NSN has a lot of flights too its like 8 daily to AKL, 10 daily to WLG and 5 daily to CHC

Can ATRs fly from Invercargill to Auckland?

Can ATRs fly from Invercargill to Auckland?

Their maximum range is around 1300KM, so Invercargill-Auckland would be pushing it.

Air NZ were actually looking at using Q400's for that particular service, but in 2010 they rescinded the purchase options they held.

Sorry was actually meaning Q400s. Was just wondering if there were technical reasons for the lack of direct flights.

I think it was more down to the problems that Scandinavian Airlines and ANA experienced last year or the year before with landing gear failures on Q400 aircraft.

Their maximum range is around 1300KM, so Invercargill-Auckland would be pushing it.

Air NZ were actually looking at using Q400's for that particular service, but in 2010 they rescinded the purchase options they held.

A shame, although I hear the ATR is much more economical even if it is slower than the Q400. I also recall that AIR NZ was looking seriously at the Q400X ( 90 seater version yet to be launched), E-jets & ATR 72 600's (latest ATR) to replace MtCooks ATR 72-500's.....However, that was around 2009 just when the economic breaks started coming on.. I guess they decided to delay that decision indefinately....


http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/157143/Air-NZ-may-fly-jets-in-regions
Jets could soon start flying into regional towns as part of a planned US$300 million (NZ$390 million) domestic fleet upgrade and opening of new routes by Air New Zealand.
Bruce Parton, Air New Zealand group general manager of short haul airlines, told BusinessDay that an order for about 15 aircraft would gradually replace the fleet of 11 ATR72-500 regional turboprops.
Among the three options being considered was the 104-seater Embraer E-190 jet which can land at almost any airport in the country.
The airline wanted to significantly increase regional services that offer substantial tourism growth, Mr Parton said.
Though they were faster and more comfortable, jets were more expensive and would come with higher fares than the two turboprop options being considered.
French manufacturer ATR is touting the 68-seat ATR72-600, which is the next generation of the current 500 model, as the most fuel efficient and the more environmentally friendly.
Canada's Bombardier has the 90-seat Q400X, a larger version of the Q300, which Air New Zealand introduced two years ago.
Mr Parton said most passengers preferred to fly on a jet rather than a noisier propeller aircraft. The question was whether passengers were prepared to pay a 10 per cent premium for a jet service, or if they preferred a similar fare reduction possible with the Q400X or ATR.
"This will come down to what the customer choice is," Mr Parton said.
House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said price-conscious leisure passengers, who made up the bulk of regional markets, would opt for lower fares.
The bigger planes, however, would be welcomed by business travellers who were finding it difficult to get a seat to smaller centres at short notice, Mr Thomas said.
A more expensive jet service could also leave Air New Zealand vulnerable to a competitor who could come in with a cheaper turboprop option, he said.
Mr Parton said Air New Zealand was keeping a close eye on customer reaction in regional Australia where Virgin Blue has introduced the smaller Embraer E-170 jet to compete against Qantas, which uses Q300s.
If, despite higher fares, there was a clear preference for the jet, that could swing the decision in favour of the E-190.
But the Q400X appears most likely to get the nod when a final decision is made around March.
It meets Air New Zealand's requirement for a fast, cheap-to-run, 90-seat-plus aircraft that will significantly increase capacity.
The airline also has purchase options on the earlier Q400 model which can be converted for the Q400X, negotiated at the time of buying the Q300s.

4 August 2011
Passenger numbers through Palmerston North International Airport during July 2011 were up 2.4% on last year.
Strongest growth was on the Auckland sector, up 8.5% on last year. Increased use of 78-seat ATR aircraft rather than the 50-seat Q300 provided a 9.5% increase in available seat capacity on that sector.

The 40,054 passengers traveling during July brings the total for the twelve months ending 31 July 2011 to 450,006, some 5.4% above the same period a year ago and the highest rolling 12-month period since 2008

So did they ever end up buying those new Q400s? Because it's 3 years after that article and I still have no way of getting direct to Auckland.

Did they used to fly IVC to AKL with 737s in the 90s when Ansett were around or was that just the routes they still do today?

Jets could soon start flying into regional towns as part of a planned US$300 million (NZ$390 million) domestic fleet upgrade and opening of new routes by Air New Zealand.

What a patronising article - "regional towns".

I think it was more down to the problems that Scandinavian Airlines and ANA experienced last year or the year before with landing gear failures on Q400 aircraft.

IMO that landing gear issue was way overblown by the media.

The reason they didn't opt for the Q400s' was that there just wasn't a business case for their use. IVC-AKL would have been one of the routes opened up by such aircraft, but there are alternatives out there such as using newer ATRs.

So did they ever end up buying those new Q400s? Because it's 3 years after that article and I still have no way of getting direct to Auckland.

No Q400's were ever purchased, and given that Air NZ Group relinquished their options on these aircraft, I think it's likely that we'll see either new ATR's or (very unlikely IMO) smaller Jet.

Did they used to fly IVC to AKL with 737s in the 90s when Ansett were around or was that just the routes they still do today?

Air NZ used to do a 737 flight via Dunedin down to IVC.

What a patronising article - "regional towns".

Patronisiong? I thought it was an interesting read.......

4 August 2011
Passenger numbers through Palmerston North International Airport during July 2011 were up 2.4% on last year.
Strongest growth was on the Auckland sector, up 8.5% on last year. Increased use of 78-seat ATR aircraft rather than the 50-seat Q300 provided a 9.5% increase in available seat capacity on that sector.

The 40,054 passengers traveling during July brings the total for the twelve months ending 31 July 2011 to 450,006, some 5.4% above the same period a year ago and the highest rolling 12-month period since 2008

I wish more regional airports posted accurate and up to date passenger information like Palmerston North does...good to see. Its a shame to think that once upon a time there would have been an extra 80,000 or more in the form of international passengers too...

I heard the ATR72-600 is the frontrunner in the choice selection at the moment for NZ, it has a 5% fuel burn improvemnet on the 500s. And cheaper to purchase and more economical than the Q400. They need to replace the 500s as the are getting up to a lot of cycles on them. Although the Ejets would be good to open up new thin trans tasman flights eg. AKL to CBR,HBA,MCY they are too expensive for a small sub fleet to operate.

I heard the ATR72-600 is the frontrunner in the choice selection at the moment for NZ, it has a 5% fuel burn improvemnet on the 500s. And cheaper to purchase and more economical than the Q400. They need to replace the 500s as the are getting up to a lot of cycles on them. Although the Ejets would be good to open up new thin trans tasman flights eg. AKL to CBR,HBA,MCY they are too expensive for a small sub fleet to operate.

Small E- jets have fallen out of favour with Virgin Australia which is replacing its E-170's with ATRs....

Hawkes Bay runway extension now completed, ready for A320-200's and B737-300's to land, whenever that may happen. Mayby Jetstar or Air NZ jets? Who knows? However, Napier is ready when they do come. :banana:
http://www.hawkesbay-airport.co.nz/data/media/images/Q300%2034%20landing.jpg
http://www.hawkesbay-airport.co.nz/data/media/images/Finished%2016.jpg
http://www.hawkesbay-airport.co.nz/data/media/images/Finished%2034.jpg
1750m long, from 1500m.

Small E- jets have fallen out of favour with Virgin Australia which is replacing its E-170's with ATRs....

Yes, the lower maintenance and operational costs of turbo-prop aircraft are very attractive to airlines and are especially suited for the relatively short distances between cities in NZ.

Hawkes Bay runway extension now completed, ready for A320-200's and B737-300's to land, whenever that may happen. Mayby Jetstar or Air NZ jets? Who knows? However, Napier is ready when they do come. :banana:

Great stuff! I think it's a smart move as it'll make the airport much more attractive to the likes of JetStar.

Hawkes Bay runway extension now completed, ready for A320-200's and B737-300's to land, whenever that may happen. Mayby Jetstar or Air NZ jets? Who knows? However, Napier is ready when they do come. :banana:

1750m long, from 1500m.

Looks like there is plenty of room for an additional extension if need be too. I'm a great beliver in build it and they will come....eventually...Well done Napier heres hoping it gets the attention of other similar sized airports ( Nelson, coff, coff...) whom are well overdue a runway extension IMHO...

Looks like there is plenty of room for an additional extension if need be too. I'm a great beliver in build it and they will come....eventually...Well done Napier heres hoping it gets the attention of other similar sized airports ( Nelson, coff, coff...) whom are well overdue a runway extension IMHO...

Hell would have most definately frozen over by the time that happens. Of course, there is room for expansion. At the southern end of the airport, the runway can extend into the estuary, which means evicting some crabs. At the northern end, we have a golf course, which means evicting some golfists. And my money goes to the crabs for putting up the least resistance.

Besides, the local council said that there was no need for a new road, what makes you think we need a runway extention, given the fact that the locals will simply use additional pollution and noise as a one-size-fits-all excuse for leaving everything the way it is.

Looks like there is plenty of room for an additional extension if need be too. I'm a great beliver in build it and they will come....eventually...Well done Napier heres hoping it gets the attention of other similar sized airports ( Nelson, coff, coff...) whom are well overdue a runway extension IMHO...

Whos gonna come though? International services? Nope. Larger planes for domestic services? If they do then theyll cut back on the number of flights which makes then inconvenient so whats the point? Itd be way better for nelson and other small towns to try and get competition there from jetstar or someone like that.

R.I.P. to the man who was sucked into a hercules engine at blenheim airport. My thoughts go out to his family.

Hell would have most definately frozen over by the time that happens. Of course, there is room for expansion. At the southern end of the airport, the runway can extend into the estuary, which means evicting some crabs. At the northern end, we have a golf course, which means evicting some golfists. And my money goes to the crabs for putting up the least resistance.

Besides, the local council said that there was no need for a new road, what makes you think we need a runway extention, given the fact that the locals will simply use additional pollution and noise as a one-size-fits-all excuse for leaving everything the way it is.

I cant see any substantial lengthening taking place, you have to deal with residential areas at both ends. I cant see residents at Tahunanui being particularely happy. If there are extensions done It would probably be no more than 100m on either end on the existing airport grounds.

Itd be way better for nelson and other small towns to try and get competition there from jetstar or someone like that.

Exactly, regional NZ needs cheap flights too!!!! and if Jetstar and the like come will they be flying Q300s? nope! Thus airports need A320 capable landing strips to even have a chance at attracting them...Which is why if Jetstar decided to expand their NZ operations or if groups want to do Jet charters Napier is set to benefit , Nelson won't.....

Nelson by the way handles around the same numbers of domestic passengers as Dunedin & Queenstown. So frequency, although certainly reduced with regular scheduled jet services, may not be as much an issue as some would like to believe.......

Besides, the local council said that there was no need for a new road, what makes you think we need a runway extention, given the fact that the locals will simply use additional pollution and noise as a one-size-fits-all excuse for leaving everything the way it is.


I doubt all locals think this way, just the vocal green minority......but they do seem to have a disproportionate influence in that town...

I cant see any substantial lengthening taking place, you have to deal with residential areas at both ends. I cant see residents at Tahunanui being particularely happy. If there are extensions done It would probably be no more than 100m on either end on the existing airport grounds.

Actually if you check the Nelson airport masterplan a 1600 meter plus runway ( Northern extension only) fits quite nicely on the existing site and thats with 150M RESA'a at both ends....But you're probably right, its unlikely to happen....I remember way back in 1987 when Ansett first came on the scene there was talk of runway extensions....Nelson probably handles three times the passenger traffic now than it did in the eighties and a runway extension for jets seems even less likely....

Jetstar will look at the population of the NZ centres first. They recently started flying to DUD a city of 120,000 the combined pop of NPE/HST is same as DUD so may get JQ 320 flights as HLZ too, but with NSN is just 60,000 I don't see JQ being at all interested I'm afraid.

Jetstar will look at the population of the NZ centres first. They recently started flying to DUD a city of 120,000 the combined pop of NPE/HST is same as DUD so may get JQ 320 flights as HLZ too, but with NSN is just 60,000 I don't see JQ being at all interested I'm afraid.

Sometimes population size when taken in isolation does not directly correlate to passenger numbers. For example current passengers out of NPE 430K, HLZ 380K vs NSN 720K....

NSN is just 60,000
Actually Nelson city is only about 45,000 but NSN /Tasman is closer to 90,000 and when combined with Marlborough (people from Marlborough would travel to Nelson for cheap Jetstar flights and international connections) 35,000 there is a target mkt of approximately120,000.

