” 25 jobs are lost as flyglobespan leaves JLA
Sep 25 2007 by Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo
TROUBLED airline flyglobespan is to close its Liverpool and Manchester bases from the end of next month.
The Edinburgh-based airline said neither of the operations was financially sustainable.
The company had said it would reinstate Liverpool John Lennon airport’s New York link next summer, but the new move has thrown it into doubt.
A spokesman said contract workers and 25 permanent staff at the two north west bases would be made redundant.
The airline opened its Liverpool operations earlier this year, flying to Tenerife and Toronto, and launching a daily route between JLA and JFK airport on May 25, with John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono flying in to back the link.
Its Manchester flights were all to Canada, including Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver.
All services will cease from the end of October, a spokesman revealed.
He said: “Our Liverpool and Manchester operations have not been able to achieve the financial viability of other flyglobespan bases and, regrettably, we have had to inform our staff that they will cease to be manned bases from the end of October.
“We are extremely sad that, despite the efforts and dedication of our staff at these bases, we are unable to sustain services from these airports through winter, but we fully intend to return with a 2008 programme next spring.
“The employees involved are summer staff, whose contracts were due to end soon, and 25 permanent staff.
“The company is currently beginning a 30-day consultation period at these bases when all options, including possible relocation, will be discussed.”
The Liverpool to Tenerife link was axed at the end of March.
Less than a month after the Liverpool to New York flight began, it was reduced to four services a week due to technical problems with flyglobespan’s fleet and poor passenger numbers.
One plane spent a week grounded in America due to a technical fault after a lightning strike, leaving passengers stranded.
Early in July, the company said it would suspend the New York route during the winter and restore the link in next summer’s schedule.
But the total closure of the Liverpool base could put their plans in jeopardy.
Liverpool JLA managing director Neil Pakey said: “There’s no shock in this. Tenerife stopped in March, Toronto was always summer only and we knew about New York ending.”
By: flybar - 18th October 2007 at 18:31
ETOPS Licence suspended by CAA today.
15 years since the CAA had to take similar action against a British airline.
By: by738 - 9th October 2007 at 22:54
The AC A319 was operating all summer. It has been scrapped now due to high operating costs of the small fleet of Atlantic capable A319s.
The Iceland stop was via KEF.
By: Manston Airport - 9th October 2007 at 13:45
The 738 can go direct to Toronto Hamilton from GLA.
When the 73 was forced to do the GLA-SFBs for six weeks during the winter, it stopped via St Johns for fuel.
The LPL-JFK runs are direct.
Like the AC A319 thats going to do the LHR-Hailfax route.
The Hamilton flights from MAN with 737s whent via Rejkavik or Keflavik (can’t remember which)
Thanks Sam not that far from greenland then :rolleyes: 😀
James
By: CKTfan - 9th October 2007 at 00:40
The flights that go via NOC including the LPL-JFK, n GLA-BOS are only on certain days, and land there to pick up more paxs.
If u were booked on a day it was just LPL-JFK it would be on the 800 and be direct.
By: David Kerr - 8th October 2007 at 19:29
it was easy to operate direct.
Do you mean direct as in non-stop LPL-JFK or direct as in LPL-NOC-JFK? You can fly directly from LPL round the world….but try finding the non-stop routes!
By: CKTfan - 8th October 2007 at 11:10
Some MAN and even GLA flts went via KEF, it depended on loads n the weather.
With the 800 having a max of 160 instead of 189, it was easy to operate direct.
All flights inbound to the UK were direct, with the exception of one for a medical diversion.
By: RingwaySam - 8th October 2007 at 01:49
Can it fly that far without stopping or does it stop for fuel Via Canada or greenland?. I think GSM have done the right thing getting rid of MAN and LPL they can now concertrate ABZ MME and BFS.
James
The Hamilton flights from MAN with 737s whent via Rejkavik or Keflavik (can’t remember which)
By: CKTfan - 8th October 2007 at 01:29
The 738 can go direct to Toronto Hamilton from GLA.
When the 73 was forced to do the GLA-SFBs for six weeks during the winter, it stopped via St Johns for fuel.
The LPL-JFK runs are direct.
By: lukeylad - 7th October 2007 at 23:28
I think im sure CKING can correct me on this one that the 737-8 could make it all the way to Canada refuel then head down the coast to Florida I must stress im going on something i read ages ago.
By: Manston Airport - 7th October 2007 at 22:48
Wouldn’t put it past them – They’ve flew to Hamilton from Manchester on B738s and im sure they’ve flew to Florida a few times with them 😮 😮
Can it fly that far without stopping or does it stop for fuel Via Canada or greenland?. I think GSM have done the right thing getting rid of MAN and LPL they can now concertrate ABZ MME and BFS.
