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Ceiba Intercontinental SSG-MAD Flight

MHTripple7 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 1050 posts, RR: 5
Posted (5 months 16 hours ago) and read 1821 times:

I found out CEIBA was flying SSG-MAD (operated by White) a little over a month ago, and then came across this photo on the front page:

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Photo © Diego Ruiz de Vargas - Iberian Spotters

Which left me wondering how this route is doing. Do any of our Spanish members have any insight to this flight? I presume that pax loads are rather horrible, considering it's next to impossible to book a flight with them.

I wonder how the inflight service is? AVOD? Flat seats? Mood lighting?

What a strange airline!

9 replies: All unread, jump to last

rutankrd From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1997 posts, RR: 5
Reply 1, posted (5 months 15 hours ago) and read 1698 times:

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Why ?

Equatorial Guinea is the richest country on the African continent with vast oil revenues.

These flights carry large numbers oil execs and the very wealthy Guinean elite up to old colonial power to spend that wealth (or hide it !)

Wouldn't worry to much as to the financials of the operation- The 77L is still owned by Guinea and is registered in Portugal to get round the EU black list !

aviateur From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1345 posts, RR: 12
Reply 2, posted (5 months 15 hours ago) and read 1681 times:

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 1):
Equatorial Guinea is the richest country on the African continent with vast oil revenues.

It's also the most corrupt African country. I've read some incredible things about the fellow in power there -- and some of his family members.

I saw a Ceiba ATR-72 a few weeks ago in Accra. I tried uploading a photo but it was rejected.

A ceiba is a common, and quite beautiful tropical tree.

PS

Patrick Smith is an airline pilot, air travel columnist and author

MHTripple7 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 1050 posts, RR: 5
Reply 3, posted (5 months 15 hours ago) and read 1657 times:

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 1):
These flights carry large numbers oil execs and the very wealthy Guinean elite up to old colonial power to spend that wealth (or hide it !)

Do they? I find it hard to believe these oil companies would suddenly put extra effort forth to switch from IB, AF, LH, etc to CEIBA. Remember, there is no way to earn miles on CEIBA. I am aware of the wealthy Equatorial Guineans, but are there enough of them to support a thrice weekly 77L flight?

[Edited 2012-12-21 17:53:55]

rutankrd From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1997 posts, RR: 5
Reply 4, posted (5 months 14 hours ago) and read 1639 times:

Like I say wouldn't worry about the financials - its certainly a family play thing !

If you need to do business with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo or family i'am sure he would prefer you to travel on his toy !

aviateur From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1345 posts, RR: 12
Reply 5, posted (5 months 14 hours ago) and read 1594 times:

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 4):
Like I say wouldn't worry about the financials - its certainly a family play thing !

That's nice of them, taking tens of millions from the national treasury and buying planes that nobody will fly on.

PS

Patrick Smith is an airline pilot, air travel columnist and author

SCQ83 From United States of America, joined Oct 2012, 459 posts, RR: 0
Reply 6, posted (5 months 14 hours ago) and read 1582 times:

I didn't know UX had pulled out of that route...

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 1):
These flights carry large numbers oil execs and the very wealthy Guinean elite up to old colonial power to spend that wealth (or hide it !)

Even if there are wealthy Guineans in Madrid, nowadays Paris is more likely their destination to indulge (in fact French and Portuguese are also official languages there)... for the money I assume an Alpine country suits better for that purpose.

Since it is basically a vanity route, a SSG-CDG would also make sense.

Or it is just IB's A319, maybe they just don't like IB's (A319) Business Club and they decided to set their own long-haul flight to Madrid... apparently Equatorial Guinean government was not happy with the old Euro-Business that Iberia used until to 2009.

Quoting aviateur (Reply 5):

And keep your people in poverty and misery... for a country with their oil and gas resources and roughly the population of Vermont.

[Edited 2012-12-21 18:51:36]

LatinPlane From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2629 posts, RR: 15
Reply 7, posted (5 months 12 hours ago) and read 1472 times:

Found a video of Ceiba Intercontinental. Interesting operation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FVMira3i0Y

YULWinterSkies From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 2107 posts, RR: 6
Reply 8, posted (5 months 12 hours ago) and read 1449 times:

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 1):
These flights carry large numbers oil execs and the very wealthy Guinean elite up to old colonial power to spend that wealth (or hide it !)

Wouldn't worry to much as to the financials of the operation- The 77L is still owned by Guinea and is registered in Portugal to get round the EU black list !

Though, if registered in Portugal, they would probably have to comply with Portugal (EU) safety standards. And since they fly to MAD, they can get their maintenance checks done there. In fact, EU ban or not, it is probably a better thing for everybody involved that they are registered in Portugal rather than Equatorial Guinea. For the reason below.

Quoting aviateur (Reply 2):
Quoting rutankrd (Reply 1):
Equatorial Guinea is the richest country on the African continent with vast oil revenues.

It's also the most corrupt African country.

When I doubt... go running!

The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6082 posts, RR: 56
Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1251 times:

I read a story online recently saying that Equatorial Guinea is getting help from Spanish Aviation Authorities to get out of the EU ban.

I'm not sure how that's coming along or when they expect to off the EU black list.

It would be interesting to hear more about this operation by Ceiba.

The777Man

Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s

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