VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Posted (9 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 5171 times:
Talofa, Kia Orana, 'Iorana, Ran Allim/Lwen Wo/Kaselehlia/Mogethin, Bula, Ia Orana, Hafa, Aloha, Mauri, Yokwe, Yokwe, Bonjour, Fakaalofa Atu, Watawieh Yorlyi, Hafa, Alii, Gude, Wut-a-way you, Talofa, Halo, Taloha, Malo E Leilei, Talofa, Halo, Malo E Leilei and welcome to the second Pacific Islands Aviation Thread. (Greetings courtesy of http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/hello.htm - sincere appologies to any that I may have missed out. The greetings match the order of the countries and territories listed below)
The first thread can be found at http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...general_aviation/read.main/4159807 and seemed to die a bit of a natural death after a decent amount of conversation. Hopefully by expanding the scope a little at the outset, we might be able to keep the discussion going on more steadily.
To help those who may not be familiar with the region, I thought I'd list the states and territories which are generally considered to make up the "Pacific Islands". My starting point was the Pacific Islands Forum at http://www.forumsec.org.fj/pages.cfm/about-us/ excluding Australia and New Zealand. I have also included the American, Australian, British, Chilean, French and New Zealand Pacific territories which are not part of the Forum. I have not included the ASEAN nations, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, which while having islands in the Pacific are generally considered to be more a part of Asia than the Pacific. For similar reasons, I have not included Lord Howe Island and the Torres Strait Islands (Australia), the Aleutian Islands (USA), the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), the Kuril Islands (Russia) and the Ryukyu Islands (Japan). I did toss up including East Timor/Timor Leste, but I feel it is probably closer to the ASEAN nations than the Pacific Islands. I know this is likely to be a little controversial, but the line has to be drawn somewhere, and I think this is a reasonable place to do it. To help everyone familiarise themselves with the places, I've included links to the Wikipedia articles on each one, as well as details on the major airlines and airports there (to the best of my knowledge - if I'm wrong, please correct me!).
Inter Island Airways is based at Pago Pago, servining both American Samoa and Samoa with an Islander and a couple of Dornier 228s. According to their website, A Dornier 328 will be arriving soon, allowing services to expand to Tonga and Niue.
In the past, South Pacific Island Airways operated DHC Twin Otters and Boeing 707s during the 1970s and 1980s, which was followed by Samoa Air which also operated Twin Otters (and briefly 707s) until its collapse in 2003.
Air Rarotonga is based at Rarotonga, serving the Cook Islands with a Saab 340 and a couple of Bandeirantes, and also a Cessna 172 for scenic flights over Rarotonga. Additionally, they offer a code share on Air Tahiti's service between Papeete and Rarotonga.
During the late 1980s, the Cook Islands government set up a venture called Cook Islands International, using aircraft wet leased from Ansett Australia.
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui and Isla de Pascua, has no airlines of its own, but is served by Lan Chile, who fly Santiago-Easter Island-Papeete. The only airport is Mataveri International Airport, which is notable for having been designated as an emergency landing site for the space shuttle.
Air Pacific is the national airline of Fiji, based at Nadi International Airport. The airline operates to numerous destinations in the Pacific with a fleet comprising of a 737-700, two 737-800s, a 767-300ER and two 747-400s.
Fiji has two regional airlines offering scheduled service. Air Fiji serves domestic destinations and Tuvalu using five Harbin Y-12s and three Embraer Bandeirantes. They did have an Embraer Brasilia operating under the Pacific Link brand, but it seems as though they have ceased this operation now.
Pacific Sun is a subsidiary of Air Pacific, having previously been the independent Sun Air. They operate domestic routes and international flights to Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu using a fleet of two ATR-42s, three DHC Twin Otters and three Islanders.
Air Tahiti Nui is the international airline of French Polynesia, based at Faa'a International Airport.The airline operates to destinations in Australia, Japan, NZ, USA and also France, with a fleet of 5 A340-300s.
Air Tahiti is the domestic airline of French Polynesia, which operates services under a monopoly agreement with the French Polynesia government, as well as a service to Rarotonga. It operates 4 ATR-42-500s, 5 ATR-72-500s, a DHC Twin Otter for the government, and a Beech King Air which is leased to Air Archipels.
Wan Air is a charter airline which operates for the pearl industry, having briefly operated scheduled passenger services. It operates a Dornier 328JET and a Beech 1900D.
Continental Micronesia is the main airline in Guam, based at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport. It serves destinations in Japan and the Pacific with a fleet of 737-800s and 767-400s from parent Continental Airlines.
Freedom Air also operates between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands with a fleet consisting of a Short 360, a Short 330, and a number of smaller Cessna and Piper types.
Asia Pacific Airlines is a freight airline based in Guam, operating 3 727-200Fs throughout the Pacific.
Hawaiian Airlines is the largest carrier in Hawaii, based at Honolulu International Airport. It serves inter-island routes in Hawaii with 15 717-200s, and routes to the South Pacific and the US mainland with 18 767-300ERs.
Mokulele Airlines is a commuter airline serving smaller airports in the inter-island market with Cessna Caravans, as well as a more recent foray into the trunk inter-island routes using 3 Embraer 170s operated by Shuttle America, a Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary. Prior to this, Mokulele had been a partner of go!. Mokulele is now half owned by Republic.
There are a number of failed airlines in the Hawaiian market. Some were relatively short-lived, such as Discovery Airways which flew BAe-146s on inter-island routes in 1990, and Mahalo Air which flew Fokker F27s and then ATR-42s on inter-island routes between 1993 and 1997.
Mid Pacific Air operated inter-island routes between 1981 and 1989 using NAMC YS-11s and Fokker F28s. The airline continued to operate on the mainland USA until 1995.
