Small Planet Airlines empire collapsed

Join this forum to discuss the latest news that happened in the world of commercial aviation.

Moderator: Latest news team

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Small Planet Airlines empire collapsed

Post by TLspotting »

Small Planet Airlines Germany is in insolvency.

Operations with Lithuanian, Polish and Cambodian subsidiaries not affected.

I have only found this article for now, explaining well what's going on (in Polish, but Google is your friend)

https://www.rp.pl/Linie-lotnicze-i-lotn ... calny.html
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by TLspotting »

And they don't even stop operations....
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Passenger »

copy/paste from their own website:

https://www.smallplanet.aero/en/about-s ... ness/72998

Small Planet Airlines Germany GmbH, a part of Small Planet Group, has commenced a restructuring process. The German Civil Aviation Authority has no objections that the Air Operator’s License will remain in place and therefore, all scheduled flights of Small Planet Airlines GmbH will continue to operate as before.

Small Planet Airlines GmbH has been operating as an independent entity in Germany since the year 2015 and acquired Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in the spring 2016. This year Small Planet Airlines Germany has decided to go for rapid expansion which didn’t go according to plan.

“After Air Berlin went bankrupt last year, a niche emerged for the other carriers, and Small Planet Airlines Germany chose to almost double in size year on year in order to take advantage of these newly opened possibilities in the market. However, the company struggled to manage this successfully due to several factors: late delivery of aircraft before the start of the summer season, shortage of crews in the market, unreliable sub charter aircraft and unforeseeable technical events had a devastating impact on a very intense schedule, which led to flight irregularities which in turn led to increasing cost burden. The financial losses incurred by the German company forced it to file for a restructuring process under the German law. Nevertheless, the company continues operations under restructuring”, said Vytautas Kaikaris, the CEO of Small Planet Group, adding “we all stand together in this period to achieve the best possible result out of restructuring for our employees, clients and partners”.

Small Planet Airlines in Lithuania, Poland and Cambodia will continue to operate their flights as planned and prepare for the upcoming winter season by cooperating with the tour operators and carrying passengers to the popular tourist destinations. Lithuanian and Polish entities will also continue implementing its seasonal winter projects in Asia, aimed at increasing the aircraft utilization and balancing seasonality. By the end of this year, Small Planet Airlines expects to fly 3,9 million passengers, an increase of 29% from 2017.

As for today, Small Planet Airlines fleet consists of 29 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The airline operates around 240 leisure routes from 15 European bases.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE PASSENGERS ABOUT THE INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS

Will flight operations in Germany and the Netherlands continue with Small Planet Airlines?
The current flight program and all scheduled flights under 5Pxxxx flight code will be continued according to an agreement with the German civil aviation authorities about further continuation of the flight operation.

Where will I receive a confirmation that my flight will take place?
No separate confirmation about flights that take place will be send. All (electronic or paper) tickets remain valid.

I have booked a package holiday and am flying with Small Planet Airlines Germany - will this still go ahead?
Yes, all flights will be continued as planned. At this point a cancellation of a ticket for a future flight is not permitted. In case a flight will be changed, your tour operator will inform you accordingly with an upfront notice about any change.

Is it safe to fly with Small Planet Airlines?
Yes, Small Planet Airlines is operating under highest European Civil Aviation standards and is safe and will continue to be safe to fly on board of our aircrafts. “Safety first” remains our top priority.

Will there be any changes in the service level during flights with Small Planet Airlines?
During the flight, our crew will continue to keep up the same service level. Food and drinks will still be available during the flight for purchase.

Can I still book a seat reservation, extra luggage or sports equipment without losing my money? What happens with bookings I already made?
All seat reservations, as well as bookings for extra luggage or sports equipment for all flights remain valid. New services can still be booked through our “check-in” function on our website at www.smallplanet.aero.

How can I contact Small Planet Airlines for further information?
We ask for your understanding that due to the current situation the amount of passenger requests will be exceeding our capacities. We can therefore only respond to those which are relevant for the current flight operation.

How can I request special services like Wheelchairs or medical equipment?
Please continue to use [email protected] yet put “special service request” into the heading. These will be attended to with priority.

Will I still receive compensation for cancelled flights and delays?
Due to the opening of any insolvency proceedings of Small Planet Airlines GmbH Compensation claims for flight delays prior to 18.09.2018 will have to be lodged to the list of creditors. For this purpose, all affected passengers will automatically receive a form with instructions on how to proceed.

