New Zealand Aviation Thread Part 163

NZ1 · Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:48 am

KRA has opened bookings for flights starting 27th Oct subject to regulatory approval. To be honest the website looks a little flaky and unprofessional.

NZ1

Andrensn · Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:54 am

Flights out of regional centres have have been dropped by AirNZ in anticipation of Jetstar competition.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/7...on-price-cut-flies-under-the-radar
Nelson-Auckland vv are going for $59 - a fare level only previously seen from grabaseat fares

A330NZ · Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:19 am

I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned that Originair had it's inaugural service today! There's a great photo of ZK-JSH going through a water-cannon salute

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/

^^ There's a good rundown of it on this blog (and a big thanks to whoever it was on here that alerted me to its existence!!)

I wish Originair all the best, I look forward to flying with them in 3 weeks time

NZ107 · Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:05 am

Quoting NZ1 (Reply 100):
16

Well it's better than Originair.. It won't load.

zkojq · Wed Aug 12, 2015 2:48 pm

Only a single 737 remaining; ZK-NGJ has been retired.

Quoting ZKNCL (Reply 91):
They replaced it with JTQ by converting it if I recall correctly.

That appears to be correct.

Quoting SXI899 (Reply 89):
Skyliners is reporting that MSN24435 (ex VH-TJJ/N938NZ) has been delivered to ASL Airlines as EI-STI.

This also.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/n707pm/20457342655

PA515 · Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:01 pm

Quoting DeltaB717 (Reply 99):
Thanks to Max C on the SYD forum... JQ's first DH8C

According to the flightradar24.com 'Airline Fleet' database, Eastern Australian Airlines (EAQ) and Qantas Link (QLK) had nine DHC-8 Q300's not in scheduled service over the past week.

VH-SBB c/n 539 (Mar 2000) EAQ
VH-SBJ c/n 578 (Jun 2002) EAQ
VH-SBT c/n 580 (Feb 2002) QLK
VH-TQE c/n 596 (Jul 2003) EAQ
VH-TQD c/n 598 (Jan 2004) EAQ
VH-TQK c/n 600 (Feb 2004) EAQ
VH-TQL c/n 603 (Jul 2004) EAQ
VH-TQM c/n 604 (Aug 2004) EAQ
VH-SBI c/n 605 (Nov 2004) QLK

One or two of these could be getting scheduled maintenance. Jetstar said they will start New Zealand services with five aircraft, so it looks like they will have a few more available.

VH-TQM is the first in the JQ colours. VH-TQE which departed BNE in the direction of TSV on Tuesday looks like being the second.

PA515

[Edited 2015-08-12 09:06:13]

[Edited 2015-08-12 09:06:38]

zkncj · Thu Aug 13, 2015 7:21 am

Quoting Andrensn (Reply 101):

Flights out of regional centres have have been dropped by AirNZ in anticipation of Jetstar competition.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/7...on-price-cut-flies-under-the-radar
Nelson-Auckland vv are going for $59 - a fare level only previously seen from grabaseat fares

Looks like NZ has jumped the game again - AKL-NSN Seat Only fares now start at $49!

PA515 · Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:45 am

There's been a change to Air NZ's 789 delivery schedule for FY2017.

http://nyc787.blogspot.com has just updated his Production Table spreadsheets and there's a third 789 for FY2017.

L/N 456 ZK-NZI (c/n 37965, ZB007) Jul? 2016
L/N 468 ZK-NZJ (c/n 37966, ZB008) Aug? 2016
L/N 490 ZK-NZK (c/n 43217, ZB009) Oct? 2016

Air NZ's Feb 2015 Interim Result Analyst Presentation had FY2017 (2), FY2018 (3), FY2019 (1).

'sunrisevalley'

PA515

[Edited 2015-08-13 02:12:14]

aerorobnz · Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:58 pm

Air Asia X are apparently soon to announce AKL-OOL-KUL. Schedule has been confirmed with Airport Company but no information released officially so I have no idea of any details.

zkncj · Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:07 pm

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 108):
Air Asia X are apparently soon to announce AKL-OOL-KUL. Schedule has been confirmed with Airport Company but no information released officially so I have no idea of any details.

