4th A330 for SNBA very soon

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 14 Oct 2005, 14:50

I received an e-mail from SNBA.

All the rumours about the new A330 are NOT TRUE, even the date 2007 is not true.

It was also said that it is very incredible that there will be a rumour that SNBA in meantime will use an A321 or a B 767.

If SNBA don't mention this on their site it's all speculations and rumours.

mafrick · Post by **mafrick** » 14 Oct 2005, 14:56

But what did he say than exactly about the A330?
Will he come or not?

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 14 Oct 2005, 15:02

He said nothing about the A330 even the date 2007. He was very surprised to hear about it. He said that if they don't communicate something about new aircrafts everything is pure speculations and not based on facts.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 14 Oct 2005, 15:15

Of course nothing is official yet.

But remember that when there is smoke there is a fire

Let's wait and see

Chris

wildhair · Post by **wildhair** » 14 Oct 2005, 16:23

word is that 4th a330 will not be coming afterall . talk is only of temporary lease to cover new cabin interior works

tolipanebas · Post by **tolipanebas** » 14 Oct 2005, 17:18

Atlantis wrote:I received an e-mail from SNBA.
All the rumours about the new A330 are NOT TRUE, even the date 2007 is not true. H

About 2 months ago, there has been an internal staff memo saying SN Air Holding had decided in principle to add a 4th A330 and had given green light to start looking for such a plane (at certain financial conditions).
This definitely is no rumour, it is black on white on paper here before me and it clearly means there would have been a 4th A330!
(before someone asks, sorry, we are not allowed to post due to confidentiality matters; remember the problems some of us had a year or so ago when we unveiled internal memo's in the heath of a discussion to show we were right after we were called liars because we dare to claim things which were opposed to the official line of SN)

Then, only last week there was a staff memo on the sudden resignation of Rob Kuypers, saying amongst others that the shareholders of SN now want to give the future CEO free hands in drawing his business plan of the company and that as a consequence, they have decided to let the lease of that 4th A330 depend on his findings. In other worlds: NO 4th A330 anytime soon!

Fact is, SN has chanced idea and has communicated this internally, yet since it was not announced to the outside world, they try to make it look as if there never was this idea!

On the good side, the 3 A330s will soon all be repainted and in the mean time, there will indeed be another B767 or A330 leased as stop gap measure, so spotters: keep your camera's ready!

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 14 Oct 2005, 17:34

Thanks for the confirmation Tolipanebas.

Will keep my camera ready to see the gap filler

GORKI · Post by **GORKI** » 14 Oct 2005, 18:55

tolipanebas

I agree with what you say but first you say no A330 soon and then probable A330 or even a 767 leased? we'll see i guess

Lets hope the 4th A330 will be a fact soon as it has been a rumour for several months and was mentioned in the "airline magazine" article
(interview with P.davies)
I think its simply not easy to find an A330 and if you find one you have to decide quick and pay the most!

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 14 Oct 2005, 19:08

I want to reply on some posts.

When some rumours are spread about airlines, airplanes, etc it's mostly based on talks some people have heard, etc. There is no base.
What I try is to contact some people of those companies to get an explanation. On that way we can counter the rumours.

We have to admit in the situation of the 4th A330 that we received some dates, he will arrive this year, then posponed till the summer of 2006, now it's 2007. And what about the B767 or A321. Where would they get those airplanes, B767 are hardly to get. I have my doubt.

So, If Geert said that there is nothing known about a new A330 end certainly not about a B767 or A321, he will have done his job. And I respect that.

tolipanebas · Post by **tolipanebas** » 14 Oct 2005, 19:16

GORKI wrote:tolipanebas, I agree with what you say but first you say no A330 soon and then probable A330 or even a 767 leased? we'll see i guess.

Sorry should have been more clear....
What I mean is NO more PERMANENT 4th A330 for the time being but a SHORT time lease only of a plane to REPLACE the SN A330s when they undergo their heavy maintenance.

