Vfw614 From Germany, joined Dec 2001, 3584 posts, RR: 5 Posted (7 years 9 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 4375 times:
Not a totally unexpected development. You cannot beat public perception, even if it is hystery-driven:
... Helios Airlines suspended all its flights Friday five days after one of its 737's crashed outside Athens killing the 121 people onboard, Cypriot radio reported Friday. The Cyprus-based charter airline confirmed its decision to the government in Nicosia and has agreed to allow independent experts to examine its remaining three aircraft. The decision to halt all flights comes after a Helios plane was forced to divert from London's Luton airport to Stansted Friday morning with landing gear problems.....
Source: dpa (German press agency)
In other news, it is said that they are sending their Boeing 737-800s to Sweden for inspection. Not sure if "suspending" just means their "own" flights or also includes flights with wet-leased aircraft.
one of the remaining Boeing's will be sent to Sweden on Sunday for two days, with the other one going upon return of the first. For the time of the inspections, a replacement will be leased.
The article mentions a fourth a/c in Helios' fleet, an Airbus not wearing Helios livery - from whom is it leased ?
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 4097 times:
Gkirk From UK - Scotland, joined Jun 2000, 24621 posts, RR: 59 Reply 10, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3170 times:
I understand that the Helios 737 that diverted to STN had flap problems, and decided to divert to STN due to it's longer runway. It's believed that this same plane also had flap problems flying into Birmingham a few weeks ago.
When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army Boys, we'll be coming down the road!
Orion737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 2643 times:
I think the accident and the surrounding publicity has done irrepareable damage to Helios. I cant see many German and Dutch tour operators giving them much business, condisering the hard time they gave Onur, and that airline hadnt even had an accident.
British holidaymakers and tour operators seem less willingly and not as quick to 'brand' an airline because of an incident/accident. Onur, for instance, was still operating to UK for British tour companies while German companies had washed their hands of them and were shifting to home airlines.
Flydubai From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 162 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2580 times:
Quoting Gkirk (Reply 10): It's believed that this same plane also had flap problems flying into Birmingham a few weeks ago.
I don't think Helios fly to BHX, although I could be wrong. There were two emergency landings at BHX within the past eleven days. One was a BA jet. The other is unknown to me. Could this be it?
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