Astraeus - article in Sunday Times ( Business section )
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Astraeus - article in Sunday Times ( Business section )
This from todays <a href="http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/article/0,,9008-2002020563,00.html" target="_blank">Sunday Times</a> (in the Business section):
[quote]SUNDAY JANUARY 13 2002 - DOMINIC O’CONNELL
New UK airline ready for take-off
A GROUP of aviation industry veterans are close to launching a new British holiday airline, Astraeus.
Brad Burgess, the former managing director of the British Airways franchise carrier CityFlyer Express, will be chairman of the new company and Hugh Parry, an airline consultant, will be chief executive.
Other senior executives have been recruited from Go, the low-cost airline, and British World Airlines, the Southend-based company that went into receivership last month.
Astraeus will operate from this March, with three Boeing 737s at Gatwick and two at Manchester.
Burgess said yesterday that the company was likely to announce venture-capital backing within weeks. He would not specify how much Astraeus intended to raise or name the institutions involved in talks.
The airline’s business will come mainly from Britain’s growing band of specialist holiday companies. About 85% of package holiday flights are on airlines owned by Britain’s big four holiday companies - Airtours, Thomson, JMC and First Choice.
Jonathan Hinkles, Astraeus’ commercial director, said small tour operators were loath to have customers flown to their destinations by larger rivals.
Burgess, who sold CityFlyer to BA two years ago for £75m, said he had taken the chairman’s role because of the timing of the launch.
"The situation now is very similar to when we launched CityFlyer at the tail end of the Gulf war. Aircraft are incredibly cheap and there is a hole in the market for this type of operation," he said.<hr></blockquote>
Blimey, I remember Brad & Hugh from AE days - they're both very smart boys - plus our own PPRuNe Hamrah is involved too. I must say that it sounds like quite a team !
...... 'and out of little acorns do mighty Oaks grow !'
[quote]SUNDAY JANUARY 13 2002 - DOMINIC O’CONNELL
New UK airline ready for take-off
A GROUP of aviation industry veterans are close to launching a new British holiday airline, Astraeus.
Brad Burgess, the former managing director of the British Airways franchise carrier CityFlyer Express, will be chairman of the new company and Hugh Parry, an airline consultant, will be chief executive.
Other senior executives have been recruited from Go, the low-cost airline, and British World Airlines, the Southend-based company that went into receivership last month.
Astraeus will operate from this March, with three Boeing 737s at Gatwick and two at Manchester.
Burgess said yesterday that the company was likely to announce venture-capital backing within weeks. He would not specify how much Astraeus intended to raise or name the institutions involved in talks.
The airline’s business will come mainly from Britain’s growing band of specialist holiday companies. About 85% of package holiday flights are on airlines owned by Britain’s big four holiday companies - Airtours, Thomson, JMC and First Choice.
Jonathan Hinkles, Astraeus’ commercial director, said small tour operators were loath to have customers flown to their destinations by larger rivals.
Burgess, who sold CityFlyer to BA two years ago for £75m, said he had taken the chairman’s role because of the timing of the launch.
"The situation now is very similar to when we launched CityFlyer at the tail end of the Gulf war. Aircraft are incredibly cheap and there is a hole in the market for this type of operation," he said.<hr></blockquote>
Blimey, I remember Brad & Hugh from AE days - they're both very smart boys - plus our own PPRuNe Hamrah is involved too. I must say that it sounds like quite a team !
...... 'and out of little acorns do mighty Oaks grow !'
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Here's the full management line-up (source ATI 14 January 2002)
Astraeus, which today applied for an air operator’s certificate (AOC) following an application last month to the UK CAA for a European Union operating licence, is to be led by chairman Brad Burgess - the former managing director of CityFlyer.
He is joined by CEO Hugh Parry who, until late last year, headed BWA parent company BWA Group. Parry is also a founding managing director of BA’s Middle East and central Asian specialist franchise partner British Mediterranean Airways.
Former BWA and CityFlyer executive Jonathan Hinkles will take on the role of commercial director, heading Astraeus’ sales and customer service divisions, while Capt John Mahon, who left UK low-fare carrier Go to join BWA early last year, will be flight operations director.
Other key personnel at Astraeus include finance director Marcus Manning - previously with BWA, CityFlyer, Air Europe and Virgin Atlantic - as well as deputy flight operations director Capt Mario Fulgoni and technical director Steve Hodgkiss.
Astraeus, which today applied for an air operator’s certificate (AOC) following an application last month to the UK CAA for a European Union operating licence, is to be led by chairman Brad Burgess - the former managing director of CityFlyer.
He is joined by CEO Hugh Parry who, until late last year, headed BWA parent company BWA Group. Parry is also a founding managing director of BA’s Middle East and central Asian specialist franchise partner British Mediterranean Airways.
Former BWA and CityFlyer executive Jonathan Hinkles will take on the role of commercial director, heading Astraeus’ sales and customer service divisions, while Capt John Mahon, who left UK low-fare carrier Go to join BWA early last year, will be flight operations director.