Aloha Airlines is the most significant Hawaiian airline to have ceased operations, at the time of its failure in 2008 flying 737-200s on inter-island routes, and 737-700s to the mainland USA. In the past it also operated flights to Guam, Taipei, Rarotonga, and I believe Pago Pago.
Air Kiribati is the national airline of Kiribati (pronounced kir-i-bas), based at Bonriki International Airport and serving destinations throughout the country with a CASA 212 and a Harbin Y-12. It briefly operated an ATR-72, but this proved too expensive.
Air Marshall Islands is the national airline of the Marshall Islands, based at Majuro and serving destinations throughout the country with Dornier 228s and DHC Dash 8s. In the past, the airline operated an HS748, a DC-8 and a Saab 2000.
Our Airline is the national airline of Nauru, based in Nauru but with crew based in Brisbane, and operating a 737-300 between the two via Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The airline is the trading name for the Nauru Air Corporation, which originally traded as Air Nauru. Air Nauru grew during the 1970s and 80s, during Nauru's phosphate mining boom, to a fleet consisting of three 727s and four 737s (a seating capacity equal to 10% of Nauru's population!) and serving destinations throughout the Pacific and Asia, but when the boom collapsed, the airline shrank until its only remaining 737 was repossessed in 2005. Our Airline was releaunched in 2006 with assistance from the Taiwanese government.
Aircalin is the international airline of New Caledonia, based at La Tontouta International Airport, serving destinations in the Pacific and Asia with two A330-200s, an A320 and a DHC Twin Otter.
Air Caledonie is the domestic airline of New Caledonia, based at Magenta Airport, serving destinations throughout the territory with an ATR-42-500 and two ATR-72-500s.
Niue has no airline of its own, and is currently only served by Air New Zealand. In the past, it received service from Polynesian Airlines and Royal Tongan Airlines. Niue International Airport is the only airport on the Island.
Norfolk Air is the airline of Norfolk Island, but does not operate any flights itself. Flights to Australia are operated by OzJet using a 737-200, which will be replaced by Our Airline using a 737-300 from May.
Norfolk Jet Express was the previous airline from Norfolk Island, operating services initially with a BAe-146 leased from National Jet Express, and then with a 737-400 leased from Air Nauru and a Fokker 100 leased from Alliance Air. The airline collapsed in 2005.
At present, there is no airline based in the Northern Mariana Islands, but services from Saipan are provided by numerous airlines, while Tinian and Rota are served by Freedom Air, and the latter also by Cape Air. In the past, Pacific Island Aviation operated Short 360s as Northwest Airlink between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Belau Air is the only airline operating in Palau, based at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport. It serves domestic routes using a Britten-Norman Islander.
Palau Micronesia Air was an airline which operated in 2004, providing international flights using a 737-300 operating under Air New Zealand's certificate.
Air Niugini is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based at Port Moresby, serving destinations throughout PNG, the Pacific and Asia with a fleet consisting of two 757-200s and a 767-300 leased from Icelandair, six Fokker 100s, three Fokker F28s and seven DHC Dash 8s.
Airlines PNG is PNG's second largest airline, based at Port Moresby, serving domestic destinations and Cairns, Australia with a fleet of eight DHC Dash 8s and eight DHC Twin Otters. In addition, seats are sold to Brisbane on a code share with Pacific Blue.
Notable past airlines include Airlink which operated Britten Norman Islanders, Embraer Bandierantes and an ATR-42 until 2007, and Talair which operated numerous types until 1993.
The Pitcairn Islands (of which only Pitcairn is inhabited) have no airstrips or air services. There has been talk from time to time about providing an airstrip on Pitcairn.
Polynesian Blue is the international airline of Samoa. The airline does not own any aircraft in its own right, but uses 737-800s from sister company Pacific Blue, one of which is painted in Polynesian Blue colours. The airline
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 1, posted (9 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 5162 times:
First cab off the rank, reading through news reports, Air Fiji seems to be having some difficulties. Obviously the combined effect of an economic downturn and political instability are going to be taking their toll, and it looks as though Air Fiji is struggling, if these stories paint a true picture (and we all know how well media can beat things up...). Does anyone have any more insight on the situation?
Quote: THE Consumer Council of Fiji has called upon the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAFI) to toughen up on Air Fiji's poor service delivery.
Council chief executive Premila Kumar said CAFFI should look into the affairs of Air Fiji to either close it based on poor service delivery or assist it in solving the problems faced by the airline so that it could operate normally.
Quote: The Fiji Transport Workers Union is in the dark about the Air Fiji board and management’s intentions as it is facing a lot of financial difficulties.
Quote: The Fiji Transport Workers Union is concerned at the welfare of its members who are employees of Air Fiji and have not been paid their wages in the last four weeks.
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
Polynesian Blue is the international airline of Samoa. The airline does not own any aircraft in its own right, but uses 737-800s from sister company Pacific Blue, one of which is painted in Polynesian Blue colours. The airline replaced Polynesian Airlines, and is owned 49% by the Samoan government, 49% by Virgin Blue and 2% by the owner of Aggie Grey's. It sells flights from Apia to Australia and New Zealand.
Polynesian Airlines is the regional airline of Samoa, based in Apia, providing scheduled flights to Pago Pago as well as charter services to other airfields in Samoa with a fleet of two DHC Twin Otters and a Britten Norman Islander. Prior to the inauguration of Polynesian Blue, Polynesian Airlines was a significantly larger operator, providing service throughout the Pacific with numerous aircraft types.
Solomon Airlines is the national airline of the Solomon Islands, based in Honiara. The airline operates domestic services in the Solomon Islands with a fleet of three DHC Twin Otters and a Britten Norman Islander. International services are offered to Brisbane (operated by Our Airline using a 737-300), Nadi (operated by Air Pacific using a 737-800 and Air Niugini using a Fokker 100) and Port Villa (operated by Air Pacific using a 737-800). In the past Solomon Airlines operated its own 737s, and in more recent years had entered into a short-lived agreement with the now defunct SkyAirWorld to operate an Embraer 170.
