Humberside Airport - General Thread

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

airforced, you are unfortunately spot on..

CAA orders JetXtra to halt ticket sales
Jan 23, 2012 08:45AM GMT
0 Comments and 7 Reactions
Start-up charter carrier JetXtra.com has been ordered to stop selling tickets by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

A partner of travel group CTT, JetXtra plans to operate flights from Humberside airport to Majorca and Malaga for three months from June. Seats went on sale in the second week of January, with the carrier saying all sales would be protected under the CTT Atol.

The airline claimed it halted sales following a threat of legal action by regional carrier Jet2. However, the CAA confirmed it had acted to prevent the sale of unlicensed holidays.

A CAA spokesman said: "CTT sought permission to trade with JetXtra.com. We have not yet approved that and until we do it cannot sell holidays. We would not allow a company to sell seats it does not have a licence for." The spokesman confirmed: "This has nothing to do with Jet2."

CTT holds a licence to carry just 620 passengers in the year to September and only 150 this summer, when JetXtra hopes to carry 9,000 passengers. The CAA previously confirmed to Travel Weekly that JetXtra would only be allowed to offer the number of seats for which CTT is licensed unless it approved an extension.

However, the JetXtra website claimed the halt in sales was "due to Jet2.com legal threats". Jet2.com has written to JetXtra suggesting its name is "misleading".

According to the JetXtra site: "JetXtra.com have been told by the CAA . . . that until a decision is made by Jet2.com in relation to any legal proceedings, the JetXtra.com trading name will not be allowed on to the Atol licence of CTT Group."

JetXtra director Daniel Reilly said: “We are naturally disappointed by this decision. To be hit with this at one of the busiest times of the year for summer holiday bookings is a massive blow."

Reilly claimed: "The decision would appear to be a knee-jerk reaction by the CAA as our legal team have informed us that until such time that an injunction was granted, or there was a court ruling in Jet2.com's favour, that we are free to continue trading as JetXtra.com.

“We will be appealing this decision as soon as possible in the hope that we can recommence sales under the JetXtra.com brand without too much of a loss to our business.”

Potential passengers are still able to check flight prices on JetXtra.com, but no bookings can be made. Reilly said: “Any customer who has already booked should not be concerned as this decision to temporarily halt trading will not affect their booking or financial protection offered under the CTT Group Atol."

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/ ... e+caa.html

I seem to remember the exact same thing happening at Nexus Airways.. They were only bonded by ATOL for 150 passengers, so nobody lost money (as they were transfered to other flights) but Nexus had to stop selling the seats.

Jet2 clearly have right to not want any connotations to be drawn by the passengers (not that they would though), and it looks like this will not be getting off the ground. Hardly bodes well for the near future of HUY!!

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

And a small response from Jet2..

New airline jetXtra.com has been told to suspend ticket sales by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).


The new airline is due to launch flights from Humberside to Majorca and Malaga this summer and had obtained an ATOL license to sell up to 620 holidays under the CCT Group. However, the company must now wait for approval from the CAA to sell more holidays and for its name to be confirmed following a dispute with Jet2.com.


Jet2.com has now criticised jetXtra.com for going public on its legal concerns over the new company’s name.


“For the managing director to use this correspondence erroneously and publically is amateurish and damaging and a clear example of why we do not want any confusion amongst consumers between JetXtra and Jet2.com,” said Steve Lee, commercial director at Jet2.com.


A statement on jetXtra.com’s website reads: "jetXtra.com has a lot of respect for Jet2 and we employ them to take a common sense approach and cease this damaging action immediately, allowing both companies to continue to serve the people in their respective market places”.

http://www.traveldaily.co.uk/AsiaPacifi ... tion=24467

It seems I may have been wrong championing this operation :dunno:

 

[Jordan-34092]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

JetXtra told to stop selling tickets by CAA over Jet2 name row

Start-up airline JetXtra has been told to stop selling tickets by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following threatened legal action from rival airline Jet2, Travel Weekly report. JetXtra, a new low-cost airline arm of operator CTT Group, is planning to launch flights from Humberside Airport to Majorca and Malaga from June.

Jet2 threatened legal action against JetXtra last week, claiming that its name is ‘misleading and confusing’ for customers and was in some way associated with its own business. The new airline has now been told by the aviation regulator that until a decision is made by Jet2 in relation to any legal proceedings, the JetXtra trading name will not be allowed on to the ATOL licence of CTT Group and will as a result have to stop selling tickets under the JetXtra brand.

