Jetstar to expand NZ domestic ops

[MarkR]

PR release due at noon Sydney time.


There is likely to be good news for travellers on Thursday, with Jetstar flagging a media announcement at 2pm.

The low-cost airline, which is owned by Qantas, said the news will cover New Zealand domestic expansion plans.

Prime Minister John Key and Qantas chief executive Allan Joyce will be in Auckland to make the announcement.

APX Travel chief executive Andrew Dale said Jetstar could be either adding a new domestic destination or "beefing up" its domestic network.

Having both Joyce and Key attending the announcement indicated it was significant news, he said

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/69491698/jetstar-set-to-announce-nz-domestic-expansion

Strong rumour that it will be in the form of propjets surplus to QFlink needs.

[MarkR]

Looks like the rumours are on the money, five Q300s heading across the ditch, presume it's the five in storage at Tamworth.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11467277&ref=nzhbiz_tw

[Zac M]

Theres currently only 4 at TMW as SBB went back as an operational spare, but I'm sure they will steal the op spare from ADL or BNE to cover it.

[MarkR]

http://content.presspage.com/uploads/1183/800_jetstarq300livery-2015-06-18.jpg

Livery from the PR piece

[Steve Jones]

Jetstar Dash 8 - never thought I'd see that!

[Mitch G]

Will be interesting to see how they go once they get start, good to see some competition in the New Zealand market segments.

[Steve S... 2]

I wonder if the Dash8's will retain their Australian registrations, or wear NZ rego's.

All the A320's are VH so I wonder.

p.s. The Dash8 looks beautiful in Jetstar livery. I hope maybe one day we see some like that in OZ !!

[Mitch G]

If the Dash 8 is successful for JQ in NZ, I wonder if they will introduce them into the Australian segments as well?

[MarkR]

In some ways its the prefect plan for LCC, such a small overhead bin that you have to check luggage, and pay for the privilege.

[Mick F]

p.s. The Dash8 looks beautiful in Jetstar livery. I hope maybe one day we see some like that in OZ !!

Please don't wish such things. That would only serve to undermine pilot terms and conditions in this country even more.

[Max C]

I don't think we'll see the Dash8 in JQ colours in Australia. The regional market is already served pretty well and there would be a very small market, of any, for a low cost regional.

[Zac M]

QF won't put JQ against QLINK...simple as that.

[MarkR]

Why not, they did for mky-bne after they stuffed ROK?

[Max C]

Different kettle of fish when you're talking jets.

QLink do very well for the QF group on the routes they serve. They also run a very lean operation, cost-wise.

Having a "JQLink" would only serve to canabalise from the QLink marketshare.

[Justin L]

How is that different from JQ mainline which currently fly on routes also served by QF mainline?

[Max C]

The market just isn't big enough on regional routes.

To set up a "JQLink" operation here would involve a duplication of resources that would add to costs. Then you'd need to be undercutting the incumbent to gain marketshare. Most of Regional market is business traffic, not leisure and they expect the perks that they are used to while flying QLink/Rex/VARA. By replacing QLink with JQLink, you'll be gifting marketshare to the opposition.

In NZ they are starting from scratch, and it'll feed into the JQNZ domestic and INTL flights nicely.

If Jetconnect were still doing Nz Domestic flights, then guarenteed you'd be seeing QLink branding on the Dash flights.

[Justin L]

Makes sense.

[Shaal L]

info re the routes

http://www.skynews.com.au/business/business/world/2015/08/31/jetstar-s-new-nz-destinations-revealed.html?cid=BP_LINKLIST_sn-business_1_jetstar-s-new-nz-destinations-revealed_310815

[MarkR]

Off to a good start it would seem, albeit mostly full of promo fares I suspect:

"3500 customers booked on the first week’s services with a number of flights sold out and average loads of over 85 per cent,” Mr Hall said.

http://newsroom.jetstar.com/blue-skies-for-regional-travellers-as-jetstar-takes-off-between-napier-nelson-and-auckland/

[Greg Hyde]

looks like SBI kicked off the service

http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/12/propstar-takes-off-in-new-zealand/