Maybe we could see some NZ 763s mirror the service? or atleast on the AKL-OOL-AKL part?

aerorobnz · Fri Aug 14, 2015 2:21 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 109):
Maybe we could see some NZ 763s mirror the service? or atleast on the AKL-OOL-AKL part?

I doubt it. 370 seats to OOL will mean ridiculous prices though.

777ER · Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:40 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 109):
Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 108):Air Asia X are apparently soon to announce AKL-OOL-KUL. Schedule has been confirmed with Airport Company but no information released officially so I have no idea of any details. Maybe we could see some NZ 763s mirror the service? or atleast on the AKL-OOL-AKL part?

Will be interesting to see how NZ react to this. Can't see how NZ could possibly compete with a 350 seat A330? operating

zkncj · Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:21 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 111):
Will be interesting to see how NZ react to this. Can't see how NZ could possibly compete with a 350 seat A330? operating

Something like this 326 seat 763 with Thomas Cook http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Tho...homas_Cook_Airlines_Boeing_767.php

777ER · Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:39 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 112):

Its a 377 seat A333

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air...ia_X/AirAsia_X_Airbus_A330-300.php

zkncj · Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:56 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 113):
Its a 377 seat A333

It was an example of how NZ could make the most out of an current 763

aerorobnz · Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:02 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 111):
Will be interesting to see how NZ react to this. Can't see how NZ could possibly compete with a 350 seat A330? operating

No point competing in an all out race to the bottom on this market. OOL is a market that has only marginal benefit to the overall network, The timings apparently are also not D7s preferred times due AKL denying the slots. Lots of water to flow under the bridge yet, but D7 has yet to establish itself longterm.. Say it offers $79 o/w it might fill aircraft or it might only get the same loadings as existing airlines get on smaller more efficient aircraft.

777ER · Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:16 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 114):

Yes I'm aware of that but I was also showing what NZ would be going up against. An aircraft that can handle more passengers even if it has a premium cabin

NZ107 · Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:22 am

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 115):
OOL is a market that has only marginal benefit to the overall network

NZ lost Koruman's yields so the margin took a hit

Interesting overall. Wonder how far away the announcement is. I didn't expect D7 to start nonstop flights to AKL. Maybe via MEL or SYD would sound better but chances are those two routes are doing fine on their own.. Or at least better than OOL.

aerorobnz · Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:58 am

Quoting NZ107 (Reply 117):
NZ lost Koruman's yields so the margin took a hit

Yes. Well as you know the seat only product without lie flat business class isn't very popular on this exceedingly high yielding leisure routing.

Quoting NZ107 (Reply 117):
Or at least better than OOL.

They don't have a huge fleet of 330s, nor do they want to go head to head with EK/CI/QF/NZ/LA where they would get smashed into a minor role. It makes sense to me, OOL is the least restricted and most price conscious of the Australian destinations so will be most receptive to sitting in a 9 abreast 330-300 with 16.5" seat width. To give it context NZ 320s have 17" (direct competition) and 773s 17.1" and 787s 17.2" and we all know what some of us think of those configs..

NZ107 · Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:09 am

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 118):
nor do they want to go head to head with EK/CI/QF/NZ/LA

Take MEL though - EK/QF/NZ rule this route and there is probably room for another carrier to keep the others honest. But I'm sure they could more easily fill MEL-KUL than OOL-KUL year round. SYD is understandable in terms of competition.

Nouflyer · Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:37 pm

I'm baffled as to why Air Asia might more easily fill Melbourne-KL than Gold Coast-KL. The Gold Coast route is almost entirely inbound tourism, and I'm not sure that the delights of freezing Melbourne would be more tempting for their market than Sea World, Movie World and Surfers Paradise.

