- SkyEurope
Infobox Airline
airline=SkyEurope
logo_size=200px
fleet_size=15
destinations=40
IATA=NE
ICAO=ESK
callsign=RELAX
founded=2001
headquarters=Bratislava ,Slovakia
key_people=Jason Bitter (CEO ), Nick Manoudakis (CFO ) and Steven Greenway (CCO )
hubs=M. R. Štefánik Airport (Bratislava)Ruzyně International Airport Vienna International Airport Kosice International Airport
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.skyeurope.comSkyEurope Airlines is a
low-cost airline headquartered inBratislava , with its main base atM. R. Stefanik Airport (BTS) in Bratislava,Slovakia , and other bases inPrague ,Vienna andKošice .With bases in Slovakia, Austria, and Czech Republic, it was the first multi-based airline in Central Europe. The airline operates short-haul scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services.
History
SkyEurope was established in November
2001 and started operations on 13th February2002 (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 andEU 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 ofBratislava Airport . The airport is located within a one-hour drive ofVienna ,Brno andGyőr , covering a catchment area of four countries: (Austria ,Hungary , theCzech Republic andSlovakia ). [cite news | first=Christopher | last=Condon | coauthors= | title=SkyEurope: A Slovak Air Attack | date=2002-09-09 | publisher= | url =http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_36/b3798108.htm | work =BusinessWeek | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]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 millioneuro . [ cite web|url=http://www.wienerborse.at/listing/aktien/newlistings/SkyEurope_Holding_AG.html |title=SkyEurope Holding AG |accessdate=2008-01-29 |language=German ] . The IPO on theVienna andWarsaw stock exchanges was the first by a central European low-cost carrier and the first by any Slovak company. [cite news | first=Robert | last=Anderson | coauthors= | title=SkyEurope Set For €100m IPO | date=2005-09-15 | publisher= | url =http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/54b9ea24-2587-11da-98dc-00000e2511c8.html | work =Financial Times | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]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. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Slovakia's SkyEurope Airlines to Fly from Vienna Next Year | date=2006-12-19 | publisher= | url =http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/19/business/EU_FIN_COM_Slovakia_SkyEurope.php | work =International Herald Tribune | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ] In October 2007, SkyEurope closed its hubs in Krakow and Budapest, thus reallocating its aircraft to the hubs in Prague [cite news | first=Martina | last=Marečková | coauthors= | title=Discount carrier SkyEurope Lands in Prague | date=2006-02-20 | publisher= | url =http://www.cbw.cz/en/discount-carrier-skyeurope-lands-in-prague-/2371.html | work =Czech Business Weekly | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ] and Vienna. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=SkyEurope to Close Bases at Krakow and Budapest from October 28 | date=2007-09-03 | publisher= | url =http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/09/03/afx4076072.html | work =Forbes | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]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. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=SkyEurope Dec traffic up 39.8 pct year-on-year, load factor 67.7 pct vs 76.4 pct | date=2008-01-04 | publisher= | url =http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/01/04/afx4493887.html | work =Forbes | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]
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 inBrno andPrague . [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Czech Railways to Sell SkyEurope Tickets at Stations | date=2008-01-24 | publisher= | url =http://www.praguemonitor.com/en/258/czech_business/17588/ | work =Prague Daily Monitor | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-25 | language = ] 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. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=SkyEurope Says it Will Pay People to Fly With Them | date=2006-10-29 | publisher= | url =http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2006-10-19-skyeurope-minusfare_x.htm | work =USA Today | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]Destinations
SkyEurope operates a total of 99 routes to 40 destinations in 19 countries.
Fleet
In
2005 SkyEurope andBoeing 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 followedSkyEurope's order with leasing companyGECAS for 12 Boeing Next-Generation 737s. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Boeing and SkyEurope Airlines Finalize Contract for Four Next-Generation 737s | date=2005-06-19 | publisher=Boeing | url =http://www.boeing.com/commercial/news/2005/q3/nr_050720g.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]In
April 2007 , SkyEurope purchased an additional five jets. SkyEurope still has an option to order six more jets at the price set in a2005 deal with Boeing to buy as many as 32 planes by2011 . [cite news | first=Sean | last=Carney | coauthors= | title=Slovak Budget Airline SkyEurope Orders 5 More Boeing Jets | date=2007-04-12 | publisher= | url =http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/slovak-budget-airline-skyeurope-orders/story.aspx?guid=%7BF8E141E9-23B7-46DD-8830-63A9E89516EC%7D | work =Market Watch | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-29 | language = ]As of
3 June 2008 , the airline operates 15 Boeing 737-700 aircraft (OM-NGA "Adriana", NGB, NGC, NGD, NGE, NGF, NGG, NGH, NGJ, NGK, NGL, NGM, NGN, NGP, NGQ) with the average age being 1.4 years ( [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/SkyEurope%20Airlines.htm] ).Gallery
References
External links
* [http://www.skyeurope.com SkyEurope official website]
* [http://www.runwayinflight.com Runway inflight magazine]
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