Pressclub From Belgium, joined Nov 2001, 773 posts, RR: 5 Posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2501 times:
The Belgian start-up VG Airlines just got their commercial license rom the Belgian aviation authoritities. This means that they can start their operations now coz they had already their AOC
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 6, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2325 times:
My thoughts are the same as Airbuspilot, I thought that getting their license was only the first step in many issues still to be resolved, including rights to operate to the US destinations (JFK, BOS, LAX I believe), ground facilities at those airports, and to clean-up and resolve their financing.
The mid-May dates are only days away, can they or have they accepted reservations for those flights. Do they have a resevations system in place, not only in Belgium but in the US?
I hope that this works out, but I still have my doubts.
Pressclub From Belgium, joined Nov 2001, 773 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2326 times:
Dutchjet is correct: they have now their belgian licences but they must still get green light from Washington for their US-flights. So they can start flying, if they want even today, but not to the US.
Pressclub
SAS23 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2309 times:
They need a DOT402 which can take up to three months to obtain. Then, depending which airports they wnat to fly to, they need specific additional approvals, slots, etc ... and they need a reasonable marketing lead time as well.
A320-Addict From Belgium, joined Apr 2001, 250 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2292 times:
Hello Guys,
Today I talked to a captain that is in charge of the safety issues at VG-Airlines.
The current plan is to operate flights between Jerevan (Yemen) and Los Angeles, via Brussels.
They have 3 main problems to operate this route:
1. Safety problems, the American CAA is very doubtfull that they can provide enough safety on this flight, certainly form Jerevan.
2. Fuel problems. They can not get fuel at Jerevan of which they are sure of the quality. So they HAVE to take the fuel from Brussels to Jerevan and back. On the A330-200 this is not such a big problem, because it has a very high landing weight, and Jerevan is not that far from Brussels (4hrs), but still operating like this they can only fill 3/4 of the plane maximum.
3. The third problem is related to the firs one, they still don't have a DOT402 to operate flights to the USA. This can still take several months, seen the safety problems.
The question I ask myself is: Will they be bankrupt before they start flying, or just after??
They loose 50.000 EUR every day they don't fly....
Still I wish them all the luck, but I see the sky getting darker over VG-Airlines every day...
SAS23 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2285 times:
Don't forget that it costs fuel to carry fuel, so that's going to add to the overall costs.
If I was heading up the commercial side of VG, I'd be trying to sign up deals with tour operators to provide long haul charters - the problem with that of course is the aircraft configuration, which is not a high density charter one; or alternatively provide ACMI services to other airlines (including of course SNBA).
With costs of €50k per day, that's €1.5 million per month - how much capital did they have to start with, and how much is left now?
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 13, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2244 times:
Now 6 planes by the end of the year? As mentioned above, lets see the first flight get off the ground. Belgium has already lost Sabena and Citybird due to overexpansion and poor planning, it deserves better! If VG would stay with a reasonable transatlantic schedule, maybe it will have a chance, otherwise, I regret to say that there will be more trouble at BRU. I respect SBNA for their conservative approach thus far.
Maybe I am missing something, but why would VG want to operate a single-plane flight from LAX to BRU and on to Yemen? Is there a specific market for a flight such as this? It seems to me that they are just asking for problems.
Sabena 690 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2235 times:
Yes A320-addict,
I thought that too...
First see and than believe...
That's the reason I first didn't believe the presentator of Kanaal Z, but Tonny Gramm confirmed...
By the way, you can compare Tonny Gramm with Lippens and Davignon, these three guys know even much of aviation, with other words: just nothing.
I will be surprised if they will really take off, and I will be more surprised if they will even still exist on the end of the year.
I just hope it for all the people who worked a lot to get the company ready. They aren't even payed yet!!! Just amazing...
AirDD From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 375 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2220 times:
TO Dutchjet,
The flight between Yerevan (Armenia) and LAX is a wet-lease for Armenian Airlines; a wet lease of 70 % of the seats; the 30 % of the seats will be commercialized by VG between BRU-LAX. None of the planes of Armenian Airlines are allowed inside the USA
Los Angeles has the biggest Armenian community outside of Armenia.
Manni From South Korea, joined Nov 2001, 4221 posts, RR: 23 Reply 17, posted (11 years 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2157 times:
Martinair stands next to a mega fleet of KLM aircraft while VG has only 3 SNBA widebody and 2 Sobelair widebody aircraft to compete with.
