TWA suspends flights to Tel Aviv
Mar 28, 2001 | 6:44 pm
#1
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TWA suspends flights to Tel Aviv
In midst of acquisition, TWA suspends flights to Tel Aviv
The Associated Press
3/28/01 8:12 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Trans World Airlines said Wednesday that it had indefinitely suspended its route between Tel Aviv, Israel, and New York's JFK Airport.
In a statement, TWA said the Tel Aviv route "will not a be a part of the acquisition" by American Airlines.
TWA said it is contacting ticket holders in the United States and Israel so they can make other arrangements.
American's parent, Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., has agreed to pay $742 million for TWA.
The deal was approved by a bankruptcy judge and the U.S. Justice Department earlier this month.
The airline also said that customers collecting "Aviators" frequent flier miles will be able to roll those miles into American's AAdvantage program when the acquisition is complete.
TWA said members of the AAdvantage program can earn and use miles on other airlines serving Tel Aviv, including British Airways, Iberia, El Al, Sabena, Swissair and Turkish airlines.
The Associated Press
3/28/01 8:12 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Trans World Airlines said Wednesday that it had indefinitely suspended its route between Tel Aviv, Israel, and New York's JFK Airport.
In a statement, TWA said the Tel Aviv route "will not a be a part of the acquisition" by American Airlines.
TWA said it is contacting ticket holders in the United States and Israel so they can make other arrangements.
American's parent, Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., has agreed to pay $742 million for TWA.
The deal was approved by a bankruptcy judge and the U.S. Justice Department earlier this month.
The airline also said that customers collecting "Aviators" frequent flier miles will be able to roll those miles into American's AAdvantage program when the acquisition is complete.
TWA said members of the AAdvantage program can earn and use miles on other airlines serving Tel Aviv, including British Airways, Iberia, El Al, Sabena, Swissair and Turkish airlines.
Mar 29, 2001 | 10:06 am
#3
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As many of you know Im no great fan of TW and looked for every reason to knock them.But I agree 1000% with what they did,even though I was holding a ticket(return) portion to TLV from a flight I took when I was sent there last year when I was in europe.
If the workers really wanted American to take the route they shoould have been willing to take cuts etc so that if AA decided that it wasn't profitable to them they wouyldnt get stuck with all the obligations that TWA had entered into.
I also feel that the workers never should have tried to make it a case of politics that AA didnt want it,when they indeed knew the real reasons.They tried to get Jewish American groups behind them when it was a $$$ reason to boycott AA.Im thrilled that they didnt fall for it.
I have many a friend that I made that worked for TW in Israel and I know all too well how the unions there as well as in Europe behave(unfortunatly the unions in the US seem to following suit). TW has been leaving Europe because of the costs that they had to incur with those stations.
As for myself TW rebooked me on another airline,only the 1st class tkt will now be in coach and a redoposit of X miles will be put into my acct. TW hasnt left the passengers alone as Tower Air did,but are trying to rebook everyone and issue refunds,something that I didnt think they would do especially since they are not to be in the near future.
If the workers really wanted American to take the route they shoould have been willing to take cuts etc so that if AA decided that it wasn't profitable to them they wouyldnt get stuck with all the obligations that TWA had entered into.
I also feel that the workers never should have tried to make it a case of politics that AA didnt want it,when they indeed knew the real reasons.They tried to get Jewish American groups behind them when it was a $$$ reason to boycott AA.Im thrilled that they didnt fall for it.
I have many a friend that I made that worked for TW in Israel and I know all too well how the unions there as well as in Europe behave(unfortunatly the unions in the US seem to following suit). TW has been leaving Europe because of the costs that they had to incur with those stations.
As for myself TW rebooked me on another airline,only the 1st class tkt will now be in coach and a redoposit of X miles will be put into my acct. TW hasnt left the passengers alone as Tower Air did,but are trying to rebook everyone and issue refunds,something that I didnt think they would do especially since they are not to be in the near future.
