Silverjet, RIP

Another airline bites the dust:. This time it's Silverjet, the all-business-class airline: It lasted just a few months longer than MaxJet. The official statement from Silverjet is pathetic, in the literal sense of the word:

We extend our sincerest apologies to those of you who have travel plans with Silverjet in the future and at present. You are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements with other carriers, and contact your credit card company or travel agent directly for information on obtaining refunds.

We are working actively with new investors who are prepared to inject new funds so we can recommence operations. If we are able to achieve this, we will make an announcement as soon as possible and we hope to be able to bring you our very 'sivilised' flying experience again.

This is yet another lesson that airline tickets should be booked with a credit card - it's the only realistic way of getting a refund if the airline goes bust.

I'd put the chances of Silverjet managing to "recommence operations" at roughly the same probability as the chances of oil falling back to something below $75 a barrel.

In terms of all-business-class airlines, this leaves Eos as the sole carrier on the key London-New York route. Which won't make much difference to the air-travel experience of people like former London mayor Ken Livingstone and stock analyst Mike Stoddart, both of whom were banned from flying on Silverjet by its idiosyncratic CEO, Lawrence Hunt. Such actions probably didn't cause Silverjet's demise, but they can hardly have helped.

Comments

[Tim223:]

Didn't EOS go into bankruptcy & cease operations back in April ?

2008 May 30 09:39 AM

[admanager:]

Eos quit scheduled flying in April. So there is no more all premium class service out of London.

But in 2009 British Airways plans to start London City Airport to New York all business class in a 32 seat Airbus 318

2008 May 30 09:42 AM

[AirBoss:]

L'Avion is still flying New York-Paris. And Privatair for LH and LX various points EU to US. That's it for now...

2008 May 30 10:05 AM

[G23ROCKS:]

It's only a matter of time before a legacy carrier goes under...

2008 May 30 12:01 PM

[not Bob Cra...:]

Let's hope it's a big one (legacy carrier to die).... USAirways has been TRYING to die for five years; I suggest we let them (and their little dog, HP, too). DL+NW lost 10B in Q1 so maybe one well place magic bullet will take care of both of them. And it would be fun to see jetBlue go just on general principle (DirecTV, indeed!).

2008 May 30 02:48 PM

[SeaHarrier:]

Is there anyone out there that would like to see the airlines live?! Or shall we have only one, Aeroflot 1970s style, and have insanely high prices, massive delays and unmet demand? Perhaps some sanity in the industry and the economy, realistic fuel prices, and good competition with a diversity of available products would be nice. I'm actually sorry to see SilverJet go, since they tried to offer something special. It wasn't like they didn't have loyal customers either, just a very violent economy to try and ride.

2008 May 30 07:37 PM

[Kris Tuttle:]

Talk about an industry that is in the "destruction" phase of creative destruction. We believe that the long-term trends are towards more flexible, point to point travel and more shuttle like service between the large cities. There's lots of technology needed in the air and on the ground to pull this off but the work is in motion, it will just take time to get there. Broader questions remain about how the behavior of consumers, businesses and travel professionals will adapt to new options and different approaches to travel. In the short term, I expect to be attending far more meetings online!

2008 Jun 01 02:48 PM

[Lizzy:]

RE "not Bob Crandall" comment-- you need to grow up & get a life... and a brain. Wishing all those airlines would go under is pure stupidity. Do you have any regard for all the people whose lives would be torn apart by the loss of those jobs? Just ask all the Aloha Airlines employees how much fun it is dealing with no job, no insurance, no retirement.
Here's my "wish" for you-- that tomorrow you get YOUR pink slip, babe.

2008 Jun 02 07:31 PM

[Tarka:]

Have any of you tried their product? It happened to be first class! A breath of fresh air from the usual fair, it's underpricing that has brought them their woes, I'd have paid extra for the fuel! It was nice to be picked up at the office with my colleagues, wisked to the airport and put straight onto the aircraft and put to bed! You only had to get up to go to the loo and they were great and the ladies had their own AND they didn't stink (the loo's that is!). I'll miss them, let's hope they bounce back soon! I also agree with Lizzy, there are a lot of other people besides the customer who suffer, employees, suppliers, ground staff, cleaners, maintenance engineers etc... It takes a lot of effort to keep aircraft flying safely!

2008 Jun 03 08:51 AM