Gill Aircaft Impounded
 

Just heard on the local news that Gill have had aircraft impounded.

They said the company has folded.

I hope this is not true.

I'm afraid it's true.

As of 1130 this morning Gill have ceased trading. They have called in the receivers.

Think they were looking a bit wobberly for some time, but makes you think whos next with the current state of things.

I had heard a rumour that Gill had gone into liquidation today. I was hoping that it wasn't true.

If it is true, then I wish all those at Gill goodluck in finding a Job and success for the future.

Keep your collective chins up boys and girls.

Malcolm Naylor is quoted as saying that this was brought about by a panic reaction from the Bank of Scotland who were involved in supporting the Company after Administration.
(They have effectively 'pulled the plug'!)

Sorry to hear of this for Gill's Staff
Good luck elsewhere !

Despite record passenger figures (and finally making money) for August, the Bank of Scotland pulled its backing for Gill Air. This has caused Gill to cease trading.

A typical knee-jerk reaction from BoS, IMHO :mad:

Good luck to all involved.

Meanwhile still waiting to hear which of us is for the chop from Big Airways!

It would be nice to find out from someone other than the media for a change! :mad:

ATB,

notso :cool: Underdog

(Accused the wrong bank earlier - ooops!)

[ 21 September 2001: Message edited by: Underdog ]

Full story on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/bus...00/1554570.stm

Good luck to all you folks in Gill.

I am very sorry to learn of Gill Airways demise today. To all of my former colleagues that did not deserve this may I wish you good luck for the future.

Thanks for all good wishes.

Not that it makes any difference really, but it's the Bank of Scotland that were involved in Gill. Royal Bank of Scotland is a seperate company.

Sympathy to all involved.

Chocks,

You are quite correct, it probably doesn't make any difference.

By the way, do you know why the Irish call their currency the Punt?

Because it rhymes with bank manager.

Best of luck to all at Gill.

Sorry to hear about the demise

Come chat to BRAL/citi express if u can cope whith the name we need good pilots

Sadly i fear it is a backlash from the banks over the present situation rather than just Gill not getting it right in which case we had all better watch our asses

Best wishes to u all in these troubling times

be carefull its a jungle out there

Halfwit, I think (sadly) you're right there.

Under its new management, there were signs that Gill had finally got it right.

Ever since we went into administration early last year, those who stayed at Gill and toughed it out have been working their bits off to provide the passengers with a good service that they would want to experience more, and to provide Gill (and themselves) with a future.

And it was working.

Passenger numbers consistently climbed. Punctuality was excellent. The wunch of bankers were finding the overdraft rapidly diminishing, and we were a profitable, viable airline. Payrises for staff were under discussion, and the future was looking good.

What happened? We were stuffed by the greed of Insurance Companies and the greed of the bankers.

Nine aircraft, most flying day and night, have been grounded. Some of the hardest-working, most dedicated flight, cabin and ground staff are out on their ears. No doubt there will be resultant redundancies among supplier companies, who had also supported us through Administration.

And having seen on the news the reports of Union leaders' (including Chris Darke) meeting with Stephen Byers, I can say very little except that I'm disgusted with the governmant response to the crisis that every airline is going to have to face.

We're all having a few drinkies together in central toontown shortly. It will be my best opportunity to say goodbye to some truly lovely, wonderful people.

British aviation is the worse off for having one fewer indepentdent airlines around.

Very sorry to see the ATR AOG, sad to see you stuffed...very best of good fortune to all the girls & boys, from a flingwing freak....how'm we gonna fly NWI-ABZ without knees in chest now? :(
(BTW Rastaman, didn't know planks had collective...I know, bad taste, sorry, couldn't resist...aviation black humour triumphs over all) :o

This is a disaster for all at Gill, but also for the NE economy and aviation in general. I understand the girls and boys are not getting paid for Septmeber, if so this is a disgrace. I cannot understand the rationale behind the withdrawl fo funding by Bank of Scotland. Sure aviation is going to have a difficult time, but Gill had got through worse than this, and doesn't feed antlantic routes. BA had thrown in the towel when it failed to push them out of EGNT-EGAC.

