FlyMe bankrupt!
Mar 2, 2007, 1:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the skies of the world
Programs: SAS Gold, FB Gold, BA Gold, EY Silver
Posts: 3,167
FlyMe bankrupt!
Slightly OT, but the Swedish LCC FlyMe has gone bankrupt and will cease operations with immediate effect today Friday March 2nd.
FlyMe has been one of the main competitors to SAS on the domestic market operating ARN-GOT for example.
http://www.e24.se/dynamiskt/sverige/did_14736446.asp
It will be interesting to see how SAS react to this now when one of their main Swedish competitors is gone on the highly attractive ARN-GOT and ARN-MMX routes.
FlyMe has been one of the main competitors to SAS on the domestic market operating ARN-GOT for example.
http://www.e24.se/dynamiskt/sverige/did_14736446.asp
It will be interesting to see how SAS react to this now when one of their main Swedish competitors is gone on the highly attractive ARN-GOT and ARN-MMX routes.
Mar 2, 2007, 1:22 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 2,395
I say its always sad to see competition go away, even if they stopped flying ARN-HEL route some time ago after Finnair, Sas and most importantly Blue1 lowered prices enough. Now prices have started to rise again. No surprise, but bad news for leisure travellers. 
Mar 2, 2007, 3:29 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2,044
I have recievs this e-mail from Sterling today.
I must say it's good gesture from Sterling, instead of promoting "1 SEK to all destination(tax excluded)" thing.
For myself, I have no FlyMe ticket. But this is of course good marketing indeed.
Originally Posted by Sterling
Kra Sterling kund,
Idag meddelades att vra svenska konkurrenter FlyMe har stllt in alla sina flygningar.
Vi vet att det finns mnga resenrer som redan har bokade biljetter med FlyMe. Om du r en av dem, vill jag informera dig om att du kan anvnda din gamla FlyMe bokning och drmed erhlla en rabatterad biljett p internationella flygningar med Sterling.
Har du en bokad inrikesbiljett med FlyMe, flyger Sterling dig gratis.
I det fall du redan befinner dig p din destination och r i behov av en hemresa, flyger Sterling dig gratis, frutsatt att vi flyger denna rutt och att det finns plats ombord p flyget.
Vi kommer att gra vrt bsta fr att hlla dig uppdaterad med detaljer och information p sterling.dk/flyme
Vnliga hlsningar,
Idag meddelades att vra svenska konkurrenter FlyMe har stllt in alla sina flygningar.
Vi vet att det finns mnga resenrer som redan har bokade biljetter med FlyMe. Om du r en av dem, vill jag informera dig om att du kan anvnda din gamla FlyMe bokning och drmed erhlla en rabatterad biljett p internationella flygningar med Sterling.
Har du en bokad inrikesbiljett med FlyMe, flyger Sterling dig gratis.
I det fall du redan befinner dig p din destination och r i behov av en hemresa, flyger Sterling dig gratis, frutsatt att vi flyger denna rutt och att det finns plats ombord p flyget.
Vi kommer att gra vrt bsta fr att hlla dig uppdaterad med detaljer och information p sterling.dk/flyme
Vnliga hlsningar,
For myself, I have no FlyMe ticket. But this is of course good marketing indeed.
Mar 2, 2007, 4:35 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Stockholm SE, London UK
Posts: 1,167
Brilliant proof of GREAT marketing initiative and great and quick responsiveness. I think it's the latter that SAS actually miss somewhat. The flexibility and responsiveness is somewhat lacking!
The cost is MINIMAL! Just let FlyMe customers use the empty seats on all flights this weekend! Virtually no cost (except taxes which are very low anyway) but soooo much goodwill!
The cost is MINIMAL! Just let FlyMe customers use the empty seats on all flights this weekend! Virtually no cost (except taxes which are very low anyway) but soooo much goodwill!
Mar 2, 2007, 5:07 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CPH, BKK
Programs: OZ*G, AZ Gold, Etihad Gold, SK*G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,014
It is nothing but a Sterling marketing gimmick. Of course they are going to get some loyalty from a few customers.
On the other hand, SK are saying: All right, if you wanna fly with dubious LCC, you know the risk... (and we are not gonna help you). That sells tickets for SK!
On the other hand, SK are saying: All right, if you wanna fly with dubious LCC, you know the risk... (and we are not gonna help you). That sells tickets for SK!
Mar 2, 2007, 9:01 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the skies of the world
Programs: SAS Gold, FB Gold, BA Gold, EY Silver
Posts: 3,167
220 employees will be unemployed and many passengers will have to buy new tickets, 2500 passengers were scheduled to fly with FlyMe today so it's not too hard to figure out that the number of stranded passengers is large.
Fortunately the vast majority of the bookings were made over the internet so those passengers should be able to claim the money back from the credit card companies.
This is of course subject to availability and as we all know Friday is a busy day when it comes to travels.
SJ also see it as a way to promote taking the train instead of a plane. Good move! They probably also take the opportunity to mention taking the train is a more environmental-friendly option.