Chathams Pacific is the only airline operating in Tonga, and is a subsidiary of New Zealand based Air Chatams. The airline operates domestic services in Tonga with a Convair 580, a Fairchild Metro, a Britten Norman Islander and a Piper Chieftain.
In the past, Royal Tongan Airlines was the national airline, initially operating domestic services, and then international services first with 737s leased from Air Pacific and Air New Zealand, then later with a 757 leased from Royal Brunei Airlines.
Following the collapse of Royal Tongan, a number of short lived operations were establised, including Peau Vava'u which was notable for operating DC-3s, Fly Niu which operated DHC Dash 8s and Airlines Tonga, which was a subsidiary of Air Fiji and operated a Harbin Y-12 and an Embraer Bandeirante.
Air Vanuatu is the national airline of Vanuatu, based at Port Villa. It operates services to the Pacific using a 737-800. Domestic services are operated using DHC Twin Otters and an ATR-42, which will soon be replaced by three Harbin Y-12s and an ATR-72. The domestic operation was previously a seperate airline called Vanair, and before that Air Melanesiae.
Wallis and Futuna has no airline of its own, and is served by Aircalin, which operates flights between Hihifo Airport on Wallis and Pointe Vele Airport on Futuna using a DHC Twin Otter, and from Wallis to Nouméa and Nadi using an Airbus A320.
ThePalauan From Guam, joined Oct 2006, 248 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (9 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5051 times:
Quoting VirginFlyer (Thread starter): Palau Micronesia Air was an airline which operated in 2004, providing international flights using a 737-300 operating under Air New Zealand's certificate.
I remember being at the airport the very first day the plane flew in from Australia. It'd been delayed for several months and by then, many of the locals were calling it "Postpone Micronesia Air," a play off the acronym. She came in around 1330, I think after we were all told over the radio by a few investors to come in before 1300. There were families bringing their kids out to watch the plane land and it's particularly funny on the north side of the airport where there's a hill next to the runway. There were families sitting right up on that hill even though it pretty much is inside airport territory. I don't know if it's fenced off now or what but in 2004, it was wide open on that side. That was July of 2004 and it was a busy month in Palau because of the 9th Festival of Pacific Arts being held there. Before PMA started regular service, she did charter work flying in delegations and officials from across the Pacific. If I recall right, they first went to Yap and the governor and high chief both escorted their delegation over for the opening ceremonies.
The rest of that year was spent flying to MNL, GUM, DRW, YAP, TKK and PNI. The idea was to give CS a run for their money by trying to lower fares but provide a touch of service somewhat closer to home. Although the idea was novel, PMA didn't hold up too long and before then, the investors could no longer afford the lease for their sole jet and she was soon sent back to Australia. Plans came some time afterward to resurrect the airline with A319s or A320s but still nothing has materialized beyond talk. I myself never flew with them despite knowing most of the employees were relatives. Quite frankly, I wasn't earning miles with them. Today, it seems PMA might be a thing of the past though I've heard that the idea of a true Micronesian airline has not been permanently shelved. Maybe one day we'll have another airline of our own that the locals will flock to in bigger numbers. 'Til then, we'll continue to 'fly with the warmth of Paradise.'
You can take the boy out of the island, but not the island out of the boy!
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (9 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 4964 times:
Quoting Thomas_Jaeger (Reply 4): Is South Pacific Express in American Samoa still operating?
Thanks for the heads up Thomas - I'd forgotten about these guys! Their website suggests they are (although flights next week are cancelled due to maintenance).
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
ScandinA340 From Australia, joined Apr 2004, 89 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (9 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 4924 times:
And it looks like Air Rarotonga is linking the northern Cook Islands with Samoa!
Cheers
ScandinA340
Paradise found: airline opens up access to remote atolls
They are atolls of legend and almost inaccessible.
This Christmas though, magical Penrhyn, Manihiki and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands will be on a regular air route out of Samoa.
Air Rarotonga will link up with the islands through Apia, allowing easy access to the expatriate communities in Australia and New Zealand.
Currently the airline services the atolls from the Cook's capital, Rarotonga, an awesome 1400 kilometres away. For most Cook Islanders its cheaper to go to Paris than Penrhyn.
Airline head Ewan Smith told Stuff.co.nz that with the distance and their Bandeirante aircraft this amounts of a long haul.
"Coral runways that can handle only small aircraft meaning very restricted payload to about 50 per cent of the passenger seating," he said.
The three atolls are, however, much closer to Samoa; Pukapuka is 700 kilometres from Apia.
Smith says it offers "superior logistics" for them.
They're putting on the new route in December and January and while residents and expatriates are expected to full most of the 15 seats per flight, they're hoping for adventurous tourists as well.
The atolls offer humble guest houses for the odd visitor.
Total cost round trip to and from New Zealand is estimated to be around NZ$2400 (A$1890) including the fares from Samoa to Auckland. Smith says he hopes flights from Australia will be of a comparable price, once the logistics are in place.
Smith says the northern atolls are spectacular.
"We do get constant interest from overseas visitors wanting to visit the North however the cost and distance from Rarotonga is prohibitive for many - although dedicated island collectors make it up there," he said.
"Each island has its own unique history of pearling, blackbirding, ocean voyaging and all those other things that fascinate island aficionados."
He says Air Rarotonga hopes to develop adventure tourism into the Northern Group from Samoa on a fairly regular basis.
"It's unlikely to ever support large numbers and no-one will make a fortune, however its a potential niche market for travellers wanting to experience life on remote Pacific atolls without the travel being to arduous."
