Go Fly Boeing 737

Go Fly was the name of an award-winning British airline, trading as "Go", which was purchased by easyJet in May 2002 for the equivalent of $545 million^[1]. IATA airline designators, sometimes called IATA reservation codes, are two-character codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the worlds airlines in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 762. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with ICAO airline code. ... Most airlines employ a distinctive and internationally recognised call sign that is normally spoken during airband radio transmissions as a prefix to the flight number. ... An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. ... The lawn in front of Stansted Airport used to attract large numbers of people waiting for their flight during the summer. ... The lawn in front of Stansted Airport used to attract large numbers of people waiting for their flight during the summer. ... Barbara Ann Cassani (July 22, 1960) is an American businesswoman. ... Bob Ayling is a British businessman who has been involved in many high profile companies and organisations. ... Sir Rod Eddington is an Australian businessman perhaps best known as CEO of British Airways from 2000 to 2005. ... Go Fly Boeing 737 at Bristol Airport, Bristol, England. ... Go Fly Boeing 737 at Bristol Airport, Bristol, England. ... This article is about the Hawaii-based airline. ... An Airbus A380 of Emirates Airline An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ... EasyJet (LSE: EZJ), styled as easyJet, is a low cost airline officially known as easyJet Airline Company Limited, based at London Luton Airport. ...

History

In November 1997, British Airways announced that, under the project name of Operation Blue Sky, it would launch its own low cost airline^[2] in order to meet the changing demand for air travel in Europe. According to British Airways' CEO, Bob Ayling, the new airline would, "quickly become a favourite with the budget traveller" via its pricing scheme and available flights^[3]. The new airline would be run separately from British Airways as a wholly owned subsidiary and would compete in the European low-cost market, dominated by Ryanair, easyJet and Debonair. For the 1930s airline of similar name, see British Airways Ltd. ... Bob Ayling is a British businessman who has been involved in many high profile companies and organisations. ... A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline (also known as a no-frills or discount carrier / airline) is an airline that offers generally low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services. ... For the unrelated U.S. carrier, see Ryan International Airlines. ... Debonair was a British airline operating mainly from London Luton Airport offering flights to and from Spain, France, Germany and Italy. ...

Barbara Cassani, who had been the British Airways General Manager in New York and had been credited with turning around the airline's flagging fortunes on the transatlantic market in the early 1990s, was chosen by Bob Ayling to set up the new venture. The airline was named Go Fly in February 1998 after a lengthy debate over how to choose a name that would best suit the positioning of this new airline, which was already facing challenges from easyJet^[4] and Virgin^[5], among others. Barbara Ann Cassani (July 22, 1960) is an American businesswoman. ...

The fleet consisted of Boeing 737s, initially acquired via lease from Philippine Airlines^[6]. The Boeing 737 is a short to medium range, single aisle, narrow body jet airliner. ... Philippine Airlines (abbreviated PAL, PSE: PAL), also known historically as Philippine Air Lines, is the national airline of the Philippines. ...

On 22 May 1998, Go flew for the first time, from its base at Stansted Airport to Rome Ciampino. In March 2001, Go expanded its UK operations and opened a second base in Bristol, bringing low cost travel to England's South West for the first time^[7]. The lawn in front of Stansted Airport used to attract large numbers of people waiting for their flight during the summer. ... Ciampino Airport (Italian: Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino) or Giovan Battista Pastine Airport (IATA: CIA, ICAO: LIRA) is a joint civilian, commercial and military airport near Rome in Italy. ... This article is about the English city. ...

2001 was important to Go for other reasons, in June of that year a management buyout, led by Cassani with the cooperation of 3i, a European venture capital company ^[8]. In December of 2001, Go reported that it had carried 57.3% more passengers in December 2001 then in the previous year ^[9].

Relationship with British Airways

Go was very much the brain child of Bob Ayling and when he left British Airways, Go's future was rendered shaky^[10]. In November 2000, under new chief Rod Eddington, British Airways announced that it planned to sell Go^[11]. While no concrete reason was ever provided, rising fuel costs and a desire to focus on their core service have been cited as reasons for BA's desire to sell. Sir Rod Eddington is an Australian businessman perhaps best known as CEO of British Airways from 2000 to 2005. ...

Estimated gains from the sale fluctuated, and in January 2001 British Airways admitted that its initial estimates may have been incorrect and that they now estimated Go to be worth only £200m ^[12]. With the revised forecasts, there seemed to be an increase in pressure to sell Go as soon as possible, possibly within two months.

When the deal with private equity firm 3i became official in June 2001, the airline's management team remained in place^[13] due, in part, to 3i's recognition of the fact that it was this team that had launched and operated the airline so successfully in a challenging environment.

Merger with easyJet

On 16 May 2002, easyJet announced that it would buy Go for £374 million to expand its own operations^[14]. By December 2002, easyJet and Go operated under one Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and in April 2003 the airlines operated as one, fully under the easyJet brand. Although it was initially reported that Cassani might seek to block the deal with easyJet, but that did not happen^[15]. She did not accept a position with the new entity and in November 2003, Barbara Cassani published Go, An Airline Adventure, which chronicled the airline's existence. EasyJet (LSE: EZJ), styled as easyJet, is a low cost airline officially known as easyJet Airline Company Limited, based at London Luton Airport. ...

Fleet

27 Boeing 737-300's and 1 BAe 146/ Avro RJ

References