However, I also doubt Jetstar will commit itself too much more to the NZ Domestic market than it already has. They just need a basic critical mass here to feed their growing international & Australian network. Which I'm guessing is a bit more of a priority at the moment than little old NZ.

Whos gonna come though? International services? Nope. Larger planes for domestic services? If they do then theyll cut back on the number of flights which makes then inconvenient so whats the point? Itd be way better for nelson and other small towns to try and get competition there from jetstar or someone like that.

You really don't know much do you? Nelson has more passengers per year than Tauranga and Hamilton as well as more tourists. Believe it or not, we are the fifth most popular tourist destination in NZ.

Nelson is already expanding its terminal and has plans to grow its maintenance facilities. It already does all the maintenance for the Q300 aircraft and the majority of the maintenance for the ATR's. There's demand alright.

Jetstar will look at the population of the NZ centres first. They recently started flying to DUD a city of 120,000 the combined pop of NPE/HST is same as DUD so may get JQ 320 flights as HLZ too, but with NSN is just 60,000 I don't see JQ being at all interested I'm afraid.

IMO, it's more to do with the size of the market. There are many airports with relatively high volumes of passengers, that are in smaller centres. Conversely, there are relatively large centres that have low volumes of passengers.

You really don't know much do you? Nelson has more passengers per year than Tauranga and Hamilton as well as more tourists. Believe it or not, we are the fifth most popular tourist destination in NZ.

Putting aside the issue about lengthing NSN's runway to enable A320's to be serviced there, I think the issue that he's referring to is that the increase in capacity could result in a decrease in service frequency.

For every A320 that would fly the NSN-AKL route, that adds an additional 177 seats. One A320 flight would represent approximately 44% of the present total daily capacity of 400 seats provided by Air NZ's Q300 service.

IMO it would be better for JetStar to provide additional smaller turbo-prop services to most centres. That would result in a good balance between additional service competition, an increase in capacity, and a decrease in cost.

Given JetStar would have to purchase/lease new turbo-prop aircraft, I can't see this happening though.

Putting aside the issue about lengthing NSN's runway to enable A320's to be serviced there, I think the issue that he's referring to is that the increase in capacity could result in a decrease in service frequency.

For every A320 that would fly the NSN-AKL route, that adds an additional 177 seats. One A320 flight would represent approximately 44% of the present total daily capacity of 400 seats provided by Air NZ's Q300 service.

IMO it would be better for JetStar to provide additional smaller turbo-prop services to most centres. That would result in a good balance between additional service competition, an increase in capacity, and a decrease in cost.


You make some valid points here although I also believe that with lots of extra cheap jet flights the market may be stimulated too. But lets say the AKL - NSN grew to 600 seat per day each way then this is still only 3 - 4 jet flights per day. But hey just one or two jet flights supplemented by Turbo props might be all Nelson needs....

As I recall Jetstar has just the the one flight a day to Dunedin & Air NZ has 2-3 direct flights to Auckland.


Given JetStar would have to purchase/lease new turbo-prop aircraft, I can't see this happening though.

but never say never Virgin Australia has just invested in ATRS. Although IMHO Jetstar doesn't seem very interested in expanding its foothold in NZ in the short - medium term and I would say even less interested in diversifying its fleet for a minor market.

There is definately a gap in the market for another turbo prop operator however ....but they would need a feeder alliance with Jetstar to survive..

remember Origin Pacific? they were on the up and up until Qantas pulled the pin on them. Who knows, Soundsair thinking of some serious growth opportunities?

I doubt all locals think this way, just the vocal green minority......but they do seem to have a disproportionate influence in that town...

Do they what.

And don't call it a town.

Putting aside the issue about lengthing NSN's runway to enable A320's to be serviced there, I think the issue that he's referring to is that the increase in capacity could result in a decrease in service frequency.

For every A320 that would fly the NSN-AKL route, that adds an additional 177 seats. One A320 flight would represent approximately 44% of the present total daily capacity of 400 seats provided by Air NZ's Q300 service.


This may not be so bad at all. Currently Air NZ has a monopoly over the turboprop sevices in NZ. If JetStar gets involved in more regional places with larger aircraft, it will mean that Air NZ would have to introduce new aircraft or cut prices to attract customers, thus reducing fare prices. Nelsonians are particularly miffed at the fact that we are being charged $150 to fly to places like Wellington.

Of course, Air NZ will still use turboprops to more out of the way places like New Plymouth and Tauranga which means that JetStar would only invest in flights to major hubs anyway like Auckland and Christchurch. So whatever services they could invest would be low frequencies anyway running at basically full capacity, should JetStar price competetively.

Do they what.

And don't call it a town.

I often refer to Auckland as town, don't be offended. I realise that Nelson is a city...

I know its a little dated but....

JETSTAR HAS DUNEDIN ON RADAR September 17 2010

Southern cities Dunedin and Invercargill are firmly on Jetstar's radar, as the budget airline launches an aggressive expansion phase in New Zealand following the departure of Pacific Blue.

Jetstar group chief executive Bruce Buchanan told the Otago Daily Times yesterday Dunedin, Invercargill, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Nelson were all domestic destinations "on our list".

He confirmed the airline had been involved in preliminary discussions with Dunedin International Airport, and for any proposed route it was important "to have the community and airport right behind us".

The company was busy expanding its domestic, transtasman and international routes, but it was possible more domestic destinations could be added before the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he said.

Yesterday the Qantas-owned airline announced it would boost services between Queenstown, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland by 39 flights a week.

"These new services build upon Jetstar's growing competitive proposition on New Zealand's high-traffic routes, providing a platform for future growth and new destinations," Mr Buchanan said.

The growth for the airline was underpinned by the positioning of two A320 aircraft in New Zealand by early 2011, which will result in the airline operating 116 weekly return flights.

Extra Auckland-Queenstown flights would be available before Christmas. Services are to be increased to 11 flights a week.

News of the expansion comes after Pacific Blue announced it was withdrawing from the New Zealand domestic market by October 18, which included the end of its Queenstown and Dunedin services this week.

Jetstar also announced sale fares on some main routes.

University of Otago Centre for Air Transport Research director Dr David Duval said Jetstar was at present flying main routes, but would look at the domestic withdrawal of Pacific Blue as an opportunity.

One advantage for airline companies was that their assets were mobile and they "could move them at will".

Dunedin International Airport chief executive John McCall could not be reached for comment yesterday.

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
Otago Daily Times
http://www.dnairport.co.nz/newsdetails.php?newsID=26

Queenstown lights up :)
http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2011/06/photo_by_tracey_roxburgh__4e09c28765.JPG

Hamilton Airport to extend its runway

Hamilton Airport has approval to extend its runway so it will be the same size as secondary airports in other parts of the world, such as the Gold Coast.

It's likely to end up just short of three thousand metres long.

There's no time span given on the work being done, but the option to extend the runway has now been approved for the next 15 years.

The change is part of a long term plan reaching out to 2030.

The approvals and recommendations also allow for new taxiways, an extended apron, and associated air noise boundaries changes.

Eventually new runway lights and navigation aids will allow a high intensity lighting - in support of long haul wide body services

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10744591

^^ they must have got the bat problem sorted :cheers1:

Queenstown lights up :)
http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2011/06/photo_by_tracey_roxburgh__4e09c28765.JPG

About time they installed the lights. Looking good.

^^Roll on night time flights, this will help boost ZQN PAX numbers.

^^Roll on night time flights, this will help boost ZQN PAX numbers.


It definately wont hurt them thats for sure. Not that ZQN needed much help in that area. I would say its a fairly safe prediction that Queenstown airport in another year or two will be the first airport in New Zealand ,outside the big 3, to break the magic 1 million passengers per annum mark. :banana:

Hamilton Airport to extend its runway

Hamilton Airport has approval to extend its runway so it will be the same size as secondary airports in other parts of the world, such as the Gold Coast.

It's likely to end up just short of three thousand metres long.

There's no time span given on the work being done, but the option to extend the runway has now been approved for the next 15 years.

The change is part of a long term plan reaching out to 2030.

The approvals and recommendations also allow for new taxiways, an extended apron, and associated air noise boundaries changes.

Eventually new runway lights and navigation aids will allow a high intensity lighting - in support of long haul wide body services

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10744591

yup smart move. If they can get the rail link from auckland to the airport or maybe to hamilton central and then onto an express bus, itd be a great second airport for the region.

yup smart move. If they can get the rail link from auckland to the airport or maybe to hamilton central and then onto an express bus, itd be a great second airport for the region.

People wil fly to Hamilto because they need to go there. People aren't going to go because the fare may be slightly less expensive and then catch a train or a bus to Auckland. In fact, the ticket for the train might even make the cost of the trip the same as a single fare to Auckland.

Besides, Air New Zealand needs to sort it shit out with fares. Ever since Origin Pacific went bust, everything's got all expensive because there isn't any competition (yes I am aware of rising fuel costs as well). If only JetStar got it's arse into gear and actually expanded a bit.

People wil fly to Hamilto because they need to go there. People aren't going to go because the fare may be slightly less expensive

Slightly less expensive? Have you seen Air Asia X prices? Which is who I assume they are trying to attract, and future airlines like it because there will be more...Hamilton is located within an hour or two's drive from nearly 2 million people. I think the potential for long-haul flights is very plausable. A rail link from Auckland in the short term? perhaps not so plausible unless there was significant passenger growth to justify it.

Auckland Airport profits up 15pc, led by retail
NZ herald

International Airport Ltd. posted a 15 per cent gain in underlying profit, driven by a jump in earnings from retailing from its new departures area and increased airfield income.

Profit excluding revaluations and other one-time items rose to $120.9 million, or 9.18 cents a share, from $105 million, or 8.35 cents, a year earlier, the company said in a statement today. Sales rose 9.6 per cent to $397.7 million. Underlying profit matched the forecast of Forsyth Barr analyst Jeremy Simpson.

Earnings are set to rise again this year, with profit forecast to "be in the $130 millions," according to chairwoman Joan Withers. The company counts retailers in the terminals as its biggest source of income and is also growing returns from car parking and property rentals. The airport has stepped outside its home market in recent years, investing in airports in Queensland and Queenstown.

The company will pay a final dividend of 4.7 cents a share, making 8.7 cents for the year, up from 8.2 cents in 2010. The shares rose 0.7 per cent to $2.23 and have gained 0.5 per cent this year. They are rated a 'hold' based on the consensus of seven recommendations compiled by Reuters.

Reported profit, the measure that companies used to regard as their bottom line before a recent blossoming of variations that exclude some items, was $100.8 million, up from $29.7 million a year earlier.

Retail income rose 16 per cent to $111 million to account for 28 per cent of total revenue. Passenger services charges generated $78.8 million, up 7.5 per cent from a year earlier and the second-largest source of revenue.

Airfield income climbed 8.7 per cent to $72.5 million and terminal services charges gained 1.8 per cent to $28 million. Rental income climbed 2.9 per cent to $49.9 million and car parking generated $33million, up 6.5 per cent.

Expenses climbed 15 per cent to $99.5 million, with marketing and promotion costs surging to $11.8 million from $4.5 million.

- BusinessDesk

Looks like international growth to continue at Auckland...

Friday, 19 August 2011 - 1:11pm

Auckland Airport today welcomed the news that from 1 November 2011 China Southern Airlines is increasing its flights between Guangzhou to Auckland to a daily service from three times a week currently. Auckland Airport general manager aeronautical commercial, Glenn Wedlock, said, "This is great news for the travel industry and should provide an estimated $100 million boost to the New Zealand economy. The new China Southern Airlines services arrive just in time for our high season and after the Rugby World Cup will help us continue to drive the 20% plus growth we have been seeing in this market."

China Southern Airlines' New Zealand general manager, Henry Dai, said, "We are very pleased with the success of our service so far, and we are excited about the potential for growing the travel and trade partnership between China and New Zealand even further. This new daily service will add another 90,000 seats per year, and reflects the high market demand we have already experienced and the confidence we have in the future." The daily flights will be serviced by brand new, four-cabin layout aircraft that will come into use from 1 September 2011. The new aircraft will provide an enhanced passenger experience, including luxurious first class and business class seats.

Mr Wedlock said, "The Free Trade Agreement and other Government initiatives around visa processing, air-services policy, tourism partnerships and trade development have been instrumental in building a market structure for growth as demonstrated by the $410 million in expenditure from Chinese visitors for the year ended June 2011.