Mar 8, 2007, 4:53 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: EBG, BA Executive Gold
Posts: 92
It is nothing but a Sterling marketing gimmick. Of course they are going to get some loyalty from a few customers.
On the other hand, SK are saying: All right, if you wanna fly with dubious LCC, you know the risk... (and we are not gonna help you). That sells tickets for SK!
On the other hand, SK are saying: All right, if you wanna fly with dubious LCC, you know the risk... (and we are not gonna help you). That sells tickets for SK!
SK, on the other hand don't need to do anything as a big part of FlyMe's domestic pax automatically will "spill over" to SK anyhow.
My experiences historically is that SK don't take any extra good-will costs if they are not "forced" to do so. In this case it's quite clear, from strictly business-point-of view, they didn't need to...
Mar 8, 2007, 6:51 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Stockholm SE, London UK
Posts: 1,167
Of course this is a deliberate PR-investment by Sterling as they now, due to that FlyMe gone bust, are going in earlier than originally planned on the Swedish domestic market.
SK, on the other hand don't need to do anything as a big part of FlyMe's domestic pax automatically will "spill over" to SK anyhow.
My experiences historically is that SK don't take any extra good-will costs if they are not "forced" to do so. In this case it's quite clear, from strictly business-point-of view, they didn't need to...
SK, on the other hand don't need to do anything as a big part of FlyMe's domestic pax automatically will "spill over" to SK anyhow.
My experiences historically is that SK don't take any extra good-will costs if they are not "forced" to do so. In this case it's quite clear, from strictly business-point-of view, they didn't need to...
When Goodjet went bust, SAS offered special prices to Goodjet ticket holders. From the threads here on FT I can't see what the prices were, but here is the post. (Where are you by the way kempis?! Still working at SAS?)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...hlight=goodjet
Also interesting to see how predicting we can be here on FT! Just see this thread when FlyMe started...
(Have to admit though that they survived a year longer than I thought they would...)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84181
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84228
Mar 8, 2007, 11:02 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 7,323
Icelandic and Ager-Hansen Minkey business?
In the Norwegian paper Dn today (paper edition) Per G. Braathen (former Braathens owner/ current Malm Aviation owner) is interviewed. Haven't read the article myself, but he claims the end of FlyMe is a well planned plot between the not so honest Norwegian business man Ager-Hansen and the Icelandic owners of Sterling. Hope the article comes online soon...
Mar 8, 2007, 11:31 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the skies of the world
Programs: SAS Gold, FB Gold, BA Gold, EY Silver
Posts: 3,167
There have been several articles in Swedish media claiming that the bankruptcy of FlyMe was "arranged".
One of the main questions is how Sterling could launch several new domestic routes on such a short notice, FlyMe went bust last Friday and Sterling started up the routes already this week (I think it was even this Monday, which would mean after just three days).
Many experts say it is just not possible for an airline to start up a few routes, co-ordinate staff and the use aircrafts plus all the administrative work of course within only three days, it does not make any sense, and I have to agree.
Here is a very interesting article to read:
http://www.e24.se/dynamiskt/tjanstef...d_14743175.asp
As it looks now this really stinks!!
One of the main questions is how Sterling could launch several new domestic routes on such a short notice, FlyMe went bust last Friday and Sterling started up the routes already this week (I think it was even this Monday, which would mean after just three days).
Many experts say it is just not possible for an airline to start up a few routes, co-ordinate staff and the use aircrafts plus all the administrative work of course within only three days, it does not make any sense, and I have to agree.
Here is a very interesting article to read:
http://www.e24.se/dynamiskt/tjanstef...d_14743175.asp
As it looks now this really stinks!!
Mar 8, 2007, 3:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Stockholm SE, London UK
Posts: 1,167
There have been several articles in Swedish media claiming that the bankruptcy of FlyMe was "arranged".
One of the main questions is how Sterling could launch several new domestic routes on such a short notice, FlyMe went bust last Friday and Sterling started up the routes already this week (I think it was even this Monday, which would mean after just three days).
Many experts say it is just not possible for an airline to start up a few routes, co-ordinate staff and the use aircrafts plus all the administrative work of course within only three days, it does not make any sense, and I have to agree.
One of the main questions is how Sterling could launch several new domestic routes on such a short notice, FlyMe went bust last Friday and Sterling started up the routes already this week (I think it was even this Monday, which would mean after just three days).
Many experts say it is just not possible for an airline to start up a few routes, co-ordinate staff and the use aircrafts plus all the administrative work of course within only three days, it does not make any sense, and I have to agree.
Very interesting to see how all this unfolds over the coming weeks!
Mar 9, 2007, 11:40 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ARN
Posts: 2,321
I overlooked the boarding of the new Sterling afternoon departure GOT-ARN on tuesday (B737). Maximum of 10 pax.
Mar 9, 2007, 1:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Stockholm SE, London UK
Posts: 1,167