If the US can provide temporary relief for their industry, why can't TB and friends? This removes the last vestige of competition to BA, and throws Prescot's "integrated transport policy" into a spiral.

As for Bank of Scotland, a plague on their house.

i really feel sorry for you guys! went through it two years ago. hope you all ok and dont forget life does continue. trust me

So sad to see this happen to an airline I watched develop from their first SH330 (1987ish?) when I lived in the other North East, through to working many of their flights at ABZ.

One question though - is there any chance of a (or another) rescue/buyout package coming together - or is this the very end of the line?

Good luck to all involved.

Sorry to hear this.

Been thru it myself and it is not nice.

Good luck to all at Gill. The best companies to work for never seem to survive. :(

ES ;)

Yes, it's all true,Gill has gone for good!No pay for this month, no notice or redundancy, however, the Bank of Scotland, "our backers", lose nothing, as Gill were actually in credit at the bank when they pulled the plug,or so we're told!
Any airline management out there actually considering taking on anyone at the moment, there are 240 good, hardworking, experienced folk up here in geordie land waiting for the opportunity to show you their worth!
After almost twelve good years with Gill I am very sad to see this happen, and I hope all of my friends and colleagues are able to move on to greener pastures.

BALLSOUT

All my best to you guys and girls at Gill.
I used to talk to you all alot a few year back!

Just want to say how saddened I am to see this happen to Gill Airways and its excellent workforce.

You guys have always worked so hard in your jobs, and it is just so wrong to see it all go to waste.

It was always a pleasure working with everyone at Gill, and on my positioning flights to BHD, the Gill charm never faded.

Can I wish each and everyone of you a happy and more prosperous future, and a one that will bring you job security and the satisfaction you felt at Gill.

May there become tailwinds behind you, blueskies and sun all around you and a night full of shining stars ahead.

NORDIC.

Hello to all,

I would just like to say I have never met a nicer bunch of people in all my life to work for.
The M.D. and all Directors had it right, so did the F100 crews and all ATR crews we were let down by a pityfull amount of money.
This is my first and last post but please remember that Gill were good, honest and good.
I'm sorry it's difficult to see through the tears bit god bless all those who worked through all the good times even when we thought they were bad.

Mark H

Thanks Mark, for everything. It was good working with you.

From Roddy, Ex Shed driver from Wick.

Good luck to all. I have followed all the grief through out the years and kept my fingers crossed for you. Very sad day indeed.
Kindest regards and I hope that it all works out for everyone.

Gill was a fantastic airline based in a fantasic city, they gave me my first job and I had the time of my life.

My heart goes out to all of you and I hope you all get new jobs soon.

Taff

Martinidoc,

I think you'll find that in the present climate those at BA (especially the pilots and CC) aren't interested in developing a monopoply situation. We are just pleased to keep our jobs for the time being and we have complete sympathy for those friends and colleagues in the industry who have lost theirs. All flight crew are hanging on by the skin of their teeth at the moment, which is something you, as a surgeon, have not managed to put your finger on yet.

If British Euro have taken over CDG and BHD routes ex NCL and ideas for gills STN and DUB routes, which were doing well? any carrier take over them?

British European are now operating from today Newcastle - Stanstead, Newcastle - Paris, Aldergrove - Newcastle. Even if a little late!!

As an ex-Gill driver, I hope you guys all get sorted out ASAP. Happy happy memories of Gill days.
Good luck to you all.

Very sorry to hear this news yesterday - seems like a classic case of short-termism by a bank without an ounce of compassion or common sense.

Malcolm - you did an outstanding job in the last couple of years and I wish you and all at Gill the very best for the future.

