EXCEL PULLS OUT OF CARIBBEAN

[Andy D]

This is terrible news.

[HelenaVM]

It is terrible, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Tobago News is reporting that another British carrier is in talks to pick up the service from December. Looks like a deal is not far off being signed, fingers crossed.

http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/a ... d=18535110

[Susanne Thomsen]

Hello All.

I just inform you that we already have our money back from XL. on my account.

We have now booked new tickets by British Airways. But is was about 150 £ more on each ticket, and it is a lot of money when we schould have 14 tickets.

Hope there will be another flight in the future with low prices.

We are going Tobago two times a year.
Have a nice weekend.
Susanne

[Patrick Dankou]

Hello,
I've been reliably informed that another UK charter carrier will start service to Tobago early in December.
The equipment will be an Airbus A330 with a 2 class configuration and more than 300 seats. I cannot name the airline yet, but I am sure that there are not many UK charter airlines that operate the A330, wink, wink.....
Hopefully the contract is already signed while I write this, also see this article in the Tobago news:
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/a ... d=18535110

[SimonRickwood]

I alerted the Tobago News the other day as to the demise of Excel. They asked Neil Wilson The Tourism Minister to confirm the cancellation of the service from Novemember. However he did say that he was going to sign an agreement with an alternative carrier on Friday. No Flight Operators were mentioned by him, only that the compant would be using an Airbus 300 which hold more than the Excel plane ie 350 pax !!!
As a Travel Agent the word in the Trade Press that an alternative was probably not going to happen, but maybe just maybe something is afoot. Thomson Fly Thomas Cook and Monarch all have planes able to serve the islands, so watch this space !!!


Simon Rickwood

[Patrick Dankou]

Hi Simon,
The company is most likely Monarch and the equipment is an A330 with 326 seats.

[Paul Tallet]

I know I am just doing a bit of speculation ... but if it is Monarch, would the flights still go from Gatwick or would it be another airport?

Plus ... I guess it is too early to speculate if Monarch will operate flights as cheap as XL?

I am waiting until October/November to commit myself ... I am nervous of the situation as many smaller flight operators are going bust (i.e.; Zoom) ... even XL recently started asking for full payment upfront and I don't like doing that and having to go through the hassles of claiming money back through insurance if they go bust.

If XL have pulled out then they are possibly adopting a sensible commercial view ... and it is very positive that they have taken their decision and been able to honour repayments to their customers ... if some other operator takes XL's place I would like to see their business plan and know of their financial strength ... quite frankly, Monarch don't strike me as any better than XL and, under the circumstances i sense that the bigger operators (i.e.; BA/Virgin) and bigger prices are something we are all going to have to accept.

It's going to be tough for the next couple of years and the impact of the economical problems (excesses) in the developed countries of the world (i.e.; UK / US / some of Europe), partly funded by developing and hard working countries (i.e.; China / India) will start to hurt countries, like Tobago, that rely on tourism from developed countries to a considerable degree.

It's been good for a while and now it's time for a correction.

If you don't believe me then flag this post for 18 month / 2 years ... and then tell me I am wrong.

Meantime I look forward to layers of egg all over my face

Regards

[Steve Pitts]

I don't think your summary is wrong there Paul.

Having enjoyed the benefits of XLs pricing over the past few years I can't complain.
I do feel for those who's plans have been disrupted by the pull-out.

We flew Monarch after Calendonian pulled out of the Gatwick - Tobago route and I would happily fly with them again. As you say, the days of bargain prices are most likely over though.

I've just parted with £650 to fly to Fuerteventura, when last year the same flights were £480.
The price of fuel is a significant factor that cannot be absorbed by the airlines and the realities of the commercial aviation industry are such that if the route doesn't pay then it goes.

Other airlines are dropping flights to Spain, Majorca and Turkey. Those who have puchased holiday homes / rental properties on the basis of cheap flights will suffer from lost bookings and reduced property values.

If there is a bright side to XL's departure (and I am sad to see them go), at least with a new carrier we'll know with some degree of certainty what time the plane will be taking off and what day we will be getting home.

Cheers
Steve

[Patrick Dankou]

Hi Paul,
yes, the flight will be out of Gatwick, it will be shared with another caribbean island, though.
It is really difficult and expensive to get the airlines to even consider flying to destinations in the lesser Antilles these days,they only do this because they get seat guarantees, reduced fuel rates and/or landing fees etc. Monarch has serviced the route before and I assume they are smart enough to keep their fares below BA's and Virgin's.

[Paul Tallet]

Hi Steve

Yes ... the 'pinch', as I put it, is certainly setting in ... I am going to re-assess the situation in October and decide ... the other factor is the dollar recovering against a weakening pound ... so it is getting more expensive to even be there. The gravy train has been taken off the tracks for servicing for a while.


Hi Patrick

As much as it infuriates me to have to stop off here and there ... it makes perfect commercial sense for an operator to do multi-drops to sustain a low cost service. It could be several places ... I guess it is something that skinflints like me will have to accept and I will do that with a smile ... as long as Tobago is the first drop off I don't mind

I await further developments.

Regards

[Steve Fifield]

My first post in a couple of years now. Pleased to see many of the familiar faces still here.

Sorry to find that Excel have scuppered my Christmas and New Year holiday in Tobago which was to be my first trip in 3 years. Got the letter yesterday. Totally gutted.

Steve.

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Steve

Good to see you back.

Yes, the news about XL is devastating for Tobago and I know from the emails I've recevied from both readers and property owners that it has resulted in a huge number of cancellations. What disturbs me from the reader emails is a sense of anger at Tobago - but with all due respect to their cancelled plans, it is not Tobago that has made this decision - we can only blame XL. Remember, they have pulled out of the Caribbean, not just Tobago.

Hopefully the local government, the THA, will be able to put a contract together with Monarch. According to the local papers, a deal was supposed to have been signed last Friday.