Below you'll find some coach-hire related Heathrow airport news.
Heathrow is a competative market for coach operators, but all is not as it may appear. The big bus & coach companies are all attempting to increase their market share through acquisions and organic growth. The most recent large-scale take overs are explained in more detail below. All this means that the actual competition is reduced which, in a competative free-market is a bad thing. Heathrowminibuses.com are totally independant and have no connections with any of the big companies.
We give honest advice and offer a level of service second to none: a level of customer care and dedication that is is impossible for the large companies to achieve.
Our customers are very important to us: we want to look after them well.
Tellings Golden Miller buys Excel Passenger Logistics
Whilst this relates more to Stansted than Heathrow, as it relates to a major Heathrow transport provider, it is of interest here. Stansted-based Excel Passenger Logistics Ltd, and its associated businesses: Flight Delay Services Ltd of Manchester and Excel Gatwick Ltd, have today (7 April 2008) been bought by Heathrow-based Tellings Golden Miller Group (part of Arriva) for an undisclosed sum.
The three Excel companies primarily provide transport and accommodation services to the airline industry for passengers from cancelled, delayed or diverted flights and operate around 50 passenger vehicles and have around 90 employees. The companies also operate contracted and commercial bus services to the British Airports Authority (BAA) and local councils, as well as traditional coach hire and airside crew transport
NATIONAL EXPRESS GROUP BUYS HOTELINK
The National Express group in late 2007 brought and then rebranded, into their corporate style, the popular Hotelink "shared-ride" minibus operator. From Heathrow to central London prices start at £17 single per person and go up (and up). The operator uses high spec minibuses, but this is an expensive option for larger groups.
National Express also operate the HOTEL HOPPA bus service which links the airport with all the hotels in the area. This must be one of the most expensive bus services in the uk as, for example, Terminal 2 to The Park Inn Heathrow takes 4-6 minutes and costs £4 per person plus an optional £1 insurance.
WESTBUS SOLD TO COMFORT DELGRO (OWNER OF METROLINE, ARMCHAIR & THORPES - ALL LONDON OPERATORS)
THE COMBINED LONDON OPERATIONS EMPLOY NEARLY 3,700 PEOPLE AND RUN OVER 1,200 BUSES & COACHES
In 2005 London-based Westbus was brought by an Australian joint venture business, headed by the massive Comfort Delgro Corporation who also own the London bus operator Metroline. Metroline was founded in 1989 by London Buses Ltd, privatised in 1994, and acquired by ComfortDelgro in 2000. It also incorporates the London Northern subsidiary. In 2004 and 2005, Metroline expanded again by purchasing two smaller London bus operators, Armchair and Thorpes. The two companies continued to operate under their former names until 6 January 2007, when they were merged into Metroline. The Westbus name remains. In November 2007 Westbus brought local operators Mellor Coaches of Harrow (full-size vehicles only) and M&M Coachlines of Harrow Weald. A further reduction in coach-hire competition at Heathrow.
TELLINGS GOLDEN MILLER GROUP PLC BUYS OFJ CONNECTIONS LIMITED
Tellings Golden Miller Group plc purchased of the entire issued share capital of OFJ Connections Limited and the remaining 25% of the issued share capital of OFJ Ground Services Limited in 2008. A 75% shareholding in this business was purchased in February 2007 from OFJ Group Holdings Limited.
In January 2007, the Company sold its Aircrews business to OFJ as the Board felt that this business did not have a large enough share of its market at Heathrow airport and hence had limited growth prospects. The Aircrews business was integrated with OFJ and together the businesses have a significant market share at Heathrow airport.
OFJ is a principal operator of air passenger and aircrew transport at Heathrow airport and Ground Services has an engineering facility at
OFJ has a fleet of approximately 120 vehicles and employs approximately 214 staff. OFJ provides coach & minicoach hire services to passengers using Heathrow airport as well as to a substantial number of airlines. OFJ also has several non-airport related contracts and is a provider of transport services to several large schools in the Heathrow area.
In the year ended 31 December 2006, OFJ's turnover was £7.3 million and profit before tax of £2.1 million. Net assets as at 31 December 2006 were £2.2 million.
Formed in 1999, OFJ's business has expanded considerably in recent years and this expansion has continued into 2007 with the addition of the TGM Aircrews business.
The consideration paid for OFJ is £5.15 million in cash financed from the company's own resources, directors' loans and bank debt of £4.5 million repayable in tranches up until 31 August 2012.
Mr Andy Nicholas and Mr Dennis Morris co-founders of OFJ Group will continue their association with OFJ with Andy Nicholas becoming a consultant to OFJ and Dennis Morris continuing as a director.
Stephen Telling, Chairman of the Telling Golden Miller, said:
"I am delighted to announce the acquisition of OFJ which is a highly profitable company with a significant share of a growing niche market. Following the sale of our core London Bus Division in 2005, and having reshaped and improved performance in our remaining transport businesses, the acquisition of OFJ gives us a clear new direction of specialising in growing niche transportation markets such as Heathrow airport. We will work on integrating OFJ with our existing businesses with a view to increasing profitablity."