James
By: by738 - 7th October 2007 at 16:09
Well some Air India crew n fltdk say otherwise.
See picture- The earliest plans for the new AI livery in 2005, now slightly modified, but always featuring the red underbelly. Infact on the new livery its actually classed as orange- this is because the new livery is supposed to reflect the merger with Indian Airlines who’s most recent underbelly was orange.
By: CKTfan - 6th October 2007 at 22:39
Obviously if our chairman was their chairman also.
All i am sayin is, with what we offer, noone would fly with us or want to help crew it, especially with other airlines on offer in MAN.
I’m not here to defend the company but the way we operated last summer n this year the things that happened to affect the performances were all GSM made, nothin more. If they put things aside or procedures in place to make things work properly it wouldve worked nicely. But unless anyone works for GSM, you will never know the exact truth of what its like and the barriers we face to try and make things work or salvage what we have.
By: David Kerr - 6th October 2007 at 22:24
Too much competition at MAN? To Toronto perhaps but surely they would have known about AC operating daily 767s for just 3 months a year, plus less frequent Zoom services. Their operations to South Africa saw no competition but just confusion on their part as to whether they were able to operate as a scheduled carrier.
If we’re being brutally honest, this has all the hallmarks from 15 years ago: Excalibur -> succesful short-haul airline turned into a laughing stock with their long-haul services.
By: CKTfan - 6th October 2007 at 21:33
Anytime. 🙂
I think MME is cheaper and easier for us to operate out of as a ‘base’.
Theres no other decent competition n its easier to operate from.
Hence the reason we operate out of Toronto Hamilton n not Pearson. Zoom and Transat would slaughter us and we’d encounter probs during winter. Whereas in YHM, we are the only international carrier serving the area and all attention would be on us for deicing etc. lol!
The YHMs from NCL are a weird choice but i feel that the company would just keep MME seperate from anythin in NCL. Its a fab base for us and a YHM out of there would ruin their operation. MME was a great choice, it was opened to encourage cheap travel from the northeast n with paxs figures etc, its been an success.
The bases at MAN, STN and LPL were all a big mistake, however ABZ was a surprise to go.
ABZ had the beginning of a perfect base, it felt like bein at the start of GSM again, 2 planes, new oppurtunities and good routes, the future was bright. I’m glad the summer will return for them.
I feel the MAN idea was big mistake. There i FAR too much competiton there n GSM were never goin to survive unless they were made appealing n different from other carriers. Somethin they did but in the wrong sense.
By: lukeylad - 6th October 2007 at 20:49
Cheers for that mate.
One thing that does confuse me is why do GSM operate into NCL on a sunday to fly to Canada when they could do it from MME.
By: CKTfan - 6th October 2007 at 19:57
Its GSMs aircraft, so all fltdk r GSM pilots. The crew are all Delta cabin crew based out in Mumbai. It is an agreement arranged with Air India.
GSM in MME has been one of the only success stories for GSM. All flights have proved very popular and promising for winter and next year.
MME hae been very happy with us and are enjoying the prospect of further development from there.
By: lukeylad - 6th October 2007 at 19:47
Are GSM crews manning the 767s through the lease?
Also how are GSM doing out of MME?
By: CKTfan - 6th October 2007 at 19:44
Well some Air India crew n fltdk say otherwise. Numerous GSM capts have told me the same thing while operating out in Mumbai.
I’m only quoting what i was told by GSM staff. So if their info is wrong, its wrong.
By: by738 - 6th October 2007 at 17:07
Regarding the livery, Air India liked GSMs red belly on their aircraft on our leased 767s, so they decided to have it introduced to their new overall livery also.
Naah, the provisional new livery plans had the red belly ages ago, way before any GSM lease.:rolleyes:
By: CKTfan - 6th October 2007 at 12:24
Are you 100% certain of that?. I’ve been advised that the Vitgin Nigeria deal has been cancelled and that the a/c, after spending four weeks with Air India covering G-CEFG which is on maint, has been placed elsewhere for the winter.
As far as i know, the story was the same yesterday. Lagos and Katmandu.
Our 757 [G-CEJM] won’t be off to FedEx or whoever fleet listings say it is for a while yet. It will be operating the GLA-SFBs until April after the Neos lease is cancelled after 28th Oct.
Regarding the livery, Air India liked GSMs red belly on their aircraft on our leased 767s, so they decided to have it introduced to their new overall livery also.
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September 25, 2007 at 4:43 pm