Other key personnel at Astraeus include finance director Marcus Manning - previously with BWA, CityFlyer, Air Europe and Virgin Atlantic - as well as deputy flight operations director Capt Mario Fulgoni and technical director Steve Hodgkiss.
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Web site details available at: <a href="http://www.flyastraeus.com" target="_blank">http://www.flyastraeus.com</A>
And for those whose ISP's DNS's aren't as up to date as they might be, you can also reach the Astaeus webserver direct on: <a href="http://209.61.219.133" target="_blank">http://209.61.219.133</A>
And for those whose ISP's DNS's aren't as up to date as they might be, you can also reach the Astaeus webserver direct on: <a href="http://209.61.219.133" target="_blank">http://209.61.219.133</A>
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Redline - perhaps you'd like to fully explain just what it is that you are driving at ? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
That said, I'd suggest a (re)read of this first (though you'll need to LogOut) : <a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=agree" target="_blank">You agree, through your use of this service</a> etc, i.e. be very sure of your facts before you launch in to print !
Ps. You were wrong about the <a href="http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=013434" target="_blank">B757</a>
That said, I'd suggest a (re)read of this first (though you'll need to LogOut) : <a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=agree" target="_blank">You agree, through your use of this service</a> etc, i.e. be very sure of your facts before you launch in to print !
Ps. You were wrong about the <a href="http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=013434" target="_blank">B757</a>
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Sid, you can read into any of this what you will <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Ps. Following on - Redline can we expect you to embellish upon your comment above - or have you scuttled off and gone to ground ? Also, when you try to cover you tracks engage the old grey matter first, e.g. one could suppose that a post made in another forum two minutes prior to your one above, albeit from a different identity, but having a remarkably similar IP address (I've got the logs), might be misconstrued as having been made by one and the same person ?! I think you'll get my point.
Ps. Following on - Redline can we expect you to embellish upon your comment above - or have you scuttled off and gone to ground ? Also, when you try to cover you tracks engage the old grey matter first, e.g. one could suppose that a post made in another forum two minutes prior to your one above, albeit from a different identity, but having a remarkably similar IP address (I've got the logs), might be misconstrued as having been made by one and the same person ?! I think you'll get my point.
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As an old stager with what I might call a fair knowledge of the industry, I reckon an operation with Brad Burgess and a team like they have to control the store, you can be certain it will be a winner.
The detractors are, of course, green with envy!
The detractors are, of course, green with envy!
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Hopefully all of it, and some extra stuff too ! ....... though I think it would be true to say that Astraeus have no desire to become involved with the previous BWA ABZ and / or turbo-prop business, e.g. might I direct you to go see the 'About Us' page on the web site.
Look BWA no longer exists - ITS GONE ! - and whilst it was a nice little company, staffed by nice people, there's no room for sentimentality. The fact is that its underlying financial position had (imho) been compromised many YEARS before, i.e. certainly well before the newest management team made a valiant effort to turn it around - and they were really doing quite well, till 911.
But it's this point which some folk are seemingly having great difficulty in understanding, i.e. that with millions of debt (poor capitalisation from a poor flotation), no assets (or that those that they had were overvalued long previously), and (post 911) little or no cash flow (which is a death knell to any business), what happened at BWA was inevitable; and remember that it was the BAA and BAe that initially pulled the rug out from under them (for various reasons), and all the other creditors then followed suite - and just where then was their good will ?! - but that's business.
The past is the past - let's look to the future, and a new start !
Look BWA no longer exists - ITS GONE ! - and whilst it was a nice little company, staffed by nice people, there's no room for sentimentality. The fact is that its underlying financial position had (imho) been compromised many YEARS before, i.e. certainly well before the newest management team made a valiant effort to turn it around - and they were really doing quite well, till 911.
But it's this point which some folk are seemingly having great difficulty in understanding, i.e. that with millions of debt (poor capitalisation from a poor flotation), no assets (or that those that they had were overvalued long previously), and (post 911) little or no cash flow (which is a death knell to any business), what happened at BWA was inevitable; and remember that it was the BAA and BAe that initially pulled the rug out from under them (for various reasons), and all the other creditors then followed suite - and just where then was their good will ?! - but that's business.
The past is the past - let's look to the future, and a new start !
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Not only is Crashdive absolutely right, but it is worth bearing in mind that many, many people stand to benefit from the new operation- it just requires a little patience to let the management team get things in place.
Also, from what I have been able to find out, the new management team are, to a man, well-respected in the industry.
BWA had been hanging on by its fingernails for a long time- it is not the fault of the new Astraeus team that the house of cards finally collapsed.
Also, from what I have been able to find out, the new management team are, to a man, well-respected in the industry.
BWA had been hanging on by its fingernails for a long time- it is not the fault of the new Astraeus team that the house of cards finally collapsed.
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And why in hells name would anyone have a go at someone for wanting to try and turn the industry around at the moment....this can only be a good thing surely.
Especially if that person is involved in the industry which I assume is the case otherwise they wouldn't be posting on PPRuNe !!!
Beats me....
Best of luck with it all guy's...