JetXtra director Daniel Reilly told Travel Weekly: ‘We are naturally incredibly disappointed by this decision. To be hit with this at the most crucial time for our business and of course one of the busiest times of the year for summer holiday bookings, is a massive blow.'

‘The decision would appear to be a knee-jerk reaction by the CAA, as our legal advisors have told us that until such time that an injunction is granted, or there was a court ruling in Jet2's favour, we are free to continue trading as JetXtra. We will be appealing this decision and hope we can recommence sales under the JetXtra brand without too much of a loss to our business.’

Source


And i thought Jet2 was a good airline, pffft yeah right there same as all the others, after May i will never fly jet2 again, what a disgrace they actually are, the bullies, i hope they have a worse summer than 2011 and that it affects there reputation and business.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Seems JetXtra are trying to get the point across


No Copyright Intended

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Concorde Lover, please read the article I posted above.

The CAA have stated that their decision to suspend sales by jetXtra has ntohing to do with the Jet2 dispute, and is actually due to the ATOL licence jetXtra are using is that of the CTT Group, which protects only 150 passengers when in reality they intend to sell 9000 seats over the same period!!

 

[Galaxy]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Seems JetXtra are trying to get the point across


No Copyright Intended

What a catchy strap-line

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Things are clearly not as clear cut as we all thought they were. I do hope Jet2 can provide a Humberside offering after all this should the JetXtra venture fall flat on it's face.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

What a catchy strap-line

I'm more baffled about why they would add such a strap-line. Surely having to make it clear they are independant of Jet2 is admitting that there is cause for confusion!

I do hope Jet2 can provide a Humberside offering after all this should the JetXtra venture fall flat on it's face.

I think they have made their stance quite clear, in that HUY falls within the LBA catchment area :sad:

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Isn't it easier and quicker to get to EMA as opposed to LBA?

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Isn't it easier and quicker to get to EMA as opposed to LBA?

From Hull its probably about the same amount of time, despite EMA being slightly further in distance. Even so there is clearly a market from HUY for the product Jet2 offers, but it is probably seen as a niche market ala BLK (only a bit bigger).

Only hope is that FR decide to announce a route or two from HUY before the weeks out, as staff at HUY have been told there is still a chance of FR flights this summer, but I find it unlikely.

I just dont see jetXtra getting off the ground. They are clearly too much of a liability in the eyes of the CAA.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

It's a shame really it is, It would be good if FR introduce a few new routes or if not perhaps EZY, or if we push it MON/ZB

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

To be honest, we have waited that long, that if jetXtra doesnt materialise then I dont see any short term growth. Unless of course Jet2 come in to 'pick up the pieces' but how likely is that?

I tend to believe that half of their problem is convincing the CAA that they have a financially sound setup. I know they seem to have the backing, but they are effectively a ticketing agent, using a little known foreign airline (and presumably their AOC?) and have no tangible assets. Is it in the CAA's best interests to go awarding ATOL licences (which I believe works on insurance bonds?) when there could be a good chance that they have to pay out at some point down the road?

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

JetXtra withdraws claim after CAA halts sales of unprotected holidays
Jan 24, 2012 07:30AM GMT
0 Comments and 3 Reactions
JetXtra.com has withdrawn its claim that a threat of legal action by an established carrier forced it to stop selling tickets, following a rebuke from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Start-up carrier JetXtra, a partner of travel group CTT, plans to operate flights from Humberside airport to Majorca and Malaga for three months from June. Seats went on sale in the second week of January, with the carrier saying all sales would be protected under the CTT Atol.

JetXtra claimed yesterday that it halted sales at the weekend following a threat of legal action by regional carrier Jet2. However, the CAA confirmed it ordered a stop to sales to prevent the booking of unlicensed holidays.

A CAA spokesman said: "We have been in contact with JetXtra.com and we are talking with CTT Group. We have not sorted out an increase in seat allocation, but are in coversation about extending it."

CTT holds a licence to carry just 620 passengers in the year to September and only 150 this summer when JetXtra hopes to carry 9,000 passengers. The CAA previously confirmed to Travel Weekly that JetXtra would only be allowed to offer the number of seats for which CTT is licensed unless it approved an extension.

The CAA said: "CTT sought permission to trade with JetXtra.com. We have not yet approved that and until we do it cannot sell holidays. We would not allow a company to sell seats it does not have a licence for." The spokesman confirmed: "This has nothing to do with Jet2."

