News February 2003 (see below)
The problems of running flights to anywhere was brought home to me recently when I discovered the complex situation behind Redair's difficulties with flights to Gambia.

The flight market is very complex, companies lease planes and then sell seats in block bookings to travel agents, until the plane is returned to the parent company or leased by someone else. Africa One (below) was hoping to get permission to fly a route but failed and as a result had to drop the Gambia flights booked for Redair. All this shortly before Redair were getting a A310 airbus for their own Gambia flights.

As if that was not enough a temporary deal with Sierra National Airways for a block booking allowing Gambia passenger to fly to Banjul via Freetown in Sierra Leone has been dramatically reduced leaving Redair with a temporary problem until the A310 comes into service.

I declare my own personal interest here, as I am booked and paid for on a flight at the start of November, so fingers firmly crossed as Gambia is so much nicer at this time of year. I look forward to announcing that normal service has been resumed.

Meanwhile, many thanks to Redair staff who have rescheduled all GTS members with a minimum of drama

FEBRUARY 2003 UPDATE

I got away on the 1st November 2002, one of the last to be rescheduled with sierra national Airways ( and a fantastic service I have to say ) Redair were still sticking to the line that they had a new plane coming on line soon, mid November turned to mid December to mid January . . . BUT tounges were wagging and emails flying from dozens of people left stranded by RedAir in the Gambia.

They were told No problem - arrange an alternative flight and send the invoices to Redair UK for a refund. Redair passed all invoices to RedAir in Gambia (the Headoffice of the airline) and nothing has appeared to happen since - no refunds, no letters, no phone calls according to the many requests for information that I have received on this matter.

Personally I went to the Redair offices on Kariba Avenue to see what was happening where I was met by a lady with a most unpleasant manner who told me to go and get a ticket from some other airline - If Redair ever surfaces that member of staff most definitely requires some training in customer services. Very different to the treatment from the UK staff who I understand have all had their jobs terminated hence the inability of anyone to get any information from the UK operation which simply has no staff to answer queries.

The story on the street in Gambia is that there have been serious financial irregularities, the Gambian side blames the UK and vis-a-versa, an independent auditor has been called in and that's where we are today.

A return flight with Gambia Experience cost me £255 - Many people are owed considerably higher figures - maybe we will get some of it back but I don't think I will be holding my breath.

While in Gambia this visit I heard it said that the only way of getting a small fortune in Gambia is to take a BIG FORTUNE with you. Words, that while dealing with several Gambians over the last few years rings horribly true.

Please let me know if you have any further news about Redair or the refunding of money spent arranging alternative flights from Banjul.

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