Another airline gone bust

[YYZ]

Just been informed Skyservice has gone under, really bad news for all if its true?
Anybody able to confirm?

Best of luck to everybody involved?


YYZ

[tubby linton]

Skyservice cancels most flights from Toronto - The Globe and Mail

The Skyservice charter airline has cancelled almost all of its scheduled flights out of Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
A local television news channel says the privately owned company may have gone out of business.
The Canadian Press has been unable to reach a Skyservice representative for comment and a spokeswoman for the Greater Toronto Airport Authority has referred all questions to the company. Messages have been left for the CEO of Skyservice.
According to its website, the airline was founded in 1986. It has more than 1,200 employees and operates more than 20 commercial aircraft to destinations in Canada, the United States, Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. Its fleet includes the Airbus A330, A320 and the Boeing B757.

[30W]

Anybody able to confirm?

Tis confirmed!

Another sad day for aviation - good luck to all involved!

[fantom]

Sad indeed.

If this is correct, may there may be sig after-shocks to the UK charter fleets? (thinking Canadian pilots flying in Europe for our summer and vice versa).

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Fantom, you have hit the nail on the head, Thomson Airways for one now has a big problem and l guess TCX as well.
I wonder how much money is also owed to both airlines from this winters leases.
Sorry to see them go under, my airline supplied a/c to them in the old days.

[fantom]

Indeed. Airworld were the first to experiment with four A320 pilots (questions in the House, no less) but our excellent Chief Pilot won the day to allow foreign pilots in. That mushroomed to the mutually benefitting situation that exists today...until today.

[Guzzler]

Very very sad news.

Sorry to hear this.

[BusBoy]

Very Sad day
Best of luck to everyone there
I enjoyed working with you! Great Times

BB

[timmcat]

Press release here....

Announcement from Skyservice Airlines

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - Skyservice Airlines today announced the shutdown of its operations following the appointment of a receiver by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Recent changes in the Canadian vacation tour market combined with Skyservice Airlines' debt level have rendered the company unable to maintain profitable operations. As a result, one of the company's secured lenders applied for the appointment of the receiver.

The shutdown results in the cancellation of one flight that was scheduled to depart Canada for the Dominican Republic today and its return leg, as well as all remaining flights scheduled to depart Canada during the balance of the season in April. The company has requested, and the receiver has agreed, to work with the company's tour operator customers and other lift providers to ensure that passenger issues are resolved promptly.

Skyservice Airlines and the receiver are committed to winding up the business in an orderly and responsible manner. The company and the receiver will continue to treat employees and other stakeholders fairly and in a transparent manner throughout this process.

Note to editors: for a link to FTI (the trustee) as well as guidance and links for passengers to contact the tour operator and travel agents, please see: Charter, Maintenance, Engineering and Airline Services for Commercial Operators

For further information: Bryan Mills Iradesso Corp., Allan McN. Austin, Tel: [phone] x240, [email protected]

[Ermore]

And how many of those pilots will get on with another charter outfit that will just close its doors in less than a year.

Tough business.

[Jonty]

Rumor has it it was a subsiduary of Thomas Cook Group that put them under. So if that is the case one would like to think that TCX has a plan.

Doesn't help those on the reciving end. Sad news, and I hope those affected find jobs soon.

[tiggerpurrrz]

Very Sad to hear about Skyservice..goodluck to all affected and hopefully find jobs soon.

[dublindispatch]

SSV

I know for the past 5 maybe more years in Dublin we had CGTBB over doing work for as was air2000 and now Thompson Airways and that this Summer both Dublin and Belfast where to get a SSV A320 one based in each station.

Me thinks at this late stage so close to the season kicking off, 01MAY, a big pile off pooh for all parties I would think as im sure TOM does not have the capacity in its fleet to cover!!

[J.O.]

TOM may be able to use some resources from Sunwing with a couple of NGs to cover DUB and BFS. I was due to be in DUB in August and I am sad that I won't get the chance to do that now.

[Downwind_Left]

Sad news for all concerned, especially as an ex-AMM/FCA employee who dealt with Skyservice and some of their staff as far back as the first leases between the airlines in 2003.

Unfortunate that just as things seem like they may be starting to turn a corner, there is another unlpeasant shock like this one.

Best wishes to all former Skyservice staff...

As for Thomson's problems, I'd think it's more of a crewing problem than one of aircraft availability. I'm not sure who the primary lessee on these aircraft is now - but they are all basically Thomson (former First Choice) aircraft that have spent most of their winters in Canada and summers in the UK recently on long term contracts with Skyservice, they are normally C-registered year-round because of difficulties getting Canadian crews licensed to operate G- aircraft. FCA cabin crews were always used in the UK/Eire, and FCA pilots were posted to Canada to operate the aircraft on the C- register in winter as required.

[blue up]

Quite ironic that I saw one of the TOM 737 captains handing in his uniform due to the TOM 'downsizing' yesterday lunchtime, on the very day that he might be needed.

[myairways]

It is very sad news. Excellent Flight deck and cabin crew, Worked with them for a few years. I wish you all the best of luck.

[Fly4Fun]

Best of luck to all of you!

[Edgar Jessop]

How to make a small fortune in the airline business..... start with a large one

Sad to see another one bite the dust, and a bit surprising too, as this is usually the time of year the airlines dust off the winter blues with advance payments for the summer flights keeping them going until the next winter hibernation.

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by Edgar Jessop

Sad to see another one bite the dust, and a bit surprising too, as this is usually the time of year the airlines dust off the winter blues with advance payments for the summer flights keeping them going until the next winter hibernation.

Bear in mind that the seasonality of the Canadian market is opposite to that in much of Europe, peak is in the winter, with high demand for flights away from the snow down to the Caribbean etc. In the summer Canadians tend to drive up to the lake for vacation time and there is less charter demand. For this reason there has long been a tradition of aircraft spending the winter in Canada and the summer with UK operators.

Originally Posted by Jonty

Rumor has it it was a subsidiary of Thomas Cook Group that put them under

Don't know about that, but it is normally not paying your bills that puts companies under. Thomas Cook has had aircraft on winter lease to Skyservice which have just been returned. If the lease payments had not been made for these, that's probably the reason.