Futura Gael Gone Bust

Bluetonic

Charter airline in financial trouble closes
Monday, 8 September 2008 07:35

A charter airline based in Dublin has ceased operating because of financial difficulties.

Futura Gael is reported to have planned cutbacks in staffing and wages and had been trying to make a deal with its creditors.

Two weeks ago the company management suggested that all employee salaries be cut to €1000 a month.
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The airline, which is owned by the Futura Internatonal Airways group, operated charter flights to the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.

Last night a Futura plane bound for Malaga was delayed at Dublin airport for nearly three hours before it finally took off just before 10pm.

The airline officially ceased operations at midnight.

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http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0908/airline.html

frman

What about the parent company, Futura International Airways, has that gone belly-up too ??

supermouse

All Futura companies are gone bust!

frman

wow.

I hope the passengers get looked after somehow.

RxQueen

supermouse wrote: »

All Futura companies are gone bust!

there not , its just futura gael

frman

I just checked wiki and it says the following about Futura International Airways :-

"As of 2359 CET on 7th September 2008, Futura had its AOC revoked by the Spanish Aviation Authority."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futura_International_Airways


It is wiki though.....

supermouse

emo!! wrote: »

there not , its just futura gael

They are. I've been in talks with airlines this morning ( im a travel agent ) and all futura aircraft are effected.

shiibata

:eek: they covered some amount out of charters out of Ireland, not safe book a holiday now, will have to end up thumbing:D

lasno

Anybody that has booked holidays and flights and were to fly with Futura or Futura Gael should not worry. You will have bought your holiday/flight from a tour operator like Budget Travel or other operator. Futura did not sell flights themselves. Your airline and flight timings may change but the tour operator will have to source another airline to cover their flying programme.

youcancallmeal

Does this mean the likes of Falcon and Budget travel are going to be in trouble now because all future flights they had booked with futura are gone? I've done a couple of budget travel holidays and its always been futura gael that with flight operators.

MrPreachan

Hope not, flying to Salou with Falcon tomorrow, I think

shiibata

:eek: did not think falcon used them, hope not too, wife away to bulgaria this evening with falcon,

supermouse

All holidays booked with operators will be fine, they will source another aircraft and change your arrangements accordingly. At the moment we are trying to tie flights to new airlines so it will take a while but dont worry, you will all be contacted within the next few hours if not tomorrow with alternative arrangements. Obviously flights in the next few days are priority at the moment.

jimmycrackcorm

I wonder will upcoming cheap last minute deals be affected though if new airplanes have to be chartered?

Theboinkmaster

I don't know what to do.

We booked flights only with futura through a travel agent who used Falcon.

Went down to the travel agent today who rang falcon for us but no information. Said they may put on replacement flight for us (due to travel Thursday morning) but don't know yet.

I wanted a full refund and we'd make alternative arrangements but they refused point blank as the flight hadn't been offically cancelled yet.

But now how long do we wait?! Every day we wait I imagine the flights (to Egypt) will get more expensive for thursday.

Any advice? Agent seems unwilling to talk about refund until the flight cancelled which may not be until Thursday at which it'd obviously be too late to get other flights at a reasonable price.

Am I within my rights to demand a refund?

Theboinkmaster

A few more points - when I queried with the travel agent about what happens if the flight is cancelled they told be tough luck and to go to the aviation authority for a refund

Surely this is incorrect? Because I used the agency (Cassidy travel in Dundrum) who then used Falcon who then used Futura surely my contract is with Cassidy and Falcon and as it's a charter flight they are obliged to get us to Egypt by alternative means on Thursday?

Sure they can't simply cancel the flight and say tough luck?! What are we legally obliged to?

lasno

What are you worrying about. You bought your tickets from Falcon holidays.
It is their responsibility to arrange for another airline to cover the flights.
It is most unlikely that they will cancel their whole charter operation. In fact they have advised all passengers to turn up for their flights as normal. If there is any change in flight timings they will advise you.
Relax and enjoy the holiday.

shiibata

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

A few more points - when I queried with the travel agent about what happens if the flight is cancelled they told be tough luck and to go to the aviation authority for a refund

Surely this is incorrect? Because I used the agency (Cassidy travel in Dundrum) who then used Falcon who then used Futura surely my contract is with Cassidy and Falcon and as it's a charter flight they are obliged to get us to Egypt by alternative means on Thursday?

Sure they can't simply cancel the flight and say tough luck?! What are we legally obliged to?

Cassidy travel dont seem to nice anyhow but there is no way you should lose your money, you should be entitled to a refund.

Pythia

Had major delays with XL last night, flew Futura with Falcon back in March, very glad I didn't book with Falcon again.

Victor

http://www.aviationreg.ie/

Futura Gael Ceases Trading
(08 Sep 2008)

The Commission for Aviation Regulation has today suspended the air carrier operating licence of Futura Gael.

http://www.aviationreg.ie/Futura_Gael_Ceases_Trading/Default.277.html

Futura Gael Ceases Trading
(08 Sep 2008)

The Commission for Aviation Regulation has today suspended the air carrier operating licence of Futura Gael. The airline notified the Commission yesterday evening that it intended to cease trading today due to financial difficulties faced by it and its parent company, the Spanish licensed airline Futura International Airways S.A.

The Commission has given the airline formal notice that it intends to revoke its air carrier licence. Representatives of the airline will meet with the Commission tomorrow afternoon, September 9th 2008.

http://www.independent.ie/business/plans-to-get-futura-holidaymakers-home-1471833.html

Plans to get Futura holidaymakers home
Monday September 08 2008

The Irish airline suspended all flights from midnight

ARRANGEMENTS are being put in place to ensure that holidaymakers affected by problems with Irish charter airline Futura get home safely.

The airline, a Dublin-based subsidiary of Future International, grounded all its flights at midnight last night. The company says the holiday operators it deals with have been notified.

Financial Director at Futura Gael, Barry Matthews, has said Futura International is now seeking for a new investor to save the company.

All flights are currently suspended but the company could not confirm today how many passengers were affected or the status of the 90 employees.
It is believed that staff had been asked to take a pay cut in recent weeks, following reports that it was in financial difficulty. The airline runs charter flights to sun destinations across Europe, specialising in the Mediterranean and also parts of Eastern Europe.

The airline was in the news last month after a fight broke out on a flight from Dublin to Heraklion in Crete. After a number of unruly drunk passengers caused problems on board, the flight was diverted to Venice.

Bluetonic

Wouldn't one posting of this have been enough Victor? Not sure it really adds anything to the thread anyhow.

There is no need for anyone to worry about their bookings as alternatives will be made. Flight times may changes slightly, aside from that all will be the same.

Victor

Sorry, I didn't see your thread.