Virgin Express keeps on fighting...

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Nov 2003, 12:03

A picture anyone?

It's on OO-LTM

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 12:11

I would rather see an SNBA aircraft with "no to a merger" on!!! The thought that I may end up on one of these next September after booking with what I thought was a full service carrier absolutely horrifies me. I really wish I'd opted for VLM from London City, at least that way I would know exactly who I would be flying with.

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Nov 2003, 12:34

Louise,

You have never flown with VEX. I did. Apart from a bad experience once with my baggage, I had excellent flights. Reserved seats, free meals and drinks and low cost. What else can you wish?

VEX does not have the same philosophy as SNBA, and a merger might be a difficult enterprise, but it also widely differs from Ryanair. And it is a Belgian airline.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 12:44

Andre - I would assume that you chose to fly with Virgin Express? Yes, they do sound alot better than any of the other low cost carriers, but I don't like the sound of luggage problems (I've never had such problems, whoever I've flown with).

My point is that I chose to fly with SN Brussels because I wanted to fly with SN Brussels and no one else (I even gave up VLM for next year!!) I would not enjoy the flying as much if I ended up on flights operated by a carrier other than the one I had booked with (this also applies to a BA operated code share, so I am not just getting on about low cost operators).

Virgin Express have their own place in the market, and that is not merging with a full service carrier in my opinion. If SNBA were to merge with anyone, I would rather see a merger with VLM - their service and such like is of a similar standard, they would be a better partner than Virgin Express.

L-1011 · Post by **L-1011** » 24 Nov 2003, 13:22

Louise:

I sincerely doubt that SNBA would be interested in a merger with VLM because of VLM's very small size. They also have completely different aims. VLM is more a local player, but SNBA wants to get a global player (at least on Europe-Africa Level
But I agree with you that they should noy merge with VEX, which I really believe they wont do.

Dustbiter:

I think that if you accuse SNBA and the belgian sate of such things as booking virtual passengers you have to be careful and have proof of what you say.
You don't want to damage the reputation of a carrier on some unproven rumor

If I understood correctly you are working for BGS so you kind of work for SNBA too, so if you hurt them you hurt yourself

Don't take this wrong but I personally think that you could say the same thing about every "abnormal" no-show (if there is something like that) on every comapny if you want.
So be careful,

ciao,
TriStar

Dustbiter · Post by **Dustbiter** » 24 Nov 2003, 16:25

TriStar,

I'm just a normal taxpayer interested in aviation and wondering where the hell my tax contribution is going to....

I'm more than careful....
I never stated topic to be true.
I wanna find out if this rumour is true or not! And if it is true, will anybody have the guts to bring it out.

Some more about subsidies:
As you invest privat money and get 50% tax-refund isn't that another kind of subsidies?

Dustbiter

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Nov 2003, 16:31

Dustbiter wrote:As you invest privet money and get 50% tax-refund isn't that another kind of subsidies?

What do you mean? Could you give an example?

Furthermore, as a taxpayer, where do you live? If it is in the Flemish region, you should not worry: they did not invest one cent in SN BA, only the Walloon and Brussels regions have invested capital in SN Airholding and only the taxpayers living in these areas should eventually worry. The Federal Government has made a loan to SN BA, which shoud be repaid.

sabena4ever · Post by **sabena4ever** » 24 Nov 2003, 16:56

Hi everybody
The flemish region didn't want to invest in
SN-Airholding (SNBA) but they have invested in the BIAC, for the developement of Brussel Airport.
The loan to SNBA should be repaid in 2006.
I'm not sure but I think that the investiment of the walloon and the brussels regions have been already lost.I have read about this in a newspaper last september.
ciaoooo d
sabena4ever

Dustbiter · Post by **Dustbiter** » 24 Nov 2003, 17:10

Flemish, Walloon, Brussels... I realy don't care, I'm a Belgian citizen!!

