The DIS Community Charter Airline

[london75]

Came to me the other day. Remember that lad that set his own airline up in the 90s that chartered spare capacity from major airlines that were dropping planes and ran his own flights?

Anyone up for it? We could charter 1 flight per week over school holidays, possibly fewer the rest of the year. I can manage the IT side of things ie website, bookings, payments, documents and tickets, printing etc.

Anyone in the airline industry with any inside info on how this was done back then and if it's still possible? If Virgin et al are cancelling flights, there must be tin sat around not flying and crew sat at home not doing anything.

The service would be economy plus. Not premium but not economy either. No upper, everyone priority, champagne not cava on boarding (seriously what would that cost, 50p a glass if you buy in bulk!)

We've got to fight against the stranglehold the two big UK airlines have on us.

Finally, it's not for profit, just for our mutual benefit flying to Florida.

PS I'm only 35% serious but the more I type the more I think we should at least try.

 

[skelfbsfb]

Came to me the other day. Remember that lad that set his own airline up in the 90s that chartered spare capacity from major airlines that were dropping planes and ran his own flights?

Anyone up for it? We could charter 1 flight per week over school holidays, possibly fewer the rest of the year. I can manage the IT side of things ie website, bookings, payments, documents and tickets, printing etc.

Anyone in the airline industry with any inside info on how this was done back then and if it's still possible? If Virgin et al are cancelling flights, there must be tin sat around not flying and crew sat at home not doing anything.

The service would be economy plus. Not premium but not economy either. No upper, everyone priority, champagne not cava on boarding (seriously what would that cost, 50p a glass if you buy in bulk!)

We've got to fight against the stranglehold the two big UK airlines have on us.

Finally, it's not for profit, just for our mutual benefit flying to Florida.

PS I'm only 35% serious but the more I type the more I think we should at least try.

I think it would be a great idea. Im sure many on here would welcome this as I agree we need to find other ways and cheaper ways on visiting Florida. Many on here would be able to give you more expert advice. Best of luck

 

[2Tiggies]

One of the DISers and I joked about this earlier in the year (we were 0% serious, although it was a great thought at the time ). The biggest obstacle was finding the several million pounds ....... Personally I don't have that kind of cash knocking about. Perhaps we need to read through that thread on what your trip cost you and see who the big spenders are and be very nice to them Wayne was near, if not right at, the top of the list

 

[london75]

That's just it, you don't need millions, you agree a charter, presumably with a deposit to the airline which I'd imagine would be in the high thousands to tens of thousands. That would be collected from participating members who would pay either part or all of the flight up front.

The biggest obstacle is you can't just provide your own staff these days I'd imagine due to security so it would have to be a case of chartering a flight with crew and ground staff. There must be a break even point that gives us all a fair price and returns a small profit for the airline company we charter from.

Orlando tourist board might give us a bit of advertising budget too

 

[skelfbsfb]

I remember someone tried to do this, the guy came from scotland, he took a depsit off all members who were interested in chartering the plane, deposit was returned when the venture didnt happen. Im sure there were alot of legal issues.

 

[ben1993]

What an interesting idea, really wish there was someone with heaps of cash on the Dis who would actually do this!