Willow Run Visit - Part 2
I visited Baltia Willow Run Offices Thursday July 11, 2013.
As far as the plane N706BL is concerned. I was invited to meet Baltia in Oscoda to see the plane, but unfortunately a 7 hour drive was just too much. So I have no first hand account, but the Baltia crew kept raving what wonderful condition the plane is. Plane is currently going through the C-Check. Make your own conclusions about the timing of the C-Check and the Inaugural Launch most likely happening in 3 - 4 months.
Baltia has several photos of the Baltia Crew day at Oscoda and Ypsilanti on Baltia Air Lines Facebook Page.
That about sums up my visit to Willow Run. However, 2 days later on Saturday at 7 pm, Anthony Koulouris phoned me at home to follow up and answer any remaining questions I might have.
We talked a bit need for Baltia to start operations with 1 round trip per week. Start slow, so if any kinks to be worked out the time, effort and cost will be minimal. Then Baltia expects to aggressively expand. Anthony mentioned Baltia is looking at several planes to obtain at very favorable prices.
The brochure states "During year 1 of operations Baltia plans to add additional aircraft to service nonstop flights from JFK to Moscow, Russia as well as Kiev, Ukraine.
During year 2 Baltia will introduce additional airplanes to service nonstop flights to Riga, Latvia and Minsk, Belarus.
On the JFK-St. Petersburg route alone, management is projecting revenues for year one of operations at over $100 Million at just 64% load factor.
Baltia Competitive Advantages will be the non-stop flights, offering convenience and no waiting.
Another Competitive Advantage is the Fly America Act which will provide a captive market for Baltia.
Other successful Airlines that started with one Aircraft are Virgin Atlantic and RYANAIR.
We talked quite a bit about Cargo and how it is a significant contributor to revenues.
Baltia Cargo : 7.5 Hours - Overnight Eastbound
Same Day Service Westbound.
Competitors Cargo: Takes at least 5 to 10 Days.
I was really surprised about this time differential, huge advantage for Baltia. Anthony explained, competitors at the transit point have to unload cargo, stored in a warehouse, then usually taken off pallets and re-palletized due to different sized planes and space requirements, then they have to schedule for next plane. 5 to 10 days! Wow.
Overnight shippers such as DHL, UPS, FEDEX, and major freight forwarders have verbally committed to fill Baltia's entire cargo capacity.
The shippers usually pay for a certain amount of space and if they do not fill this space, Baltia gets paid for it anyways.
Each plane can carry about 100,000 Pounds @ $2.50 per pound. So Cargo is significant and reliable. From the Pro-Forma 2013 Year One Projected Operating Results - One Aircraft - Cargo was about 31% of Total Revenues.
I appreciated Anthony following up with a phone call. He is very professional and responsive to any questions. Do not hesitate to contact him with any concerns.
To sum up, I am very glad I took the time to visit Baltia offices at Willow Run Airport. Due to my research and DD I am more confident than ever Baltia Air Lines Inaugural Flight will Take-Off well before end of the year 2013.
Baltia Crew in Michigan July 11, 2013
.
I visited Baltia Willow Run Offices Thursday July 11, 2013.
As far as the plane N706BL is concerned. I was invited to meet Baltia in Oscoda to see the plane, but unfortunately a 7 hour drive was just too much. So I have no first hand account, but the Baltia crew kept raving what wonderful condition the plane is. Plane is currently going through the C-Check. Make your own conclusions about the timing of the C-Check and the Inaugural Launch most likely happening in 3 - 4 months.
Baltia has several photos of the Baltia Crew day at Oscoda and Ypsilanti on Baltia Air Lines Facebook Page.
That about sums up my visit to Willow Run. However, 2 days later on Saturday at 7 pm, Anthony Koulouris phoned me at home to follow up and answer any remaining questions I might have.
We talked a bit need for Baltia to start operations with 1 round trip per week. Start slow, so if any kinks to be worked out the time, effort and cost will be minimal. Then Baltia expects to aggressively expand. Anthony mentioned Baltia is looking at several planes to obtain at very favorable prices.
The brochure states "During year 1 of operations Baltia plans to add additional aircraft to service nonstop flights from JFK to Moscow, Russia as well as Kiev, Ukraine.
During year 2 Baltia will introduce additional airplanes to service nonstop flights to Riga, Latvia and Minsk, Belarus.
On the JFK-St. Petersburg route alone, management is projecting revenues for year one of operations at over $100 Million at just 64% load factor.
Baltia Competitive Advantages will be the non-stop flights, offering convenience and no waiting.
Another Competitive Advantage is the Fly America Act which will provide a captive market for Baltia.
Other successful Airlines that started with one Aircraft are Virgin Atlantic and RYANAIR.
We talked quite a bit about Cargo and how it is a significant contributor to revenues.
Baltia Cargo : 7.5 Hours - Overnight Eastbound
Same Day Service Westbound.
Competitors Cargo: Takes at least 5 to 10 Days.
I was really surprised about this time differential, huge advantage for Baltia. Anthony explained, competitors at the transit point have to unload cargo, stored in a warehouse, then usually taken off pallets and re-palletized due to different sized planes and space requirements, then they have to schedule for next plane. 5 to 10 days! Wow.
Overnight shippers such as DHL, UPS, FEDEX, and major freight forwarders have verbally committed to fill Baltia's entire cargo capacity.
The shippers usually pay for a certain amount of space and if they do not fill this space, Baltia gets paid for it anyways.
Each plane can carry about 100,000 Pounds @ $2.50 per pound. So Cargo is significant and reliable. From the Pro-Forma 2013 Year One Projected Operating Results - One Aircraft - Cargo was about 31% of Total Revenues.
I appreciated Anthony following up with a phone call. He is very professional and responsive to any questions. Do not hesitate to contact him with any concerns.
To sum up, I am very glad I took the time to visit Baltia offices at Willow Run Airport. Due to my research and DD I am more confident than ever Baltia Air Lines Inaugural Flight will Take-Off well before end of the year 2013.
Baltia Crew in Michigan July 11, 2013
.
