ok, 9H-EFS, in 2-4-2 with business class forward and mid, forward business had IFE
I think there’s some real issues with 9H-MFS and as such capacity problems for Maleth which may be why Norse are on the scene..
I think there’s some real issues with 9H-MFS and as such capacity problems for Maleth which may be why Norse are on the scene..