The Eastern European Aviation Thread

krisyyz · Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:47 pm

Eastern Europe has a rich aviation history; countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland all have well developed and strong routed Airlines. Malev, LOT and OK have all undergone massive changes since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Their fleets now consist of western built aircraft and some are now in private hands. How will the airline industry in Eastern Europe Change? Are LCC's the way of the future? Both MA and OK are in significant financial trouble, all of the abovementioned airlines are known for a high level of service but will they have to adopt a no-frills approach to domestic ops in order to secure profitability?

I believe MA, LO and OK all operated the Il-62 at some point for long-haul ops, LO and MA replaced them with the B767 while OK chose the A310. Malev only operated the IL-62 for a short time for charter ops to Japan. LO is the first to order the B787, I'm quite certain that other will order the 787 as well. I am very curious to see what OK's fleet plans are for the future, their recent A32X additions would indicate that they will replace the A310 will A332 or perhaps A350s.

What do you think is the biggest challenge for the Eastern European aviation industry? Do you care to share any interesting facts or stories?

KrisYYZ

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OceansWorld · Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:15 am

Quoting KrisYYZ (Thread starter):
Both MA and OK are in significant financial trouble

MA has appointed a new CEO (Lloyd Paxton), so we'll see how the situation evolves. The airline has a debt of $200 million, but its executives believe that it can be turned-around in only two years...

Quoting KrisYYZ (Thread starter):
Malev only operated the IL-62 for a short time for charter ops to Japan

Indeed, it was an aircraft leased from OK back in 1991 and registered HA-LIA. According to what I've found, it only remained with MA for about three months between June and September and only flew the BUD-NRT route three times apparently for some noise certification reasons.

krisyyz · Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:37 am

Quoting OceansWorld (Reply 1):
MA has appointed a new CEO (Lloyd Paxton), so we'll see how the situation evolves. The airline has a debt of $200 million, but its executives believe that it can be turned-around in only two years...

True, it will be nice for MA to have a CEO who actually comes from the aviation industry. In order to turn malev into a profitable airline within 2 years some massive changes will have to take place. It will be interesting to see what happens and what direction MA goes, I hope they won't decrease the level of service. Ambrovich did mention that he wants to significantly expand the long-haul network, but not until MA is in a better financial situation.

Quoting OceansWorld (Reply 1):
Indeed, it was an aircraft leased from OK back in 1991 and registered HA-LIA

Do you know if it was wet-leased or was it actually operated by MA crews?

KrisYYZ

OceansWorld · Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:20 am

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 2):
In order to turn malev into a profitable airline within 2 years some massive changes will have to take place.

I think they'll really need to simplify their small fleet (30) composed with four different aircraft types.

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 2):
Ambrovich did mention that he wants to significantly expand the long-haul network

I think there could be some potential for some new long-haul routes, and I'm wondering how is the shared service with Hainan Airlines doing ? And from what I remember, Abramovich mentioned Far Eastern destinations for the future. We'll see!

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 2):
Do you know if it was wet-leased or was it actually operated by MA crews?

I don't know.

A link to a picture of HA-LIA.
http://www.planes.cz/cs/photo/1009047/

[Edited 2007-07-24 19:33:23]

krisyyz · Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:43 am

Quoting OceansWorld (Reply 3):
I think they'll really need to simplify their small fleet (30) composed with four different aircraft types.

A simplified fleet would definitely lead to savings for MA. I know that MA wants to get rid of the CRJ's, but I'm not sure as to why. Apparently, one was actually sold before privatization but the Board of Directors wouldn't allow the sale. I personally think the F-70s should go. There is also widespread talk about MA ordering some Sukhoi Superjet 100s, I hope that is just a rumor, I would personally consider that a step in the wrong direction. Furthermore, Once LHA leaves in the fall MA will be back to just 2 767s, which is pretty tight for 3 long-haul routes and charters.

KrisYYZ

PS. That Il-62 looks really good in MA's colours.

