News of Spain
Colas, claims, a record of the Ministry of Development and vacations of thousands of passengers affected by an operational chaos that has been rarely El Prat airport. Vueling airline is responsible for this situation in Barcelona and now, weeks later, Javier Sanchez-Prieto, president of the airline since March, intones the mea culpa and promises solutions. Before each apology, however, recalls that the European airspace is experiencing a record of strikes and restrictions.
After the chaos of recent weeks, although there has been no balance. How many passengers were affected by delays and cancellations?
We are working with the Government and the Ministry of Public Works because obviously they want to be sure that we operate and we must give them the assurance that we can do normally. As for the number of people affected, however, I have only the data of June, the Joule not know until we close the month. In terms of punctuality [teaches a paper with a table percentages timeliness of the airline in recent months], had been very good until June, when tripped. We had only had 1% of flight delays exceeding three hours in previous months, and in June, 3%.
has not said the number of people affected in June.
is 3% of the passengers carried, a total of 2.6 million in June [78,000]. To all these I have apologized and I never tire of doing, we should be able to operate normally. Vueling has done in the past and will be able to do it again in the future.
What have been the major mistakes of Vueling?
The main mistake was underestimating the external factors that surround us and who are already structural part of the map. There have been 13 strikes drivers in the last 14 weeks and the regulation of European airspace is being much stricter. The operation therefore must be sized taking into account all these factors.
But there have been problems with strikes without.
Indeed, because there has been a confluence of factors, when there is no traffic regulations strike. But this is something we have to play. But while the situation is this, we must be able to respond and this is where, honestly, have failed.
An operational good should not consider all these factors?
I do not want you to stay with the impression that I am attributing all these problems to external factors. But Vueling grew 8% last year and have increased the number of aircraft by 10%. This means that to operate 102 ships last year we had four aircraft booking and this year we have five; We have now decided that in these circumstances we must have six. This is the error. We should have six planes sized booking and we were five.
What stayed with five aircraft despite years of experience?
Let’s see, because last year was not the case and the former either.
last year and had problems, also by external factors, this time by the fire in the Rome airport.
L Last year was a very serious problem that we point greatly affected. This year what happened is that the airspace has been much more restricted. If when planning was the level of regulation would have been similar to last year, with five aircraft it would have sufficed.
So relied on an operating too tight, but as the season was expected?
in fact planned above which increased activity. If we think that the activity has grown by 8%, almost all resources have increased by 10%.
But this does not explain the chaos of recent days in the Prat.
The explanation is that affect us to a set of factors. And we are moving so they do not affect us. The day has another strike in France will affect us. Today [by yesterday] we have canceled 66 flights and we have a lot of passengers who have to relocate the coming days. And besides, we have many delays because almost 80% of our pasts by France. The end is all operational which passes by.
hard to believe that all this could not foresee three months ago.
Anticipate the unexpected is complicated, but it was hard to think that there would be 13 strikes the past 14 weeks.
The crew union Stavla told this newspaper that three months ago did get an email to the company, specifically its attention, in which They warned that they were “on edge” and that there were indications that the operation would have trouble summer. Why are not you heard?
I receive many messages and concerns of our workers is normal, our operating is quite … [doubt]. It is a challenge, is very complex and I understand that workers feel that pressure. Any you can write a mail and express this feeling, but I would say that most workers Vueling are having a positive response. We are working with the pilots union Sepla and other workers’ associations to find solutions. Precisely we hope to sign an agreement with Sepla that night [yesterday for the reader] to have more flexibility.
But why not your notice was taken into account?
I can not … Let’s see, there was no warning of any worker. There is a plan that is based on a set of indicators and then, unfortunately, we may have fallen short. But we are all working together to reverse the situation and normalize it.
Then do not receive any mail?
I am aware of having received any mail No, I get a lot and I try to answer all. But if I get an email from a worker with a particular appreciation of what I do it is look at the data and see the planning, and we had seemed correct. Unfortunately in these circumstances we have been forced to think we have to work with more margin because we see that the situation is not reversed. Without external operational factors would have had no problem.
Who is responsible for this poor planning?
Vueling.
But the Vueling before or after you replace Álex Cruz in the office of president?
there is an issue that must be clarified. Planning, which made the previous team, was cooked well but had to add more level of uncertainty. This has been interpreted to throw the blame on those who had before, but on the contrary. Alex and the previous management team made a magnificent.
