Big Apple pie in the sky

Following a 90 day consultation process, Manston is starting to cut its coat according to its cloth and has announced the loss of four jobs. There's no mention of what these roles were, but hopefully the four unlucky employees will find that their skills are in demand elsewhere in Thanet and they won't spend too long between jobs.

The four posts probably account for about a third of the £350k savings that have been identified - there's no indication as to where the rest comes from. I would have assumed that, like most companies in our recessionary/doldrums economy, Manston would be running as lean and mean as it could. This would suggest the savings come from cuts, rather than increased efficiencies.

Nonetheless, true to his roots in corporate communications, Charles Buchanan tries to soften the bad news with a sprinkling of glitter... "talks have been held with representatives of a new airline that is considering introducing direct flights to New York".

Ah! The magic of New York - just slipping it in at the very end of a press article has the intended transformative effect. Unfortunately (and you knew this was coming, didn't you) the story gets thinner and thinner the harder you look.

So, who's the airline? Well, it appears to be FlyInvicta. Never heard of them? Don't feel bad about it, lots of people haven't heard of them. It's a moot point whether they actually exist as an airline yet. They first popped up in the local press in mid-July, sounding new and tentative:

• the fledgling company has contacted Manston Airport chiefs to notify them of their intentions
• [FlyInvicta is] in the process of raising the necessary funding required to secure its short to medium-term future
• [FlyInvicta is] a pioneering long-haul operator with plans to fly new trans-Atlantic routes
• [FlyInvicta said] the Manston to New York route was far from a done deal and that they were also in talks with airports in London, the north of England and mainland Europe

More recently, FlyInvicta said on the Manston Movements fan-site:

FlyInvicta have pleasure in advising that we have held talks with Manston as well as other airports. To stop the rumour mill from working overtime, the airline will be operating from North America. FlyInvicta is a pioneering long-haul operator with plans to fly a number of Trans-Atlantic routes. No other comment will be made at this time and FlyInvicta would like to thank you for your continued support and hope that we can encourage you to fly with us.

As another contributor pointed out, all that's needed is a "credible business plan, funding sources, and a route map with aircraft and crew".

So FlyInvicta may be on the brink of greatness, but it seems to be quite a wide brink at the moment.

Job losses at Manston Airport

Four jobs are to go at Manston Airport in a cost-cutting programme amid speculation that a new service to New York is poised for take-off. The airport, owned by New Zealand company Infratil, has been losing money on its operations and needed to cut costs to give it a more secure future.

Airport chiefs recently examined working patterns to see where cost savings could be made. This process and staff consultation has identified savings of more than £350,000 and the loss of four roles. Charles Buchanan, airport chief executive, said:

"As the airport strives to attract new business, it is important that the cost base is kept as low as possible and we reduce the airport's current operating losses. Increasing the attractiveness of the airport to potential new customers, both through low airport charges and flexible operating conditions, will be key to ensuring the business becomes a commercial success. As a result of the consultation the airport is now on a more sustainable footing for the future as we seek to grow the business."

The airport has attracted Flybe scheduled services to Edinburgh and Belfast but lost the Manchester service in April because of poor passenger numbers. Several holiday charter operations use the airport which earns substantial revenue from its freight operations.

Mr Buchanan has spoken to a number of airlines to try and attract more scheduled passenger services. A spokesman confirmed that talks have been held with representatives of a new airline that is considering introducing direct flights to New York.

kentonline 26th Jul 2011

Transatlantic plans for Manston

A new airline has declared an interest in operating transatlantic flights from Manston. FlyInvicta.com is looking to initially run day-time flights between the East Kent airport and New York. The fledgling company has contacted Manston Airport chiefs to notify them of their intentions.

FlyInvicta.com stressed that the Manston to New York route was far from a done deal and that they were also in talks with airports in London, the north of England and mainland Europe. The company is also in the process of raising the necessary funding required to secure its short to medium-term future against factors such as rising fuel costs and a proposed rise in airport tax. A FlyInvicta.com statement reads:

"FlyInvicta.com is a pioneering long-haul operator with plans to fly new trans-Atlantic routes. Reminiscent of a more courteous and comfortable age, FlyInvicta.com will potentially initially fly from Manston to New York, offering a full range of business and economy travel that rivals established carriers. Respect for customers is our watchword. Customers can rely on our exceptional attention to detail, an expert management team drawn from professionals within the airline, travel and business worlds, and highly trained crews. Together, these create the foundation for a consistent, welcoming and reliable service within a secure and safe environment. Other routes may be announced in due course."

The company has set up a short survey on its website in a bid to research which US destinations would be most sought-after by Kent and London passengers.

businessforkent 14th Jul 2011