TMR's all new "Tales from the Underworld" thread

[Barman]

2 flights gone - both to Faro.

Total pax = 15.

Piers 3, 4 and 6 now fully closed. Pier 2 only partially open.

I drove round the entire airport on Saturday night and what first struck me was the darkness. No lights in the closed piers. Then the amount of parked up planes. Orange tails everywhere - I counted 58. Push back tugs, baggage tugs, belt loaders all parked up on the 230 stands, opposite the Boeing hangar.

Went for a cigarette in one of the airside smoking areas, usually lit by pier 4. Dark. No noise of crews moving equipment for the first wave of flights. No-one else there. Rats getting braver and running around with no fear of being squashed by a 40 ton push back tug. 2 foxes running around the 170 stands.

A sense of gloom everywhere and having to tell staff not to come back anymore at the end of their shift is heartbreaking. They did nothing wrong.

Next night shift, however, I intend to hold the Gatwick Grand Prix. 4 of us will take fully charged baggage tugs and complete a circuit of the airport. These things all have the same limited top speed of 15mph so the winner will be he who chooses the best lines through the corners and the best route (there are a couple of options).

 

&

 

[Steve]

2 flights gone - both to Faro.

Total pax = 15.

Piers 3, 4 and 6 now fully closed. Pier 2 only partially open.

I drove round the entire airport on Saturday night and what first struck me was the darkness. No lights in the closed piers. Then the amount of parked up planes. Orange tails everywhere - I counted 58. Push back tugs, baggage tugs, belt loaders all parked up on the 230 stands, opposite the Boeing hangar.

Went for a cigarette in one of the airside smoking areas, usually lit by pier 4. Dark. No noise of crews moving equipment for the first wave of flights. No-one else there. Rats getting braver and running around with no fear of being squashed by a 40 ton push back tug. 2 foxes running around the 170 stands.

A sense of gloom everywhere and having to tell staff not to come back anymore at the end of their shift is heartbreaking. They did nothing wrong.

Next night shift, however, I intend to hold the Gatwick Grand Prix. 4 of us will take fully charged baggage tugs and complete a circuit of the airport. These things all have the same limited top speed of 15mph so the winner will be he who chooses the best lines through the corners and the best route (there are a couple of options).

 

&

 

&

 

[apc2010]

What's is TMR views on Virgin now ..and how many others will go belly up.........

[Nick]

I feel so sorry for multi billionaire Richard Branson at this difficult time
































 

[The Moan Ranger]

What's is TMR views on Virgin now ..and how many others will go belly up.........

All airlines will go belly up if all countries keep the borders shut. But this won't happen. Will it take 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, a year?

Who knows. Virgin hasn't really make a lot of money in the last few years, so spare cash is sparse. They lease the majority of their planes so will stuggle to raise cash as they have relatively few assets. Their routes are predominantly leisure. If the government agrees that future leisure routes are worthy of keeping, they'll inject cash - but with strict terms. easyJet and BA/IAG are different in that they are cash rich and own the majority of their aircraft.

But these are only assets is someone wants to buy them. If no-one is flying, no-one will. And then the cash runs out. Can the government step in? Probably, but the complex ownsership of these airlines could make that tricky. Ryanair are fairly safe, but only if people take to the skies sooner rather than later.

[apc2010]

What's is TMR views on Virgin now ..and how many others will go belly up.........

All airlines will go belly up if all countries keep the borders shut. But this won't happen. Will it take 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, a year?

Who knows. Virgin hasn't really make a lot of money in the last few years, so spare cash is sparse. They lease the majority of their planes so will stuggle to raise cash as they have relatively few assets. Their routes are predominantly leisure. If the government agrees that future leisure routes are worthy of keeping, they'll inject cash - but with strict terms. easyJet and BA/IAG are different in that they are cash rich and own the majority of their aircraft.

But these are only assets is someone wants to buy them. If no-one is flying, no-one will. And then the cash runs out. Can the government step in? Probably, but the complex ownsership of these airlines could make that tricky. Ryanair are fairly safe, but only if people take to the skies sooner rather than later.

 

[Steve]

What's is TMR views on Virgin now ..and how many others will go belly up.........

All airlines will go belly up if all countries keep the borders shut. But this won't happen. Will it take 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, a year?

Who knows. Virgin hasn't really make a lot of money in the last few years, so spare cash is sparse. They lease the majority of their planes so will stuggle to raise cash as they have relatively few assets. Their routes are predominantly leisure. If the government agrees that future leisure routes are worthy of keeping, they'll inject cash - but with strict terms. easyJet and BA/IAG are different in that they are cash rich and own the majority of their aircraft.

But these are only assets is someone wants to buy them. If no-one is flying, no-one will. And then the cash runs out. Can the government step in? Probably, but the complex ownsership of these airlines could make that tricky. Ryanair are fairly safe, but only if people take to the skies sooner rather than later.

 

[The Moan Ranger]

Sent myself home early tonight on the basis that there's fuck all to do. 90% of my boys are only working 1 shift every 10 days, on full pay, so why am I doing the full 48 hour 4 day shift...

We have 14 flights today - all repatriation flights, with 2 to Paphos - then...nothing.

Sorry Apey 

[Barman]

Sent myself home early tonight on the basis that there's fuck all to do. 90% of my boys are only working 1 shift every 10 days, on full pay, so why am I doing the full 48 hour 4 day shift...

We have 14 flights today - all repatriation flights, with 2 to Paphos - then...nothing.

Sorry Apey 

WHo won the race...?

[apc2010]

Sent myself home early tonight on the basis that there's fuck all to do. 90% of my boys are only working 1 shift every 10 days, on full pay, so why am I doing the full 48 hour 4 day shift...

We have 14 flights today - all repatriation flights, with 2 to Paphos - then...nothing.

Sorry Apey 

 

[Steve]

Sent myself home early tonight on the basis that there's fuck all to do. 90% of my boys are only working 1 shift every 10 days, on full pay, so why am I doing the full 48 hour 4 day shift...

We have 14 flights today - all repatriation flights, with 2 to Paphos - then...nothing.

Sorry Apey 

 

 

Flightradar is very much quieter nowadays esp over Cyprus

https://www.flightradar24.com/35.24,24.74/8

[The Moan Ranger]

Sent myself home early tonight on the basis that there's fuck all to do. 90% of my boys are only working 1 shift every 10 days, on full pay, so why am I doing the full 48 hour 4 day shift...

We have 14 flights today - all repatriation flights, with 2 to Paphos - then...nothing.

Sorry Apey 

WHo won the race...?

Postponed due to it being a bit too cold 

[Barman]

Sent myself home early tonight on the basis that there's fuck all to do. 90% of my boys are only working 1 shift every 10 days, on full pay, so why am I doing the full 48 hour 4 day shift...

We have 14 flights today - all repatriation flights, with 2 to Paphos - then...nothing.

Sorry Apey 

WHo won the race...?

Postponed due to it being a bit too cold 

[The Moan Ranger]

Currently snowing here in Gatwick...

[Miss Demeanour]

That'll ground the planes