Especially if that person is involved in the industry which I assume is the case otherwise they wouldn't be posting on PPRuNe !!!
Beats me....
Best of luck with it all guy's...
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As a former Chairman of CityFlyer’s Flight Crew Committee and later the CityFlyer BALPA Company Council, I spent much time in usually frustrating negotiations with Mr. Burgess trying to improve the lot of the CityFlyer pilot. There were a few successes, but it is fair to say that it was usually a struggle to secure even the slightest improvement to our Ts & Cs. All of the major “gives” over the years being driven entirely by market forces, and the need to recruit/retain pilots, rather than any philanthropic leanings on the part of management team.
Having said that, they sure knew how to run an Airline and I would work for them again without hesitation were I not now comfortably employed as (effectively) a Direct Entry British Airways EuroGatwick Captain. My good fortune is due in significant part to the business acumen of CFE’s management team.
If FS&S goes badly for those of us newly appended to the bottom of the BA seniority list, Astraeus will be the first airline I’ll be applying to; job security is worth a lot and I’d trust Mr. Burgess to give me that at least.
I know you’ll be reading this Brad… Good luck to you: Even you probably need a bit of luck to see an Airline through its first couple of years. For the sake of the Industry, I hope you pull it off again.
PS. What was it you were saying two months ago about not missing work at all? <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
I guess the leasing cost of a 737 just got so cheap you couldn't hold back any longer!
[ 16 January 2002: Message edited by: beaver eager ]</p>
Having said that, they sure knew how to run an Airline and I would work for them again without hesitation were I not now comfortably employed as (effectively) a Direct Entry British Airways EuroGatwick Captain. My good fortune is due in significant part to the business acumen of CFE’s management team.
If FS&S goes badly for those of us newly appended to the bottom of the BA seniority list, Astraeus will be the first airline I’ll be applying to; job security is worth a lot and I’d trust Mr. Burgess to give me that at least.
I know you’ll be reading this Brad… Good luck to you: Even you probably need a bit of luck to see an Airline through its first couple of years. For the sake of the Industry, I hope you pull it off again.
PS. What was it you were saying two months ago about not missing work at all? <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
I guess the leasing cost of a 737 just got so cheap you couldn't hold back any longer!
[ 16 January 2002: Message edited by: beaver eager ]</p>
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At last some good news for a change.
Hamrah/Crash Dive and everyone else involved...GOOD LUCK! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Hamrah/Crash Dive and everyone else involved...GOOD LUCK! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
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I too say good luck, but I want also to say that I think that Crashdive's comments re BWA are utterly insensitive. How dare you say that there's no room for sentimentality!!! <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> I bet you didn't have to take most of your kids toys back before X-Mas (if you have any). We all know that BWA has gone but there's no need to be so brutal, just cos you're alright Jack.
As for all the other posts which have been closed re info on BWA2, well this isn't the thread that this info should be broadcast on. It deserves it's own thread then those of us who might get a job there can find out where it's upto. I reckon it'd be different if the shoe were on the other foot and it was you or your administrative colleagues who were after info to get yourselves back into work!! The threads wouldn't get closed down or moved then!!!
As for all the other posts which have been closed re info on BWA2, well this isn't the thread that this info should be broadcast on. It deserves it's own thread then those of us who might get a job there can find out where it's upto. I reckon it'd be different if the shoe were on the other foot and it was you or your administrative colleagues who were after info to get yourselves back into work!! The threads wouldn't get closed down or moved then!!!
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Here, here jolly green big one.
I'm rather saddened at writing this post cos now it'll get put back to the top of the board. Bet this doesn't get moved to Airlines, Airports and Routes......yawn......
I'm rather saddened at writing this post cos now it'll get put back to the top of the board. Bet this doesn't get moved to Airlines, Airports and Routes......yawn......
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Hey whoaaa back there JGG. You have to understand the demise of airlines to recognise that when banks pull plugs, airport operators slap liens on aircraft, when lessors take their aircraft back, when all the airline is left with is HUGE debts - sentimentality went straight out of the window! Gone, vanished, along with jobs and all else that made the airline tick. It has happened hundreds of times.
OK, so bosses feel sorry that it happened but that is as far as sentimentality goes. The boss lost his job too!
Crashdive was just being plain old realistic, just like he should be, and as a matter of fact how you should be.
There is no such thing as BWA2. Where did you design that one? You see, the reason the threads of BWA were withdrawn is that they were irrelvent - Astraeus IS relevent so post and read that one instead.
I am afraid your heart rules your head JGG, understandable, but you now need to welcome a new airline and rejoice.
OK, so bosses feel sorry that it happened but that is as far as sentimentality goes. The boss lost his job too!
Crashdive was just being plain old realistic, just like he should be, and as a matter of fact how you should be.
There is no such thing as BWA2. Where did you design that one? You see, the reason the threads of BWA were withdrawn is that they were irrelvent - Astraeus IS relevent so post and read that one instead.
I am afraid your heart rules your head JGG, understandable, but you now need to welcome a new airline and rejoice.