I'd be interested to see whether this can be developed into a regular service. I recall protests a couple of years ago about the price of services between Rarotonga and the Northern Group. I can't see a service to Rarotonga via Samoa being any less expensive overall, but travel to other destinations via Samoa would most likely be less expensive than via Rarotonga. Whether the demand is there to back it up is another thing. I know Rarotonga had the problem in the past, as I am sure did many other island destinations, that airlines wouldn't commit to a service where accommodation infrastructure wasn't present, and accommodation providers wouldn't commit to a market where the air service infrastructure wasn't present - a chicken and egg case if ever there was one...
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 9, posted (9 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 4757 times:
Back to Air Fiji, the Transport Workers Union of Fiji is now talking about the airline being close to shutdown, and assets being stripped. Doesn't sound too good
NZ747 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2004, 931 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (9 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4724 times:
Quoting VirginFlyer (Reply 9): Back to Air Fiji, the Transport Workers Union of Fiji is now talking about the airline being close to shutdown, and assets being stripped. Doesn't sound too good
They have been operating only one aircraft (swapping parts between two EMB110 bandits) for about 5 months now. I believe they Harbin Y12 wings have 'expired', and some of the bandit engines were impounded by Fiji customs when they were shipped overseas for mx for overdue unpaid customs fees. They have been running at a loss for a long time now and are only still afloat because Chinese investors, through the Tuvalu government, keep throwing funds at it. There have been occasions where Air BP have refused to refuel their aircraft due to an unpaid fuel bill of close to $2 million. Air Fiji took them to court and the judge ruled that Air BP must supply fuel to Air Fiji but only on a prepaid basis. For a while Air Fiji pilots were handing over cash to the refuelers in Nadi and Suva after refueling their aircraft. The CEO also faces corruption charges.
They are only operating on a few Fiji domestic routes and flights are constantly delayed or canceled. Why people continue to book on Air Fiji is beyond me, though from my observations, a lot of the passengers appear to be tourists whos travel agent prob booked them on it due to a cheaper fare than their overly matched competitor Pacific Sun.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 11, posted (9 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4716 times:
Quoting NZ747 (Reply 10): I believe they Harbin Y12 wings have 'expired'
Expired? I wouldn't have expected them to have built up that much time on the things - they haven't had them for an extraordinarily long time have they? What is the life on the Y-12's wings?
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 14, posted (9 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 4506 times:
Not quite an air service to Pitcairn, but it looks like access to the island is about to be opened up somewhat compared to what it currently is.
Quote: A New Zealand shipping company is helping remote Pitcairn Island open up to the outside world, after more than two centuries of shunning contact.
To mark today's 220th anniversary of the famed mutiny on the Bounty that led to its becoming a hiding place from the world, Pitcairn is inviting the world to its shores.
Stoney Creek Shipping Company is offering a service that will involve the once-a-week Air Tahiti flight from Papeete, Tahiti, to Mangareva in French Polynesia, then a two-day, 480km boat trip to Pitcairn.
In the past, only one ship every several months has regularly travelled from Mangareva to Pitcairn.
Mortyman, I'm afraid I haven't been able to dig up much about the domestic ops in Samoa. Looking at the Samoa Tourism Authority's website, I'd suspect the ferry between the islands is probably more competitive, particularly given it leaves from near the airport, which is some distance from Apia itself.
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
Mortyman From Norway, joined Aug 2006, 1484 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (9 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4411 times:
Quoting VirginFlyer (Reply 14): Mortyman, I'm afraid I haven't been able to dig up much about the domestic ops in Samoa. Looking at the Samoa Tourism Authority's website, I'd suspect the ferry between the islands is probably more competitive, particularly given it leaves from near the airport, which is some distance from Apia itself.
Yes, I know about the ferry, but that takes 90 minutes and the schedule is not the most trustworthy one from what I hear.
Interestingly, Air Vanuatu only recently took delivery of a Y-12 I believe... Do CATIC have a financial involvement in Air Vanuatu beyond the sale of aircraft to the airline?
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 17, posted (9 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4223 times:
As reported on the Australian Aviation thread, Air Pacific are suspending their NAN-OOL flights due to the economic downturn, effective immediately. Affected passengers will be rebooked on BNE-NAN services and transported between Gold Coast and Brisbane.
NZ747 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2004, 931 posts, RR: 6 Reply 18, posted (9 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 4155 times:
Quoting VirginFlyer (Reply 16): Interestingly, Air Vanuatu only recently took delivery of a Y-12 I believe... Do CATIC have a financial involvement in Air Vanuatu beyond the sale of aircraft to the airline?
Last year, a few Air Fiji Y12's flew back to China for 'supposed' maintenance and the idea was that they would be ferried back to Fiji afterwards. However, there particular Y12s never returned to Fiji and have now been given to Air Vanuatu. It is very political. China gives Air Vanuatu Y12's for pretty much free, and in return they get fishing rights etc. The Y12s (Cheap Chinese Twin Otter knock-offs) have many design flaws and having been a passenger on then many times, they aren't my cup of tea.
In related news, I have been told that Air Fiji closed its doors for perhaps the last time as of yesterday.
It's a shame a once thriving airline was ruined by terrible management. I am surprised they have lasted as long as they did tho.
Quoting VirginFlyer (Reply 17): As reported on the Australian Aviation thread, Air Pacific are suspending their NAN-OOL flights due to the economic downturn, effective immediately. Affected passengers will be rebooked on BNE-NAN services and transported between Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Loads were never that good, and I am surprised to see it last this long. We often combined it with the BNE flight and flew NAN BNE OOL BNE NAN with around an hour in Brisbane and short hop to OOL. I think it was bad planning from the start. It is very hard make any profit flying between two popular holiday 'beach' destinations. Most of the traffic were Fiji nationals holidaying in OOL.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 20, posted (9 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4062 times:
Quote: Mr Shengyue said in the letter that the shareholders were also told that CATIC had directly provided several loans with an accumulated amount of US $3,530,000 to the company since 2006. In addition, the company rented three Y12 aircrafts from CATIC in 2006 but had not paid CATIC a single penny from the beginning till today. Meanwhile, the Tuvalu Government provided guaranty on the overdraft credit facility granted by National Bank of Tuvalu to Air Fiji.
