Big problems at SN Brussels Airlines!

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 19 Dec 2005, 22:00

I was just reading De Standaard online and I saw an article about the problems at SNBA.

The pilots are lauding the alarmbel. Since the leave of Rob Kuypers and Peter Davies the company didn't have any strategic plan for the future and this since September. It's like a ship on sea without compass.

That's not all. Not only the pilots are afraid also the groundstaff. They have fear about a fleet change or a shrink of the fleet. If this comes reality some of them will loose their job.

Also the pilots fear the increase of the pressure. They say they don't want actions at this time but they want information about a future, strategic, plan, the fleet and the employment.

It's very good the company will make again a benefit but it seems that the problems are big. The stress is very high at the groundstaff, there is no replacement for people who will change in their job in this company or who left the company.

I'm very curious for 2006, but this is not nice.

source: De standaard online

http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail. ... 122005_054

AirDupont · Post by **AirDupont** » 20 Dec 2005, 00:26

scary situation indeed

waldova · Post by **waldova** » 20 Dec 2005, 11:16

I hope they come soon with a new strategic plan!
Hopefully this will not affect, in the case it goes wrong, to Virgin Express.

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 20 Dec 2005, 11:56

It is/was known that SN was in problems, but it's getting worse

Hope they get out of it

killerwhale65 · Post by **killerwhale65** » 20 Dec 2005, 12:50

Its not the first time that SN staff complains about the management.

https://www.aviation24.be/postx7189-0-0.htmlpilots

https://www.aviation24.be/postx4783-0-0.htmlpilots

https://www.aviation24.be/modules.php?name ... e&sid=4329

FlightSimCrew · Post by **FlightSimCrew** » 20 Dec 2005, 13:41

The only way to survive the next year is to make significant cost cuts.. not only by reviewing the fleet size but also some structural issues within the SNBA business model (distribution platform, productivity fleet and crews, attract new passengers, ...). With a loss making European network and a shrinking result on Africa I think people should look more ahead and less to their paycheck.. complaints will always be there its just a matter of surviving !

AirDupont · Post by **AirDupont** » 20 Dec 2005, 14:23

maybe try some new long haul destinations on their own iso always codesharing? Bombay?Beirut?Delhi?Shanghai?Beijing?KIX?NRT?
Hopefully there will be a new CEO soon who isn't affraid of taking some wise decisions

beaucaire · Post by **beaucaire** » 20 Dec 2005, 14:45

SN has lost it's appeal to many foreigners due to an uncomprehensive marketing strategy.Too many code-shares,not enough planes ,not an attractive network of long-haul destinations.Sole Africa can not be a guarantee of SN's survival.It takes something they can't find elswhere(the passengers ) in order to claim a SN ticket !

JM · Post by JM » 20 Dec 2005, 15:19

there is a new CEO, but apparently they're waiting to make a press release... I cannot understand why ... I'm sure that we will soon hear about it. Neil Burrows is the man ! ( also largely envolved with TV )

Greetz,
JM

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 20 Dec 2005, 16:59

There are even plans to leave Corporate Village and go back to the old Sabena House. For the moment SNBA is hiring 4 floors at C.V. but this is too big.

Jetairfly has now one side of Sabena House, SNBA would take the other side.

SNBA has to make a decision. Would they only serve Europe and Africa and yes could they expand on these destinations. It's clear that they don't have the intention to go further then Africa with their own metal.

Johan23 · Post by **Johan23** » 20 Dec 2005, 17:21

From whom do you get all this information? Is this reliable? I heard that the Sabena house is too expensive for hire. Apparently TCV is much cheaper, or at least so I've been told.
I've heard rumours about Mr. Burrows becoming the new CEO amongst the crews as well but is this a certainty now?

Cheers,
Johan

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 20 Dec 2005, 17:24

Hmm, when I visited the Corporate Village, they were planning to clean up the upper floor and some offices would go there.

Let's see what happens

Johan23 · Post by **Johan23** » 20 Dec 2005, 17:35

I am not saying anyone is lying. I am only curious where these rumours come from. Moving to the Sabena house would be nice anyway...

teddybAIR · Post by **teddybAIR** » 20 Dec 2005, 17:58

beaucaire wrote:SN has lost it's appeal to many foreigners due to an uncomprehensive marketing strategy.

What do you mean??? To me, SN's marketing strategy has never been better than it is now: it's consistent, its effective and it's efficient! They don't forget to exploit the opportunities new media offer and they are innovative in the way they bring over their message...sorry my friend, but I don't agree on the "uncomprehensive marketing strategy" part.

bAIR

JM · Post by JM » 20 Dec 2005, 18:10

Johan23 wrote:From whom do you get all this information? Is this reliable? I heard that the Sabena house is too expensive for hire. Apparently TCV is much cheaper, or at least so I've been told.
I've heard rumours about Mr. Burrows becoming the new CEO amongst the crews as well but is this a certainty now?

Cheers,
Johan

I know this because I saw him, together with almost the whole SNBA board, visiting all the facilities that SNBA has at Brussels Airport. Mr Burrows wanted to get to know the SNBA product better ( He knows VEX product very well ! ) seen he will be the new CEO, a colleague of mine added.

Greetz,
JM

beaucaire · Post by **beaucaire** » 20 Dec 2005, 18:34

teddybAIR wrote:
beaucaire wrote:SN has lost it's appeal to many foreigners due to an uncomprehensive marketing strategy.quote]

What do you mean??? To me, SN's marketing strategy has never been better than it is now: it's consistent, its effective and it's efficient! They don't forget to exploit the opportunities new media offer and they are innovative in the way they bring over their message...sorry my friend, but I don't agree on the "uncomprehensive marketing strategy" part.

bAIR

Well if you compare SN with other medium size airlines ( Finnair,TAP,AUA) you will find they attract a quite large extent of transit passengers into their special longhaul products.Corprorate identity is well defined and promoted.SN identity is watered down with code-shares all over and by not having enough metal to expand their network..

Johan23 · Post by **Johan23** » 20 Dec 2005, 20:07

sounds like it isn't a fact JM so I think it's better not to spread the word. Let's wait till it is official.

Cheerioh

GORKI · Post by **GORKI** » 20 Dec 2005, 20:10

I think all employees both in SNBA en VEX are worried about their futures
While a lot of companies order new aircraft , SNBA & VEX are even struggling to continue with their current fleet
I don't understand the "strategy" of VEX on the low fare market:
a)put energy in a rotation (AMS-FCO) and then give it away to transavia
b)wait and wait wait to discover that certain routes would make money already few years ago (ex. catania)
Transavia for example,they open continuously new routes and if it doens't work,they stop it even after only some weeks
c)being suprised that Ryanair starts malaga,valencia and Faro
and TNT will go to barcelona,palermo not to speak about Vueling...
let's hope 2006 will be the year of a fresh new wind blowing through "SNV"
else it can be too late...

SN_fan · Post by **SN_fan** » 20 Dec 2005, 20:18

let's put the tsunami money that they didn't used in snba,

No, but ins't it possible for snba to attract new investors so that they can expand their fleet, maybe going on the stockmarket or so (I'm not an economist but I always hear on the news that by goeing to the stock market companies gain money)