A similar principle applies to Tasman leisure travellers who are willing to endure 16.5 inch wide seats. The issue is both inbound demand into Australia and outbound to NZ, which is mainly VFR and connections to North America. The 2015 estimates of NZ-born population in Australia are:

1. Brisbane 105,000
2. Sydney 75,000
3. Gold Coast 60,000
4. Melbourne 50,000
5. Perth 40,000

Those figures also don't really suggest that Air Asia would clean up by routing to Auckland via Melbourne instead of Gold Coast.

I can certainly see why any carrier with significant numbers of business travellers would pick MEL over OOL. But Air Asia?

sunrisevalley · Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:36 pm

Quoting PA515 (Reply 107):
There's been a change to Air NZ's 789 delivery schedule for FY2017

L/N 456 ZK-NZI (c/n 37965, ZB007) Jul? 2016
L/N 468 ZK-NZJ (c/n 37966, ZB008) Aug? 2016
L/N 490 ZK-NZK (c/n 43217, ZB009) Oct? 2016[/quote]

I wonder how the schedule will read for Nov-April 2016/17 with a 9 frame 789 fleet. Maybe two perhaps three will have a revised seat layout with a higher count of premium seats.

Unclekoru · Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:18 pm

Quoting 777ER (Reply 96):
Qantas are also adding BNE-WLG services over the summer travel season

“We are really pleased to be able to meet demand for travel between Brisbane and both Wellington and Christchurch with the return of direct services during December and January,”

Christchurch seems to be attracting a lot of new capacity at the moment. Jetstar has put a lot of additional capacity on the MEL route this summer, plus the additional QF, SQ VA and CI flights. You'd have to wonder if the EK flight will not eventually go A380 as well. It's a great airport to transfer at too. Pity about the Mania lounge though.

Interesting to note that WLG has up to 146 international movements a week during the peak summer period this year, which is roughly 3000 seats a day. Significant growth over last year. It would seem the QF group sees growth opportunities in the city that Air NZ doesn't.

PA515 · Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:20 pm

Quoting sunrisevalley (Reply 121):
I wonder how the schedule will read for Nov-April 2016/17 with a 9 frame 789 fleet. Maybe two perhaps three will have a revised seat layout with a higher count of premium seats.

Don't think so. The present layout should be fine for EZE, HNL, PPT, seasonal PER, and any potential ICN or CHC-LAX.

PA515

zkncj · Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:51 pm

Quoting sunrisevalley (Reply 121):
I wonder how the schedule will read for Nov-April 2016/17 with a 9 frame 789 fleet. Maybe two perhaps three will have a revised seat layout with a higher count of premium seats.

Or maybe a couple of new developing routes? surely they would avoid have two configurations in such an small fleet, as it would add costs and lack flexibility.

With 9x 789s in the fleet by October next year, and with an couple of 763s sticking around for at least another 24 months. It does make you wonder what there planning.

sunrisevalley · Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:32 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 124):
surely they would avoid have two configurations in such an small fleet,

Is there a "obvious" route to add for the Asia 789 fleet to serve? HKG or ICN ? This would take one and a bit or 3 frames for SIN and HKG or ICN with time for some TT sectors. This gets to 8 , add one for EZE and voila we are at 9.
I wonder if AA were to start LAX/AKL could this be a trigger to switch some NZ3/4 or 5/6 frequencies to CHC.

zkncj · Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:11 am

Quoting sunrisevalley (Reply 125):
Is there a "obvious" route to add for the Asia 789 fleet to serve? HKG or ICN ?

HKG would be the logical next, then all the Asian routes would have the same product. NZ currently doesn't fly to ICN, surely its no big enough for NZ/KE to both operate on?

Quoting sunrisevalley (Reply 125):
I wonder if AA were to start LAX/AKL could this be a trigger to switch some NZ3/4 or 5/6 frequencies to CHC.

Highly doubt than NZ5/6 would get switched to CHC (even NZ3/4), they need to be routed through AKL for the Tasman feed. Without that Tasman feed NZ5/6 probably wouldn't been needed at all.

They could use the extra 789s to start the like of AKL-HKT during the peak winter season

zkncj · Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:13 am

Does anyone know what Regional Gates that Jetstar is planning to use in Auckland? Have noticed there seems to be some building work starting towards the Post Hanag, are these more gates?