OceansWorld · Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:23 am

Apparently, LO is loosing its experienced pilots because of low wages in Poland. While these pilots can earn between 1,055 and 1,582 euros per month when working for LOT, they are leaving for jobs where they can earn between 3,956 and 6,594 euros.

http://www.masterpage.com.pl/outlook/200707/pilotsleave.html

Delta777Jet · Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:34 am

For your information KRISYYZ: The CRJ's making minus for Malev, but the book value is still higher than its actuals. The only assets they can get rid of are the 2 already paid 767-200's

krisyyz · Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:57 am

Quoting Delta777Jet (Reply 6):
For your information KRISYYZ: The CRJ's making minus for Malev, but the book value is still higher than its actuals. The only assets they can get rid of are the 2 already paid 767-200's

Really? I wonder why that is, thanks for the info thought. I know that there was some controversy over the acquisition of the CRJ's, apparently Embraer made a stink over the process.
So I guess LHA was sold to a leasing company before it's being leased to GOL.
I also found out that both LHA and LHB were suppose to be PW powered, apparently PW took MA to court over the late switch to GE engines.

KrisYYZ

md90fan · Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:08 am

I was going to start this thread, but I'm no Eastern European wink

A good bit of FR expansion:

Girona - Brno Eff 29OCT07
Girona - Poznan Eff 30OCT07
Bremen - Budapest Eff 30OCT07

EasyJet too...

4x weekly Edinburgh - Krakow Eff 29OCT07

Quote:

Budapest
London Luton 9 weekly flight, capacity up 12.5% compared to same period one year ago
Rome Ciampino 6 weekly, up 50%
Paris Beauvais 4 weekly, up 33%
Eindhoven 4 weekly, up 33%
NEW service to Milan Bergamo, 4 weekly

Warsaw
Paris Beauvais 4 weekly, up 33%

Bucharest
Rome Ciampino Daily, up 75%
London Luton Daily, up 133%

On 03JUL07, it announced the plan to launch Wroclaw - London Luton and Wroclaw - Doncaster/Sheffield, 5 and 2 weekly respectively, from February 2008.

On 21JUN07, it announced the launch of Sofia - Dortmund from 29OCT07, 2 weekly flights

On 18JUN07, it announced the launch of its 7th base - Poznan, with services to:
Doncaster/Sheffield, Glasgow Prestwick, Malmo/Copenhagen, and Oslo-Torp from 31JAN08. Increased service to London Luton, Dortmund, Stockholm Skavsta will also be introduced.

On 06JUN07, it announced the launch of Tirgu Mures - London 3 weekly flights from 30OCT07.

Few earlier new route announcement includes:
Poznan - Dortmund 3 weekly eff 01OCT07
Katowice - Glasgow Prestwick 3 weekly eff 03SEP07

Aleksandar · Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:45 am

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 4):
There is also widespread talk about MA ordering some Sukhoi Superjet 100s, I hope that is just a rumor, I would personally consider that a step in the wrong direction.

Why? Actually, MA seems more than happy with those F70s but they are also aware that those planes are not getting any younger. If my memory serves me well, MA was also interested in Rekkof project and they really need the replacement of good-old F-70s in the near future.

The biggest problem of MA is not fleet but the LCC competition. They are really harming the airline.

Humberside · Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:54 pm

Quoting MD90fan (Reply 8):
I was going to start this thread, but I'm no Eastern European

A good bit of FR expansion:

Girona - Brno Eff 29OCT07
Girona - Poznan Eff 30OCT07
Bremen - Budapest Eff 30OCT07

EasyJet too...

4x weekly Edinburgh - Krakow Eff 29OCT07

Also BOH-KRK 3xWeekly on EZY

Other new routes announced today. Easyjet: LGW/BRS/EDI-Gdansk. FR: PIK-Kaunas, plus some routes from LPL and EMA. FR are dropping LPL-Kaunsas however

jfidler · Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:41 am

My prediction is that SK will increase its stake in OV, and then dissolve it/merge it with BT. BT will become the main carrier for the Baltic region, with RIX as the hub. VNO (Vilnius) and TLL will have many daily flights to feed RIX, and only a few direct flights from TLL/VNO, to key destinations like LGW, CPH, ARN, etc.

Justin

[email protected] · Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:00 am

New FR routes announced today (25/7) to/from Eastern Europe:

EMA-PZN = 3x weekly
LPL-BUD = 4x weekly
LPL-BZG = 2x weekly
LPL-LCJ = 2x weekly
PIK-BUD = 3x weekly
PIK-KUN = 2x weekly

It’s great to see more FR routes to/from Poland; indeed, it’ll now operate 38. Of those, the overwhelming majority are to/from the UK and Ireland; indeed, only 3 routes are operated by FR from Poland to continental European destinations. In comparison, W6 operates 60 routes to/from Poland, of which 36 are to/from continental Europe and 24 are to/from the UK and Ireland.

traveler_7 · Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:13 am

Quoting Jfidler (Reply 11):
My prediction is that SK will increase its stake in OV, and then dissolve it/merge it with BT.