"The increase in services from China Southern Airlines, along with the expanded Air New Zealand services from December, will open up more of China to New Zealand tourism and trade than ever before, and should help push China ahead of the United States as our third largest tourism market in the very near future." Auckland Airport has been very focused in recent years on growing connections between New Zealand and China in order to capture more of the growth expected out of this booming market.

Mr Wedlock said, "China and its people are increasingly important to New Zealand.

In 2011 the number of Chinese visitors into Auckland Airport grew 26.5% on 2010 figures, and we expect that growth trend to continue. Chinese visitors are also high-

value, spending on average around $300 per night, more than European, North American and other Asian tourists." Tourism trends and industry research now indicate an increasing number of Chinese travellers who are high net-worth, have high-spending patterns and are prepared to pay premium prices for a high-quality, unique tourism experience or product. This fits perfectly with New Zealand's quality tourism proposition, such as that found in premium visitor destinations like Auckland and Queenstown.

Mr Wedlock said, "China is a key market where we are looking to build high value travel to New Zealand with our joint marketing campaigns. The June 2011 Hurun

Report indicated there are now over 950,000 millionaires in mainland China so there is a fantastic opportunity to build tourism and trade values to New Zealand by targeting this market."

http://www.guide2.co.nz/money/news/business/auckland-airport-welcomes-daily-flights-from-china-southern/11/22283

I look forward to the day CHC has a direct link with China - I don't think it will be that far away.

Air Asia X is doing very well in and out of CHC despite all the mess at present.

Christchurch International Airport says it is closer to securing Malaysian airline AirAsia X as a permanent fixture after high passenger loadings on the Kuala Lumpur to Garden City route.

In April, AirAsia X began four services a week on a new Christchurch-Kuala Lumpur route on a test basis.

AirAsia X said the route had proved to be one of the most successful ever for the long-haul, low-cost airline.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/5439298/AirAsia-to-build-on-its-success

Wow, really? That's amazing! I really thought they were struggling terribly! Jeez, consistant pax numbers above 80% is a stunning result. If there was no quakes in Christchurch and D7 was daily I'm sure we'd see yields around the 90%+ mark

I look forward to the day CHC has a direct link with China - I don't think it will be that far away.

Air Asia X is doing very well in and out of CHC despite all the mess at present.


If Chinese tourism keeps growing at it s current pace I'm sure it wont be long before China Southern will be seen regularly at CHC. Hopefully when Air NZ finally gets its 787s they will use them in CHC as well as AKL to open up more direct air routes to Asia and maybe even North & South America.....

What's the visa regime like for Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand?

What's the visa regime like for Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand?

I think that it is very easy, I read somewhere that they have made conditions much easier, NZ is very pro-Chinese :cheers:

I found the link .... http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-features/latest-news/2011/08/visa-changes-to-assist-chinese-travel/

AKL will have its long awaited one terminal complex in the not too distant future
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10747041

I think that it is very easy, I read somewhere that they have made conditions much easier, NZ is very pro-Chinese :cheers:

I found the link .... http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-features/latest-news/2011/08/visa-changes-to-assist-chinese-travel/

Wow, I'm actually really glad to read that news, Syd. It used to be quite difficult (you needed a lot of supporting documents) so it will make it a lot easier for my wife and I to travel back to NZ in the future if they streamline the process (as she's on a Chinese passport).

For HKSkyline: here is the visitor visa form. (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/3CEE1C20-BA66-45ED-ABE7-7697DDC12F73/0/INZ1017.pdf) It's a little long, but Immigration NZ despite the plethora of questions do make their forms a LOT easier to follow than a number of countries I can name (USA cough cough).

AKL will have its long awaited one terminal complex in the not too distant future
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10747041

Also glad to hear this too. Never quite understood the Aus/NZ obsession with separating Domestic/International. In Australia I believe it is law to separate both operations, am I correct?

If she's now you wife and you are on an NZ passport surely you've gotten her a kiwi passport as well? She would also be entitled to a UK one as well. What will her status be in Sweden?

If she's now you wife and you are on an NZ passport surely you've gotten her a kiwi passport as well? She would also be entitled to a UK one as well. What will her status be in Sweden?

I don't have a Kiwi passport, I'm not a citizen of NZ - just a permanent resident with an indefinite returning residents visa (which I could get her if we were staying here). She's not entitled to a UK passport as we don't live in the UK. Her status in Sweden will be a resident with a residence card with the ability to work and live in Sweden.

Also glad to hear this too. Never quite understood the Aus/NZ obsession with separating Domestic/International. In Australia I believe it is law to separate both operations, am I correct?

Adelaide has a combined domestic/international terminal, as does Melbourne.

There is no such law to have seperate terminals DRW and TSV both have one combined terminal as well.

Adelaide has a combined domestic/international terminal, as does Melbourne.

Ah okay, my bad. Guess it is just Syd/Bris that have them, then (I've only used those two and transferred between the two terminals in both. Family used Melb). Thanks for the info.

There is no such law to have seperate terminals DRW and TSV both have one combined terminal as well.

Oslo, all the Moscow airports, Copenhagen, Munich, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Kiev, in fact most of the airports I've been in in Europe except really small ones like Split, Nizhny Novgorod, Odessa have a separation between international and domestic passangers, even international is split between Schengen and non-Schengen.

Oslo, all the Moscow airports, Copenhagen, Munich, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Kiev, in fact most of the airports I've been in in Europe except really small ones like Split, Nizhny Novgorod, Odessa have a separation between international and domestic passangers, even international is split between Schengen and non-Schengen.

Nearly all those airports you mention are different terminals under one building, though for a similar sized airport to Auckland. Brisbane and Sydney are physically separate and can't be walked between. Generally only massive airports like Heathrow do that because of space constraints and the way in which the airports have developed over time in an organic fashion. For me, Munich is one of the best mid-sized airports I have come across when it comes to transfers.

Ok then I miss read the post, airports with completely separate domestic and international terminals are Pulkovo, Perth, Atatürk International, Kiev, Haneda theres probably a lot more out there.

Ok then I miss read the post, airports with completely separate domestic and international terminals are Pulkovo, Perth, Atatürk International, Kiev, Haneda theres probably a lot more out there.

Moving towards a common user terminal for international and domestic services seems to be a common theme for many midsize 5 -15 million airports these days...Adelaide and Christchurch being examples. I also think that Perth is heading that way eventually too.

Does Air NZ do this every year...?

lwLmy2PgkgM

Does Air NZ do this every year...?

I think that it started 3/4 years ago, they now also have an annual pink flight from Auckland to Sydney :cheers:

Would be good to see a regular Air NZ large aircraft service to Te Anau.



A multimillion-dollar investment in the new Fiordland airport is starting to pay off, with the first Whisper jet scheduled to taxi down the runway this week.

Te Anau-Manapouri Airport manager Evan Pearce said yesterday a 118-passenger aircraft, the only one of its kind in New Zealand, was "99.9 per cent certain" to land at the airport on Wednesday.

The plane, being brought into the area by tourist operator Tauck Tours, was the first of its kind scheduled to land at the airport since the $7.1 million-dollar upgrade in 2008.

The upgrade had been developed specifically to attract larger aircraft such as the Whisper jet to the area, Mr Pearce said.

"We've been working on this thing for the past 18 or so months, so this is very significant for Te Anau and Fiordland."

The Southland District Council-owned airport hoped to eventually attract up to 52 landings from similar-sized aircraft each year, and next week's arrival was just the beginning, he said.

"What this really means is it paves the way for further jet transport or further larger aircraft movements into Fiordland ... people's ears prick up and they say, `well, maybe we can do it, too'."

Since the upgrade, the airport had also confirmed overnight excursions with tourist operators, which were expected to begin in January.

That meant there was even greater potential for those in the tourism industry in Fiordland to capitalise on visitors to the area, Mr Pearce said.

Destination Fiordland manager Lisa Sadler said the arrival of the Whisper jet this week was likely to be the beginning of a greater number of large aircraft opting to land in the area, rather than heading to other parts of the country, such as Queenstown.

Although it was difficult to say how much money could be garnered from tourists flying into the area in the future, the arrival of a greater number of larger aircraft would eventually have a payback for the community, she said.

It was expected that visitors on overnight trips would spend more money on accommodation, at restaurants, going on extra excursions and in retail outlets.

"It's like people say – it's not going to happen overnight, but it will happen."

The airport upgrade was a contentious issue for the council, with debate surrounding the development since its beginning.

www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5563143/Jets-arrival-to-pave-way-for-busier-airport

I can't see AirNZ flying regular 737 or A320 services to Te Anau. Why would they?
This is obviously a charter operation. I presume they mean a BAC146?

http://airlineroute.net/2011/09/06/3k-sinakl-sep11/

From 11SEP11 to 27NOV11, JetStar Asia is temporary reducing Singapore – Auckland service from 6 to 4 weekly.

Departure from Singapore on Thursdays and Sundays is cancelled. From Auckland, flights cancelled on Mondays and Fridays.


3K401 SIN1950 – 1055+1AKL 332 x247
3K402 AKL1225 – 1800SIN 332 x135

I can't see AirNZ flying regular 737 or A320 services to Te Anau. Why would they?
This is obviously a charter operation. I presume they mean a BAC146?

No I didn't mean that, but regular services with Dash-8s or something.

Mount Cook airlines use to serve Te Anau daily with there HS 748s so could see a return to RPT services in the future.

No I didn't mean that, but regular services with Dash-8s or something.

Maybe the 1800D's would be better suited. 52 flights a year roughly equates to once a week, i.e daily passenger pax which couldn't fill a Dash 8.

After raking in about $11 million over 20 years, Palmerston North Airport's unpopular departure tax could be gone by the end of the year.

The airport company is consulting its customers, principally Air New Zealand, about ditching the $5 "passenger-paid levy" and increasing landing charges to make up the balance.

"We are hopeful of completing the consultation process and finalising our aeronautical pricing before the end of the year," chief executive Garry Goodman said.

Palmerston North Airport raised more than $951,000 through the development levy last year, when 449,090 domestic passengers passed through. The levy is paid by departing passengers only.

It recently completed a $900,000 renovation of the terminal building, but proceeds from the levy were not specifically targeted to the project.

How much the levy has raised during its 20-year history is not immediately available, but was last estimated at more than $11m.

In the year to the end of June, the airport company reported a net surplus after tax of $535,172 and allocated a $211,485 dividend to its shareholder, Palmerston North City Council.

Without the income from the levy, its results would have tipped into the red, highlighting the need for it to raise the money some other way if the levy is removed.

Passengers would still be footing the bill one way or another, but scrapping the levy would remove the hassle of having to purchase it separately.

Mr Goodman said the company was expected to be commercially successful on a user-pays basis.

Alternatives to the levy are to shift the costs to landing charges, ticket prices, or a ratepayer subsidy.

In 1990, a $3 levy was introduced to pay for terminal building improvements, based on the principle that airport users, not general ratepayers, should foot the bill.

The levy became permanent, increased to $5 in 2003, and has been absorbed into the general operating budget. The airport company's consultation about its future started this year with a proposal to remove the levy.

Details are being revised in light of responses from Air New Zealand.

"It is possible that this draft may be made public before we move to a final proposal," Mr Goodman said.

The process of consultation has been carried out in line with legal advice, and excludes the public from becoming involved.

Mr Goodman said the company was well aware of public opposition.

The city council, which owns the company, has expressed its preference for the the levy to go, "but also understanding that it is a commercial matter for the company to decide".

After raking in about $11 million over 20 years, Palmerston North Airport's unpopular departure tax could be gone by the end of the year.

The airport company is consulting its customers, principally Air New Zealand, about ditching the $5 "passenger-paid levy" and increasing landing charges to make up the balance.

"We are hopeful of completing the consultation process and finalising our aeronautical pricing before the end of the year," chief executive Garry Goodman said.

Palmerston North Airport raised more than $951,000 through the development levy last year, when 449,090 domestic passengers passed through. The levy is paid by departing passengers only.

It recently completed a $900,000 renovation of the terminal building, but proceeds from the levy were not specifically targeted to the project.

How much the levy has raised during its 20-year history is not immediately available, but was last estimated at more than $11m.

In the year to the end of June, the airport company reported a net surplus after tax of $535,172 and allocated a $211,485 dividend to its shareholder, Palmerston North City Council.

Without the income from the levy, its results would have tipped into the red, highlighting the need for it to raise the money some other way if the levy is removed.

Passengers would still be footing the bill one way or another, but scrapping the levy would remove the hassle of having to purchase it separately.

Mr Goodman said the company was expected to be commercially successful on a user-pays basis.