Apr 1, 2001 | 11:14 am
#4
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Location: Gila, NM, USA
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I have a friend who's stranded in Israel with TWA tickets. They were supposed to fly today I think on TWA and are having a hard time getting their tickets honored. My friend is on a paid ticket but has a companion with him on miles and they are not accomodating the companion. My friend is a TWA elite, not sure what level, and has been for many years. He says they are doing a lousy job of getting him home. Any tips or advice? Anyone else stuck over there and finding a way to get home? Thanks! They are considering just buying tickets home ($2500 each) and then asking AA for compensation. Is that a good plan?
Apr 2, 2001 | 2:00 pm
#5
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as for buying tkts I wouldn't count on AA coming thru. 1st AA said they werent interested in TLV. 2nd it was a TW decision so it seems they will have to join a long line of other creditors so the best suggestion I have is for them to call collect to their Credit-card company(assuming they paid via credit card) starting a dispute usually all they will get back is 1/2 the price paid, but at least its something.
Also they should try to find out on which airlines TW has agreements with for protection.CO was one,so was ELAL but an travel agent friend told me on Friday that ELAL will discotinue honoring TW tkts,don't know if that is reality or not. As for the free tkt holder as long as they are in the midst of their travels they too are to be protected.I had to downgrade to coach from 1st but got my tkt endorsed over to Delta for an Aug return(I'll worry then if theres a prob). I understand that anyone holding free tkts that didnt start out yet will get the miles returned to their acct at no charge,but arent being protected for travel at this time. If $$ are the issue there are charters to London and cheap fares from there to the states.Or they should try Tarom,or Malev.But with the onset of the Passover holiday its a time that many Israelis head off to Europe & the States so seats wont be a viable as at other times so they should grab what they can,but try to get TW to endorse it 1st.
Also they should try to find out on which airlines TW has agreements with for protection.CO was one,so was ELAL but an travel agent friend told me on Friday that ELAL will discotinue honoring TW tkts,don't know if that is reality or not. As for the free tkt holder as long as they are in the midst of their travels they too are to be protected.I had to downgrade to coach from 1st but got my tkt endorsed over to Delta for an Aug return(I'll worry then if theres a prob). I understand that anyone holding free tkts that didnt start out yet will get the miles returned to their acct at no charge,but arent being protected for travel at this time. If $$ are the issue there are charters to London and cheap fares from there to the states.Or they should try Tarom,or Malev.But with the onset of the Passover holiday its a time that many Israelis head off to Europe & the States so seats wont be a viable as at other times so they should grab what they can,but try to get TW to endorse it 1st.
Apr 2, 2001 | 2:32 pm
#6
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Just as soon as the TW employees are "swept under the rug", and "all of this" is a memory, look for AA to start new service JFK-TLV with new lower paid staff.
Bank on it.
Bank on it.
Apr 2, 2001 | 5:46 pm
#7
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Tvl4Free --
That's my theory too. It makes tremendous business sense for AA to cut loose the existing TW staff in TLV. AA even said in one of their press releases that the high labor costs were a major reason they were closing the route.
Once they're no longer obligated to pay severence to those TW employees, they can re-start up a station that will cost them several million dollars a year less to operate than the TW station would have cost.
That's my theory too. It makes tremendous business sense for AA to cut loose the existing TW staff in TLV. AA even said in one of their press releases that the high labor costs were a major reason they were closing the route.
Once they're no longer obligated to pay severence to those TW employees, they can re-start up a station that will cost them several million dollars a year less to operate than the TW station would have cost.
Apr 2, 2001 | 6:35 pm
#8
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Originally posted by tvl4free:
Just as soon as the TW employees are "swept under the rug", and "all of this" is a memory, look for AA to start new service JFK-TLV with new lower paid staff.
Bank on it.
Just as soon as the TW employees are "swept under the rug", and "all of this" is a memory, look for AA to start new service JFK-TLV with new lower paid staff.
Bank on it.
Those 100 employees are not AA employees. AA has no obligation to continue paying them, just as AA has no obligation to Karabu and the high lease rates on TWA's aircraft.
If AA had to continue operating TWA with TWA's costs, AA would not have purchased TWA, and TWA would have closed doors weeks ago, just like Tower.
