I notice there is often a dark tendency to will the failure of an organisation whether you work for them or not.
I've been doing some stuff with HAL lately and they are a good bunch. Sure, things haven't been going right and the economic climate doesn't help but consider their potential failure from two aspects:

1) Mercenary: puts more aviation professionals on the market thereby increasing the number chasing too few jobs
2) Compassionate: affects the local economy (some at HAL cannot move) and those supplying HAL. Flying, maintenance, management and support roles must be few at INV or the rest of the highlands right now; chances of moving to other industries slim.

My vote - and I suspect that of the more reasoned among us - is more power to HAL's elbow and good luck.

I am afraid there are some very serious rumours going around at the moment. Meeting has been called at 0900 on Monday morning in the hangar. I hope all is going to be well!

Navoff

All the best Highland - I really hope that you all come through this OK.

Is this the link you are talking about, I DID IT HWY?

Highland airways

Well yes, just lies also try looking at www.highlandairways.co.uk
nice technical difficulties

If they are about to cease trading then good on them for not taking bookings in the lead up - too many companies would still be trading right up to the moment they cease.

I did it HWY, you would do well to take a few moments before you post crap like that. As a Loganair pilot I would very much like to see Highland continue as normal, even if there are a few problems to overcome on the way, and while I haven't been up to STN for a while I very much doubt the truth of what you have said about the ground staff. Banter maybe, not genuine malice. Think before you post - I'm sure your bosses are doing everything they can just now and your rubbish does not help them. And if the news is not good Mungo Man's point is very valid - a rare degree of integrity indeed (although I hope it is irrelevant).

Another sad day for UK aviation. Lots of speculation on the SFPA contract then?

Best of luck to all - I've been there (many times).

I did it HWY, the reason management aren't telling you anything is because they dont know!

They couldn't be more honest at the moment, do you want them to blow smoke up your arse and tell you everything is going to be rosy? do you want them to tell you you've all lost your jobs so don't come in tomorrow? All clients and suppliers would immediately stop trading with us and any chance of a take over would be blown out of the water.
What if they did tell you more? would it make any difference, would you suddenly realise NOW might be a good time to start sending out CVs?
Slagging off the company isn't going to help, the camera crews and photographers were already hovering around the hanger like vultures this morning, desperately waiting for another airline to die and a hundred jobs to be lost for their "story".
I notice also that you find it unfair that as an outstation you hear news an hour after the INV base... Trust me, you find out more on your conference calls than we do in the hanger meetings. The CEO cant talk to you and us at the same time! Between meetings with (rightfully so) worried staff, the guy has to desperately negotiate with potential backers, banks and clients in order to safe guard our jobs. I should imagine keeping staff completely in the picture is the last thing on his mind at the moment.
Lets just do our jobs and keep our fingers crossed!

Sounds like it's the real thing this time :(

Best of luck to all the Hiway boys and girls, especially those of you who turned down bigger and better opportunities over the years for love of living in Inverness ... hope something can arise from the ashes

- HB

Well said Identing. Maybe IDIH would like KW or AM to fly to wherever he/she is and personally spoon feed them all the info, whilst at the same time battling for our survival? Unfortunately in times of adversity some of our own guys seem intent on waging their own wee private battles and making their own petty points. There have already been one or two unfathomable examples of this. Perhaps they are just too thick to realise what is going on. Or so far up their own arses they can't see that there is enough to do without managing issues created by our own guys :ugh:
I can't fault the effort the company has made to keep us abreast of the situation. The briefings have been informative, with management always open to questions, be it over the phone, at the meetings, or indeed just over a coffee in our spacious kitchen facility. In fact having seen other examples of companies in troubled times I would say we have been treated very well.

H - yeah this is as bad as it's been mate. Hopefully a solution can be found - I can't see who's interests it would be in for us to end. Sad days for a small company who has quietly been operating for many years. It has always been a great place to work. Chaotic at times but rewarding, and surely one of the finest jobs in the country for those who enjoy flying. A lot of people have had a great start to their career here, and I hope this continues for a while yet! It has got a lot bigger since you departed Luke, and as that happens obviously some things lose the personal touch. But it still has a great feel about it at times, be it shooting the craic with Alan about Islanders while he is making the coffee in Sutherland, or going to SYY VFR through the hills on a cracking day with papers that can't complain about how low we look compared to the hills!
Lets keep everything crossed!:ok:

I love the picture of serenity you create.

sounds like bliss!:}

trouble is the cost of maintaining the J31. BAE charge so:mad: much for spares and give no :mad: support its no wonder every jetstream operator is struggling.

I'm wondering who handles the credit card transactions for their bookings- if it is the same company who did (it) for XL and Globespan, then suspending bookings while the agent is changed may be essential to save the company.
Good luck to all at Highland.

Carlton, "that company" is no longer in business (forced into admin by the courts) so cannot be handling HAL's payments.

I've only spent a little while working around and managing J31s but my impression is that BAE aren't that interested in supporting it and charge accordingly.

