JQ to replace Qantas Domestic NZ

[Clarry S]

Hi all

I have heard some rumors that JQ will replace all NZ domestic services by end of June. Is there any truth to these?

I know that JQ start AKL services soon to Sydney and Gold Coast so a link between AKL and CHC would make sense to cycle aircraft.

Cheers

[Lukas M]

Jetconnect are replacing their current fleet with New 738's this year, so I cant see JQ replacing all Jetconnect Services, mabye some though

[Brad Myer]

I have heard that QF/JQ will both operate domestically within NZ, similar to the 2 brand statagy used here in Australia.

From APR/MAY the B733/B734s will begin to be replaced by B73Hs for use on trans tasman and peak biz time domestic services.

[lloyd fox]

AVIATION RECORD states below
yes looks like JQ and QF both will operate NZ domestic with QF being the full service airline and JQ the low cost one.


WELLINGTON: Qantas subsidiary Jetstar has begun recruiting some 250 staff for its planned New Zealand expansion.

The Dominion-Post newspaper reports today that the airline is seeking up to 250 new pilots, cabin crew and ground staff.

It currently flies to Australia from Christchurch, and will add trans-Tasman services to Auckland from the end of April. It has also
reportedly applied to run domestic routes, a move expected to follow the rationalisation of 'full service' Qantas domestic flights.

CEO Bruce Buchanan said about 100 staff would be employed in the first wave, adding to the approximately 65 in Christchurch.

Jetstar would add a third 180-seat Airbus A320 jet to its New Zealand fleet to cater for the Auckland service and Mr Buchanan said up to
another five A320s would be added during the year, which would require another 150 staff.

[Brad Myer]

With QF now able to operate VH-Rego B73Hs in both Australia and NZ I wouldnt be suprised to see J class make a return to the QF NZ domestic product.

[Greg F]

From what I have been told via a reliable source JQ are going to operate in NZ, Taking Over from QF. They have had the 'name change' approved to Jetstar Airways by the relevant authorities in NZ.

My Source said they will initially be operating under a Australian Air Operators Certificate, but eventually get a NZ Air Operators Cert

[Adam G]

QF won't want to withdraw from trunk route NZ domestic flying - it provides them with important on carriage into Australia/Intl routes.

The 73H's also allow them to conduct RNP approaches into ZQN.

Jetconnect cost base is less then JQ Aust cost base - it doesn't make a terrible amount of sense to replace a full product with a low cost one when the cost difference is small - especially when the full service product places you in a competitive position to gain on carriage.

[Robert Zweck]

Didn't VH-TJZ recently transfer to Jet Connect??

[Adam G]

Can you please support this statement with evidence.

To begin with you can just refer to the wages - compare the Jetconnect CEA's to the Jetstar EBA's and that will take care of the salarys.

It would be very difficult for an Australian operation to compete on cost base with an NZ operation - they are very different industrial worlds.

[Greg F]

I look forward to JQ's expansion in NZ
I think it will be great for the New Zealander's, to have a bit more competition over there

[Clarry S]

More competition.???.. the Kiwis have got the cheapest airfares in the world. PB just had a sale at $29.95 which is a regular occurance.

JQ moving into Dom NZ is QF's acknowledgment that QF JetConnect is not working. QF will totally pull out by Northern Winter 09 schedule.

[Greg F]

More competition.???.. the Kiwis have got the cheapest airfares in the world. PB just had a sale at $29.95 which is a regular occurance.

JQ moving into Dom NZ is QF's acknowledgment that QF JetConnect is not working. QF will totally pull out by Northern Winter 09 schedule.

Thats what my dad said the plan is, to take over all ops

[David Ramsay]

More competition.???.. the Kiwis have got the cheapest airfares in the world. PB just had a sale at $29.95 which is a regular occurance.

NZ just had a sale at $10.00!

[Steve Jones]

$10? What a rip-off :) Try $1!

Looking at the booking engine, if the system is all updated, looks like JQ are replacing all Jetconnect domestic flights on existing routes as well as CHC-WLG (except for AKL-WLG where both seem to operate). Also includes flights from both AKL and CHC to ZQN and CHC-WLG - hadn't QF dropped some of these?

Not up for sale on JQ website yet.