So the Y-12s have effectively been free?
I wonder how much this is going to end up costing Tuvalu...
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 21, posted (9 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 4036 times:
On a completely different topic:
Quote: Hawaiian Airlines is more prepared for current price slashing by the newest competitor in the interisland market than three years ago when Mesa began undercutting fares with the debut of its subsidiary go!.
Hawaiian CEO Mark Dunkerley told analysts during a 28 April earnings call that Mokulele Airlines has discounted interisland fares to a low of $28 "as they struggle to gain a foothold".
I wonder what the outcome of this is going to be? Three airlines operating mainline inter island routes during a recession doesn't sound like a particularly sustainable situation to me...
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
TheGrandVizier From New Zealand, joined Jul 2007, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 4023 times:
Palau Micronesia Air was operated on the Airwork Flight Operations AOC. I worked for them as an Operations Controller (did everything from rosters to flight planning to ETOPS flightwatch) from 2004 to 2008. ZK-PLU was the aircraft, quiet reliable, always had a flying spanner onboard. I remember the loads were pretty abysmal, especially the PTPN-PTKK-Yap(memory fading) island hopping flights. The PTPN-Manilla service wasn't too bad, either was the flight to Guam. Worst route was PTPN-YPDN. Always a mission to get a METAR from Biak too (it was the enroute ETOP's alternate).We used to track the aircraft through a sat-phone modem that displayed on Flight Explorer. Good times though, great learning curve.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 23, posted (9 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 3870 times:
The Air Fiji saga continues to roll on:
Quote: 2-May-2009 12:53 PM
CONFUSION surrounds the decision by Air Fiji to cease its operation on Thursday.
While the company’s board of directors have written to their shareholders stating their reasons nearly all workers turned up to work yesterday.
Transport Workers Union General Secretary Kamlesh Kumar says yesterday that they were confused whether the company has closed or operations are running normally.
...
“There are no flights today which we have been told, concerns an issue with the fuel company, but we were told that this issue has been resolved and the company will start normal flights soon.
Air Fiji's website is still up, but the booking engine on the front page has been replaced with a message saying "We are unable to take any bookings until further notice."
Reading between the lines here, it appears as though there is a significant difference of opinion between CATIC and the Tuvalu government on whether the operation is still viable. If the company really is insolvent, as it has been reported the chairman stated, then by my understanding of company law, there can't be any choice but to shut down the operation.
It seems as though the excrement is entering the rotary cooling device here...
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
Alangirvan From New Zealand, joined Nov 2000, 1482 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (9 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 3841 times:
Quoting NZ747 (Reply 18): Loads were never that good, and I am surprised to see it last this long. We often combined it with the BNE flight and flew NAN BNE OOL BNE NAN with around an hour in Brisbane and short hop to OOL. I think it was bad planning from the start. It is very hard make any profit flying between two popular holiday 'beach' destinations. Most of the traffic were Fiji nationals holidaying in OOL.
So, another route that did not work for FJ. Adelaide never started, Canberra withdrawn after only a few weeks, and now this one which surprised everyone when they started.
Now DJ is doing ADL-NAN, so that one would probably not support two operators. Canberra was only strong during school holidays - about a month during the period.
I wonder if a European way of operating would work for FJ - that is just seasons, rather than year round flights. There are many European holiday spots where the flights only operate during summer, and that may be only a 10 week period. Yes, it would be hard to plan a fleet to be very busy for short periods, and slack at other times, but I think the Europeans cope by leasing in capacity.
If FJ had flights at times when people were available to travel, even smaller Australian cities might support them during the June to August period. Adelaide could be one city to get seasonal service. I think Canberra could support ten once-weekly flights. Perhaps even Newcastle or Hobart.
Mortyman From Norway, joined Aug 2006, 1484 posts, RR: 2 Reply 25, posted (9 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3785 times:
So if air Fiji quit flying to Tuvalu, does that mean the end of flights to the island nation ? Will the island nation be totally cut off from the rest of the world ( apart from a seriously slow boat service ) ? Or does Air Pacific still fly to the island nation ?
I really want to go to Tuvalu, but I am a bit scared that I will be stuck there...
NZ747 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2004, 931 posts, RR: 6 Reply 26, posted (9 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3917 times:
Quoting Alangirvan (Reply 24): Now DJ is doing ADL-NAN, so that one would probably not support two operators. Canberra was only strong during school holidays - about a month during the period.
I doubt this will last long.
Quoting Mortyman (Reply 25): So if air Fiji quit flying to Tuvalu, does that mean the end of flights to the island nation ? Will the island nation be totally cut off from the rest of the world ( apart from a seriously slow boat service ) ? Or does Air Pacific still fly to the island nation ?
Air Fiji stopped flights to Tuvalu using their EMB120 (which got repossessed due to unpaid lease fees) about two years ago. For a while after that up until about this time last year, Air FIji were wet leasing an Air Chathams convair which covered their Tuvalu flights. Air Chathams have since stopped operating out of Fiji and have since started operating around Tonga.
Air Pacific, utilising their subsidiary Pacific Sun, operate twice weekly services between Suva and Tuvalu with ATR42-500 aircraft which I believe is going rather well.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 27, posted (9 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 3791 times:
Some news out of Solomons:
Quote: Fri, 1 May 2009 HONIARA, Solomon Islands ---- Solomon Airlines announced today that they have begun the long awaited company re-structure that will see some positional changes and streamlining of departments with effect from Friday, 01 May..
Quote: Mon, 4 May 2009 HONIARA - Solomon Islands ----- Solomon Airlines has suspended its codeshare arrangement with Air Niugini effective from today due to irreconcilable commercial differences.The suspension will see Air Niugini service no longer operating to Honiara. Air Niugini operates a two-times week service to Fiji via Honiara. Air Niugini’s last flight is today (May 4) returning from Nadi to Port Moresby.