Nouflyer · Sat Aug 15, 2015 3:06 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 124):
Or maybe a couple of new developing routes? surely they would avoid have two configurations in such an small fleet, as it would add costs and lack flexibility.

The thing is, the 789 configuration is only optimised for low-yield high-volume leisure routes.

And that is an idiosyncratic sort of route to choose to open.

I would have thought that there would be better returns from doing the complete opposite. You could configure the 788s which were ordered and then cancelled to have a medium-yield layout (say 21J / 28U / 160Y) and fly from Auckland to San Diego, Portland and Seattle, maybe even Las Vegas.

You would soak up all the inbound business demand from each of those cities to the whole of Australia and New Zealand as well as whatever outbound demand there is in the opposite direction, because your capacity is not much bigger than an A320 or a 738.

On an almost identical subject, I see that the Virgin Australia / Delta Trans-Pacific joint venture has just been extended and approved for another 5 years. I don't understand why Air New Zealand doesn't use its boardroom presence (yes, I know V Australia has a separate bogus structure) to stop this.

At present Virgin Australia essentially offers nothing for long-haul Trans-Pacific passengers out of Melbourne and offers LAX only for Sydney and Brisbane passengers.

I would have thought that a VZ/NZ Pacific joint venture would massively enhance Virgin Australia's US options as well as offering the possibility of capacity refinements for an airline where it is currently 77W or bust.

ZK-NBT · Sat Aug 15, 2015 3:15 am

Quoting sunrisevalley (Reply 125):

Initially I thought we might see another 789 configuration. Im not so sure now until it comes to a 77E replacement. YVR has been mentioned as a 789 route I'd say more flights with the current configuration. Maybe additional PVG, HKG to connect to EZE plus all the 763 routes to change over. I'm not sure on HKG getting 789s on the daily flight though maybe not enough premium seats, SIN maybe the same but a short term 789 with 77Es required for EZE and IAH.

Gasman · Sat Aug 15, 2015 4:49 am

Quoting Nouflyer (Reply 128):
The thing is, the 789 configuration is only optimised for low-yield high-volume leisure routes.

Indeed. The Y+ product I think has credibility across a wide range of routes and markets, but Y and J on this aircraft are most definitely not aimed towards the higher yielding route or customer.

Quoting sunrisevalley (Reply 125):
I wonder if AA were to start LAX/AKL

This has gone remarkably quiet of late. I sincerely hope it still happens.

CHCalfonzo · Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:36 am

JQ have posted an ad for DHC-8 pilots, AKL based.

http://careers.jetstar.com/mob/cw/en...1/dhc8-captains-and-first-officers

777ER · Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:35 am

Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 122):
It would seem the QF group sees growth opportunities in the city that Air NZ doesn't.

NZ have always made it clear IMHO that they prefer any passenger to go via AKL. The VA/NZ deal means that NZ needs to maintain what was in place before the deal was approved, even if NZ doesn't like it.

Quoting Nouflyer (Reply 128):
I would have thought that a VZ/NZ Pacific joint venture would massively enhance Virgin Australia's US options as well as offering the possibility of capacity refinements for an airline where it is currently 77W or bust.

How would the VA/NZ deal help VA when it doesn't apply to any VA Pacific Island/USA flight? VA have a DL agreement which seems to keep VA happy

haggis73 · Sat Aug 15, 2015 7:33 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 127):
Does anyone know what Regional Gates that Jetstar is planning to use in Auckland? Have noticed there seems to be some building work starting towards the Post Hanag, are these more gates?

I haven't heard anything official yet as to what gates the Jetstar Q300's will use, some noise coming out about them using the tennis court (Gates 70 - 73) with bus ops.

The building work down by the Airwork hanger is for NZ Link (Gates 49 & 50), this work has been in the planning process since January.

Nouflyer · Sat Aug 15, 2015 7:38 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 132):
How would the VA/NZ deal help VA when it doesn't apply to any VA Pacific Island/USA flight? VA have a DL agreement which seems to keep VA happy

I must have made my point badly!