I worked in Norway for Coast air and operated a fleet of J31s my experience of BAE was that they were very helpfull though their regional aircraft website was a bit torturous to navigate.
I worked in tech services and I can say the demise of coast was nothing to do with BAE and more to do with a lack of pax numbers.

Well gladly Highland Airways are still in talks as they are clearly teetering on the edge but have one or two interested parties talking to them.

Good luck Highway and everyone there, we're rooting for you :).

Danny

Why are bookings being taken just till tomorrow:bored:

Thanks Bus429, I thought that was the case but was not sure. However, I wonder if other companies have similar practices though?

Watch this space.

No wages paid, and no more information!

Sounds so much like flyglogespan. Good luck everyone and hope it doesnt turn out like globespan. We need as many airlines to keep going.

It makes me mad to think that companies offering pay to fly guys are going strong and yet dedicated people working for companies like this are shafted.

Best wishes Highland

Uni

:)

lookingforwork

There was an email sent from HR late on Friday with info re payments.

If you never received it you should get in touch with your line manager.

Fred.

I dont Work for Highland
but everyone that works on and in planes are top guys (and hanger gals.)
Wishing you all Luck:D

Theres Not a day goes past that I want it all to work out.:ok:

Silvernappie,

I simply stated a fact, that no one was paid. Despite being told we would be.

Stop trying to kiss ass. You are no better or worse than anyone else at highland. We all know you like to complain and moan.

You seem to be disclosing more info than anyone else, is it you that contacted the press?!

Statement on the Highland website press page.

Who are the most likely suitors?

sr

HWY Guys,

We all know this is a rumour site, but please let's not shoot ourselves in the foot at a very critical point in any negotiations by spreading rumours/info yet.

Now is not the time.

Anyone can look at this site.

so how come the directors are now telling the public they can book seats for the whole of February but they cant pay the staff wages for last month:confused:

You're creditors and need to remember that you may well be working for free for Jan and now Feb.

I don't think you've got much choice but to turn up tomorrow, but just be aware it could be for free as companies don't stop paying wages unless they're out of ££....

Look at the example of Skyeurope, those folk worked for several months on half wages, paid several months late. . . and when they finally went t1ts up, were probably several months out of pocket.

If you have something else to go to. . well GO. . . . NOW ! ! if not, what to do, may as well go to work & cross your fingers in preference to sitting at home sulking. :oh:

BBC News - Airline lifts booking restrictions

Hope it all works out for Highland!

Highland hasnt lifted its booking restrictions, its bull:mad:. You can only book 4 the next 27 days then nowt. You cant book your summer hols.

Fred

Statement was that they were accepting bookings until the end of Feb, so not bul:mad: and if you think anything more than a very small minority book summer holidays with HWY, then it shows how out of touch you really are. Holidays is not what HWY do!

Funny that the loudest shouters on the conference call are the ones with the easiest life. Also the ones who couldn't get a job at Eastern when all their fleet colleagues did. Oh the irony.
Warton still a valid base JSTR, I can tell you are eager for it not to be.
Still no cash - anyone got any excuses?!

Could I just throw in a comment or two. There is no point having a ruck on here about anything. It won't help.

Every person who works for Highland will be stressed out and angry/annoyed/upset/depressed* (Delete as appropriate) and having a b*tch fight on here isn't going to make anything any easier for anyone.

It is not the time nor the place to settle old scores or have a pop over some previous slight. Highland is obviously in trouble and hopefully it will get sorted out, but I can promise that even the senior management are probably unsure of what is going to happen next. If they are hunting for funding to save the company, then they aren't in control of that process and so there is little point in passing information on until something is sorted out one way or another.

As before, you all have my sympathies and best wishes, but please don't fall into the trap of in-fighting, especially not on a public forum.

Well said Say Again Slowly:D

If you are booking with them - or any airline - please use a credit card. At least you will get your money back as the cc co will hold onto the money till you fly (I am informed) and you will get it back.

only above £150.:eek:

Now who would have come up with this one???


Struggling Highland in safe landing hope - Business 7

Can't quite see the logic:confused:

Eastern Airways have the Warton service:


"We are pleased to confirm that, following detailed discussions with MAS, a flight service between Warton and the RAF bases at Marham and Coningsby is to be re-introduced with effect from Monday, 8 February 2010.

The schedule will operate daily (Monday to Friday) on an Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 aircraft in a 19 seat configuration. The increased frequency is in response to business demand and passenger feedback.

Flights will be available to book via online bookings from Wednesday 3 February with full schedule details to be confirmed on the CAT website. The ticket price will remain at £200 each way.


As previously advised, there are no plans to reintroduce flights to Filton or Cambridge. This decision has been taken by MAS, due to the lack of a viable alternative service provider taking into account the declining demand over recent months.

Filton passengers are recommended to consider the Farnborough flight with a hire car link to Filton as the preferred alternative.

For Cambridge passengers, a flight to Marham with hire car booking is recommended."