Page 17 - AA 2018_09

Debrief

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Alliance Aviation Services says it
expects to bring an additional nine
aircraft into the fleet in the year
ahead amid increased activity in the
resources sector and an expansion
of its charter operations for tourism
companies. The company ended
2017/18 with 33 aircraft, comprising
five Fokker 50s, nine Fokker 70s and
19 Fokker 100s, up from 29 aircraft a
year earlier. By June 30 2019, the fleet
is forecast to grow 27 per cent to 42
aircraft, with four Fokker 70s and five
Fokker 100s to be added in the current
year, Alliance said in its 2017/18 full
year results released on August 9. “We
continue to see increased activity in
the resources sector with additional
services for existing clients,” Alliance
chief executive Lee Schofield said in a
statement.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA GROUP NEWS arrangement. “On a standalone basis owned subsidiary to potentially Tigerair Australia will shortly
Virgin Australia plans to offer you read it and you look at it and resume international operations. add a fourth Boeing 737-800.
a seasonal international flight you say it doesn’t really make sense Virgin Australia has applied to rob finlayson
from Newcastle to Auckland so flick the page,” Borghetti told Australia’s International Air Services
between November 22 2018 and delegates at the CAPA – Centre for Commission (IASC) to vary a number
February 17 2019. The nonstop Aviation Australia Pacific Aviation of the traffic rights agreements it
flight will be served with Boeing and Corporate Travel summit on currently holds to include a condition
737-800s and operate three times a August 2. “What’s part two here, permitting Tigerair Australia to utilise
week. It will be Newcastle Airport’s because this can’t be the whole story? its allocated capacity. The request
first international flight since New I believe there could be a part two and applied to Virgin Australia’s traffic
Zealand-based Freedom Air offered I think that would be more worrisome rights for the Cook Islands, New
nonstop flights to Auckland in 2001 for competition on the Tasman. We’ve Zealand and the Solomon Islands,
and 2002. made some comments about that Tonga and Vanuatu.
– formally through regulators and we
Virgin Australia says it will codeshare will continue to make them. I think I QANTAS GROUP NEWS
on Singapore Airlines’ Melbourne- probably can’t say more than that.” Qantas has scheduled Hong Kong
Wellington service and improve its – as the first Asian destination for its
on-board and frequent flyer offering Tigerair Australia will shortly add a Boeing 787-9 fleet, with flights to
as it boosts its trans-Tasman network. fourth Boeing 737-800 as part of its begin in mid-December. The 787-9
From October 28, Virgin Australia fleet transition which is expected to will replace the Airbus A330 on
economy class passengers travelling take a few more years to complete, selected Melbourne-Hong Kong
between Australia and New Zealand chief executive Merren McArthur says. flights between December 19 2018
will have a 23kg check-in allowance Currently, the Virgin Australia-owned and March 29 2019, and will be used
with every ticket, in addition to airline has 15 aircraft comprised on up to two Brisbane-Hong Kong
what the airline has described as a of 12 Airbus A320s and three rotations from December 19 2018
“substantial meal and drink”. The 737-800s operating on Australian and six Sydney-Hong Kong flights a
initiatives are part of Virgin Australia’s domestic routes. The A320s are week from March 30 2019. While the
response to Air New Zealand deciding being gradually withdrawn as part Dreamliner has fewer seats than the
to walk away from the pair’s trans- of a fleet simplification plan across A330s and 747s it is replacing on the
Tasman alliance. the Virgin Australia group of airlines Hong Kong route, there is a higher
– first announced in July 2016 where proportion of premium seats on board.
Speaking of the Tasman, Virgin Tigerair Australia would be an all- It also offers a premium economy
Australia chief executive John Boeing operator. “At the moment we option on the Brisbane-Hong Kong
Borghetti said the airline had raised are trying to line it up with the exits route. ‘What’s part
the proposed codeshare agreement of our A320s because that minimises –
between Air New Zealand and Qantas the cost because obviously an early Qantas plans to operate a once-weekly two here,
with the Australian Competition and exit would impact our cost base,” freighter service from Darwin to Hong
Consumer Commission. The proposed McArthur told the CAPA summit. “It’s Kong that can transport fresh produce because this
deal involves Air New Zealand adding going to happen over the next year or from Australia’s Top End to Asia’s
its NZ airline code to Qantas-operated few years.” supermarket shelves and dining tables. can’t be the
Australian domestic flights and – The proposed service was scheduled
Qantas adding its QF airline code on Still on Tigerair Australia, Virgin to take off on Sunday August 26 whole story?.’
Air New Zealand domestic services, Australia has appeared to lay with Boeing 767-300F equipment
as well as a reciprocal frequent flyer the groundwork for its wholly- operating a Sydney-Darwin-Hong JOHN BORGHETTI
SEPTEMBER 2018 17