However, the JetXtra website claimed yesterday that the halt in sales was "due to Jet2.com legal threats". Jet2.com has written to JetXtra suggesting its name is "misleading".

In a statement, Jet2.com said: "JetXtra published an article on its website that falsely blamed Jet2.com for the CAA's decision to halt its ticket sales, something the CAA has confirmed as 'entirely untrue'. The CAA verified its decision had nothing to do with Jet2.com and was made solely to protect consumers."

Jet2.com commercial director Steve Lee said: “For JetXtra to claim Jet2.com was responsible in any way for the cessation of ticket sales is untrue and totally misleading. We had communicated with JetXtra in private over legal concerns."

Lee described the public use of this correspondence as "amateurish and damaging and a clear example of why we do not want any confusion among consumers between JetXtra and Jet2.com".

He said: "As an Atol-protected leisure company, Jet2.com adheres to the highest levels of professionalism within all areas of our business. We are understandably keen to protect the good reputation of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.”

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/ ... idays.html

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

JetXtra told to remove Atol badge from website
By Ian Taylor | Jan 25, 2012 08:18AM GMT
0 Comments and 3 Reactions

Fledgling charter carrier JetXtra.com continues to fall foul of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for claiming the regulator has told it there is a problem with issuing Atol cover for flights under the JetXtra name.

The carrier, which plans to launch flights from Humberside airport this summer, put seats on sale a fortnight ago but halted taking bookings at the weekend on CAA orders.

JetXtra’s site had been displaying the Atol logo of partner CTT Group, alongside a claim that all sales are Atol-protected, but this has now been removed.

The CAA confirmed it is considering an application to extend the CTT Atol cover from a mere 620 passengers this year to about 9,000 for the period June to September.

However, a CAA spokesman said: “We have asked that JetXtra remove references to Atol from its website.”

A statement on the would-be carrier’s website yesterday said: “JetXtra.com was originally advised it was able to sell up to 620 holidays under the CTT Group Atol, pending an increase to the number.

“However, JetXtra.com and CTT have been told to stop any further bookings until the CAA have approved the request to increase the number of passengers protected. CTT Group has also been informed that while the name JetXtra.com is in contention, it cannot be added to the Atol licence of CTT Group.”

The CAA denied this. The CAA spokesman said: “We have not told them that. It is not the name JetXtra that is in contention.” Regional carrier Jet2.com has previously written to JetXtra.com expressing “legal concerns” about its name.

JetXtra insists the halt in trading is temporary. The CAA said: “We hope to have this sorted out in a week or so. But the first step is to ensure the website is not misleading anyone.”

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/ ... bsite.html

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

This is quickly turning into a disaster for JetXtra. If they have to remove their ATOL badge I can't see how flights will ever get off the ground with them.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

We just have to hope that the CAA approve the extension to the ATOL protection under the CTT Groups licence on the strength of CTT themselves. As the above article says, it should hopefully be decided in the next week or so.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

No update from jetXtra this week. To add to the regular bad news it looks like the much reduced LCA flights are to be dropped completely :sad: , this along with HER looking unstable could see the end of Olympic Holidays at HUY, and the number of weekly charter flights down to a grand total of three.

Can things get any worse for HUY? Surely now more than ever the airport needs to pull out all the stops to attract a based operator?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

There seem to be mixed messages coming from the travel trade as to how buoyant summer 2012 will be across the board.

Tui and Thomas Cook are indicating fewer sales than at this time last year though it's partly explained by reduced programmes, whilst some travel agents say things are quite bright.

You would think the major tour companies would be more reliable in their assessment but who knows?

Not good for HUY though. It needs an 'anchor store' to get things moving but it's certainly not alone in this.

 

[pug]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

Someone on another forum has been told by HAT that LCA is on stop sale due to Olympic trying to find an airline to fly the route.

As for Jetxtra, if we dont hear anything in the next week or so then I think its probably fair to assume they wont be happening. Shame really as TCX have cut capacity on DLM and pulled Antalya, together with the loss of the Thomson PMI and H4U Bodrum flight.. Not to mention the lack of a full season 2xweekly FR flight to ALC.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Humberside Airport - Thread

I'd still like to see JetXtra operate this year. Humberside airport shouldn't have a problem supporting the flights. It will be one of the quietest summers in a long time if no more flights are announced.