Fidonet faster than the press ...   
       
   People hoping to travel ultra-cheap next summer on Primera Air between Europa   
   and North America can spend their money on something else ... They are filing   
   for bankruptcy tomorrow.   
       
   Pilots and cabin crew of Primera Air have received a this e-mail this   
   afternoon:   
       
       Dear colleagues,   
       
      It is with great regret I am reaching out to you all this dark day. We   
      have just been informed that both Primera Air Nordic and Primera Air   
      Scandinavia will ile for bankruptcy tomorrow October 2, 2018.   
       
   It is not a big surprise for anyone who follows closely the airline industry:   
   Primera had engaged in an unsustainable growth, announcing new flights from   
   several European capitals (including Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London   
   Stansted, Madrid, ...) to North American cities: Boston, New York (EWR and   
   JFK), Toronto, Washington, all with a fleet of brand new Boeing 737 MAX   
   aircraft to be delivered in early 2019.   
       
   Primera had a bad reputation: it abruptly cancelled all its transatlantic   
   flights from Birmingham earlier this year, and travellers had a lot of   
   difficulties to be reimbursed, let alone get an EU261 compensation. The   
   European flights also suffered many delays and cancellations, and passengers   
   had the same problems.   
       
   On 1 October, at least one Primera Air Scandinavia Airbus A321 (OY-PAF) was   
   detained at Stansted Airport for unpaid airport charges.   
       
   Sadly, another one bites the dust   
       
   Full mail send out to staff   
       
   *****************************************************************************   
   Dear colleagues,   
       
   It is with great regret I am reaching out to you all this dark day. We have   
   just been informed that both Primera Air Nordic and Primera Air Scandinavia   
   will file for bankruptcy tomorrow October 2, 2018.   
       
   Currently flights are operated as normally and OCC, Crewing and Travel are   
   working on arranging travel home for crews who happen to be on outstations.   
       
   Reasons I am sure are many but very high cost for the aircraft with corrosion   
   last year as well as the delays of our new Airbuses lead to too high costs for   
   wet lease and cancellations which in the end became too much for the airlines.   
   Our owner was working on securing financing but was not able to in the end.   
   This is what was stated during today's staff meeting in the Riga office.   
       
   All the staff in the Riga office have been informed but official information   
   will not be sent out until midnight by our owner. I understand it is difficult   
   but please keep this to yourself if you can until after the official   
   notification from the owner. In fact, I am not even authorized to send this   
   email but I think it is the right thing to do for all of you out there on the   
   line. You deserve to know.   
       
   I will continue to be available on phone and email.   
       
   God knows it has not been without its challenges but thanks to all of you   
   great colleagues it has been a real honour to be at the controls of the flight   
   ops department the past 7 years. We got the permits, we flew the flights, we   
   got good reviews from the passengers. In other words, we fulfilled our part of   
   the mission. The financial and commercial aspects we could not influence.   
       
   Thank you all for the past years and take good care of you out there.   
       
   Best regards,   
       
   A. L.   
   Director Flight Operations   
   Primera Air   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.99 SR33   
    * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)