Does anyone know if Solomons were able to achieve IOSA or a dispensation and remain in IATA, or if they have been suspended from the group? I know it was an issue a couple of years back, but never heard what the outcome was...
Half way across the ocean, French Polynesia's Territorial Audit Chamber has suggested Air Tahiti Nui has grown too rapidly since its launch:
Quote: PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, April 30, 2009) – French Polynesia MP's discussed Air Tahiti Nui's future Thursday in Papeete. This debate came after a Territorial Audit Chamber communication about the airline's financial situation from 1996 to 2007.
The Audit Chamber said the carrier's growth from one Airbus in 1998 to five today went too fast.
Meanwhile, if anyone is looking for a good list of websites for Pacific Island news, I came across this one the other day which seems fairly comprehensive: http://www.southpacific.org/news.html
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 28, posted (9 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 3673 times:
Plenty of news items coming out of Fiji today:
Quote: Fiji’s international airline Air Pacific has partnered with Alaska Airlines, via a codesharing arrangement, for the provision of services between Fiji and Vancouver via Los Angeles from this month.
The codeshare services, to commence on May 16, will enable customers to book flights to and from Vancouver under an Air Pacific flight number, with boarding passes issued at check-in for both flights and seamless handling of thorough-checked baggage.
I seem to recall hearing about this code-share before, so I'm guessing this isn't really news...
Quote: Fiji’s Transport Workers Union (TWU) will meet representatives of Air Pacific this afternoon, expecting the airline to provide evidence justifying proposed cost cutting measures.
The airline is understood, among other things, to have proposed reduced working hours and to have urged staff to go on annual leave.
Quote: Air Pacific's CEO, John Campbell, plans to leave the Fijian national carrier when his contract expires June next year.
Campbell says he has decided to leave in June 2010, when his contract expires, because he feels whoever is the next CEO should have the opportunity to decide on matters relating to the introduction of Air Pacific's new fleet of Boeing 787s.
I wonder how the ongoing political situation in Fiji is going to affect the recruitment process, if at all...?
Meanwhile, Pacific Sun is increasing services - I wonder how much this in natural growth, and how much is in response to the apparent collapse of Air Fiji:
Quote: DESITE news of a local airline company closing down its operations Pacific Sun airlines is extending its local services.
Effective from Sunday the airline has increased its services between Nadi and Suva from seven flights per day to eight.
...
Recently Pacific Sun expanded their network by introducing direct services to Levuka, Kadavu and Taunovo Bay out of Suva.
Still to come are services to Rotuma, Vanuabalavu and Lakeba.
Quote: Air Fiji remained closed yesterday as second largest shareholder, the Tuvalu Government, looked for a solution to the financial crisis faced by the airline.
Air Fiji chief executive Sialeni Vuetaki said the airline's 170 workers were expected to return to work yesterday but it was not the case.
Quote: All Air Fiji Offices have been shut down until further notice and the employees have been barred from entering the premises at the Nausori and Nadi Airports.
Many of the phone lines to Air Fiji Offices also said that the line is no longer available.
Some employees of Air Fiji also claim that they have not been paid for over two weeks and they are not being told what the future holds for them
Quote: The second largest shareholder of domestic airline Air Fiji Ltd, the Tuvalu government, will meet with the Fiji government tomorrow to initiate talks on a possible solution to the airline’s current closure crisis.
FijiLive has been reliably informed that representatives of the Fiji and Tuvalu governments will meet tomorrow with one of the main items on the agenda being discussions on the prevailing conflict existing at board level, over whether or not to close Air Fiji’s operations.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, the Marshall Islands have benefitted from an FAA airport safety project, with similar projects underway in Palau and Micronesia.
Quote: The Marshall Islands Transportation Minister Kenneth Kedi has praised the US Federal Aviation Administration for its contribution to airport safety improvements in Micronesia.
Speaking at a regional aviation conference in Majuro, Mr Kedi thanked the FAA for the over forty million US dollars it has injected into airport paving, fire safety facilities and other projects at Majuro’s Amata Kabua International Airport over the past three years.
Quote: Loin du très célèbre et impressionnant cimetière pour avions de Tucson dans l’Arizona, qui rassemble des milliers d’aéronefs hors d’usage, l’aérodrome de Magenta possède aussi son petit cimetière. Aujourd’hui six épaves y sont stockées, mais l’Aviation civile a engagé des démarches auprès des propriétaires pour les faire évacuer.
The gist of the article is there is an ongoing problem with aircraft being abandonned, with six currently sitting there, posing a risk in the event of storms. One is currently being dismantled, and three others will soon meet the same fate.
The same page has a side-bar article about a requirement to lengthen Magenta's runway by 150m for the ATR-72-500. It is anticipated to be completed by the end of the second half of 2010.
In Papua New Guinea, a pilot who has been with Air Niugini since its inception has retired:
Quote: Air Niugini bid farewell to one of Papua New Guinea’s pioneering pilots last Friday.
Capt Aria Bouraga had his “wings clipped”, so to say, after 40 years of flying, 35 of them dedicated to Air Nuigini, during which he clocked 23,000 hours of flying.
Air Niugini staff welcomed him home after his final flight from Lae with a traditional wash down at the Jackson Airport in Port Moresby.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 29, posted (9 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 3457 times:
A turn of events in the Air Fiji story that would be comical if it wasn't such a serious situation:
Quote: It has been confirmed that a meeting planned between the Tuvalu government officials, who own majority shares in Air Fiji, and government officials is yet to take place as the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his Permanent Secretary are out of the country.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 30, posted (9 months 1 week 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3245 times:
Quote: The Trade Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) representative Victor J Chin has not ruled out the possibility of a Taiwanese company help revive the country's domestic airline Air Fiji.