Recently SAS stated that they have no intention to merge OV in to BT since OV is well know (for this market) brand.
As to

Quoting Jfidler (Reply 11):
VNO (Vilnius) and TLL will have many daily flights to feed RIX, and only a few direct flights from TLL/VNO, to key destinations like LGW, CPH, ARN, etc.

This can be achieved without integrating OV in to BT, I remember reading some rumors on this topic, but in case of TLL it would not work very well since HEL is just some 25 minutes away and AY looks better alternative compare to BT .

I do not know about VNO but recently LAL becomes stronger at least it looks like that.

[email protected] · Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:23 am

EZY will add flights from BRS/EDI And LGW To GDN to it's network from 30th October 07

Flights to and from EDI will operate Tuesday/Thursday and Sunday . In direct competion with Centralwings (C0).

Flights to and from BRS will operate Tuesday/Thursday and Sunday.

Flights to and from LGW will operate daily.

I'm delighted to see yet more flights to/from GDN - a very nice city.

LON-GDN will now have 29 weekly flights, of which 13 to LTN with W6; 7 to STN with FR; and 7 to LGW with EZY. Over 4 DAILY flights from LON to GDN. For many years GDN didn't have ANY service to LON, but at some point BA did fly thrice-weekly to LGW.

Excitingly, EZY's new route BRS-GDN will mean that 7 Polish routes are operated from BRS.

traveler_7 · Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:30 am

Would FR start serving TLL in nearest future?

Aleksandar · Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:41 am

Quoting [email protected] (Reply 12):
EMA-PZN = 3x weekly
LPL-BUD = 4x weekly
LPL-BZG = 2x weekly
LPL-LCJ = 2x weekly
PIK-BUD = 3x weekly
PIK-KUN = 2x weekly

Woow, Ryanair is finally coming to Ferihegy 1

[email protected] · Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:51 am

Quoting Aleksandar (Reply 16):
Woow, Ryanair is finally coming to Ferihegy 1

Errr... EMA-BUD and BRS-BUD were announced some time ago. FR will now have 5 routes to/from BUD.

Aleksandar · Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:56 am

Quoting [email protected] (Reply 17):
Errr... EMA-BUD and BRS-BUD were announced some time ago. FR will now have 5 routes to/from BUD.

Announced, but for quite a long, Ryanair avoided T1 at Ferihegy and it was quite strange to see LCC terminal without FR

krisyyz · Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:20 am

Quoting Aleksandar (Reply 16):
Woow, Ryanair is finally coming to Ferihegy 1

Some what off topic, but is W6 using Ferihegy 2 now? I've seen some pics of Wizz aircraft parked at gates at Ferihegy 2B.

KrisYYZ

OceansWorld · Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:46 am

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 19):
Some what off topic, but is W6 using Ferihegy 2 now? I've seen some pics of Wizz aircraft parked at gates at Ferihegy 2B.

As far as I can tell, no. But there may have been some special reasons for what you saw.

http://www.bud.hu/english/flights/airlines

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:01 am

Quoting MD90fan (Reply 8):
EasyJet too...

4x weekly Edinburgh - Krakow Eff 29OCT07

Quoting Humberside (Reply 10):
Also BOH-KRK 3xWeekly on EZY

Don´t forget LGW-KRK starting October 05 on EZY/U2

Bucharest is also expanding with EZY/U2:
MXP-BBU. Effective: September 10.
MAD-BBU. Effective: October 29.
LGW-BBU. Effective: October 29.

Regards.

OceansWorld · Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:40 am

Speaking of BUD:

Moderate traffic in June

Budapest Airport (BA) served 814 004 passengers in June, 2.3% (18 229 passengers) more than in the same month last year. In the last 12 months, 8.359 million passengers used Ferihegy, representing a 2.5% growth of traffic year-on-year.

738 464 passengers took scheduled flights in the month, representing a 1.7% increase in this segment over last year. In the last 12 months, the growth rate was 3.3%.