Alternatives to the levy are to shift the costs to landing charges, ticket prices, or a ratepayer subsidy.

In 1990, a $3 levy was introduced to pay for terminal building improvements, based on the principle that airport users, not general ratepayers, should foot the bill.

The levy became permanent, increased to $5 in 2003, and has been absorbed into the general operating budget. The airport company's consultation about its future started this year with a proposal to remove the levy.

Details are being revised in light of responses from Air New Zealand.

"It is possible that this draft may be made public before we move to a final proposal," Mr Goodman said.

The process of consultation has been carried out in line with legal advice, and excludes the public from becoming involved.

Mr Goodman said the company was well aware of public opposition.

The city council, which owns the company, has expressed its preference for the the levy to go, "but also understanding that it is a commercial matter for the company to decide".


I don't see what all the fuss is about over a $5 departure fee, the airports a business like any other, why can't it clip the ticket for a little extra cash? As long as that cash is used to fund infrastructure and growth. From what I've seen Palmerston North airport is one of the best small airport facilities in the country...due largely I suspect to the fact it also has a departure tax...

Expanding airline service to important East Asian and South American markets is a high priority for the New Zealand government as it looks to launch new rounds of aviation negotiations.

The government in July said it had given its negotiators a mandate to begin air service talks with China, Brazil and eight other countries that it would not reveal. AviationWeek has learned from industry sources that the others are Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, and Colombia.

Negotiations are not expected to occur simultaneously, and will probably be tackled one or two at a time. Not all of the governments on the list have been approached to begin air services discussions, but the list represents those with whom the NZ government will seek talks.

Industry lobbying for these negotiations is believed to be mainly from New Zealand’s airports rather than airlines. However, Glenn Wedlock, Auckland International Airport’s general manager for business development, says there has been a collaborative approach.

When shown the negotiations list, Wedlock comments that it “signals where growth opportunities” are expected. He says Auckland Airport has been pushing for greater access to some of these markets, although not because of specific requests from airlines. Rather, the airport is targeting countries and regions that have good potential for increased traffic.

Although there has been interest shown by some carriers, in general new service from the countries on the negotiation list is not expected in the near term, Wedlock says. However, when an airline does look to expand or launch service to Auckland, it will be helpful to have the air rights already available rather than having to apply to the government, he says.

“We don’t want to have restrictions around new opportunities,” says Wedlock. “If [an airline] is looking at two markets side-by-side, and one needs to gain [service] rights, with all else being equal the carrier will choose the other one.”

When the negotiations mandate was first announced – with only two of the 10 countries revealed – Associate Transport Minister Nathan Guy said the intention was to remove restrictions in some current agreements, and launch talks with other countries where no such agreement exists.

A spokesman for Guy’s office said that New Zealand’s long-standing approach is to pursue “open skies” type deals, although the government “recognizes that some countries still prefer a restrictive approach.”

All the nations on the list are from East Asia or Latin America, recognizing that New Zealand “has a strong interest in promoting trade and tourism with growing regions,” the spokesman said.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/awx/2011/09/08/awx_09_08_2011_p0-366747.xml&headline=NZ%20Govt.%20Targets%20Air%20Service%20Negotiations&prev=10

I don't see what all the fuss is about over a $5 departure fee, the airports a business like any other, why can't it clip the ticket for a little extra cash? As long as that cash is used to fund infrastructure and growth. From what I've seen Palmerston North airport is one of the best small airport facilities in the country...due largely I suspect to the fact it also has a departure tax...

Yeah but apparently its just proping up the airport as it only posted a $300000 profit this year. Originally it was just put in to pay for the terminal upgrade but what else has happened since then and is it really still required? Hamilton charges one too but I dont really see why they need to either.

Yeah but apparently its just proping up the airport as it only posted a $300000 profit this year. Originally it was just put in to pay for the terminal upgrade but what else has happened since then and is it really still required? Hamilton charges one too but I dont really see why they need to either.
From what I've read, the airport would go into the red without it.

Yeah but apparently its just proping up the airport as it only posted a $300000 profit this year. Originally it was just put in to pay for the terminal upgrade but what else has happened since then and is it really still required? Hamilton charges one too but I dont really see why they need to either.

Ham Airport had some fairly major reno's last year - I thought that was the reason for the departure tax?

Yeah but apparently its just proping up the airport as it only posted a $300000 profit this year. Originally it was just put in to pay for the terminal upgrade but what else has happened since then and is it really still required? Hamilton charges one too but I dont really see why they need to either.

I assume that they would have spent quite a bit on runway extensions too. Judging from the nearly 4 million in long-term debt on the books I'd say that they still haven't paid for their terminal and runway upgrade.

I assume that they would have spent quite a bit on runway extensions too. Judging from the nearly 4 million in long-term debt on the books I'd say that they still haven't paid for their terminal and runway upgrade.

yeah i think thatll be why too. I hear theyve got permission to extend the runway to be the second longest in the country but i doubt that theyll do it anytime really soon.

From what I've read, the airport would go into the red without it.

Maybe they should be cutting back on expenses and maybe increasing service charges to the airlines then? Its not really fair relying on a development fee to keep the airport afloat.

Maybe they should be cutting back on expenses and maybe increasing service charges to the airlines then? Its not really fair relying on a development fee to keep the airport afloat.

I agree, but I have know idea what there expenses are except that they have just finished upgrading the domestic area of the terminal at a cost of around a million, which does look good I must say. Also I think they are in talks with Air New Zealand about increasing there landing charges to replace the development fee

I agree, but I have know idea what there expenses are except that they have just finished upgrading the domestic area of the terminal at a cost of around a million, which does look good I must say. Also I think they are in talks with Air New Zealand about increasing there landing charges to replace the development fee

The problem is without competition Air NZs increased landing fees will be charged onto the public anyway....Perhaps they need to get rid of a few bean counter type roles (" says the bean counter") and use the money to attract a dynamic and active marketer who will actively seek new business.....The good thing is Palmy atleast doesn't have to invest in additional infrastructure if international services are resumed or if Jetstar puts the odd Auckland flight on....Its all there ready to be utilised....not too many other regionals ( i.e. Nelson & Napier ) are so lucky....

The problem is without competition Air NZs increased landing fees will be charged onto the public anyway....Perhaps they need to get rid of a few bean counter type roles (" says the bean counter") and use the money to attract a dynamic and active marketer who will actively seek new business.....The good thing is Palmy atleast doesn't have to invest in additional infrastructure if international services are resumed or if Jetstar puts the odd Auckland flight on....Its all there ready to be utilised....not too many other regionals ( i.e. Nelson & Napier ) are so lucky....



Hmmm Palmy must be a very undesirable destination considering we are fully set up to take jet aircraft from other airlines. Sad :ohno:

http://www.jetstar.com/mediacentre/latest-announcements/detail?Id=5fe73ec3-7515-4052-b257-cad8faba0596&language=en

Jetstar has achieved a New Zealand tourism milestone, with its one millionth passenger passing through Wellington Airport.

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said the airline was committed to serving the Wellington community with the lowest fares.

“Over the past two years, more than 750,000 of our one million passengers who have travelled to or from Wellington on direct flights have done so for less than $100 each way,” Mr Hall said.

“More than 65,000 of them have made the trip for less than $50 and almost 25,000 travelled for less than $30.

“This competition has not only enabled more tourists to visit Wellington and beyond but it’s also helped New Zealanders to see more of each other.

How about Jetstar start some international flying out of WLG instead of just domestic could start with BNE and OOL. It must have fallen off their radar.

Hmmm Palmy must be a very undesirable destination considering we are fully set up to take jet aircraft from other airlines. Sad :ohno:


I don't think thats the case in 2005 the airport handled a record 89,000 international passengers. To put that in context that is significantly more than what Dunedin and Hamilton currently handle. Dunedin only handled 50,000 in 2010 for example. The market is there its just much more profitable for Air NZ to get those people flying through Wellington than having another local international destination to service. "Bring back Freedom air":banana:

^^A lot of the residents from PMR will prefer to fly up to AKL to catch their international flight as they are cheaper than the fares sold ex-WLG.

Manawatu's lack of muscle in bidding for international air freight and passenger services could be strangling import and export growth for New Zealand as well as the region.

That is a message the Palmerston North City Council is delivering to the Productivity Commission in its submission on international freight transport services.

Its report documents Manawatu's rapid growth in the logistics and supply business. Since 2000 the city has experienced faster jobs and earnings growth as a distribution centre than the national average. Logistics and supply accounts for 11 per cent of jobs in the region, an increase of 47 per cent in 10 years.

The proximity of distribution businesses to the airport, with fast access to road and rail links, had helped establish the airport as one of the country's most significant domestic air freight hubs.

In theory, the southern North Island generated enough freight to justify an international air freight service.

However, there was a strong link between international freight and passenger services that made it difficult for Palmerston North to break into the market.

"Smaller airports do not have the resources to match the level of bidding offered by Auckland or Christchurch airports," said chief executive Paddy Clifford in the council's submission.

He has asked the commission to do further research on the barriers that stop the development of new international freight services.

The commission is expected to release a draft report in December, for a further round of submissions in February.

^^A lot of the residents from PMR will prefer to fly up to AKL to catch their international flight as they are cheaper than the fares sold ex-WLG.

I just checked the price for one person return ANZ/Pacific Blue from pmr to Brisbane for March next year $777.12 return. Not that cheap if you are going on holiday

I don't think thats the case in 2005 the airport handled a record 89,000 international passengers. To put that in context that is significantly more than what Dunedin and Hamilton currently handle. Dunedin only handled 50,000 in 2010 for example. The market is there its just much more profitable for Air NZ to get those people flying through Wellington than having another local international destination to service. "Bring back Freedom air":banana:

Just because there were more international passengers for palmy than what dunedin or hamilton handle doesnt mean that its profitable. Theres a reason why no airline has jumped at the chance to get in there for the last 3 years and thats because its just not worthwhile. Hamilton is very marginal and so is dunedin which is why hamilton are trying to capitalise on their central location and get freight services which apparently plamy are now trying to get into as well.

I dont think theres a future for international airports in the regions especially as fuel costs and competition heat up. Theyd be better concentrating on getting other domestic services airlines.

Just because there were more international passengers for palmy than what dunedin or hamilton handle doesnt mean that its profitable.

True, passenger numbers are often just a reflection of capacity in the market not load factors. Both Dunedin and Hamilton have had international flights stripped back signifcantly. Once upon a time both airports handled much higher international passenger numbers than they do now. My point was that proven demand is there for Palmy for the right player with the right business model...Unfortunately thats not air NZ....From my understanding Freedom Air, itself only a competitive reaction to Kiwi international, was actually doing ok flying to the regions atleast when they were running the smaller 733. However, I guess it didn't fit with Air NZs long-term strategy. ...


Theres a reason why no airline has jumped at the chance to get in there for the last 3 years and thats because its just not worthwhile. Hamilton is very marginal and so is dunedin which is why hamilton are trying to capitalise on their central location and get freight services which apparently plamy are now trying to get into as well.

From what I've read they were primarily trying to attract low cost long haul passenger flights from Asia? AirAsiaX etc.


I dont think theres a future for international airports in the regions especially as fuel costs and competition heat up. Theyd be better concentrating on getting other domestic services airlines.

Even then the existing primary player would much rather fly profitable turboprops around the regions than jets. It would take competitive pressure from another player before they were forced to expand their jet ops. Jetstar doesn't seem in any hurry to start flying to the regions either. It still has lots of room to grow its market share on the main trunk and really just needs a foothold in NZ to feed its larger international network....

on a side note the Nelson airport has reported an 11% increase in passenger volumes on last year. Air NZ achieved this with a reduced flight schedule. According ot the 2010 financial report passenger numbers were said to be 688,000 so they must be near on 750,000 in 2011 and that was before the Rugby world cup.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/5642147/Airport-profit-bonus-for-councils

JETSTAR FLIES CAPITAL-QUEENSTOWN

Jetstar is advertising flights from Wellington to Queenstown for just $7 as it looks to muscle in on the popular tourist route.

Wellington is expected to benefit from the popularity of the southern tourism heavyweight, with the announcement of the low-cost direct flights.

Jetstar will launch a daily flight between the capital and the resort town from December 22 with fares starting at $79.

Today it is advertising flights from Wellington to Queenstown from $7 as part of a launch sale.

Air New Zealand holds a monopoly on the route, with a direct flight for December 22 priced at $266, while a longer flight with a stopover in Christchurch costs $147.