He told the FijiSUN yesterday said that earlier this year a group of Pacific Island countries approached the Embassy of Taiwan requesting support to strengthen air traffic services in the region.
Let the diplomatic shuffle between the two Chinas begin...
Solomon Airlines will be terminating its agreement to use Our Airline's 737 on August 2nd, and from August 3rd will be using an A320 from Australian start-up Strategic Airlines. Flight crew will be provided by Strategic, but cabin crew will be from Solomon Airlines.
Quote: Solomon Airlines will get its Airbus 320-200 aircraft in August this year.
This follows the signing of an agreement between the national career and Strategic Airlines of Australia, which will lease the plane.
Solomon Airlines board chairman Billy Tyson announced the deal last night.
“This is an exciting time for the airlines to full its promises to the Solomon Islands public by engaging in such important arrangement,” Mr Tyson said.
"The aircraft will give Solomon Airlines the added capacity required to meet the growing tourism trends to around 18 per cent annually which may expect future growth," he said.
Quote: The Solomon Airlines confirmed yesterday, during a brief ceremony, that it has signed a strategic agreement to bring into its Brisbane operation, an Airbus 320-200 aircraft.
The new aircraft will commence operation on the Brisbane to Honiara route from its first flight on the 3rd August 2009.
The Solomon Airlines stated that the Airbus 320-200 is a modern aircraft, which will be catering to 12 Business class clients and 144 economy passengers with comfort unmatched on the route.
Quote: An airline spokesperson said that a new schedule, now under development and in the process of being circulated, would see the Airlines operating on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Brisbane to Honiara with a direct return service to Brisbane at prime times.
FJ shutdown? You're not confusing Air Pacific (FJ) with Air Fiji (PC) are you? It is Air Fiji who has shut down, not Air Pacific.
(Interestingly, Air Fiji was originally called Air Pacific, and Air Pacific was originally called Fiji Airways - I believe the two companies more or less swapped names in 1971...)
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4174 posts, RR: 8 Reply 34, posted (9 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 3027 times:
Quoting Tpaewr (Reply 33): I am still curious as to the status of CO's NAN service, we have heard nothing lately.
And CO thought Nigeria was hard to work with.
Quoting VirginFlyer (Reply 28): Fiji’s international airline Air Pacific has partnered with Alaska Airlines, via a codesharing arrangement, for the provision of services between Fiji and Vancouver via Los Angeles from this month.
The codeshare services, to commence on May 16,
This may be premature. I don't believe the US DOT has issued their approval yet.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 35, posted (9 months 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2757 times:
Sorry about the lack of updates in the past few days - been a bit difficult to find the time to trawl through various news sites (if anyone else is a regular follower of news from the Pacific, please feel free to share the relevant articles here!). Anyway, here's what I've been able to track down.
Continental Micronesia will be adding a service GUM-MNL over the mid summer period. Not a big addition, but nice to see something being added after the cutbacks.
Quote: Continental Micronesia has added a new flight service between Manila in the Philippines and Guam for the peak summer travel.
Beginning June 6 until July 11, the airline has added Saturday morning flight service to Manila from Guam. Flight 893 departs Guam at 7:10am and arrives into Manila at 8:50am. Flight 894 departs Manila at 10am and arrives into Guam at 3:40pm.
Last week work started on an extension to Guam's runway.
Quote: The $15.9 million expansion project will add 1,000 feet to the runway. Airport authority officials say the added runway space is crucial to the expansion of services at the airport, such as the addition of new direct flights from the U.S. mainland.
Meanwhile in the Solomon Islands, it appears that the news of the termination of the Solomons-Air Niugini codeshare was premature.
Quote: Air Niugini has continued its services to Fiji, via the Solomon Islands, under its code share agreement with Solomon Airlines in the hopes that current disagreements between the two airlines can be solved “the Melanesian way”.
“Our tolerance and continued effort to resolve this dispute only reflects the Melanesian way of dispute resolution and we are still committed to finding a workable solution that can benefit both parties,” Air Niugini chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said in a statement on Wednesday.
Apparently a problem with Our Airline's 737 caused some disruption for Solomons on the weekend - an Alliance F100 was used to operate the scheduled flight, and Air Vanuatu's 737-800 has since been used to allow the backlog of luggage to be cleared.
Quote: Solomon Airlines last Friday were given notice by Our Airline that their B737 aircraft would not be available until Sunday due to some maintenance issues.
A spokesperson for the Solomon Airlines said that they had reviewed all operators in Australia seeking a similar aircraft to operate its services but there were none available.
Quote: Most Solomon Airlines passengers arrived here on Sunday to find some of their baggage overloaded in Brisbane.
The airline explains this was due to a technical fault affecting Our Airline’s B737 aircraft, which resulted in the flight being operated by an Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 aircraft.
In something I think is a good move, there has been a call from a government minister for less politicisation of the airline (something which has been the cause of all manner of problems for numerous past and present operators in the Pacific unfortunately)
Quote: A former board chairman to Solomon Airlines, now Minister for Education Mathew Wale says the national airline needs less politicization of its board appointments and a more commercial approach by the board and management.
Mr Wale says this is to enable the airline management to follow one set of direction for an expanded period of time, in order to make "consistent assumptions on the direction it takes."
Over to Fiji, as of the end of last week there doesn't seem to be any more updates on Air Fiji. In spite of the desires of Tuvalu to keep it running, it looks like it won't be coming back.
Quote: The workers’ union of the largely foreign-owned domestic air services provider Air Fiji Limited, says it remains in the dark over developments, if any, of the crisis situation within the airline company.
The Transport Workers Union says since the closure notice was issued by Air Fiji’s largest shareholder, China Aviation Technology Import-Export Corporation (CATIC), no word has been forthcoming over the real situation on the ground.
However, at present, all Air Fiji properties nationwide have been closed off to workers with tight security present.