I was trying to argue that a VA/NZ TRANSPacific joint venture in place of VA/DL would surely be helpful to both VA and NZ.

NZ would sideline a major competitor across the Pacific, at least from Australia.

VA would be able to offer 1-stop services from across Australia to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Honolulu. Currently they offer 1-stop from Sydney and Brisbane, but with baggage reclaim and terminal changes at LAX. Virgin would have a much more effective network than they currently can offer.

But above all, you might well see the 5 Virgin Australia 777-300ERs redeployed elsewhere on the combined network and 789s instead flying BNE/MEL/SYD-LAX. The better-sized capacity would presumably remove the need for the current discounting levels (Economy at A$1000 return and Premium Economy at $2200 return).

aerokiwi · Sat Aug 15, 2015 7:42 am

Quoting Nouflyer (Reply 120):
I'm baffled as to why Air Asia might more easily fill Melbourne-KL than Gold Coast-KL. The Gold Coast route is almost entirely inbound tourism, and I'm not sure that the delights of freezing Melbourne would be more tempting for their market than Sea World, Movie World and Surfers Paradise.

Melbourne is probably more of an outbound market - burgeoning population growth, very large Asian communities and massive international student population. not to mention, Victorians busting to get away from the cold during the winter.

I actually just flew MEL-KUL-SGN return over the past two weeks. Full planes and significant connections through KLIA2. They've really built quite an amazing hub and spoke operation there that the MEL flights feed into twice daily pretty nicely.

So yeah, in terms of Melbourne, they're getting the Victorian traffic. I have people at my work who head up to KUL for long weekends. OOL is poorer and inbound dependent. And in winter even the Gold Coast can be chilly.

sunrisevalley · Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:32 pm

Quoting Nouflyer (Reply 134):
But above all, you might well see the 5 Virgin Australia 777-300ERs redeployed elsewhere on the combined network and 789s instead flying BNE/MEL/SYD-LAX. The better-sized capacity would presumably remove the need for the current discounting levels (Economy at A$1000 return and Premium Economy at $2200 return).

Their BITRE numbers tell us that for the first 5-months of this year VA's load factors to LAX varied from 64.4% to 92.7% inbound and 60.4 to 81.3% outbound for an average of 78.8 In and 74.2 Out. Not that great . Fares from Matrix, departing Aug 24 returning Aug 31 Y: QF and VA both $Aus1741 PE: QF $4941 VA $3246 J: QF $9217 VA: $7545 VA are leaving a lot of money on the table!

zkojq · Sun Aug 16, 2015 7:38 am

Quoting SXI899 (Reply 97):
Kiwi Regional's Saab was ferried from Warsaw to Ostrava on Saturday for paint. If it went straight into the Eirtech facility there, it should be completed by the end of this week.

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 98):
Any planespotters who want a photo of Kiwi Regional should head to OSR for a super rare photo,
If it does make it here then please take the time to get it on arrival into New Zealand - you may not get another airboune photo

Does this obligate me to eat my hat?

Unclekoru · Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:05 am

Quoting haggis73 (Reply 133):
Quoting zkncj (Reply 127):
Does anyone know what Regional Gates that Jetstar is planning to use in Auckland? Have noticed there seems to be some building work starting towards the Post Hanag, are these more gates?

I haven't heard anything official yet as to what gates the Jetstar Q300's will use, some noise coming out about them using the tennis court (Gates 70 - 73) with bus ops.

Using the tennis court would be painful. It would also make it hard to achieve quick turns. I guess the bays where the Ansett turbo props used to turn is now a jet bridge so the tennis court may well be the only realistic option.

Quoting aerokiwi (Reply 135):
So yeah, in terms of Melbourne, they're getting the Victorian traffic. I have people at my work who head up to KUL for long weekends. OOL is poorer and inbound dependent. And in winter even the Gold Coast can be chilly.

OOL can get quite chilly during June and July, enough to make you think twice about swimming. There certainly does't look to be a shortage of traffic on the Air Asia flights leaving MEL, a beach in Asia would make a good break away from the Victorian winter.

