Belgian TV station VRT has this news message on their website which beggars belief.
http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/default/nieuws/overzicht/040630_sobelair/index.html
WED 30/06/2004 – The higher court of Brussels has declared the bankruptcy of charterer Sobelair null and void. At the same time the court declared that Sobelair could continue.
At the bankruptcy over 5 months ago some 450 employees lost their job. The owner, Aldo Vastapane, announced immediately after the verdict that he was going to sue the trade judge who declared the airline bankrupt in the first place. According to Vastapane the condition of the airline is not hopeless.
According to the high court the judge of the trade court declared the bankruptcy unlawfully. Because of that the bankruptcy hs been declared null and void and can Sobelair continue as it used to.
The most important result is that Vastapane can sue the Belgian state for damagse. The personnel that has been fired will remain the primary creditor.
The people that where hired to dismantle the airline and pay of all creditors have been sacked. Strangely enough they have not been allowed to cancel the clear-out sale. Therefore that is still going to continue as scheduled tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.
Whatever happens, this is going to create quite a stir. Will the Belgian government indeed be forced to pay damages? If so, then what? The employees have been fired and the planes sold. The computers, stationary, tools etc are to be sold tomorrow and the day after. Perhaps worse is that competitors have nicely carved out the Belgian charter market. TUI, Thomas Cook and a load of Turks.
By: Jeanske_SN - 1st July 2004 at 22:19
In the meanwhile, other charter companies have increased their capacity. Thomas Cook Belgium have called some 757’s to Belgium for the summer season. Thomas Cook Germany is now flying tourists around with 767’s, and TNT passenger service has also shown up.
I doubt Sobelair will return. Now that TUI airlines Belgium has been started up again, it would be silly to break it down again and start Sobelair again. A big part of the previous employees at Sobelair are now working at TUI airlines Belgium. You can guess that the employees won’t be happy with another unresting situation.
I believe the most realistic thing that could happen now is a name change. I hope Vastapane understands that the market is currently already fulfilled. I don’t think there is any room left for more charter airlines.
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June 30, 2004 at 6:58 pm