Tourism officials hope the competition will boost domestic tourism between the two centres and increase spending in the capital as international visitors stay in the city before heading south.

Wellington City Council economy portfolio leader Jo Coughlan said the announcement was great news.

It would bring obvious economic benefits and the more people that were "hubbing" through Wellington Airport the better.

The next big step would be to attract an airline to operate direct flights to Asia from Wellington and the council planned to act "aggressively" to hopefully secure an agreement by 2013, she said.

Positively Wellington chief executive David Perks said one of the main advantages of the announcement would be the Wellington-Queenstown route linking in with Jetstar's parent company Qantas and their OneWorld Alliance global codesharing agreement.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5682421/Jetstar-flies-capital-Queenstown

They will certainly give Air NZ a run for there money at those prices

They will certainly give Air NZ a run for there money at those prices

Except what we need to remember is that the price listed for Dec 22nd AirNZ flights is not their lowest tier of pricing, as people have already booked that given that they were the only airline flying the route.

There's no doubt that it will lower prices overall though.

There's no doubt that it will lower prices overall though.

And hopefully stimulate a whole lot more air traffic between the two centres too.

I always thought it odd no one flew a direct WLG-ZQN service. As much as I despise JQ I reckon they are on to a winner there.

I always thought it odd no one flew a direct WLG-ZQN service. As much as I despise JQ I reckon they are on to a winner there.

Milan - it is disappointing that you would say this as I usually enjoy your input on this forum. Thanks to Jetstar I can go and see my mum in Christchurch for $39 I can go to Auckland to see friends for $59. Now I have just booked to take my family to Queenstown for $7 per person each way (a holiday that would be unaffordable with Air NZ)! Thanks to Jetstar travel is affordable for many. Having worked for many years for Ansett here in NZ I know what it is like to run an airline on limited funds and yet still be expected to offer what the 'big boy' offers. I know many who work for Jetstar who try damn hard to give the public a great travel experience. So if you despise Jetstar so much, what would be your proposed business model given their limited aircraft/limited NZ budget/NZ employment contracts/Network and weather? I'm sure the CEO would welcome your constructive input..

I always thought it odd no one flew a direct WLG-ZQN service. .

AirNZ have provided a WLG-ZQN service for quite some time, starting seasonally in 2003.

Air New Zealand is preparing for an even longer delay in the delivery of the much awaited Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The national carrier had been indicating it expected to receive the high-tech aircraft, which consumes 20 per cent less fuel than other jets of comparable size, at the end of 2013.

But chief executive Rob Fyfe told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Auckland this week that the airline was now expecting entry into service in 2014.

"The aircraft was originally due to arrive at the end of 2010," he said. "[The delay] has caused a number of complications through Air New Zealand as we've had to rejig our existing aircraft. We've had to retain aircraft we would have otherwise retired and extend leases."

Fyfe said Air New Zealand had received compensation from Boeing for the disruption caused by the delay and was having ongoing discussions about further compensation "relating to the most recent delays".

"We are extremely disappointed with Boeing's performance in this area," he said.

More than three years behind schedule as a result of production and design problems, Boeing claims the Dreamliner will be a game changer for the aviation industry.

The first Dreamliner was delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways on Monday.

Air New Zealand shares closed steady at $1.09 last night.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/airlines/news/article.cfm?c_id=113&objectid=10755326

Air New Zealand said today it would spend up to $340 million on 12 new ATR72-600 aircraft for its regional fleet.

The company said it would buy seven of the new planes, with an option for an additional five.

It currently owns 11 ATR72-500s.

Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said today's announcement, which was subject to contract signing, would significantly boost air service connections to regional New Zealand.

"This order potentially doubles the size of Air New Zealand's ATR fleet and will put a further two million seats into the New Zealand regional market annually. For our customers that will mean a big increase in the number of business timed seats and seriously cheap grabaseat fares we have on regional routes every day."

The first of the 68 seat ATR72-600 aircraft will be delivered to Air New Zealand in October next year followed by a second in December.

Two will arrive in 2013 and another each year for three years.

"At a time when other businesses have shown little appetite to invest significantly in assets, particularly where revenue is derived from regional New Zealand, we have not waivered in our belief in the long-term strength of the domestic economy," said Fyfe.

"Thanks to the purchase of larger aircraft and the lowering of fares we have seen regional passenger numbers increase by an average 5.6 per cent annually since 2003, resulting in our regional airlines carrying 54 per cent more passengers to 4.3 million in the year ended September.

"Today's significant capital investment also signals that we will be upping our promotion of key regional centres at home and overseas as we will need to encourage even more people to fill those two million more seats coming on stream over the next few years."

Fyfe said the new-generation ATR72-600 was the most efficient aircraft in its class and features a new cabin layout with larger overhead bins, improved seating and advanced cockpit.

Air New Zealand's ability to maintain services during inclement weather to and from destinations like Queenstown, Rotorua and Wellington will improve with the better navigation technology.

Airline Group General Manager Australasia Airline Bruce Parton said the new plane gave it the means to "up-gauge" its Q300 operated routes that would require more capacity in the coming years.

This in turn, would release Q300 aircraft to up-gauge on some Beech 1900D operated routes, enabling it to look at new "start-up" routes.

"So there is benefit in bringing in the larger turbo-props and cascading growth down throughout our regional operation," he said.

It was likely that some routes currently serviced by the smaller Q300, such as Nelson-Auckland and New Plymouth-Auckland, would see this larger turbo-prop in use.

"It is likely that the new fleet will be Auckland-based, providing us with an excellent spread of regional aircraft including bases in Christchurch, Nelson and Hamilton. This will give us a solid platform for regional growth particularly into and out of Auckland."


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10760176

Air New Zealand said today it would spend up to $340 million on 12 new ATR72-600 aircraft for its regional fleet.

The company said it would buy seven of the new planes, with an option for an additional five.

It currently owns 11 ATR72-500s.

Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said today's announcement, which was subject to contract signing, would significantly boost air service connections to regional New Zealand.

"This order potentially doubles the size of Air New Zealand's ATR fleet and will put a further two million seats into the New Zealand regional market annually. For our customers that will mean a big increase in the number of business timed seats and seriously cheap grabaseat fares we have on regional routes every day."

The first of the 68 seat ATR72-600 aircraft will be delivered to Air New Zealand in October next year followed by a second in December.

Two will arrive in 2013 and another each year for three years.

"At a time when other businesses have shown little appetite to invest significantly in assets, particularly where revenue is derived from regional New Zealand, we have not waivered in our belief in the long-term strength of the domestic economy," said Fyfe.

"Thanks to the purchase of larger aircraft and the lowering of fares we have seen regional passenger numbers increase by an average 5.6 per cent annually since 2003, resulting in our regional airlines carrying 54 per cent more passengers to 4.3 million in the year ended September.

"Today's significant capital investment also signals that we will be upping our promotion of key regional centres at home and overseas as we will need to encourage even more people to fill those two million more seats coming on stream over the next few years."

Fyfe said the new-generation ATR72-600 was the most efficient aircraft in its class and features a new cabin layout with larger overhead bins, improved seating and advanced cockpit.

Air New Zealand's ability to maintain services during inclement weather to and from destinations like Queenstown, Rotorua and Wellington will improve with the better navigation technology.

Airline Group General Manager Australasia Airline Bruce Parton said the new plane gave it the means to "up-gauge" its Q300 operated routes that would require more capacity in the coming years.

This in turn, would release Q300 aircraft to up-gauge on some Beech 1900D operated routes, enabling it to look at new "start-up" routes.

"So there is benefit in bringing in the larger turbo-props and cascading growth down throughout our regional operation," he said.

It was likely that some routes currently serviced by the smaller Q300, such as Nelson-Auckland and New Plymouth-Auckland, would see this larger turbo-prop in use.

"It is likely that the new fleet will be Auckland-based, providing us with an excellent spread of regional aircraft including bases in Christchurch, Nelson and Hamilton. This will give us a solid platform for regional growth particularly into and out of Auckland."


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10760176

Are these to be operated by Mt Cook? The ATR 72-600 is definately a better choice than Q400 or E-170 jets. Although there still seems to me to be a large gap between the 68 seat large turbo prop and 177 seat A320 for domestic ops. Something around 90 - 120 seats or similar passengerto the old 737-200 and BAE 146 size would be good. Interesting that the regional domestic mkt has been growing at 5.6% for the past decade that's significant growth.

The article just says for Air NZ. Mount Cook is absorbed into the Air NZ link brand now.

The article just says for Air NZ. Mount Cook is absorbed into the Air NZ link brand now.

Same brand yes, and even though Mt Cook is a 100% wholely owned subsidiary of Air NZ it is still a seperate company with seperate employment contracts and aircraft fleet etc. As is Air Nelson which operates Dash 8's and Eagle Air which flies Beechcraft 1900D's.....I have friends for example who fly Beechcraft 1900Ds and they consider themselves as Eagle employees.

I was just wondering whether these aircraft would join the Mt Cook fleet or whether they would be operated directly by another part of the company...the article doesn't say...

Air New Zealand said today it would spend up to $340 million on 12 new ATR72-600 aircraft for its regional fleet.

The company said it would buy seven of the new planes, with an option for an additional five.

It currently owns 11 ATR72-500s.

Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said today's announcement, which was subject to contract signing, would significantly boost air service connections to regional New Zealand.

"This order potentially doubles the size of Air New Zealand's ATR fleet and will put a further two million seats into the New Zealand regional market annually. For our customers that will mean a big increase in the number of business timed seats and seriously cheap grabaseat fares we have on regional routes every day."

The first of the 68 seat ATR72-600 aircraft will be delivered to Air New Zealand in October next year followed by a second in December.

Two will arrive in 2013 and another each year for three years.

"At a time when other businesses have shown little appetite to invest significantly in assets, particularly where revenue is derived from regional New Zealand, we have not waivered in our belief in the long-term strength of the domestic economy," said Fyfe.

"Thanks to the purchase of larger aircraft and the lowering of fares we have seen regional passenger numbers increase by an average 5.6 per cent annually since 2003, resulting in our regional airlines carrying 54 per cent more passengers to 4.3 million in the year ended September.

"Today's significant capital investment also signals that we will be upping our promotion of key regional centres at home and overseas as we will need to encourage even more people to fill those two million more seats coming on stream over the next few years."

Fyfe said the new-generation ATR72-600 was the most efficient aircraft in its class and features a new cabin layout with larger overhead bins, improved seating and advanced cockpit.

Air New Zealand's ability to maintain services during inclement weather to and from destinations like Queenstown, Rotorua and Wellington will improve with the better navigation technology.

Airline Group General Manager Australasia Airline Bruce Parton said the new plane gave it the means to "up-gauge" its Q300 operated routes that would require more capacity in the coming years.

This in turn, would release Q300 aircraft to up-gauge on some Beech 1900D operated routes, enabling it to look at new "start-up" routes.

"So there is benefit in bringing in the larger turbo-props and cascading growth down throughout our regional operation," he said.

It was likely that some routes currently serviced by the smaller Q300, such as Nelson-Auckland and New Plymouth-Auckland, would see this larger turbo-prop in use.

"It is likely that the new fleet will be Auckland-based, providing us with an excellent spread of regional aircraft including bases in Christchurch, Nelson and Hamilton. This will give us a solid platform for regional growth particularly into and out of Auckland."


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10760176

Excellent news. The first two planes will apparently go to New Plymouth and Nelson. It also means our new investment in maintenance will pay off as Nelson is slated to carry out much of the maintenance work.

Excellent news. The first two planes will apparently go to New Plymouth and Nelson. It also means our new investment in maintenance will pay off as Nelson is slated to carry out much of the maintenance work.

According to the the recently released 2011 annual report passenger numbers reached a record 758,250 and that was before the Rugby World Cup. This is an enormous 11% increase on the previous year. Additional ATR capacity and lower fares next year can only help this growth, although the people of Nelson are crying out for some competition too. Surely passenger numbers are getting to a level that Jetstar must be seriously considering it as an option....


http://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/annualreport-2011/index.php

According to the the recently released 2011 annual report passenger numbers reached a record 758,250 and that was before the Rugby World Cup. This is an enormous 11% increase on the previous year. Additional ATR capacity and lower fares next year can only help this growth, although the people of Nelson are crying out for some competition too. Surely passenger numbers are getting to a level that Jetstar must be seriously considering it as an option....


http://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/annualreport-2011/index.php

You'd think so. It appears Jetstar is being coy about it. Either that or they are still looking for a suitable aircraft to fly in and out. The airport has invested millions in expanding maintenance and passenger facilities currently and the future, so I can't see any reason for Jetstar not to get in while the going's good.