But it sounds weird indeed to announce an expansion even before they have carried out their first commercial flight.
6 aircraft, I can not imagine using them all on the trans atlantic market. I hope to see some Asian destinations scheduled out of BRU soon again by any airline. Perhaps NRT?
Established02 From Belgium, joined Jan 2002, 536 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (11 years 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2122 times:
> how much capital did they have to start with?
"De Standaard" has a brief article on VG Airlines today:
... Mr Gram would have given 25,8 million euro in guarantees and during final negotiations he has added another 6 million euro. During the press conference Mr Gram was assisted by businessman-lobbyist Freddy Van Dijck, who took care of the link between VG Airlines and politics. He will be responsible for the operations ("operationeel verantwoordelijk") in the airline company.
By receiving the commercial license 200 ex-Sabena staff, who had previously signed a temporary contract, have been automatically hired by VG Airlines. If/when the third aircraft will be delivered, then this amount will increase to 300 people. The first flight from Los Angeles to Brussels and then to Armenia will be on Sunday May 26th. Perhaps a flight to New York will take place before this date. Another destination will be Boston. VG is also considering Miami/Orlando.
A320-Addict From Belgium, joined Apr 2001, 250 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (11 years 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2114 times:
"By receiving the commercial license 200 ex-Sabena staff, who had previously signed a temporary contract, have been automatically hired by VG Airlines"
--> No-one had any contract at VG untill today!!
And I doubt if they will have one from tomorrow on...
Apuneger From Belgium, joined Sep 2000, 3026 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (11 years 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2094 times:
Well, I heard (if I remember well, so please beware...) that they are hoping to commence first flights to the US on May 26th or so...
Until then, they are hoping to get some ad hoc charter work...
And yes, if things go well, they are planning on expanding their fleet to 6 aircraft (I'm not sure if the 3 additionam aircraft would also be A330's, but this is very likely to be the case).
Anyway, I hope they make it, I really do...but appraently they still need to get rid of many many problems...
Airbuspilot From Belgium, joined Apr 2000, 416 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (11 years 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2089 times:
They all had contracts !
Those contracts became valid the moment VG received all the necessary licences so as of this moment, indeed 200 ex-SN employees are hired!
Republic From Canada, joined Dec 2012, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (11 years 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2035 times:
DOT gives OK for VG Airlines to serve U.S.(5/9/2002)
NEW YORK -- VG Airlines, the Belgian start-up carrier set to pick up where bankrupt Sabena left off, won Dept. of Transportation approval to begin nonstop transatlantic service from Brussels to the U.S.
As previously reported, VG Airlines plans to serve New York's Kennedy Airport daily as soon as May 20, with flights to Boston four times weekly and Los Angeles five times a week soon to follow.
Once launched, VG Airlines flights will be bookable through the carrier's Belgian call center at (011) 32-3 303-0000 or by e-mail at reservations@vgair.be. Eventually flights will be available for booking via both the GDSs and VG's own Web site, said an airline spokesman.
Pressclub From Belgium, joined Nov 2001, 773 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (11 years 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2017 times:
What more inside info:
DOT just confirmed me this info. VG got approval already wednesday.
x Flights to New York (daily Ops) will start 23 of may
x Flights to Boston (5 times weekly) will start 30 of may
x Big question: the flights to Yerevan/LAX. It seems that this operation is not sure. "Still pending', says VG
25 A320-Addict: Thx for the interesting post Pressclub
26 Apuneger: Pressclub: Damn! you beat me on this one. I also read this... But then, you don't have to rely on secondary sources such as VRT Teletekst As a matter
27 MAH4546: They plan Brussels-Miami for the winter. Miami was supposed to the third destination until Aremenian Airlines and VG reached a deal.
28 ILS.25L: My brother-in-law left 30 minutes ago to Malaga and he phoned me to let me know he could see standing a VG-plane at the bridge between 2 different pla
29 Sabena 690: Hey ILS.25L, I checked all the flights, but did not find one VG Airlines flight. Does your brother-in-law fly for Thomas Cook Airlines? Regards, Frede
30 Lj: I just see on the AMS website that Air Holland will hire an A330 tommorrow. Can this be a VG A330?
31 Sabena 690: I think you are right Laurens. I found this on the net: IV 501 AMSTERDAM (AMS) 03:30 OOS This is the VG Airlines flight to Amsterdam. Nice that VG ear
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