Quoting 777ER (Reply 132):
Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 122):
It would seem the QF group sees growth opportunities in the city that Air NZ doesn't.

NZ have always made it clear IMHO that they prefer any passenger to go via AKL. The VA/NZ deal means that NZ needs to maintain what was in place before the deal was approved, even if NZ doesn't like it.

Quite possibly. Could well become a good foothold for the QF group though. Wellington is my preferred hub for trans-Tasman flights from Nelson due to the quick flight across the Strait, Christchurch a close second. It will be interesting to see if we end up with a JQ service to these ports, although only a small benefit for my travels as I can currently book QF flights ex Nelson which include an NZ sector to WLG or CHC (or AKL for that matter).

777ER · Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:38 am

Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 138):
Wellington is my preferred hub for trans-Tasman flights from Nelson due to the quick flight across the Strait, Christchurch a close second. It will be interesting to see if we end up with a JQ service to these ports,

Would be surprised if NSN doesn't get a WLG link with an international connection

zkncj · Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:49 am

Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 138):
Using the tennis court would be painful. It would also make it hard to achieve quick turns. I guess the bays where the Ansett turbo props used to turn is now a jet bridge so the tennis court may well be the only realistic option.

I would think they would have to take up an policy, that once the bus doors are closed. You're now missed your flight please pay $xxx for the next one, not something that will go down to well.

They could probably do it ok, if they had two buses. They could pre-board the bus as soon as the plane has touched down, then drive the bus out. But then having two buses is going to cost them an fair little bit.

I'd assume they would want to board the buses from that side door near the bag claim, thus not having to pay the pax screenning charge?

Unclekoru · Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:17 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 140):
Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 138):
Using the tennis court would be painful. It would also make it hard to achieve quick turns. I guess the bays where the Ansett turbo props used to turn is now a jet bridge so the tennis court may well be the only realistic option.

I would think they would have to take up an policy, that once the bus doors are closed. You're now missed your flight please pay $xxx for the next one, not something that will go down to well.

They could probably do it ok, if they had two buses. They could pre-board the bus as soon as the plane has touched down, then drive the bus out. But then having two buses is going to cost them an fair little bit.

I'd assume they would want to board the buses from that side door near the bag claim, thus not having to pay the pax screenning charge?

Yes, it would require some well thought out procedures to work smoothly.

Quoting 777ER (Reply 139):
Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 138):
Wellington is my preferred hub for trans-Tasman flights from Nelson due to the quick flight across the Strait, Christchurch a close second. It will be interesting to see if we end up with a JQ service to these ports,

Would be surprised if NSN doesn't get a WLG link with an international connection

I agree, I think NSN-WLG-NSN would be a front runner for a prop star service, along with AKL-NSN-AKL. Possibly CHC too.

Andrensn · Sun Aug 16, 2015 11:12 am

Quoting Unclekoru (Reply 141):
I agree, I think NSN-WLG-NSN would be a front runner for a prop star service, along with AKL-NSN-AKL. Possibly CHC too.

I think if Jetstar joined NSN-WLG-NSN it would quickly become a bloodbath considering it is already the regional route in the country with the most competition. Air NZ and Sounds Air both currently fly it and Originair is joining next month. Considering that Sounds Air is well know in Nelson it is already hard for Airnz to offer flights higher than their $120 flat fare so any extra competition would only serve to further bring down prices and therefore yields. The only benefit for Jetstar over the small fry would be the connection possibilities with regional North Island destinations yet even then they have to compete with Airnz.

AKL-NSN-AKL should be a front runner considering Airnz have been price gouging here for some time. Additionally Jetstar is going to have a base in AKL (see pilot advertisements) so would be most likely if NSN is served.