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Passenger »

The most relevant remark from that very long statement, is probably the last paragraph:
Will I still receive compensation for cancelled flights and delays?
Due to the opening of any insolvency proceedings of Small Planet Airlines GmbH Compensation claims for flight delays prior to 18.09.2018 will have to be lodged to the list of creditors. For this purpose, all affected passengers will automatically receive a form with instructions on how to proceed.
They had so much long delays this year, that these claims would kill them. Aero.de today writes: "...Das Management begründet den Insolvenzantrag mit einer "angespannten finanziellen Situation durch die Ereignisse des laufenden Sommers". Das Fluggastrechteportal EUflight geht davon aus, dass derzeit rund 20.000 Passagiere Entschädigungen gegen Small Planet Airlines geltend gemacht haben..."
https://www.aero.de/news-30015/Small-Pl ... ntrag.html

On 16th July 2018, Dutch tv travel broadcast "Groeten van Max" had a long item about Small Planet Airlines. At that moment, they already were convicted by court to pay 1,000,000 Euro to just two Dutch claim firms. But they couldn't, so they agreed a payment scheme. Which they didn't realize...
https://www.maxvandaag.nl/programmas/tv ... _03774810/
(check as from 30min25sec for the topic on Small Planet Airlines)

With their Insolvenz in Eigenverwaltung, those passengers claims and court convictions are now suspended. Till when? Till the German company (Small Planet Airlines GmbH, Berlin HRB 167252) will close down...

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by sn26567 »

Small Planet Airlines Germany reportedly found an investor and expects to close a sale by 26 October 2018.
André
ex Sabena #26567

Boeing767copilot
Posts: 1385
Joined: 13 May 2004, 00:00

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Boeing767copilot »

sn26567 wrote: 23 Oct 2018, 18:41 Small Planet Airlines Germany reportedly found an investor and expects to close a sale by 26 October 2018.
VLM Airlines Brussels (ex-TCAB) ?

http://www.airliners.de/deutsche-small- ... ufer/47348

Doch dem Vernehmen nach konnte das Small-Planet-Management vorherrschende Sicherheitsbedenken bei Zeitfracht nicht aus der Welt schaffen. "Wir werden die Sicherheit der Passagiere niemals auch nur im Geringsten gefährden", hieß es in einer E-Mail der Zeitfracht-Spitze. Auch VLM war zeitweise im Gespräch.

"Bei allen Bietern stellt sich letztlich die Frage", so die Mitarbeiterin, "wie unser Geschäft weiterbetrieben wird - und vor allem wie viele von uns noch gebraucht werden." Dabei gehe es auch um Managementstrukturen, die nach einer Übernahme womöglich doppelt sind.

User avatar
Vic Diesel
Posts: 333
Joined: 06 Feb 2018, 10:10

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Vic Diesel »

Austrian Aviation News Portal Austrian Wings reports that the Lithuanian branch of Small Planet, parent company of bankrupt Small Planet Germany and Small Planet Poland is also skidding into insolvency. It is said to want to re-structure and continue operations, however seeks a buyer for the bankrupt German and Polish "daughters".
Best regards,
Viktor

(Budapest-born, Vienna-raised, Brussels-based)

User avatar
luchtzak
Posts: 11734
Joined: 18 Sep 2002, 00:00
Location: Hofstade, Zemst - Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by luchtzak »

Vic Diesel wrote: 25 Oct 2018, 14:25 Austrian Aviation News Portal Austrian Wings reports that the Lithuanian branch of Small Planet, parent company of bankrupt Small Planet Germany and Small Planet Poland is also skidding into insolvency. It is said to want to re-structure and continue operations, however seeks a buyer for the bankrupt German and Polish "daughters".
More: https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/smal ... long-term/

User avatar
luchtzak
Posts: 11734
Joined: 18 Sep 2002, 00:00
Location: Hofstade, Zemst - Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by luchtzak »

Onur Air Germany is likely to take over the ailing airline, some news sites report.

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Passenger »

luchtzak wrote: 06 Nov 2018, 10:19 Onur Air Germany is likely to take over the ailing airline, some news sites report.
Their aircraft had to be returned to the lessors, so there will probably be no take over before bankruptcy.

German tourism platform FVW wrote that Small Planet Airlines GmbH was also talking to... SHS Aviation (aka VLM Antwerp).

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by sn26567 »

Passenger wrote: 06 Nov 2018, 22:22 German tourism platform FVW wrote that Small Planet Airlines GmbH was also talking to... SHS Aviation (aka VLM Antwerp).
Small Planet Airlines Germany was purchased by SF Aviation Holdings (Netherlands), who plans to restart the airline’s operations in the next few weeks. The carrier still has two A321s in storage at Paderborn, serials 808 and 823.

The news is bleaker for its sister Small Planet Airlines Polska, which ceased operations and entered into liquidation after talks with investors failed. There is still a chance the carrier will be taken over, pending court approval. The sole A320, serial 1007, is due to return to the lessor soon.
André
ex Sabena #26567

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by TLspotting »

sn26567 wrote: 12 Nov 2018, 21:17 Small Planet Airlines Germany was purchased by SF Aviation Holdings (Netherlands), who plans to restart the airline’s operations in the next few weeks. The carrier still has two A321s in storage at Paderborn, serials 808 and 823.