Strong growth is experienced in charter passengers, reaching 74 241 in June, showing a 12.4% increase versus prior year. The number of charter passengers in the last twelve months, however, shows a 6.5% decline year-on-year.

EUR 261 million airport development program at Ferihegy

The new management of Budapest Airport (BA) today presented its visions and development plans for Budapest Airport. BA will spend more than 261 million EUR on Ferihegy’s development until 2011, and it will comply with all obligations laid down in the privatization contracts.

Budapest Airport will increase the capacity of Ferihegy and will improve the customer services, check-in and security search processes of the airport by significantly developing T2 and T1.

A unified terminal will be built by fusing T2A and T2B, including an Airside Plaza connecting the transit areas of T2A and T2B, which will introduce international brands and high international retail standards.

Humberside · Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:11 am

Looks like Centralwings could be starting CWL-Lodz

http://miasta.gazeta.pl/lodz/1,35153,4340964.html

krisyyz · Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:52 am

Quoting OceansWorld (Reply 22):

Thanks for the link buddy!

I hope Ferihegy 1 will see some new air-bridge equipped gates.

KrisYYZ

OceansWorld · Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:54 am

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 24):
Thanks for the link buddy!

I hope Ferihegy 1 will see some new air-bridge equipped gates.

You're welcome!

Are there any air-bridges today ? The last time I flew out of BUD, the dinosaurs were still roaming on earth, and my regular flight departed out of terminal 1, which means that I had to be bused to my plane.

Well, if they really want to specialise terminal 1 for low-cost flights, they may inspire themselves with AMS pier H & M. While searching the web, I've found this report (pdf) published less than three months ago:

REVIEW OF DEDICATED LOW-COST AIRPORT PASSENGER FACILITIES

Aleksandar · Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:56 am

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 19):
Some what off topic, but is W6 using Ferihegy 2 now? I've seen some pics of Wizz aircraft parked at gates at Ferihegy 2B.

I've seen some pics, too but I think they were shot before T1 was re-opened. As far as I know, only Air Berlin used T2.

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 24):
I hope Ferihegy 1 will see some new air-bridge equipped gates.

I honestly doubt. Air-bridges would add to costs and LCCs don't want it.

jfidler · Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:42 pm

Quoting Traveler_7 (Reply 13):
Recently SAS stated that they have no intention to merge OV in to BT since OV is well know (for this market) brand.

I do agree that OV is a well-known brand in Estonia, especially compared to BT. I wish OV would somehow become as "well-connected with SAS" (that's the term they use) as BT. For example, I was looking at route maps on SK's site last night, and BT routes are listed, but not OV routes. I also feel that there is no recognition on OV for SK frequent fliers (OV does not have their own FFP, they use SK). I'm SK*G and have never received an op-up based on status on OV flights, while it is fairly common when I fly SK. OV just seems to pick the last people checking in and does an op-up, instead of going by status as most airlines do.

Justin

Danny · Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:51 pm

Quoting [email protected] (Reply 12):
EMA-PZN = 3x weekly

That's EMA-POZ Wink

Imo LOT is in the biggest trouble of all. Lack of strategy, political incompetent management and low fare carriers competition has pushed them close to the edge. All the recent years they were selling assets to get cash for day to day running of the business but the assets available for sale are finishing.

They are closing WAW-DUB which is a symbol of their failure. A national carrier cannot sustain a route to a country with 200k Poles.

JoKeR · Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:23 pm

Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 4):
I would personally consider that a step in the wrong direction.

I'm also not a fan of the Russian planes but I have to disagree.

The new RRJ appears to be one hell of an aircraft, even Boeing confirming its satisfaction with the product. If it is more economical that its CRJ and EMB competitors, why not?

krisyyz · Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:03 pm

Quoting JoKeR (Reply 29):
I'm also not a fan of the Russian planes but I have to disagree.

The new RRJ appears to be one hell of an aircraft, even Boeing confirming its satisfaction with the product. If it is more economical that its CRJ and EMB competitors, why not?

.

True, I guess I have a stigma attached to Russian built airliners. The RRJ won't be built with the same Russian philosophy as the TU-134 or Il-62. If MA orders some RRJs (I believe the want around 6 frames) they may play a pivotal role in proving its performance.