CHC-NSN-CHC is an outside chance however it is the regional destination from CHC on the list excluding IVC that is served the most by Airnz. Therefore I think if IVC is served from CHC, NSN will be as well as it makes the most sense to get the aircraft back into the rest of the network. Additionally CHC has more QF/JQ/EK international presence than WLG so would allow connection traffic to be generating especially with JQ's large set of CHC-aus flights. Furthermore CHC-NSN has some AirNZ timetable gaps with 3 flights perday being off-peak midday-midafternoon which leaves them without an early morn CHC-NSN and with no late night departures. (last flight arrives CHC 6:20, NSN 7:35) Therefore JQ could exploit some *minor* gaps in Airnz's network by choosing CHC

Just my

Andrensn

PA515 · Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:50 pm

Quoting Andrensn (Reply 142):
CHC-NSN has some AirNZ timetable gaps with 3 flights perday being off-peak midday-midafternoon which leaves them without an early morn CHC-NSN and with no late night departures. (last flight arrives CHC 6:20, NSN 7:35)

There are some gaps early in the week, but aircraft are available if there is sufficient demand.
Air NZ's Feb 2016 schedule has:

CHC-NSN 0655/0745 Mo Th Fr.
CHC-NSN 1855/1945 Mo Tu We Th & 1915/2005 Fr.

NSN-CHC 0650/0740 Mo Tu We Th Fr.
NSN-CHC 1845/1935 Fr & 1920/2010 We Th.

With the JQ crews being AKL based, any non AKL evening arrival and morning departure will be influenced by crew rest requirements. I expect these will be similar to, or the same as for Air Nelson / Mount Cook.

PA515

zkncj · Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:53 pm

Quoting Andrensn (Reply 142):
AKL-NSN-AKL should be a front runner considering Airnz have been price gouging here for some time. Additionally Jetstar is going to have a base in AKL (see pilot advertisements) so would be most likely if NSN is served.

NZ have already dropped Seat Only fares on this route down to $49 from November onwards, it will be hard to for JQ to go any lower than that.

Gasman · Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:40 pm

Quoting ZKOJQ (Reply 137):
Does this obligate me to eat my hat?

Those are some very impressive computer generated images!

Sylus · Sun Aug 16, 2015 11:01 pm

Quoting gasman (Reply 145):

Looking at the KRA website, a standard DUD-ZQN fare is $135. Although this is a unique route, surely a 25min sector does not justify such a fare? I can't think of any circumstance where I would rather pay $135 instead of drive 3 hours or pay $20 for a bus. Just my thoughts...

aerorobnz · Mon Aug 17, 2015 12:05 am

Quoting Sylus (Reply 146):
I can't think of any circumstance where I would rather pay $135 instead of drive 3 hours or pay $20 for a bus. Just my thoughts...

Especially given that road transport will be used if the weather closes ZQN or DUD, it could well end up being $135 for a mini bus ride..

I agree with you, it might be a good opportunity for one of the mythical "sole passenger" trip reports..

Gasman · Mon Aug 17, 2015 1:38 am

Quoting Sylus (Reply 146):
Looking at the KRA website, a standard DUD-ZQN fare is $135. Although this is a unique route, surely a 25min sector does not justify such a fare? I can't think of any circumstance where I would rather pay $135 instead of drive 3 hours or pay $20 for a bus. Just my thoughts...

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 147):
Especially given that road transport will be used if the weather closes ZQN or DUD, it could well end up being $135 for a mini bus ride..

And also consider that the journey from Dunedin (or anywhere) to DUD is something of an undertaking in itself. Crumbs, by the time you've driven to the airport it'd feel like a very short logical step just to keep the car audio blasting and carry on to Queenstown, rather than park, check in, wait, have minibus ride etc. etc.

Sylus · Mon Aug 17, 2015 1:57 am

Quoting gasman (Reply 148):
Crumbs, by the time you've driven to the airport it'd feel like a very short logical step just to keep the car audio blasting and carry on to Queenstown, rather than park, check in, wait, have minibus ride etc. etc.

You raise a good point, the 25min drive (no motorway!!) or even a possible delay makes the 25min flight to ZQN oh so redundant.

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 147):
I agree with you, it might be a good opportunity for one of the mythical "sole passenger" trip reports.

Maybe I'll take a day trip to ZQN, who knows, Ewan Wilson might be waiting to shake my hand upon arrival as KRA's first customer!

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