easyJet buys GB Airways
 

Announced today at 07:00.

BA? :eek::eek:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7061246.stm

http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-...52158083006813

from the bbc web site


Easyjet agrees to buy GB Airways

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...yjet203afp.jpg
Budget airline Easyjet has agreed to buy UK carrier GB Airways for £103.5m.
Gatwick-based GB Airways currently serves routes to Southern Europe and North Africa under a franchise agreement with British Airways.
GB also operates services out of Manchester and Heathrow airports, although the purchase by Easyjet does not include the Heathrow slots.
Easyjet said the deal was consistent with its expansion strategy and would strengthen its position at Gatwick.

Also ends franchise with Loganair

"We will fulfil our outstanding obligation as a franchise partner to British Airways and then look forward to a smooth operational merger with Easyjet," Mr Hatton said.

Who's he kidding? As an ex Go employee you GB guys and Girls have my deepest genuine sympathy.

It's been known all along that JG doesn't give a hoot about loyalty or anything and has now sold his staff down the river whilst lining his own pockets all along with Gold.

Can't say I'm sorry to see the back of BA but good riddance to the greedy bunch from Sotogrande. :D

Excuse my ignorance, but I'm trying to figure out whether usually this (on past experiences) would mean Easyjet have more pilot vacancies on the horizon as they let GB Airways pilots off or if Easyjet have less pilot vacancies on the horizon as they take GB Airways guys and gals on?

I appreciate its a big unknown but any educated guesses!? Thanks

Sepi, my educated guess is as such:

1) The GB guys say no thank you to the low cost model (as happened when flybe took over BA Connect) and they walk, hence creating a building-at-the-back-of-the-garden load of jobs

OR

2) Everyone stays put, there are some route consolidations and thus no new positions are needed


My money's on 1.

My money is on 2.

a) People want to keep the base they are at.

b) GB employees have lived with uncertainty and now they will be part of the UK's 2nd biggest airline with healthy profits.

I think employees in both companies will be delighted. There were no rumours about this so there will be a lot of raised eyebrows today.

PS

GB Airways
 

No mention anywhere of plans for Manchester....

Any thoughts???

Is it just me or does £103.5m for a (presumably) reasonably successful operation, 15 A320/321s, staff etc etc, not to mention the LGW slots, seem like a suspiciously good deal? Or is there more to this than meets the eye? :suspect:

er82,
I would not be so hasty. Most people are flying at something around 800 hours and the 5/4/5/3 whilst not everyones cup of tea has been a big selling point in recruitment. What ever you do good luck!

NorthCountryBoy - from reading the Q&A on the BA Website (sorry, link not to hand) ... Manchester is being treated like the Gatwick ops and being taken over as well, and more info will follow once the deal is completed.

Jordan

Thanks Jordan.

Very little mention of Manchester on the Easy intranet, the focus seems to be LGW.

I would think that this should be refered to the Competition Commission (just like the purchase of CityFlyer by BA was) due to LGW slot position, reduction of choice for consumers, etc

Very early days but from what I've been told by our Northern Balpa chap they will be keeping Manchester open, and you will have the option of moving to Liverpool if you want.

Could be very interesting for MAN as Easy have wanted in for a while but not been able to get the slots they want, so this could be a back door way in
Then they could buy Baby and there you go you have a complete coverage of the UK and certainly give FR are good run

Ian

I have just one rather obvious question. Where are they going to go?

Do you think so Willy? :confused:

I don't know much about LGW, but are there other operators that go to all the same destinations as GB?