There was nothing inherently wrong with TWA's network. The problem was Karabu, high lease rates, and antiquated work rules. It's either eliminate those barriers to success, or declare bankrupty and close down immediately and permanently.
Apr 3, 2001 | 10:54 am
#9
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STEFFO,
have your friends see if they can get onto TWA out of Cario,Paris,or London. I dont know their final destination but these are the only places one can fly to out of TLV that TW flies from.This way the cost of the tkt should be alot less.Theres also Turkish who usually has very low fares,if TW hasnt any room.
Best of luck to them there'll need it,would appreciate an update as to what they had to do when you know.
have your friends see if they can get onto TWA out of Cario,Paris,or London. I dont know their final destination but these are the only places one can fly to out of TLV that TW flies from.This way the cost of the tkt should be alot less.Theres also Turkish who usually has very low fares,if TW hasnt any room.
Best of luck to them there'll need it,would appreciate an update as to what they had to do when you know.
Apr 3, 2001 | 10:57 am
#10
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As for TWA employees.As far as I recall the only carriers with their own set of workers were ELAL(their home base) and TWA.All the others used RENT A CREW,they were ELAL who got dressed in the uniform of the carrier they were checking in etc.,yes Im sure that the tkt offices and supervisors were of the carrier but no way do they have 100 employees on the ground.
This was the reason that TWA was leaving there other European cities the labor costs were too high.
This was the reason that TWA was leaving there other European cities the labor costs were too high.
Apr 3, 2001 | 11:56 am
#11
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Given the oneworld alliance, wont it make sense for them to use the handling serices of BA in TLV. We do things like that in *A all the time - oh and get paid milage whoever we fly with accross the atlantic http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I love using that stick to beat my drum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Apr 3, 2001 | 12:52 pm
#12
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jongar --
They may share service with BA when AA reinstates the route. However, I'd be surprized if BA had much in the way of crew in TLV.
Also, BA is to 1W what SQ is to *A. They're in the alliance, but they often play by slightly different rules.
And as far as earning miles accross the atlantic, yeah, it kinda stinks I can't fly BY for credit. But at least when I fly ANY 1W carrier I get my 100% elite bonus miles. [ Hope you don't mine that I borrowed your stick for a minute... ]
They may share service with BA when AA reinstates the route. However, I'd be surprized if BA had much in the way of crew in TLV.
Also, BA is to 1W what SQ is to *A. They're in the alliance, but they often play by slightly different rules.
And as far as earning miles accross the atlantic, yeah, it kinda stinks I can't fly BY for credit. But at least when I fly ANY 1W carrier I get my 100% elite bonus miles. [ Hope you don't mine that I borrowed your stick for a minute... ]
Apr 3, 2001 | 5:32 pm
#13
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that SQ rule doest affect me - LH Senator. Can I have my stick back ?? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Apr 3, 2001 | 9:00 pm
#14
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jongar --
If you spend time flying on LH, belive me, it'll be my pleasure to do whatever I can to make your life happier -- including giving you your stick back.
You have my sympathies.
Oh, and any of the 1W airlines except for AA/BA can earn miles on any airline accross the atlantic. Just like LH gets the 100% bonus on all *A airlines.
If you spend time flying on LH, belive me, it'll be my pleasure to do whatever I can to make your life happier -- including giving you your stick back.
You have my sympathies.
Oh, and any of the 1W airlines except for AA/BA can earn miles on any airline accross the atlantic. Just like LH gets the 100% bonus on all *A airlines.
Apr 5, 2001 | 3:52 pm
#15
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Originally posted by craz:
As for TWA employees.As far as I recall the only carriers with their own set of workers were ELAL(their home base) and TWA.All the others used RENT A CREW,they were ELAL who got dressed in the uniform of the carrier they were checking in etc.
As for TWA employees.As far as I recall the only carriers with their own set of workers were ELAL(their home base) and TWA.All the others used RENT A CREW,they were ELAL who got dressed in the uniform of the carrier they were checking in etc.
OAS.
From my experience it seems that every airline consistently used the same agents.