Source:Smh

Nauru to the rescue again - this time over Ansett

Air Nauru will step in to help stranded Ansett travellers, selling empty seats on international services between Brisbane and Melbourne, and Brisbane and Sydney.

Up to 400 seats a week will be offered after the federal government gave the go-ahead last week for the airline to sell seats on the domestic legs of its journey.

The airline, which operates a Boeing 737 to the tiny South Pacific island of Nauru, will start flying domestic passengers from tomorrow.

Air Nauru's Regional Manager John Goulding said the airline had been lobbying the federal government to be able to offer the service for more than 12 months.

"It's a pity that it's taken Ansett's collapse to prompt the government into allowing us to sell those seats over the domestic market," he told AAP.

Mr Goulding said the fares were competitively priced with a one-way Melbourne-to-Brisbane flight costing $220 economy, and Sydney-to-Brisbane, $130.

He said stranded Ansett passengers and those unable to get a flight on Qantas or Virgin Blue had been quick to take up the offer.

"We've had quite a few enquires from travel agents and the general public. We are starting to see bookings already," Mr Goulding said.

Earlier this year, the state-owned Air Nauru was grounded for more than two weeks by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) because of concerns about the management of the airline and poor communications facilities at Nauru airport.

However, Mr Goulding said safety concerns were now well behind the carrier.

"Air Nauru is the only foreign-owned international carrier (in the Pacific region) that operates an Australian registered aircraft," he said.

"All our service and maintenance and engineering work is done by Qantas."

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