Guy's read the Chairman of VEX Pressrelease:

Quote: "we immediately took steps to cut back our fleet from 22 to 11 aircraft, reducing capacity and improving profitability. Sabena unfortunately took no such steps, and in the aftermath of 11th September, went into inevitable bankruptcy, having lost money in 73 of the previous 75 years." Unquote

So Belgian taxpayer kept SN flying for 73 years and is, to my opinion, still keeping SNBA in the air !!!

Dustbiter

twan01 · Post by **twan01** » 24 Nov 2003, 17:19

Comet,

I don't know what you mean with "the sound of luggage problems"

You can have the same "sound of luggage problems" with SNBA as with Virgin Express because the luggage from booth, as well as about 50 others companies in Brussels is handled by BGS and not by the companies. :teach: :teach:

sabena4ever · Post by **sabena4ever** » 24 Nov 2003, 17:41

It's to easy to say that Sabena lost money all the time. That ' s not true and unfair.
ciao d sabena4ever

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 24 Nov 2003, 17:51

Louise,

Personnaly I don't think that you'll be flying with VEX next year.

And IF this should be the case, you'll have a nice flight too, I'm sure

Greetz
Chris
8)

Dustbiter · Post by **Dustbiter** » 24 Nov 2003, 17:56

As a "SaBeNa4Ever" you'll be well aware about the situation of the past decades. Please tell me when SN booked a profitable year.

Dustbiter

sabena4ever · Post by **sabena4ever** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:12

Dustbiter wrote :"As a "SaBeNa4Ever" you'll be well aware about the situation of the past decades. Please tell me when SN booked a profitable year. "

Hi Dustbiter
Well, I found this :
in : "La Sabena, 1923-2001; Des origines au crash editions De Boeck 2002"

Financials results of Sabena (1982-1992)

82 -2141
83 +22
84 +26
85 +345
86 +146
87 +70
88 +334
89 +658
90 -7462
91 +1

and also : "From her Fondation to her bankruptcy, one exercise upon four has been profitable".
"Sabena was in good wave during years (1945-1957) and (1982-1989)

An other book, "De crash van Sabena"Steven Decraene, Peter Denruyter, ed. Van Hawelyck 2002".
1998 was a benefit year
1999 heavy losses, but we know why!!!!

So, The results are not good, that 's a fact, but they are not so worse that you have heard or read.
Have a nice evening `
ciaoo d
sabena4ever

Dustbiter · Post by **Dustbiter** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:49

Thanks for the info,

I was told SN made no more profit since '57

Guess my sources are wrong...

Greetings,

Dustbiter

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:55

twan01 wrote:Comet,

I don't know what you mean with "the sound of luggage problems"

You can have the same "sound of luggage problems" with SNBA as with Virgin Express because the luggage from booth, as well as about 50 others companies in Brussels is handled by BGS and not by the companies. :teach: :teach:

Twan - I was merely commenting on Andre's post where he said he had a problem with baggage once when flying with VEX, I was just saying that it didn't sound very good (sorry everyone if I'm not explaining myself clearly, I'm just writing exactly as things would be said if I were talking to a native English speaker, I'm not trying to confuse anyone.)

BlackEyedB747 · Post by **BlackEyedB747** » 25 Nov 2003, 19:10

Dustbiter wrote:Thanks for the info,

I was told SN made no more profit since '57

Guess my sources are wrong...

Greetings,

Dustbiter

hello,

maybe your sources are just angry with the government dont you think
there are not neutral if you ask me 8) 8)

Grtz,

Nico

Dorfmeister · Post by **Dorfmeister** » 25 Nov 2003, 19:18

And instead of making such big theory, why didn't we sit and see how the market will move and VEX - SN policy will move too?

In case of a SN-VEX merger, we can't know yet if it's VEX which will "lower costing" SNBA, or SNBA which will "upper level" VEX...

Sorry if I'm a bit confusing, but I hope that you were able to understand me.

And about the Dustbiter, I'll be interested to see some facts for your theory, which is, up to now, quite light...

Regards,

Benjamin