All the best every one, today for the first time in ten years I went to work and never used the callsign "GIL"....VERY STRANGE AND SAD. :(
P.S. never did like the Bank of Scotland

Very, very sorry to hear this, it's always tragic when an airline folds like this, it's almost like a death in the family. The biggest battle any small independant airline will have is the battle with it's bankers. Look how close Branson came to seeing Virgin Atlantic collapse because his bankers were about to call him in.

I hope you all get jobs immediately. Any airline managers out there should post any requirements they have here on PPRuNe.

Is there any financial institution out there willing to invest and bring back Gill?

Oneworld + others,

Surely Gill are not going to let this item of Administration beat them! Their must be some backers out their?

Ok, I'm not sure how it would work but would PPRuners be willing to buy shares in Gill - How much do they need to keep operational? 2500 shareholders with a share each of £500 pounds would raise 1.25Mil - Is that enough? If any financial bods out their could set it up - I'd be in the Q to buy a share.

Good luck to everyone tho.

GV

Hugmonster

I wish you (and your colleagues) every success in the near future.

Very sorry to hear the bad news.

[ 21 September 2001: Message edited by: Final 3 Greens ]

Pandora,

Given the tragedy that this represents for all my friends at Gill, this is perhaps not the forum to argue the point, however BA management have over the last ten years used their commercial muscle to remove, the indepencence of Dan Air, Air UK, City Flyer, Brymon and now Gill out of our region. I have the greatest admiration for the professionalism of BA flight crew, however BA management style and strategy leave much to be desired.

The suggestion was made among the redundant Gill pilots that anyone who has an account with the Bank of Scotland (Note:- not Royal Bank of Scotland) moves it in protest at their high-handed action.

I have suggested that BALPA be asked to make the recommendation that all pilots follow suit. I also ask that any PPRuNe contributors who are not BALPA members do so as well, and make sure that the bank know why you are doing it.

If a bank can pull the plug on a solvent, profitable airline in this manner, who will be next? They need to be made to think twice.

[ 21 September 2001: Message edited by: HugMonster ]

The Bank of Scotland are well known for their arrogance.

I seem to remember possibly last year when it was discovered they were holding accounts for some right wing crackpot TV evangilist in the States, lots of people in Scotland switched banks and the publicity did them quite a bit of damage.

Let us hope that they can be publicly embarrased again for an apalling misjudgement from an organisation that claims to be a friend for life.
Best wishes to all at 9C

TG

[ 21 September 2001: Message edited by: The Groover ]

Friends of Gill,
I im so sorry hear what has happened and wish you all the best for the future.

Best Regards

D.R.N.

We moved out of Gosforth in 1975. I haven't been back to the North East for +-12 years now (back to UK 4-5 times in the last 10 years (STN/MAN)). A terrible shame for Gill, wor Geordie airline.
Howaay the lads.

I sincerely hope all at Gill can get themselves fixed up asap, to be shafted once is bad enough, but to be shafted twice is something that no one deserves.
Best of luck.
With effect from Monday, their NWI - ABZ route will be operated by Skyways using a F50, although I understand that this is an interim arrangement and that NWI airport management are negotiating with BEA to take it on permanently.
:mad: I know this goes off the thread slightly, and it wont do Gill guys & gals any good, but I was so angry when I found this out I had to post it:
Some of the crews from the other airline who operate this route seemed to find Gill's demise highly amusing, and were heard in the terminal at NWI loudly decrying the airline, it's crews and professionalism.
I have this from a very reliable source, and from someone who had to restrain some of the ground handling staff from physically remonstrating with the crews in question. I realise that the crews in question are probably in the minority amongst their colleagues, but it reflects very poorly on your own operation, and you may be laughing in the dole crew if the potential competiters succeed.
Travelling at the same fare in a F50 or knackered JS31, I wonder which the punters will prefer?

Spoonbill, that wouldn't have been a certain Captain NH, would it?