SkyEurope
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SkyEurope | ||
---|---|---|
IATA NE |
ICAO ESK |
Callsign RELAX |
Founded | 2001 | |
Hubs | M. R. Štefánik Airport (Bratislava) Ruzyně International Airport Vienna International Airport |
|
Fleet size | 15 | |
Destinations | 40 | |
Headquarters | Bratislava, Slovakia | |
Key people | Jason Bitter (CEO), Nick Manoudakis (CFO) and Steven Greenway (CCO) | |
Website: http://www.skyeurope.com |
SkyEurope Airlines is a low-cost airline with its main base at M. R. Stefanik Airport (BTS) in Bratislava, Slovakia, and other bases in Prague, Vienna and Kosice.
With bases in Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, it was the first multi-based airline in Central Europe. The airline operates short-haul scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services.
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[edit] History
SkyEurope was established in November 2001 and started operations on 13th February 2002 (domestic flight Bratislava-Kosice operated with 30 seat turboprop Embraer 120 ER Brasilia). It was founded by Alain Skowronek (Chairman) and Christian Mandl (Chief Executive) and financed by EBRD, ABN-Amro and EU funds. Although some criticized the decision to base an airline in Bratislava, Mandl saw the effect that the low cost carriers were having in Western Europe and envisioned it going a step further with a low-cost carrier in a low cost country. Mandl and Skowronek were cognizant of the catchment area of Bratislava Airport. The airport is located within a one-hour drive of Vienna, Brno and Győr, covering a catchment area of four countries: (Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia).[1]
On 27 September 2005, the airline went public on the Vienna and Warsaw stock exchanges. The Initial public offering price was 6 EUR, valuing the company at 120 million euro.[2]. The IPO on the Vienna and Warsaw stock exchanges was the first by a central European low-cost carrier and the first by any Slovak company.[3]
2007 marked a year of growth and change for SkyEurope. With a goal of boosting efficiency and profitability, the airline opened a base at Vienna International Airport in March 2007, placing two brand new 737-700s operating sixteen routes.[4] In October 2007, SkyEurope closed its hubs in Krakow and Budapest, thus reallocating its aircraft to the hubs in Prague[5] and Vienna.[6]
In March 2008 it carried 307,540 passengers bringing the 12-month passenger total to 3.713 million, a 26.3% increase over the same period in last year. The airline's load factor decreased to 76.1% from 77.8% versus the same period a year ago. [7]
In 2008, SkyEurope entered into a partnership with České dráhy creating the CD Sky alliance. As a result of this partnership, SkyEurope tickets would be sold for a fixed price at railway stations in Brno and Prague. [8] This was the latest in interesting pricing moves undertaken by SkyEurope. In 2006 they made news as the first airline to pay travelers to fly with them.[9]
[edit] Destinations
SkyEurope operates a total of 99 routes to 40 destinations in 19 countries, making it Central Europe's largest low-cost airline.
[edit] Fleet
In 2005 SkyEurope and Boeing finalized the order for four Boeing Next-Generation 737-700s worth US$220 million. The order includes purchase rights for up to 16 additional airplanes. This order followed SkyEurope's order with leasing company GECAS for 12 Boeing Next-Generation 737s. [10]
In April 2007, SkyEurope purchased an additional five jets. SkyEurope still has an option to order six more jets at the price set in a 2005 deal with Boeing to buy as many as 32 planes by 2011. [11]
As of 3 June 2008, the airline operates 15 Boeing 737-700 aircraft with the average age being 1.4 years ([1]).
[edit] References
- ^ Condon, Christopher. "SkyEurope: A Slovak Air Attack", BusinessWeek, 2002-09-09. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ SkyEurope Holding AG (German). Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ Anderson, Robert. "SkyEurope Set For €100m IPO", Financial Times, 2005-09-15. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ "Slovakia's SkyEurope Airlines to Fly from Vienna Next Year", International Herald Tribune, 2006-12-19. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ Marečková, Martina. "Discount carrier SkyEurope Lands in Prague", Czech Business Weekly, 2006-02-20. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ "SkyEurope to Close Bases at Krakow and Budapest from October 28", Forbes, 2007-09-03. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ "SkyEurope Dec traffic up 39.8 pct year-on-year, load factor 67.7 pct vs 76.4 pct", Forbes, 2008-01-04. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ "Czech Railways to Sell SkyEurope Tickets at Stations", Prague Daily Monitor, 2008-01-24. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
- ^ "SkyEurope Says it Will Pay People to Fly With Them", USA Today, 2006-10-29. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ "Boeing and SkyEurope Airlines Finalize Contract for Four Next-Generation 737s", Boeing, 2005-06-19. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ Carney, Sean. "Slovak Budget Airline SkyEurope Orders 5 More Boeing Jets", Market Watch, 2007-04-12. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
[edit] External links
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