With Pacific Sun now the only major operator, the Consumer Council of Fiji is raising concerns about their effective monopoly position.
Quote: THE Consumer Council of Fiji will heighten its monitoring and surveillance of the domestic air travel sector following the closure of Air Fiji’s operation.
The council feels that Air Fiji’s withdrawal has not only cut off vital transport links to remote destinations, it has also created a monopoly situation.
Quote: THERE are concerns raised to authorities that airline companies are allegedly charging consumers for changes they request done on their tickets.
The Consumer Council of Fiji is concerned that these alleged issues have been aired to them by customers of Air Pacific and its domestic subsidiary, Pacific Sun.
According to the complaints Air Pacific charges $100 for changes to travel dates, other ticketing alteration requested by customers, while Pacific Sun charges $30.
I have to say it is ironic that at the end of the article, "The council suggested that Air Pacific should adopt international standards like those followed by other airlines." Last time I checked, charges to change travel arrangements, and inability to make changes within a certain period prior to departure without forfeiting the fare, are pretty much standard practice. I don't support companies mistreating consumers, but at the same time I don't support consumer organisations trying to create unrealistic expectations of what a company should be doing. The question also needs to be asked, given the apparent lack of profitability at Air Fiji, whether there is room for two operators in the Fijian domestic market, or whether a single operator would be more efficient. While I understand the concern about a company abusing the monopolistic position, if sufficient regulations were put in place, it might make sense. I'd go as far as to say that even if Pacific Sun was the sole operator in Fiji, the fact that Fiji competes with other markets for the tourism dollar means that if the company wishes to be successful, it can't ride roughshod over its customers. Hopefully the management will take that view.
In what is an unfortunate bit of timing, Pacific Sun are proposing to introduce a fuel surcharge due to the devaluation of the Fijian Dollar. No doubt the Consumer Council will be alleging this is the start of monopolistic practices by Pacific Sun.
Quote: PACIFIC Sun has made a proposal for a fuel surcharge because of the devaluation of the Fiji dollar, says airline general manager Manoa Kamikamica.
He said devaluation has impacted the business significantly as the purchased of fuel is in US dollars.
"All pricing approvals if Pacific Sun chooses to increase prices need to approved by the ATLB ( The Air Transport Licensing Board) in any event," Mr Kamikamica said.
Fuel is also an issue at parent Air Pacific, which is suffering from the same problem as numerous other operators - hedges well above the current market price.
Quote: Air Pacific is purchasing aviation fuel at a higher cost compared to the current market price, because of fuel hedge prices it negotiated with its supplier last year.
Airline chief executive John Campbell confirms that the current price for jet fuel is 105 US dollars per barrel with the forward pricing at 127 US dollars a barrel.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 36, posted (8 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2427 times:
G'day again everyone - sorry to have been quiet in the past few weeks, but unfortunately other commitments have been pressing my time and keeping me from continuing the news gathering.
As I noted in the thread starter last month, Our Airline have now taken over from OzJet providing the aircraft for Norfolk Air. Just in time too given OzJet has now fallen over. The first pic of the new 737-300 in Norfolk Air colours is now on the database here:
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 37, posted (8 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2090 times:
A fairly significant issue is ongoing in New Caledonia. In April, Air Caledonie (the domestic airline of New Caledonia, see original post of this thread for details) didn't renew the contract of a Kanak (New Caledonian Indigenous Melanesian) worker. The USTKE (Kanak and Exploited Workers Union) protested this decision. There has been an ongoing strike, particularly affecting flights to Ouvea.
On the 28th of May, about a hundred unionists tried to gain access to Magenta airport (the domestic airport in Noumea, see original post of this thread for details), and were pushed back with tear gas. Some then cut a hole in the fence on the beach side of the airport, gained access to the apron, and entered two ATRs. Flights at the airport were suspended for the day. According to authorities, an explosive device was placed on one of the aircraft. About 30 people were arrested, including USTKE president Gérard Jodar. They have denied the accusation of placing an explosive device on an aircraft. The aircraft were grounded for 72 hours to be thoroughly checked.
Jodar has now been released on bail pending a trial on June 16. For more, here is a selection of articles from Radio NZ International, RFO and Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (these two are both French language only, I'm sorry).
Looks like there will be interesting times ahead as this goes through the legal system. Regardless of the accusations of explosive devices, I find it extraordinary that the USTKE could think that breaking into an airport and occupying two aircraft could have a positive outcome...
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, RR: 54 Reply 38, posted (8 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1829 times:
A new (sort of) airline planning to fly between Brisbane and Noumea:
Quote: Geoffrey Bowmaker, the former CEO of Nauruan carrier Our Airline is working to establish a new carrier in Australia called Pacific Wings using a wet-leased Boeing 737-300 from his former employer.
"We are looking closer to October to start flying and tickets will potentially go on sale in July," Bowmaker tells ATI.
...
The plan is to launch services from Brisbane to Noumea in New Caledonia and from cities in Australia to secondary cities in New Zealand, says Bowmaker.
Be interesting to see how much luck they have getting this off the ground - to my understanding New Caledonia is a somewhat difficult market to gain access to...
V/F
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large. Then make the dream real. - Donald Douglas Snr
AF022 From France, joined Dec 2003, 1862 posts, RR: 2 Reply 39, posted (8 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1797 times:
How is PolyBlue doing between SYD and APW? I tried to find a cheap ticket on this route in August but the fares are exhorbitant - prices are vastly lower from AKL.
Sponsor Message: 
From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4318 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 10024 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Apr 2002, 1916 posts, 
Today, it seems PMA might be a thing of the past though I've heard that the idea of a true Micronesian airline has not been permanently shelved. Maybe one day we'll have another airline of our own that the locals will flock to in bigger numbers. 'Til then, we'll continue to 'fly with the warmth of Paradise.'
From Norway, joined Aug 2006, 1484 posts, 
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