don't think they are allowed to under EU law - but of course that law has never stopped the Italian and Greek governments from trying to play Dr Frankenstein and re-animate the dead at taxpayer expense
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 56 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3167 times:
I believe there are talks of seeking approval from the EU for the Cyprus government to provide a restructuring loan. whether or not this will end up getting paid back remains to be seen, but in the grand tradition of Mediterranean state-owned airlines I suspect not.....
There has been talk of large scale job cuts and the removal of some aircraft. Problem with the A332s is that they can fill them on the London runs easily (their most important along with ATH), but are simply too big for their other routes...
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
In fact, there have been (conflicting) reports on the governement being willing to sell its majority stake (they own 70% of the airline)!
It has been said that the airline could run out of cash by year end. Therefore the plan of the govt, subject to EU approval to inject some cash, or to find someone to buy the airline...and the losses....
DeC From Greece, joined Aug 2005, 616 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 2875 times:
Quoting AF022 (Reply 7): Are there any online news sources giving an indication of what is up at CY? Is there a business paper from Cyrpus that could be accessed online?
AS A WAY out of the cash-crisis threatening Cyprus Airways' continued existence, the government is prepared to sell-off the state-owned airline to any interested buyer, President Papadopoulos revealed yesterday."
Cyprus Airways have been running on very high ticket prices for many years, since no other airline would service Cyprus before (apart some Olympic Airlines routes which were equally, or sometimes even more expensive anyway). Now, thing is that they went around operating on very high costs as well (a main factor being the huge number of employees and crew along with their overblown salaries that went on for many years) making huge debts which were somewhat balanced by the great amount of income they’ve been enjoying for years, due to monopoly.
Things changed however, when Cyprus became a full member of the E.U a couple of years back and several airlines, led by Cyprus Airways’s no.1 ‘enemy’, Greece’s Aegean (and Cypriot Helios Airways which was formed a little earlier but basically flourished its operations when we became full E.U members as well – only to be stopped by the tragic 14th of August crash, but that’s another story..) were allowed to fully operate in Cyprus as well. With the introduction of significantly lower ticket fees, excellent service and new fleet, Aegean Airlines took ‘em by surprise with a great amount of Cypriot people who live abroad (mainly Greece, myself included as well) traveling exclusively with Aegean and abandoning Cyprus Airways which demanded (and still demands, despite the dramatic drop of their tickets’ price) a lot more money for the exact same routes and service.
Now, they are facing huge debts which they are desperately trying to deal with, by firing a lot of employees and largely decreasing the salary of the remaining ones among many other actions as well. Thing is that because they had to lower their ticket prices as well, so they could be somewhat competitive again, their income was decreased with it so they can’t find a way to meet their legalities now. Nobody knows what’s going to happen and if you ask me, the purchase of those brand new A330’s got them even deeper in trouble.
BrightCedars From Belgium, joined Nov 2004, 1276 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2807 times:
I've put my wife and kid on CY for our Xmas trip to BEY. Yes Horus, it's quite an attractive connecting point to avoid red-eye services to the Eastern Med.
I'll be traveling AZ myself via MXP having an award ticket.
I'm starting to wonder if any of us will be flying at all between AZ and CY...
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22070 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2776 times:
The saga at Cyprus Airways has been going for a little while now.
The financially troubled loss making carrier has been looking to receive state aid to avoid a shut down. In order to receive EU approval for the aid, the carrier needs to accept a long term restructuring plan. An earlier study had concluded the carrier needs to shed atleast 1/5 of its work force and cut cost including fleet reductions, and the closure of its loss making Hellas Jet subsidiary. However the highly unionized workforce has rejected all proposals that would affect employment and pay.
The ball is now again back in the hands of the Cypriot government whom need to make some tough decisions if the airline is to continue.
Any potential private sale would almost certainly also require many non popular changes before a buyer would be willing to invest.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
AF022 From France, joined Dec 2003, 2082 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2628 times:
When looking at schedules it seems that CY has a middle-of-the night flight to Heathrow, leaving LCA at some ungodly hour. Can this flight possibly be performing well?
Does anyone know what the loads are? I would guess the evening departure to LHR does very well, but the early flight must be empty.
I guess the flight is for positioning, but who wants to depart LCA at 0335 for a 5 hour flight? Awful.
CXA330300 From South Africa, joined exactly 9 years ago today! , 1500 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2620 times:
In the grand tradition of inefficient state-owned/supported airlines, I would expect more help from the government, and nothing to change at all........a la Olympic.
The sky is the limit as long as you can stay there
AA767400 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 2271 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2426 times:
Don't you think that a 332 would be too much plane for what the use them for?
DeC From Greece, joined Aug 2005, 616 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2326 times:
Quoting BBADXB (Reply 14): an someone please tell me how many A330s, A320s and A319s they have in their fleet at present?
Thanks.
The fleet therefore in 2003, consists of eight Airbus A320s, two A319s and two A330s. Eurocypria, Cyprus Airways' subsidiary charter company operates with four brand new Boeing 737-800.
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 56 Reply 17, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2320 times:
Quoting AF022 (Reply 12): When looking at schedules it seems that CY has a middle-of-the night flight to Heathrow, leaving LCA at some ungodly hour. Can this flight possibly be performing well?
Does anyone know what the loads are? I would guess the evening departure to LHR does very well, but the early flight must be empty.
I guess the flight is for positioning, but who wants to depart LCA at 0335 for a 5 hour flight? Awful
Works just fine - you have to remember the Brits are well versed at flying to and from their Med holiday destinations at obscure hours. I've flown on it when pretty packed and also at quieter times. At easter, summer, Xmas etc it can be full.
Part of the problem is a lack of slots at LHR, as an existing operator without stacks of cash, they have to take what slots they can - and this can mean unattractive hours. But i beleive Olympic have a similar early morning flight form Greece to LHR too, so it might be an Eastern Med sort of thing....
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
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