KrisYYZ

cornish · Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:23 pm

Fantastic ! An Eastern Europe thread Smile

Quoting Danny (Reply 28):
Imo LOT is in the biggest trouble of all. Lack of strategy, political incompetent management and low fare carriers competition has pushed them close to the edge.

At least Malev finally got sold - otherwise it too would have been on the endangered list.

Once the LCCs start really turning their attentions to Romania (and they will), then RO could be in the biggest trouble of all.

Unfortunately for all the traditional carriers in eastern europe, it was always going to be a region that had massive LCC potential. Without the extensive long haul networks that many of the large West European carriers have, the local flag carriers were going to come under massive and in some cases unsustainable pressure. Some of them will undoubtedly disappear over the next decade or so and go the way of the likes of Balkan.

Still it is boom time for East European aviation. Massive traffic growth at so many airports and even brand new airports planned. I'm working on two at the moment that have a lot of potential. But these will be primarily for LCCs, despite the clients dreams of flag carriers serving them.

Quoting Aleksandar (Reply 26):
Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 24):
I hope Ferihegy 1 will see some new air-bridge equipped gates.

I honestly doubt. Air-bridges would add to costs and LCCs don't want it.

100% correct Aleks. LCCs want contact stands first and foremost and then remote stands, Air-bridges are seen as a completely unneccessary expense.

traveler_7 · Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:47 pm

Quoting Jfidler (Reply 27):
I wish OV would somehow become as "well-connected with SAS" (that's the term they use) as BT.

Some how i do not believe in the bright future of OV under SK ownership.

OceansWorld · Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:05 am

Some more news.

Low-cost airlines target 2 million passengers in 2007

The volume of low-cost airline traffic could triple this year to almost 2 million passengers, with the market's high potential luring new companies to Romania such as Wizz Air, Germanwings and easyJet. At present, the market is in the early stages of a boom, whilst in the near future the battle for the top positions will become more apparent as the newly arrived companies strengthen their positions on the market.

At the end of last year only 3 low-cost carriers were present on the Romanian market, now there are 6 airlines operating low-cost flights to and from Romania, with yet another company, easyJet, having recently announced its entrance onto the market. Additionally, the established low-cost carriers have introduced new routes and expect to see their occupancy rates double. All these facts indicate that the domestic low-cost air market is one of the most dynamic in the region.

SkyEurope carries 16.4% more passengers

SkyEurope Airlines transported a total of 329,783 passengers in June 2007, an increase of 16.4% compared to the same month of last year. The airline documented a further improvement of the load factor recording an increase of +3.1 percentage points, reaching 80.8%

Is Bratislava a good airport for Vienna?

OceansWorld · Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:50 am

The Austrian Group is doing much better, although it isn't yet out of the red ink. On the short- and medium-haul segment, OS reports an increase of 8,1% of number of passengers carried to Central and Eastern European destinations. The Russian Federation, Ukraine and Romania have experienced the strongest growth with a demand for available seat kilometers growing by 10,8% while capacity only grew by 9% ASK.

OV735 · Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:45 am

Quoting Jfidler (Reply 27):
I do agree that OV is a well-known brand in Estonia, especially compared to BT. I wish OV would somehow become as "well-connected with SAS" (that's the term they use) as BT. For example, I was looking at route maps on SK's site last night, and BT routes are listed, but not OV routes.

When you look at the SAS Group website, they list BT as a "SAS Individually Branded Airline" along with Blue1, Wideröe and Spanair. Meanwhile, OV is graphically distant from the rest of the SK group structure, being the sole "Strategic affiliated company". It beats me why SK wants to keep OV in such oddball status, but while they do, the relationship between OV & SK seems to be a lot less warm than between the official subsidiaries.

Quoting Traveler_7 (Reply 32):
Some how i do not believe in the bright future of OV under SK ownership.

If you ask me, there is no reason to. The management SK has introduced to OV is far more conservative than the BT team, only looking for quick profits (which, sadly, have disappeared), but no long-term improvement of the services. While BT added almost a dozen new aircraft to their fleet, OV only added... like... one?

Adding in the fact that at the time when BT is expanding it's services over Europe and quietly playing with the idea of intercontinental services, OV's plans are limited to adding a couple of 30-seaters for provincial operations.

If this is indeed the future, then I have to agree, it's not very bright, to say the least.