You'd think so. It appears Jetstar is being coy about it. Either that or they are still looking for a suitable aircraft to fly in and out. The airport has invested millions in expanding maintenance and passenger facilities currently and the future, so I can't see any reason for Jetstar not to get in while the going's good.

I think that the biggest thing is the short runway. However, the airport mgt have all but ruled that out for the next 20 years in their masterplan....:ohno:

I think that the biggest thing is the short runway. However, the airport mgt have all but ruled that out for the next 20 years in their masterplan....:ohno:

They have nowhere to expand to. Either bulldoze the golf course and anger the golfists or expand into the estuary and anger some environmentalists.

They should have built it further north. Plenty of land for terminal and runway expansion.

They have nowhere to expand to. Either bulldoze the golf course and anger the golfists or expand into the estuary and anger some environmentalists.

They should have built it further north. Plenty of land for terminal and runway expansion.


From page 15 of the airport's 2011 - 2030 Master plan......http://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/pdf/MasterPlan_2011.pdf



Nelson Airport currently has a RESA of 60m each end of its runway. The Civil Aviation Rules now require that any change to a
runway length will invoke the new RESA requirements of 150m RESA. In order to get this Nelson Airport Ltd would have to move
the declared runway northwards by 150m. To obtain the 1600 meter runway would then require an extension of 403m at the
northern end[/B]. The north RESA would then extend a further 150m beyond that taking it through to the land owned by the airport
company at Awatea Place. (see Figure 3) In 2005 Nelson Airport Ltd examined this scenario and with the agreement of Nelson Golf
Club commissioned a Golf Course architect to look at possible options that would enable the runway requirements to be achieved.
While there was no expectation that such an extension would be required in the short to medium term (10-30 years), it was
necessary for forward planning to establish if the airport, at its current location, could expand to meet the potential requirements of
aviation in the region. That work provided an option that was considered by Nelson Airport Ltd and the Nelson Golf Club to be very
satisfactory and an understanding should the need arise to extend the runway was agreed between the parties.
We consider a runway extension an extremely low possibility. Provision of International Jet services could require an investment of between $40-$60million for perimeter security, customs and immigration facilities in addition to runway extension

Looks like a northern extension is considered possible just not seen as an immediate priority for the airport... meanwhile the good people of Nelson, like many other regional cities are stuck with just one airline and no competition well into the forseeable future.

Nelson's main runway 02R/20L is 1347 m.
So not too short for current aircraft usage including corporate jets from time to time that visit. According to wiki there were 758,250 passengers in the financial year 2011. More likely Air NZ will put the larger ATR72s on the domestic routes to allow for the future growth and redeploy the Q300s elsewhere. Jet services won't come for a long time yet I reckon.

Nelson's main runway 02R/20L is 1347 m.
So not too short for current aircraft usage including corporate jets from time to time that visit. According to wiki there were 758,250 passengers in the financial year 2011. More likely Air NZ will put the larger ATR72s on the domestic routes to allow for the future growth and redeploy the Q300s elsewhere. Jet services won't come for a long time yet I reckon.


Thats exactly the problem the competition doesn't operate turbo props and likely never will..However, a runway extension to 1650-1800 metres minimum would be required for regular dmoestic A320 services. Napier airport's runway was recently extended from 1310m to 1750m for that exact reason....and there passenger numbers are currently more in the region of 450,000 or about 40% less than Nelson's.

October 23, 2011

Paraparaumu tomorrow becomes the 27th destination on Air New Zealand’s domestic network with the launch of direct services between Paraparaumu (Kapiti Coast) and Auckland.

The new service is being operated by Air New Zealand regional subsidiary Air Nelson, with 18 return flights per week between the Kapiti Coast and Auckland.

The first commercial flight leaves Paraparaumu at 6.55am tomorrow, arriving into Auckland at 8.05am.

The new Kapiti Coast Airport will be officially opened this afternoon (Monday) with more than 200 invited guests expected to be at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Paraparaumu.

They will also have the opportunity to inspect the aircraft being used on the new route, and in line with the theme of investing for the future, listen to speeches being delivered by children on behalf of representatives of Kapiti Coast Airport Ltd, Air Nelson, government and the Kapiti community.

Air Nelson General Manager Grant Kerr says it’s an exciting time for those living on the Kapiti Coast, with the new direct service set to save customers time and money.

“Those living on the Kapiti Coast will no longer have to make the one-hour drive into Wellington Airport – instead they’ll be able to fly direct to Auckland in one hour ten minutes,” he says.

Mr Kerr says there is a large catchment area for the new service, with around 110,000 people living in the area that stretches from Levin in the North to Tawa, near Wellington.

He says there has been a tremendous amount of work on technical enhancements to Kapiti Coast Airport to allow for the introduction of commercial services. This has involved significant input from the Civil Aviation Authority and Airways Corporation.

Among the enhancements are a new runway and re-designed terminal, which has a bach theme to emphasis the region’s many beaches and relaxed atmosphere.

Kapiti Coast Airport owner Sir Noel Robinson, who has a long family association with the Coast, says the new airport is a significant investment for future generations.

“I genuinely believe this airport will have a huge impact on the Kapiti Coast for many generations to come,” he says.
http://www.just4airlines.com/j4_dox/email/rss.mv?story_id=53616

So far only Auckland visit in NZ

“We’re looking forward to seeing the 787 in our skies for the first time," Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe says, noting the visit is subject to confirmation.

Air New Zealand says it will host the Boeing 787-8 test aircraft at its engineering base at Auckland Airport for two days. "Exact timings of the 787’s arrival on Saturday 12 November non-stop from Seattle will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but will be timed to give Aucklanders the best chance of seeing the aircraft as it flies into Auckland," the carrier says in a statement. The aircraft at this point is not expected to visit other New Zealand cities.

At a press conference in Auckland on 19-Oct-2011 Mr Fyfe half-jokingly responded to a question about the impending visit, saying the 787's appearance does not count towards compensation from Boeing for delivery delays. Air New Zealand's compensation package is confidential.

787 delays a bigger threat than fuel: Fyfe

The exact delivery of the 787-9 has caused a stir in the past few months between Air New Zealand and Boeing. Boeing maintains it expects to deliver the first 787-9 to Air New Zealand in late 2013, but Air New Zealand said, and then partially retracted, that it does not expect to receive the first example until 2014. The carrier's official stance is that it will place the aircraft into service in 2014, but it will not be surprised by any further delays.

While Mr Fyfe is rightfully jubilant about the 787's visit, he has not been one to mince words over programme delays that have seen delivery be pushed back repeatedly from the type's original late 2010 delivery date. When Mr Fyfe asked at the carriers annual results briefing in Aug-2011 about the delay and another matter, Fyfe quipped he would respond to the other question first so he could ponder his response about the 787.

Mr Fyfe had sharper words in an interview with IATA, telling the airline representative body the 787 was a greater concern than rising fuel prices. "The 787 delay is having an enormous impact on us. For me, it is a far greater concern than the oil price. High oil prices have an effect on every carrier and we’re all used to dealing with them. Plus, you can look up the price at any time and make arrangements accordingly."

Air New Zealand's first routes with 787 likely to be in Asia, but South America lures

Air New Zealand CFO Rob McDonald remarked in Jul-2011 that the carrier 787-9 will likely initially deploy the 787 from Auckland to Asia, and in particular China and Japan. But South America is on Air New Zealand's horizon, although the market is proving challenging for the carrier.

Under the 787's original specifications, reaching Brazil's Sao Paulo non-stop from New Zealand would have been very tight. With additional weight now expected to be on the aircraft, as well as performance shortfalls, Mr Fyfe said in Singapore earlier this month the 787-9 can no longer fly non-stop, or at least not without payload restrictions that make the route non-viable. The carrier is evaluating a stopover in Tahiti en route to Sau Paulo.

While Mr Fyfe says the Boeing 777-200LR could make the Sao Paulo route non-stop from Auckland, the lack of premium traffic on a predominantly lesiure sector rules out using the 777-200LR, which Air New Zealand would have to place an order for.

Other destinations of interest in South America to Air New Zealand are Buenos Aires or Santiago: two destinations that resonate with competitor Qantas, who from next year will drop Buenos Aires services in favour of Santiago. Qantas had expected codeshare opportunities with LAN Argentina that did not eventuate – even with government interference. The Chilean economy has now outpaced Argentina's. Qantas is expecting to codeshare with oneworld partner LAN out of its Santiago hub

But South American aviation remains in play, with the merged LAN-TAM yet to decide if their alliance membership going forward will be to LAN's oneworld or TAM's Star Alliance, although oneworld is the likely partner, an increasingly evident truth that now seems to be recognised by Air New Zealand. Mr Fyfe was less upbeat about the South American market than he was when announcing his interest there in an address in Sydney to the National Aviation Press Club in Sep-2010, before LAN and TAM announced their intention to merge.


LAN-TAM committing themselves to oneworld would leave Air New Zealand without a major Star Alliance partner in the region of South America it is evaluating services to. Avianca-TACA will be a Star Alliance option, but their hubs are significantly north of the points Air New Zealand is evaluating. Mr Fyfe said the carrier would not serve South America without a partner at the South American end.

While Air New Zealand had also pondered the potential of New Zealand becoming a hub for flights between Asia and South America, instead of routing through Europe or the Middle East, Mr Fyfe says this prospect is dwindling as the market increases in competition, notably from network carriers in the Middle East.
http://www.centreforaviation.com/blog/boeing-787-dreamliner-to-visit-auckland-12-14-november-60825

I really hope they could start a new international route, although non stop to Sao Paulo would be best a stopover in Tahiti is not too bad as a 2nd option. Can they start it before the Olympics? Its looking boubtful at best.

October 23, 2011

Paraparaumu tomorrow becomes the 27th destination on Air New Zealand’s domestic network with the launch of direct services between Paraparaumu (Kapiti Coast) and Auckland.

The new service is being operated by Air New Zealand regional subsidiary Air Nelson, with 18 return flights per week between the Kapiti Coast and Auckland.

The first commercial flight leaves Paraparaumu at 6.55am tomorrow, arriving into Auckland at 8.05am.

The new Kapiti Coast Airport will be officially opened this afternoon (Monday) with more than 200 invited guests expected to be at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Paraparaumu.

They will also have the opportunity to inspect the aircraft being used on the new route, and in line with the theme of investing for the future, listen to speeches being delivered by children on behalf of representatives of Kapiti Coast Airport Ltd, Air Nelson, government and the Kapiti community.

Air Nelson General Manager Grant Kerr says it’s an exciting time for those living on the Kapiti Coast, with the new direct service set to save customers time and money.

“Those living on the Kapiti Coast will no longer have to make the one-hour drive into Wellington Airport – instead they’ll be able to fly direct to Auckland in one hour ten minutes,” he says.

Mr Kerr says there is a large catchment area for the new service, with around 110,000 people living in the area that stretches from Levin in the North to Tawa, near Wellington.

He says there has been a tremendous amount of work on technical enhancements to Kapiti Coast Airport to allow for the introduction of commercial services. This has involved significant input from the Civil Aviation Authority and Airways Corporation.

Among the enhancements are a new runway and re-designed terminal, which has a bach theme to emphasis the region’s many beaches and relaxed atmosphere.

Kapiti Coast Airport owner Sir Noel Robinson, who has a long family association with the Coast, says the new airport is a significant investment for future generations.

“I genuinely believe this airport will have a huge impact on the Kapiti Coast for many generations to come,” he says.
http://www.just4airlines.com/j4_dox/email/rss.mv?story_id=53616

Thanks for posting that Jarden. It will be interesting to see, if you'll excuse the pun, whether or not these services take off...

Thats exactly the problem the competition doesn't operate turbo props and likely never will..However, a runway extension to 1650-1800 metres minimum would be required for regular dmoestic A320 services. Napier airport's runway was recently extended from 1310m to 1750m for that exact reason....and there passenger numbers are currently more in the region of 450,000 or about 40% less than Nelson's.

Realistically, there are only probably two routes that would justify A320 services: NSN-AKL, and perhaps NSN-CHC. But it's worth remembering that, based on the current number of seats available per day on AirNZ flights, one additional A320 return service would represent 38% of the total number of total number of seats available per day on the NSN-AKL sector, and 57% on the NSN-CHC sector.

