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Ford
Jan 5, 2009 11:00:14 GMT
Post by expressflight on Jan 5, 2009 11:00:14 GMT
I'm not quite sure when it had been planned for the SEN-CGN shuttle to restart after Christmas, but there seems no definite news as to its current status.
There have been reports that Ford staff needing to travel between the UK and German plants have been using the Germanwings schedule from STN to CGN. Hopefully this is just temporary until G-OFMC can be put onto another operator's AOC. I'm reliably informed that Flybe and Titan are among several operators who have visited SEN with the aim of taking on the operation of 'MC.
In Spring last year it was reported that two daily freight flights would be operated to Romania in support of the then imminent take over by Ford of the Romanian national car plant. Additionally there were to have been Monday and Friday pax flights to Bucharest from SEN. The 'calling in' by the EU of the takeover plan delayed this coming into operation and, of course, since then the 'credit crunch' and Ford's worldwide woes have thrown everything into doubt as far as Ford's air operations are concerned.
Hopefully we will hear something definite by the end of this week with regards to 'MC continuing the operation of the CGN shuttle or not.
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Ford
Jan 18, 2009 8:27:53 GMT
Post by expressflight on Jan 18, 2009 8:27:53 GMT
I heard yesterday that Fords are still evaluating their options in light of the proposals they have received from various operators and will make a decision at the end of January. That decision could also be to cease operating the route and dispose of the RJ100.
If they decide to reinstate the CGN service it would recommence in mid-February.
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Ford
Feb 3, 2009 11:30:06 GMT
Post by expressflight on Feb 3, 2009 11:30:06 GMT
Sorry to have to inform everyone that Ford Air is no more.
In future staff will use German Wings ex STN.
That must be quite a blow to the SEN management.
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Ford
Feb 3, 2009 12:00:49 GMT
Post by Humberside on Feb 3, 2009 12:00:49 GMT
I think its a huge blow for SEN to loose its only regular year round operation. No doubt it helps in discussions with airlines when you have experience of handling regular operations. At least it's not fault of SEN that these flights have been pulled
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Ford
Mar 24, 2009 22:17:33 GMT
Post by goldhanger on Mar 24, 2009 22:17:33 GMT
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Ford
Apr 11, 2009 21:17:44 GMT
Post by devonian on Apr 11, 2009 21:17:44 GMT
This month's Airliner World reports that Ford is to resume its twice-daily shuttle of Ford workers between the UK and Cologne in early April using a single Avro RJ100. The aircraft, G-OFMC, was registered to the Ford Motor Company on Feb 27, 2009 having previously been on lease from BAE Systems and operated by Flightline.
Is this correct, I wonder? And is it to fly from SEN or STN?
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Ford
Apr 11, 2009 22:31:17 GMT
Post by Thames Gateway on Apr 11, 2009 22:31:17 GMT
I would like to be proven wrong on this, but I think they may have got the wrong end of the stick on this.
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Ford
Apr 17, 2009 7:00:39 GMT
Post by expressflight on Apr 17, 2009 7:00:39 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if Ford do recommence the SEN-CGN shuttle at some point, although I haven't been able to find any evidence to support the Airliner World story over the past few days.
The fact that Ford are continuing to lease the aircraft from BAe Systems, rather than buying themselves out of the lease, is a hopeful sign. At present they incur the costs of the lease, insurance on the aircraft and the fares on the Germanwings service ex STN, so the actual cost difference between the present arrangement and operating 'MC on the route cannot be that great. It's probably more of a political thing at the moment with Ford wanting to be seen to save costs and wear sack cloth and ashes for a time. Once the economy starts to pick up their policy on the UK-Germany link may perhaps change.
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Ford
Oct 15, 2009 13:27:37 GMT
Post by expressflight on Oct 15, 2009 13:27:37 GMT
In the 141-page Planning Statement for the runway extension, there are a couple of snippets concerning the status of the suspended Ford CGN service.
Page 19 says that with the airport as it is now the opening of the rail station has been assumed to result in ".....the recommencement of the services to serve Cologne for Ford."
Page 20 talks about traffic growth from now, through the opening of the extension and beyond and says, after talking about the assumption of some scheduled services commencing once the station is open, "Finally, a service to Cologne is assumed to recommence."
Interesting 'fact' or just wishful thinking I wonder.
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Ford
Oct 13, 2011 7:30:11 GMT
Post by expressflight on Oct 13, 2011 7:30:11 GMT
Almost exactly two years since the last post on this topic, it looks as if G-OFMC may be being prepared to return to service.
It may return to the SEN-CGN route, perhaps a couple of times a week, with the aircraft continuing on to a Romanian destination.
A re-start in November is being suggested.
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Ford
Oct 13, 2011 7:56:15 GMT
Post by goldhanger on Oct 13, 2011 7:56:15 GMT
Which operators AOC are they likely to use?
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Ford
Jan 4, 2012 9:00:14 GMT
Post by expressflight on Jan 4, 2012 9:00:14 GMT
I'm reliably informed that the Jet2 B733 Ford charters will begin next Monday, the 9th January. I haven't been able to discover what the scheduling is but perhaps movementman could help with that.
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Ford
Jan 6, 2012 13:03:44 GMT
Post by movementman on Jan 6, 2012 13:03:44 GMT
Ford flights: Indeed Expressflight I can help with the schedule of the flights: ARR Sunday 1940L posn in empty from LGW & night stop DEP Monday 0700L to CGN with pax ARR Friday 1825L from CGN with pax DEP Friday 1905L to LGW empty
This schedule only runs until 27/04/2012 & then Germania will take over.
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Ford
Jan 17, 2012 15:58:13 GMT
Post by expressflight on Jan 17, 2012 15:58:13 GMT
Germania tell me that "if" they take over the SEN-CGN-CRA route from Jet2 later this year the flights will definitely be Ford-only charters and will not become scheduled services, which seems rather a shame.
JOIN are still attempting to launch and their plans include routes from Cologne to Southend, Craiova (Romania) and Valencia with F100 equipment. Obviously these are based upon extensive Ford usage but would also be marketed as scheduled services.
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Ford
Jan 27, 2012 21:14:11 GMT
Post by Tagron on Jan 27, 2012 21:14:11 GMT
Browsing through the SEN website in an idle moment earlier today I noticed there was a Germania flight ST1 to Cologne leaving at 0835 listed on the Departures page. There was no indication of Jet2 to or from Cologne. What is happening here ?
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