Cheers,
OV735

L410Turbolet · Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:15 am

Quoting MD90fan (Reply 8):
A good bit of FR expansion:

Girona - Brno Eff 29OCT07

Would love to know what sweet deal FR got from the regional/city government... at the expense of taxpayers of course. Brno's been desperately trying to get some scheduled int'l service just for the sake of "prestige" ever since Cirrus axed the MUC service in March.

BT001 · Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:16 pm

Re OV it seems to me strange, that on OV webpage, when I choose routing for RIX-TXL as an example it directs to BT webpage.

Humberside · Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:09 pm

Centralwings have now put Szczecin-EDI on sale - this servcie has been rumoured for a bit after they applied for the relevant slots at EDI. It is their 5th EDI route

Quoting L410Turbolet (Reply 36):
Quoting MD90fan (Reply 8):
A good bit of FR expansion:

Girona - Brno Eff 29OCT07

Would love to know what sweet deal FR got from the regional/city government... at the expense of taxpayers of course. Brno's been desperately trying to get some scheduled int'l service just for the sake of "prestige" ever since Cirrus axed the MUC service in March.

Atlant Soyuz are also starting weekly flights to VKO in codeshare with Smartwings

L410Turbolet · Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:03 am

Quoting Humberside (Reply 38):
in codeshare with Smartwings

I know. Technically speaking it's a once a week scheduled charter to avoid the OK/SU monopoly for scheduled service between Czech Rep and Russia.
Considering what a bad joke SmartWings is in terms of customer service (or lack thereof) notoriety of huge delays and flight cancellations if I were going to Moscow I would happily to pay more for decent scheduled service with OK and most of all for guarantee I will not to end up stuck in Russia for another with these clowns from QS should they decide to cancel the flight.

traveler_7 · Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:04 am

Quoting OV735 (Reply 35):
Adding in the fact that at the time when BT is expanding it's services over Europe and quietly playing with the idea of intercontinental services, OV's plans are limited to adding a couple of 30-seaters for provincial operations.

If this is indeed the future, then I have to agree, it's not very bright, to say the least.

Interesting do SK bought 49% of OV just to prevent competition?
I mean that some one else can buy OV and develop it like SK developing BT?

OceansWorld · Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:51 am

I'm really amazed by the traffic progression at BT.

In 2006 the number of passengers carrried by 37% to 1,425,276 with 29,053 flights provided, an increase of 25% over 2005, all that without a big growth of the fleet.

* * * * *

Austrian seems to be on the right path to reshape itself : Half-year financial report.

Delta777Jet · Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:02 pm

Danny: You are right, the last LOT sold was a hotel building to clear up cash. Further more pilots running away for higher pay. So increasing costs with decreasing turnovers and revenues plus a money buring subsidary Centralwings.

Better to give every passenger some cash on hand rather to fly them !

OceansWorld · Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:55 am

MA and RJ have started their twice-weekly code-shared service between BUD and AMM. Flights are operated Tuesdays and Saturdays with RJ's aircraft.

http://www.malev.hu/BP/ENG/I_NEWS_ENG/2007-0727-2055-54WVYX.asp

OceansWorld · Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:27 pm

I've this two weeks old report on Ferihegy new rail link: Not so far, not so fast, not so friendly

http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.ph...content&task=view&id=273&Itemid=27

[email protected] · Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:03 pm

Not sure whether it’s been mentioned on here or not, but Sky Europe will begin two non-stop routes from Kosice: to both London (Luton) and Dublin thrice-weekly.

Humberside · Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:16 pm

Quoting [email protected] (Reply 45):
Not sure whether it’s been mentioned on here or not, but Sky Europe will begin two non-stop routes from Kosice: to both London (Luton) and Dublin thrice-weekly.

I guess the numbers of peope connecting through Bratislava to DUB and STN must have been good

traveler_7 · Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:36 pm

Estonian Air adds three new routs.

http://www.estonian-air.ee/index.php?id=25650

Danny · Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:00 pm

Quoting Traveler_7 (Reply 47):
Estonian Air adds three new routs.

http://www.estonian-air.ee/index.php...25650

Nice. LOT on the other hand will axe DUB as mentioned before as well as MAN.

adriaticflight · Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:48 pm

Any news about JAT and its anniversary aircraft colours?

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