This phrase may sound strange to the thousands of passengers who have suffered the consequences of this management lately.
To all of them all I can do is apologize. But planning was made by providing a level of incidents that has finally been higher. Our mistake was not being able to respond to this level of incidents.
So, passengers who have purchased a ticket for this summer can rest easy?
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Vueling operated and continue to operate as it will ensure that the production plans. What we can not guarantee is that work during strikes.
No full guarantees, then?
If no strikes, yes.
When will be completely standardized operational?
Monday operate very normal.
About 50% of flights from the Prat came late.
There were also restrictions on airspace, but only had two cancellations of 700 flights. Vueling will operate normally and when we have a problem we will respond better.
Why the company has not given explanations before?
have been very focused to fix it, but I must admit that we have failed. Honestly and doing self-criticism, we should have left earlier and communicate better.
remain cancellations.
there are companies that prefer to cancel. For example, our operating for Wednesday is more complicated because today [by yesterday] have canceled 66 flights and therefore we have to relocate passengers. We do not want to leave them hanging.
Not saturates further operational?
Sure, but we need to respond to all customers. The strike has a ripple effect in the next few days, but I prefer to respond to my passengers. We get stressed over the operation and why we have reinforced aircraft booking.
According to the Government, Vueling has not invested enough in resources to sustain their growth.
investment plans are correct. No effort has been spared investment. At the end of the day, take four to six aircraft, even if they are outsourced, it is an investment. We have also expanded to 15 additional crews and we are looking for more aircraft to operate other airlines in case of emergency. Iberia, for example, is doing some flights on our behalf. In addition, we are strengthening the operations of handling, which also makes us Iberia, and we have added 140 customer.
as compensate all those affected?
compensate those who have entered into a legal process, as usual. It is true that there has been jam in managing compensation, but the aim of the company is responding to passengers.
No additional measure?
outside the customer, have given food and shelter to affected users, ashamed even to say it but that’s what we’ve done an extraordinary way. It is true that in future such cases should be more sensitive.
These Vueling weeks is making offers for some flights of August.
depends on the routes, ie depending on the load factor, but you may find deals at the end of some flights in certain swaths of the day does not go so full .
Vueling deserves to remain the queen of Prat?
La reina del Prado … [Sighs.] Surely long we have been, we have made mistakes in the past few weeks and you have to earn the right to be re . I can tell very quiet, I think Vueling has done a great job at the airport in a kind of symbiosis between Barcelona, Catalonia and the development of Vueling. In fact, when I worked in Iberia Vueling I looked enviously. We will try again play an important role in this.
Have there been any contact with the former president and CEO, Alex Cruz, to discuss problems these days?
see Álex every week in meetings of the group, clear that there has been any call, but Alex is very meticulous and elegant and has chosen to leave everything in our hands and he has left us do.
But considering it was a mistake of planning, the situation left them in April when he went to preside British Airways, was complicated .
problems happen when Vueling pass and now faces a challenge, but I am convinced that we will do well.
Delays in 40% of flights the best day of the week
Vueling day yesterday at the Prat returned to some normality. After an early summer with serious effects on their service, yesterday there were other airlines had more problems in their operations and all responded to the strike of air traffic controllers is in France.
despite this improvement in their flight, Vueling piled up, until nine o’clock last night, 65 delays eight cancellations in the 160 flights that came from the airfield El Prat de Llobregat. Thus, four out of ten trips originating from Barcelona and operated by Vueling reached their destination later than planned, and 5% were canceled. The statistic does not include problems Vueling flights bound for Barcelona.
However, yesterday was much better than in recent days. Between Friday and Sunday, at least 76,000 people were affected by the crisis Vueling, a figure that included, again, only people who had to leave on a flight from the Catalan capital.
Yesterday morning most Vueling flights leaving the Prado operated on time or with delays of less than 15 minutes, a situation that worsened in the afternoon, as in the case of a flight to Menorca that came with 1 hour and 32 minutes late, or a plane from Milan, landing 3 hours and 50 minutes later than planned.
On its website, the company attributed most incidents restrictions in air traffic caused by the strike in France. Vueling sources to Europa Press that the day had been “really well” and that the regularity of flights had improved.
According to the company, yesterday no flight was canceled part of the 18 that had been announced in advance by the strike in France, all links with French airports.
Company sources claimed today that expected a normal day without any cancellation.
Source Ara.cat
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