The news is bleaker for its sister Small Planet Airlines Polska, which ceased operations and entered into liquidation after talks with investors failed. There is still a chance the carrier will be taken over, pending court approval. The sole A320, serial 1007, is due to return to the lessor soon.

Oh really, restart ops from Paderborn... So such a pity... SF Holding should REALLY find a new name for both Airlines. But I think that SF Holding should just move the 2 A321 to Brussels to continue the development of VLM and not Small Planet Airlines Germany.

About the Polish airline, I also saw they ceased their ops. For me there's no chance to be taken over, or maybe by SF once again...

A nice article in "Rzeczpospolita" explains well the problem of this airline let without wings : https://www.rp.pl/Linie-lotnicze-i-lotn ... lanet.html
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by sn26567 »

Small Planet Airlines Germany will no longer be acquired by SF Aviation Holding (Netherlands), as the deal has failed.

Is anybody surprised?
André
ex Sabena #26567

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Passenger »

Civil Aviation Authority Lithuania:
https://www.caa.lt/index.php?3441432261
2018-11-28 - Sustabdyta UAB „Small Planet Airlines“ licencija vykdyti oro susisiekimą
Civilinės aviacijos administracija (toliau – CAA) informuoja, kad 2018 m lapkričio 28 d. CAA direktoriaus įsakymu Nr. 4R-170 licencija vykdyti oro susisiekimą, išduota UAB „Small Planet Airlines“, yra sustabdyta nuo 2018-11-29 00:01 val. vietos laiku. Kelionių organizatorių AB „Novaturas“ ir UAB „Tez Tour“ organizuojamos kelionės vyks kaip numatyta, skrydžius vykdys kitas oro vežėjas.


Translation by Google Translate, in brief: their AOC is suspended.

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by sn26567 »

Indeed: Small Planet Airlines (Lithuania) has its AOC suspended by the local CAA from 29 November 2018, thus grounding its operations.
André
ex Sabena #26567

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by TLspotting »

sn26567 wrote: 29 Nov 2018, 19:02 Indeed: Small Planet Airlines (Lithuania) has its AOC suspended by the local CAA from 29 November 2018, thus grounding its operations.
So the Small Planet Airlines era is ended as the Group has no more activity in aviation!
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

Boeing767copilot
Posts: 1385
Joined: 13 May 2004, 00:00

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Boeing767copilot »

https://m.delfi.lt/verslas/transportas/ ... d=79730913

The end is near. Small Planet Airlines is considering bankruptcy.

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by Passenger »

Boeing767copilot wrote: 29 Nov 2018, 21:02 https://m.delfi.lt/verslas/transportas/ ... d=79730913

The end is near. Small Planet Airlines is considering bankruptcy.
On their website now:
https://www.smallplanet.aero/en/news/ne ... h-us/73072
Small Planet Airlines flights are not operating any more.
If you have flight scheduled for Small Planet Airlines: please contact your tour operator for rebooking.
We say big "Thank you" for all passengers who were with us for more than 10 years.

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by sn26567 »

Somebody is happy: Afriqiyah Airways (Libya) took delivery of its second aircraft which it had leased to Small Planet Airlines (Lithuania).
André
ex Sabena #26567

ritafuller007
Posts: 1
Joined: 05 Jun 2019, 13:13

Re: Small Planet Airlines GERMANY in insolvency

Post by ritafuller007 »

They had so much long delays this year, that these claims would kill them. Aero.de today writes: "...Das Management begründet den Insolvenzantrag mit einer "angespannten finanziellen Situation durch die Ereignisse des laufenden Sommers". Das Fluggastrechteportal EUflight geht davon aus, dass derzeit rund 20.000 Passagiere Entschädigungen gegen Small Planet Airlines geltend gemacht haben..."
https://www.aero.de/news-30015/do my finance homework

On 16th July 2018, Dutch tv travel broadcast "Groeten van Max" had a long item about Small Planet Airlines. At that moment, they already were convicted by court to pay 1,000,000 Euro to just two Dutch claim firms. But they couldn't, so they agreed a payment scheme. Which they didn't realize...
https://www.maxvandaag.nl/programmas/tv ... _03774810/
(check as from 30min25sec for the topic on Small Planet Airlines)

With their Insolvenz in Eigenverwaltung, those passengers claims and court convictions are now suspended. Till when? Till the German company (Small Planet Airlines GmbH, Berlin HRB 167252) will close down...
Of course they will have to close down! With that kind of service and attitude even though it might be reasoned by techical issues.

Post Reply