They even mentioned the plane they have set their mind on: ex sabena OO-SFX (reportedly because it has the same cabin interior as the A330s SN currently operates); does anybody know about the whereabouts of this machine?

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 14 Oct 2005, 19:23

Atlantis wrote:
When some rumours are spread about airlines, airplanes, etc it's mostly based on talks some people have heard, etc. There is no base.
What I try is to contact some people of those companies to get an explanation. On that way we can counter the rumours.

But do you really think that airline PR departments will tell you confidential information ? Of course not. If it hasn't been announced officially they won't tell you anything.

Just a small anecdote: A few years ago when SN said they would lease 3 new planes (eventually the A319's) I e-mailed them to know which type of planes it was. One day before the official announcment I received a mail telling me it'll be 3 B737NG's !!! Conclusion: Don't always trust PR departments of companies.

Chris

tolipanebas · Post by **tolipanebas** » 14 Oct 2005, 19:27

Atlantis

the news about the 4th A330 was at the time of me talking about it NO RUMOUR, heck even our CEO Peter Davies talked about it on the focus meetings with me personally!

Now things have changed and the idea of another A330 is off the table. Now I ask you, has SNBA actually denied SN Airholding had given their official go ahead to search for one, or has SNBA simply avoided to tackle that by saying there will be no 4th plane and that you mustn't believe all that is said?

Staff is entitled to information from another department at SN, called Internal Communication and they spread news (or rumours as you call them) more easily, yet they also often have to recall some of their information.... one being that of the 4th A330.

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 14 Oct 2005, 20:27

The last thing I want to say is this: wait and see. And it means for everything on the airport of BRU. I believe it when I can see it.

Case closed

Airbus330lover · Post by **Airbus330lover** » 14 Oct 2005, 22:08

tolipanebas wrote:
GORKI wrote:tolipanebas, I agree with what you say but first you say no A330 soon and then probable A330 or even a 767 leased? we'll see i guess.
They even mentioned the plane they have set their mind on: ex sabena OO-SFX (reportedly because it has the same cabin interior as the A330s SN currently operates); does anybody know about the whereabouts of this machine?

OO-SFX is now operated by AIR LUXOR !
Registration : CS-TMT

tolipanebas · Post by **tolipanebas** » 15 Oct 2005, 09:22

Thanks for that info, Airbus330lover-

Here's an interior shot of this machine, now operated by Air Luxor:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/713691/M/

One can clearly see it still has the old Sabena cabin fittings and would thus be perfect for short term lease by SN.

Also, it seems Air Luxor has leased out this plane during the quieter winter months before, notably to Garuda indonesia.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/536028/M/

Anyway, as said before, it will be this one OR a wet leased 767 from Air Atlanta...

Avro changed links: Please use shorter links next time

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 15 Oct 2005, 10:40

Well I prefer to see the old SFX back in BRU instead of a B767 of Air Atlanta

Chris

teddybAIR · Post by **teddybAIR** » 15 Oct 2005, 14:24

Avro wrote:Well I prefer to see the old SFX back in BRU instead of a B767 of Air Atlanta

Chris

I fully agree with that statement Avro!

And with regard to the news that SN is not to acquire a 4th permanent A330: I guess it is more important to keep our flag carrier in good financial health and maybe it's a wise decision to wait before expanding the fleet further...would have loved a fourth A330 though

AirDupont · Post by **AirDupont** » 16 Oct 2005, 08:06

SNBA is not the flag carrier.
Would it not be nice to see a 767 in maybe partial sn colors. I also prefer working on a Boeing then on Airbus but that's just my preference.
Someone said there aren't any 767's for lease? Check the deserts in the States, full of 767's. Also, KLM is getting rid of theirs.

Post by **sn26567** » 16 Oct 2005, 10:14

GORKI wrote:If tomorrow they tell him to announce public that all SNBA-VEX fleet will be painted pink as from December, he will tell this (its his job).

Not pink, PURPLE!

killerwhale65 · Post by **killerwhale65** » 16 Oct 2005, 13:12

Shhht!