Realistically, there are only probably two routes that would justify A320 services: NSN-AKL, and perhaps NSN-CHC. But it's worth remembering that, based on the current number of seats available per day on AirNZ flights, one additional A320 return service would represent 38% of the total number of total number of seats available per day on the NSN-AKL sector, and 57% on the NSN-CHC sector.


That's very true, flight frequencies, initially anyway, would be limited to perhaps just one or two A320 flights per day. Although, Air Nelson's current load capacity percentages must be well above 80% alot of the time meaning additional capacity exists. That's why Air NZ is pre-empting the competition by adding additional ATR capacity.

Even if Nelson had a single daily Auckland flight thats better than no competition at all. I was thinking that perhaps a daily Auckland and daily Wellington flight, with connections North & South might be viable. Although it would be a very short hop for a jet, Wellington is the busiest route out of Nelson ( approximately WLG 41%, AKL 35% & CHC 24%) and additional competition would gow the market. Remembering that Dundedin is similar to Nelson in the passenger stat department and it has a good combination of Air NZ Jet and turboprop flights per day as well as a single Jetstar A320 flight...

But Dunedin city is twice the size of Nelson.

Air New Zealand blames the shifting of the school holidays till October as a reason for a 6.5% decrease in domestic passengers during September compared to the same month a year ago.

The airline carried 771,000 passengers around New Zealand last month, down from 825,000 in the same months of 2010.

"We have also seen generally lower levels of domestic travel due to perceived infrastructure constraints associated with the Rugby World Cup," it said in a statement.

The company's influx of international visitors to New Zealand for the RWC was in line with expectations.

Air NZ's total passenger numbers fell 4.8% to 1,210,000 passengers, while revenue passenger kilometres decreased 5.2% and the group load factor fell 5.4%s.

However, group-wide yields for the financial year to date are up 5.7% on the same period last year, made up of an increase in short haul yields of 3.1% and long haul yields lifting 5.5%.

The company said that removing the impact of foreign exchange movements, group yields were up 7.3%.

The Christchurch earthquakes continue to affect Air NZ's Asia/Japan/UK routes, with demand down 11.8% on last year to 84%
http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/school-holiday-re-jig-hurts-air-nz-4484249

But Dunedin city is twice the size of Nelson.

Then why aren't twice as many people flying out of Dunedin? Its all about paying passengers and at the moment more people pay to fly domestically out of Nelson every year than Dunedin...Sure potentailly Dunedin with a larger population has more growth potential but I was making an argument based purely on the current situation... Dunedin has Air NZ jet flights and a jetstar flight with approx 710,000-730,000 domestic passengers per annum but Nelson with 760,000 pa. does not.

That's very true, flight frequencies, initially anyway, would be limited to perhaps just one or two A320 flights per day. Although, Air Nelson's current load capacity percentages must be well above 80% alot of the time meaning additional capacity exists. That's why Air NZ is pre-empting the competition by adding additional ATR capacity.

Even if Nelson had a single daily Auckland flight thats better than no competition at all. I was thinking that perhaps a daily Auckland and daily Wellington flight, with connections North & South might be viable. Although it would be a very short hop for a jet, Wellington is the busiest route out of Nelson ( approximately WLG 41%, AKL 35% & CHC 24%) and additional competition would gow the market. Remembering that Dundedin is similar to Nelson in the passenger stat department and it has a good combination of Air NZ Jet and turboprop flights per day as well as a single Jetstar A320 flight...

NSN-WLG is far too short for an A320 to operate unfortunately, which is why I discounted it even though the route is - just like NSN-AKL - heavily patronised.

NPL faces a similar problem to Nelson in relation to short distances between centres, as NPL-AKL and NPL-WLG are both 40 minute (and sometimes as short as 30 min) flights, so the only route that could cater for a large jet is NPL-CHC as it is 1hr 25min in duration.

As you say though, any additional competition would be good. It's just a great pity that there isn't another turbo-prop operator available, or one that has smaller jets. Unfortunately the latter are significantly more expensive to operate than turbo props, so the use of jets may have less of an effect on fares as opposed to turbo props.

But Dunedin city is twice the size of Nelson.
The size of the city is only one variable that effects the total number of passengers using an airport. Availability of roading, travel time to other centres via alternative methods etc. all play a part in it.

That's why Nelson has an extremely busy airport opposed to Dunedin, despite the latter have a significantly higher population.

NSN-WLG is far too short for an A320 to operate unfortunately, which is why I discounted it even though the route is - just like NSN-AKL - heavily patronised.

True an A320 is a very bad option for such a short flight. Although there are similar length routes (120 Km) flown by A320's in other countries. For example Guangzhou to Hong Kong.



As you say though, any additional competition would be good. It's just a great pity that there isn't another turbo-prop operator available, or one that has smaller jets.

yip unfortunately it looks like Air NZ has won the regional war and is now the sole player. Although, in my opinion with a fairly good product...I think there is definately a gap in the regional mkt for a 90-130 seat aircraft too but it is unlikely that Jetstar will operate anything smaller than an A320. Its a shame Pacific blue were forced out of the domestic market I remember them demonstrating their E-190 around the country. That would have been a suitable aircraft perhaps for places like Nelson and New Plymouth.

There is a good discussion on Air NZ regional routes and possible new ATR flights on here:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5285516/
The New Zealand Aviation thread 104

There is a good discussion on Air NZ regional routes and possible new ATR flights on here:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5285516/
The New Zealand Aviation thread 104


Thanks for the link :) some great discussion on the subject.

Air New Zealand will help transtasman passengers affected by the grounding of the Qantas fleet.

Australasia general manager Bruce Parton said the airline was working to free up 6-8 aircraft and organising cover for baggage-handling duties.

Qantas grounded its fleet yesterday (Saturday), forcing the cancellation of almost 450 flights and affecting about 80,000 passengers.

The airline says it made the move in preparation for a lockout of about 6000 employees covered by collective employment agreements.

Transtasman flights have been largely unaffected because Auckland-based Jetconnect runs the flights under the Qantas brand.

But Mr Parton said putting on extra Air NZ planes would allow its partner Virgin to divert aircraft to Australian domestic routes in a bid to limit disruption ahead of Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.

Mr Parton flew to Sydney this afternoon to work on contingency plans. He said the airport's Qantas check-in area was "utter chaos".

"It's 20 feet deep with people screaming and yelling. There's a lot of anger and angst, the customers are pretty unhappy with how they've been treated.
Continues:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travellers-tips/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501193&objectid=10762796

Air New Zealand's first routes with 787 likely to be in Asia, but South America lures

Air New Zealand CFO Rob McDonald remarked in Jul-2011 that the carrier 787-9 will likely initially deploy the 787 from Auckland to Asia, and in particular China and Japan. But South America is on Air New Zealand's horizon, although the market is proving challenging for the carrier.

Under the 787's original specifications, reaching Brazil's Sao Paulo non-stop from New Zealand would have been very tight. With additional weight now expected to be on the aircraft, as well as performance shortfalls, Mr Fyfe said in Singapore earlier this month the 787-9 can no longer fly non-stop, or at least not without payload restrictions that make the route non-viable. The carrier is evaluating a stopover in Tahiti en route to Sau Paulo.

While Mr Fyfe says the Boeing 777-200LR could make the Sao Paulo route non-stop from Auckland, the lack of premium traffic on a predominantly lesiure sector rules out using the 777-200LR, which Air New Zealand would have to place an order for.

Other destinations of interest in South America to Air New Zealand are Buenos Aires or Santiago: two destinations that resonate with competitor Qantas, who from next year will drop Buenos Aires services in favour of Santiago. Qantas had expected codeshare opportunities with LAN Argentina that did not eventuate – even with government interference. The Chilean economy has now outpaced Argentina's. Qantas is expecting to codeshare with oneworld partner LAN out of its Santiago hub

But South American aviation remains in play, with the merged LAN-TAM yet to decide if their alliance membership going forward will be to LAN's oneworld or TAM's Star Alliance, although oneworld is the likely partner, an increasingly evident truth that now seems to be recognised by Air New Zealand. Mr Fyfe was less upbeat about the South American market than he was when announcing his interest there in an address in Sydney to the National Aviation Press Club in Sep-2010, before LAN and TAM announced their intention to merge.


LAN-TAM committing themselves to oneworld would leave Air New Zealand without a major Star Alliance partner in the region of South America it is evaluating services to. Avianca-TACA will be a Star Alliance option, but their hubs are significantly north of the points Air New Zealand is evaluating. Mr Fyfe said the carrier would not serve South America without a partner at the South American end.

While Air New Zealand had also pondered the potential of New Zealand becoming a hub for flights between Asia and South America, instead of routing through Europe or the Middle East, Mr Fyfe says this prospect is dwindling as the market increases in competition, notably from network carriers in the Middle East.
http://www.centreforaviation.com/blog/boeing-787-dreamliner-to-visit-auckland-12-14-november-60825


Hope to see ANZ soon in South America..! :D

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/5922003/Flight-connects-Mt-Cook-to-Christchurch

Flight connects Mt Cook to Christchurch

Tourists hoping to get to Mt Cook will have another option to visit New Zealand's highest peak with flights from Queenstown and Christchurch in 2012.

Air New Zealand announced a trial Christchurch/Mt Cook/Queenstown route today, making Mt Cook its 28th domestic destination.

The service, to be operated by Air New Zealand subsidiary airline Mt Cook Airline utilising a 68-seat ATR aircraft, will fly six weeks between December 23, 2012 and January 27, 2013 to meet high-season demand from offshore markets, particularly tourists coming in from Japan.

Ad Feedback - The Timaru Herald

Air New Zealand announces plans for new service
Monday, 7 November 2011, 2:26 pm
Press Release: Air New Zealand

7 November 2011

Air New Zealand announces plans for new service between
Mt Cook/Christchurch/Queenstown

Mt Cook is set to become the 28th domestic destination on Air New Zealand’s network with the airline announcing today the trial of a new Christchurch/Mt Cook/Queenstown route in the summer of 2012-2013.

“The decision to launch this seasonal service comes after a lot of combined effort from Christchurch Airport CEO Jim Boult, Hermitage Chairman John Davies and Air New Zealand to make the route feasible,” says Air New Zealand Group General Manager Australasia Bruce Parton.

“This new route is a credit to the drive and perseverance of both Jim and John. They have had the vision and belief in this regional development and we have been proud to listen and support them with this.”

Mr Parton says the service will operate for six weeks between 23 December 2012 and 27 January 2013 to meet high-season demand from offshore markets, particularly tourists coming in from Japan.

“It will make it easier for groups to stay overnight at Mt Cook and also make day trips possible to the region, something we expect will be a particularly popular option for visitors on cruise ships arriving into the area over the summer months,” he says.

“The connection through to Queenstown will also provide independent travellers who may only have a short amount of time with a quick and easy way of visiting several of the South Island’s key tourism regions.”

The 40-minute service between Christchurch and Mt Cook will operate three times a week, timed to connect with the arrival into Christchurch of the direct service from Tokyo and other morning services into Christchurch from domestic airports such as Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington.

It will depart Christchurch at 11.45am and arrive at Mt Cook at 12.25pm, then continue to Queenstown at 1.30pm.

On the return journey, the flight will depart Queenstown at 3.10pm to arrive in Mt Cook at 3.50pm before continuing to Christchurch at 4.30pm to arrive at 5.10pm.

The service will be operated by Air New Zealand subsidiary airline Mt Cook Airline utilising a 68-seat ATR aircraft.

John Davies, Chairman of The Hermitage Hotel says: “We’re thrilled with the opportunity presented by the reintroduction of scheduled flights into Mount Cook. The Japanese market has certainly been supportive of this initiative and we are hoping the service will grow to include the full Japanese touring season of December through to March. Add to this, the increasing numbers of passengers from other Asian countries into Christchurch and we see this venture as a win-win for everyone involved.”

Christchurch International Airport Chief Executive Jim Boult is welcoming the new service.
“We are delighted to see this begin and hope it will lead to the service becoming permanent,” Mr Boult says. “Mt Cook is a highlight of many visitors’ South Island travels and we know lots of international travellers book their trips to New Zealand with the expectation of seeing our stunning scenery – mountains and lakes. Flying over the mountains and Canterbury plains between Christchurch and Mt Cook will certainly make those travellers happy.”

Mr Parton says there is no other operator currently on this route. “We do see a gap there that we hope this new service will fill.”

The airline last operated services between Christchurch and Mt Cook a decade ago, with the last service in February 2002.