ARRIVA has reached agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Tellings Golden Miller in an offer that values the latter at £10.3million.
The offer is subject to approval by TGM shareholders but its board will unanimously recommend acceptance of the 45p cash offer for shares - TGM shares closed at 30.5p prior to the offer.
“I believe that the offer provides an attractive exit for Tellings Golden Miller Shareholders in the current climate," says Tellings Golden Miller chairman Steve Telling. "The offer provides the Tellings Golden Miller Group’s employees with opportunities and support as part of a major multinational group and provides Tellings Golden Miller with the resources to continue to develop the business for the benefit of Tellings Golden Miller’s customers.”
David Martin, Arriva chief executive says: "The offer provides continuity to existing customers and employees of Tellings Golden Miller. We appreciate the specialised skills and experience of Tellings Golden Miller’s management and employees and we look forward to supporting them in developing the Tellings Golden Miller business further."
Tellings Golden Miller was floated on the AIM stock market in 2003 and sold its
WESTBUS (PART OWNED BY NATIONAL EXPRESS GROUP AND PROVIDER OF NATIONAL EXPRESS PRIVATE HIRE SERVICES) BUYS ARMCHAIR COACHES
On 1st November 2006 Westbus took over the famous, long standing Armchair Coaches business based at Brentford (near to Heathrow).
A selection of the coaches and all of the key staff transferred over to the new combined Westbus/Armchair business.
Tim Miles, General manager said "This exciting move brings together two ofThe new company will operate vehicles in both Westbus and Armchair liveries.
COLLINS COACHES LTD, HANWELL - WELLKNOWN PROVIDER OF COACHES IN WEST LONDON AND HEATHROW - DIRECTOR GUILTY OF POSSESSING INDECENT PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN
It has been reported in the trade press that Eric Collins, Director and Traffic Manager of Collins Coaches Ltd Hanwell (West London - just 8 miles from Heathrow), pleaded guilty to eight counts of making indecent photographs of children and one of possessing indecent photographs of children. Two computers were seized by Police containing 322 pornographic images, some of young children. He was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to do 250 hours unpaid community work and ordered to pay £300 costs. He has been placed on the sex-offenders' register for 10 years and banned from working with children under 16.
Collins Coaches operate 12 coaches on School contracts, private hire and provide vehicles for incoming young students during July & August
1CLICK TRAVEL STOPS TRADING
Crawley (near Gatwick airport) based online coach hire brokerage 1Click Travel Ltd ceased trading during April 2008. This type of business typically has no vehicles and no operator's licence and is simply a "middle-man" between the coach operator/supplier and the end user. They make their income by obtaining payment in advance from the end user and then placing the job with a coach hire company whilst retaining a mark-up on job rate (in 1Click's case typically 30-40%), typically paying the coach hire company two to three months after completion of the job. 1Click Travel, also known as 1Click Travel Solutions and justcoachhire.co.uk, had significant contracts including one with the UK Ministry of Defence and whilst the total amount owed to coach operators was unclear, in it's 2006 accounts it owed £366,578 to it's creditors. This followed on from the collapse of the unrelated Blackpool based UK Travel Solutions in February 2006. This type of business is becoming increasing common due to it's simplicity and low start-up costs. There are many out there. Be careful, you are paying 20-50% more than you should, there is a greatly increased risk of miscommunication, and you may loose your money and not get the service you have paid for.
NATIONAL EXPRESS GROUP BUYS THE KINGS FERRY COACH COMPANY
During November 2007, National Express Group bought the Kings Ferry coach company, a major player in the Kent-London commuter coach services market and coach-hire specialist in London and the South of England. The family, who had established the Kings Ferry in 1968, now have no ties with the business now that Steve O'Neill has stepped down from being a director. (14 March 2008). Kings Ferry operate over 50 coaches.
BEWARE OF UNLICENCED LIMOUSINES & MINIBUSES
Vehicle operating licences in the UK generally fall into two areas: Vehicles with a passenger carrying capacity of up to 8 people, and those of 9 and above. Upto 8 customers they must be licenced by a local authority (council or Transport For London etc) and 9 or more by the Traffic Comissioners/VOSA vehicle & operator licensing system for buses and coaches. Many limos seen on the streets of the UK do not meet with British construction and use regulations and therefore are illegal and will invalidate any insurance. This includes MPVs and minibuses used for hire. There are some types that are compliant (some, but not all Hummers and Ford Excursions). The easiest way to check is that operators must clearly display an operator's licence in the front windscreen with (depending on the type) is either a blue, green or orange disc the same size as a car tax disc. Many 16 seat minibuses are unlicenced and may have the wrong class of MOT, wrong taxation class and may have a driver with an insufficient entitlement on their driving licence. (Commonly a car licence in the UK includes the ability to drive a vehicle upto 16 seats not for Hire) Any of these will invalidate their insurance. Private hire vehicles outside London will have a plate fixed to the back of the vehicle, inside London they have a TFL licence attached to the front and rear windscreens. Be careful. Be legal. Be insured.
