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Silverjet, the business class only airline, is set to take to the skies again after being rescued out of administration by a Geneva-based company.
The airline, which flies from Luton to New York and Dubai, has been bought for an undisclosed sum by Kingplace, an Ireland registered company controlled by Heritage Cie, an investment group based in Switzerland.
A statement from Begbies Traynor, the administrator handling the sale, said the offer by Kingplace is being made on behalf of unnamed private clients.
Lawrence Hunt, chief executive at Silverjet, said: “I am personally delighted that we now have the necessary backing from a long term investor to relaunch Silverjet. We have received fantastic support from our staff, customers and partners in helping us put this deal together.”
Mr Hunt said Silverjet’s New York and Dubai services would be relaunched as quickly as possible and an announcement would be made in due course.
Ian Ilsley, chairman of Heritage and a director of Kingplace said the group intends to take on all of the existing staff, to honour Silverjet’s existing customers’ tickets. He said Silverjet could return to the skies “in a matter of weeks.”
Silverjet was placed in administration at the end of last month after failing to secure a $5 million cash injection from Viceroy Holdings, a Middle Eastern investment group.
The company has been hit by soaring fuel costs, with oil rising to a record $139 a barrel last week, as well as an economic downturn on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Mike, Silverjet had no choice, they went into Administration. The new company has pledged to honor existing bookings so what is your problem. They are under no obligation to do so. Sometimes business is unfair but the good news is that they will be back flying and offering their excellent service
Julian Eagles, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
I have four tickets with SilverJet and I have already booked with Virgin Atlantic for a trip starting on 16 July.
I feel that SilverJet has broken their agreement with me and that they should refund my ticket price, even if they manage to get up and going by the time I fly.
MIke, Pennsylvania, USA