Jetstar offering $1 fares for NZ debut

Australian budget airline Jetstar is offering limited $1 fares to kick off its expansion into the New Zealand domestic market.

The airlines is due to start flying main trunk routes between four airports - Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown - from June 10 with 84 weekly return services using Airbus A320s.

Special web fares from $1 one way on all of its new domestic New Zealand routes for a strictly limited period commencing at noon today will be available until 2pm depending on demand.

The offer is for travel between July 22 and September 22 and the fares are subject to availability on selected days and flights and exclude public and school holidays.

Where it is replacing Qantas NZ passengers will be re-booked on to Jetstar.

Jetstar has been flying across the Tasman from Christchurch and from the end of April is due to add services to Sydney and the Gold Coast from a base in Auckland.

The airline is spending $20 million on expansion.

The arrival of Jetstar on domestic routes will bring to four the number of carriers - in addition to Pacific Blue, Air New Zealand and Qantas - and will intensify fare cutting on the routes where they compete.

Jetstar needs regulatory approval to start new services.

[David Ramsay]

From NZ Herald web site (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10557168)

Special web fares from $1 one way on all of its new domestic New Zealand routes for a strictly limited period commencing at noon today will be available until 2pm depending on demand.

The offer is for travel between July 22 and September 22 and the fares are subject to availability on selected days and flights and exclude public and school holidays.

One woman who tried booking said she managed to get $13 each way fare from Auckland to Wellington return shortly after midday but was hit with an additional $80 credit card fee and $20 booking fee.

" I didn't go ahead with my booking."

[Greg F]

$80 credit card fee???? hmmmmmmmmmmm........
Booking fee?????????

[David Ramsay]

Story has now been updated (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10557240)with the following added

A Jetstar spokesman said he was puzzled at the woman's experience and had not heard of anything like it happening before. Standard credit card charges are $2 per sector.

[Greg F]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-j7yQEZp_g
NZ Launch Commercial

I wonder why they arent using the 'lets fly away' theme music?

[Owen H]

So who guessed that Qantas would be replaced entirely by jetstar on NZ domestic?

Time to claim your prize?

[Stefan Perkas]

Evening all,

Here are the schedules.

Auckland - Christchurch, 5 Daily
JQ245 AKL0620 - 0740CHC 320 D
JQ249 AKL1000 - 1120CHC 320 D
JQ251 AKL1440 - 1600CHC 320 D
JQ255 AKL1820 - 1940CHC 320 D
JQ257 AKL1920 - 2040CHC 320 D

JQ244 CHC0810 - 0930AKL 320 D
JQ250 CHC1240 - 1400AKL 320 D
JQ254 CHC1630 - 1750AKL 320 D
JQ256 CHC2010 - 2130AKL 320 D
JQ258 CHC2110 - 2230AKL 320 D

Auckland - Wellington, 3 Daily
JQ263 AKL0600 - 0700WLG 320 D
JQ265 AKL1540 - 1640WLG 320 D
JQ267 AKL2005 - 2105WLG 320 D

JQ262 WLG0730 - 0830AKL 320 D
JQ266 WLG1710 - 1810AKL 320 D
JQ268 WLG2135 - 2235AKL 320 D

Auckland - Queenstown, 1 Daily outbound, 2 Daily inbound*
JQ279 AKL1200 - 1350ZQN 320 D

JQ278 ZQN0930 - 1120AKL 320 D
JQ276 ZQN1420 - 1510AKL 320 D

Christchurch - Queenstown, one-way*
JQ277 CHC0810 - 0900ZQN 320 D

*operating pattern JQ277 - 278 - 279 - 276

Christchurch - Wellington, 1 Daily
JQ268 CHC1330 - 1415WLG 320 D
JQ269 WLG1445 - 1530CHC 320 D

Rotorua service will be dropped with the takeover.

[Gareth U]

Thanks Stefan!

There appears to be a schedule change on Wed 24 June. Much better schedule re. spacing of flights and timings than the schedule shown above.

[Michael Morrison]

Interesting ad in one of the NZ papers today.

Full pager with a cut up Qantas gold card.

Headline was "A great deal no matter how you slice it"

Air NZ are bascially saying now that QF is doing a cut and run from NZ domestic, then you should cut up their card.

if you send in your cut up QF FF card, they will repalce it with the same status at Air NZ.

clever