Schedule (subject to change)
Christchurch-Mt Cook 1145/1225
Mt Cook-Queenstown 1330/1410
Queenstown-Mt Cook 1510/1550
Mt Cook-Christchurch 1630/1710
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1111/S00187/air-new-zealand-announces-plans-for-new-service.htm

The Australian airline, Qantas 100 000 offers free tickets to passengers affected by the labor dispute that has immobilized the entire fleet for two days.
Engaged in an endless tug of war, with three unions - the pilots, maintenance technicians and baggage handlers - related to its restructuring plans, the general manager of Qantas, Alan Joyce, had decided to leave the ground all 108 aircraft of the airline, blocking tens of thousands of passengers in 22 airports around the world. Joyce has offered to apologize to them, with full-page ads in newspapers, round-trip tickets on domestic flights or New Zealand, used over two years, at an estimated cost of more than 15 million euros.
Monday, Qantas has resumed flights after the Fair Work Australia industrial tribunal, under pressure from the government in Canberra, has ordered is to end the lockout and the labor unrest, forcing the company and the three unions a period of 21 days to resolve their differences.
Negotiations were launched in Melbourne with the union of maintenance technicians. The dispute with the three unions had begun in August, when the carrier announced a tough restructuring plan of operations, which includes cutting 1,000 jobs, the outsourcing of the services and the creation of a company based in Asia and keep the same name and the same brand.

AirNZ will be using their 733s on the CHC-ROT route over December.

Palmerston North Airport's loathed $5 departure tax is on the way out.

From October next year, the domestic departure levy will be no more, and the costs will probably be absorbed into air fares.

Airport chief executive Garry Goodman said the change had been a long time coming.

"If there had been no objection, we would have done this quite a while ago.''

The tax was initially a levy for development at the airport, but also allowed it to charge cheaper landing fees to airlines.

Mayor Jono Naylor said removal of the levy was a great outcome that would be welcomed by locals as well as travellers from out of town.

He said having to buy the levy separately was an extra step in the process for travellers, and was an irritation.

"And the more reasons we can remove for people giving us a hard time, the better.''

Palmerston North has been the butt of negative publicity about the tax, with entertainer Gary McCormick campaigning vigorously against it.

The company proposed dumping the levy when it last reviewed its aeronautical pricing in 2003 but was convinced by Air New Zealand to keep it.

However, this time, after 18 months of formal consultation, the airport company has decided to throw out the tax.

"They [the airline] have not necessarily agreed with us,'' said Mr Goodman.

"It was a consultation process, and we needed to understand the implications for all parties, and that has occurred.''

Mr Goodman said the key concession the airport company had made was to delay removal of the tax. ``The timing was a major issue to resolve.''

Understanding that some tickets were sold well in advance, the company had given airlines time to consider how to cover their increased costs.

Needing to find more revenue, the airport could have increased the departure tax, but chose to ramp up landing fees instead.

Landing charges are going up by 17 per cent from December, the first time since 2005.

Those increases will bring in 10 per cent more income, the equivalent of 50c for every arriving and departing passenger.

And from October 2012, the levy will be fully incorporated into landing charges.

"Passengers will still be paying it for the next 11 months, and the cost to the passenger will still be there, depending on what the airlines do about it.

"But the irritation factor will be gone.''

Mr Goodman said the number of direct complaints airport staff received about paying the departure levy had dropped away.

"But we are in touch enough with people in the community that we know there is a strong feeling against it.''
It was recognised that having to pay the levy separately annoyed people.

Ad Feedback Two things had tipped the company's resolve to ditch the levy this time around.

One was that the extra $5 per passenger had become a less significant portion of total costs.

The other was that the reason behind the levy's introduction in 1990 helping to pay for upgrades to the terminal building no longer applied. The levy was now treated as part of general revenue, not separately earmarked for special projects.

Mr Goodman said once the changes were complete, the airport company would still be earning revenue that was below a normal commercial return.

However, it balanced profits against its desire to keep prices down and keep the airport competitive with other New Zealand centres.

Mr Goodman said the decision could not be appealed.

The only grounds for a challenge would be that the company had not carefully followed the process for consultation, and he believed it had done that.

Air New Zealand is frothing about having to absorb Palmerston North Airport's unpopular $5 departure tax into its landing charges and is promising passengers will pay.

While Palmerston North visitor promoters and tax-hating entertainer Gary McCormick are celebrating the imminent end of the domestic levy, airline subsidiary Air Nelson has responded with an acid attack on airport company chief executive Garry Goodman.

Air Nelson general manager Grant Kerr said by cutting the levy and piling the costs on to the airline Mr Goodman was attempting, "to hoodwink the travelling public".

Ticket prices would rise as a consequence, and passengers would still pay, said Mr Kerr.

He has bought the personalised plate, "Palmy Airport is a TAXRIP off", and has offered to fly to Palmerston North to give it to Mr Goodman, "and personally screw it to his car".

"If not, we'll proudly display it in our check-in area to remind passengers that the Palmerston North Airport departure tax has not gone as asserted by management."

Instead, the "unjustifiable cost" was being buried in landing charges, and the airline would have "no choice" but to raise fares.

But Mr Goodman said customers should pay no more overall if Air New Zealand raised ticket prices to cover its increased landing charges.

"But it's removing an inconvenience." The levy raised $951,000 last year.

Mr Goodman acknowledged the airport's landing fees were "not the cheapest", but it was far from gouging. The charges would rise by 17 per cent, the first increase since 2005, to offset loss of the levy income from October next year.

It was difficult for the regional airport to recover the costs of its infrastructure when it did not have the numbers of flights the larger airports had to achieve economies of scale, said Mr Goodman.

In the past year the company returned a $211,000 dividend to its shareholder, the Palmerston North City Council.

"We accept that's something less than a commercial return."

A former city councillor, Les Baty, said the company needed to be more efficient rather than passing costs on to the airlines.

The risk was that the airlines would cut services to Palmerston North or use the new Paraparaumu Airport instead.

But delighted Destination Manawatu chief executive Lance Bickford dismissed the possibility of a backlash from Air New Zealand.

"The simple facts are that one million people live within a two hour drive of Palmerston North Airport. There is nothing that can take away from the business case for Air New Zealand to fly frequent services here."

Ad Feedback Shifting the levy removed a significant perception barrier, he said, and the airport company had achieved an outstanding business and community result by shifting costs on to landing charges.

Travel consultant Stephen Parsons also welcomed the move.

"The customer is still going to end up paying, but in a different way that gets rid of the inconvenience."

Former mayor Paul Rieger, one of the original architects of the departure tax, said it was "satisfactory" that it should end, so long as the airport company recovered costs through landing charges.

He said the levy had served its purpose well, given Air New Zealand's resistance to investing in improved terminal facilities for the travelling public.

The user-pays option spared ratepayers who never flew the burden of paying for the airport buildings, he said.

An arch-rival of the "white trash" tax, entertainer Gary McCormick, said it was great news that the tax was going.

In 1991, months after the levy was introduced, he refused to pay, delayed a flight, attracted television crew to Palmerston North to witness the stand off, contemplated action through the Commerce Commission and prepared a defence should the airport company lay charges against him.

The sting of his protests was silenced when an anonymous donor gave him a stash of receipts, but that ran out early this year. He said he was always concerned the practice would spread, as it has, to Hamilton and Rotorua.

"I am very uncomfortable about security guards getting in the way when I have a contract with Air New Zealand to fly."The whole issue had hurt Palmerston North, he said. If he had to fly out of the airport again before next October, he said, he would, "offer gallantly to not pay it".

Kinda misleading article when they say its on the way out but is actually just going to be collected in the ticket price. So what are they going to do with the funds? Upgrade the terminal even more? Why?

Thats a funny comment about their market being 1 mil people in two hours drive from palmy. Doesnt napier and wellington have their own airports?

Thats a funny comment about their market being 1 mil people in two hours drive from palmy. Doesnt napier and wellington have their own airports?

and now Paraparaumu too....:banana:

Dreamliner touches down in Auckland
NZ HERALD 11:36 12/11/2011

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1321053068/512/5955512_600x400.jpg

Hundreds of people lined Auckland Airport roads today to see Boeing's first 787 Dreamliner touch down. The new jetliner, three years behind schedule and costing $250 million apiece, will join the Air New Zealand fleet in 2014. Boeing is flying the first Dreamliner it made around the world to demonstrate it to clients. Dreamliner only entered commercial service last month with All Nippon Airways. Within a fortnight of entering service it suffered technical glitches with its undercarriage. The Dreamliner is a revolutionary lightweight aircraft built mainly of carbon composites designed to save fuel.

Air New Zealand's Chief Pilot Captain David Morgan was aboard the flight out of Seattle which touched down in Auckland at 10am. Also aboard were 30 Boeing staff testing the aircraft's performance on the non-stop 13 hours 40 minute flight. The aircraft flew low over Auckland for the public to see while cars lined prime vantage spots around the airport for the army of plane-spotters out. Pilot Regis Hancock said they had a trouble free flight and would have arrived at the airport 30 minutes earlier had they not flown around the city. "We were very happy to see the excitement the plane gives to people, all the cars at the airport," he said.

Dreamliner touches down in Auckland
NZ HERALD 11:36 12/11/2011

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1321053068/512/5955512_600x400.jpg

Hundreds of people lined Auckland Airport roads today to see Boeing's first 787 Dreamliner touch down. The new jetliner, three years behind schedule and costing $250 million apiece, will join the Air New Zealand fleet in 2014. Boeing is flying the first Dreamliner it made around the world to demonstrate it to clients. Dreamliner only entered commercial service last month with All Nippon Airways. Within a fortnight of entering service it suffered technical glitches with its undercarriage. The Dreamliner is a revolutionary lightweight aircraft built mainly of carbon composites designed to save fuel.

Air New Zealand's Chief Pilot Captain David Morgan was aboard the flight out of Seattle which touched down in Auckland at 10am. Also aboard were 30 Boeing staff testing the aircraft's performance on the non-stop 13 hours 40 minute flight. The aircraft flew low over Auckland for the public to see while cars lined prime vantage spots around the airport for the army of plane-spotters out. Pilot Regis Hancock said they had a trouble free flight and would have arrived at the airport 30 minutes earlier had they not flown around the city. "We were very happy to see the excitement the plane gives to people, all the cars at the airport," he said.

Its not the most exciting looking aircraft. I'm sure its economical and nice to ride in but I really wish Boeing went with its Sonic cruiser design instead....

Air New Zealand will reveal its plans for a major overhaul of its international operations early next year, and will move as quickly as possible to implement the changes, a senior executive says.

While some changes will take longer to implement, others will be rolled out straight away, General Manager-International Operations Christopher Luxon tells Aviation Week. The longer-term actions are those that involve other stakeholders and those that will require more work “to get the execution right,” he adds.....
The existing one-stop flights to London via Hong Kong and Los Angeles are likely to remain for now. However, in a recent memo to employees, CEO Rob Fyfe says the future of these services depends on “being able to achieve improved operating efficiencies and building partnerships to ensure these services can be operated profitably.”
story continues
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/avd/2011/11/16/07.xml&headline=Air%20%3Cacronym%20title=

700,000 Kiwis to get Air New Zealand’s new OneSmart card
SCOOP Tuesday, 22 November 2011, 4:08 pm

Air New Zealand is launching a new Airpoints membership card loaded with smart new features intended to transform its popular loyalty card into the ultimate travel companion. On one side it’s an Air New Zealand Airpoints card, enhanced with ePass technology which will enable every Airpoints member to fly through domestic check-in. The other side is an optional Prepaid Debit MasterCard® and travel wallet in one.

Once activated, OneSmart can be loaded with funds and used for everyday purchases and to shop online. Built in PayPass™ contactless technology means small value purchases are as simple as a tap of the card. OneSmart is also the only New Zealand prepaid debit card that rewards you with loyalty points. Eligible purchases earn Airpoints Dollars~, and funds stored in your OneSmart account can be used to purchase more Airpoints Dollars to top up an Air New Zealand Airpoints account.

OneSmart also makes it easy to take money overseas. Great foreign exchange rates can be locked in by loading up to four overseas currencies in advance, from a selection of eight. If cash is needed overseas, the Airpoints card can also be used at an international ATM to withdraw funds and OneSmart won’t charge any international ATM withdrawal fees.

Key features:
•
Use New Zealand dollars loaded onto OneSmart to top up your Airpoints account
•
Lock in great rates before heading overseas
•
Store up to four foreign currencies (choose from eight)
•
OneSmart doesn’t charge commission to load foreign currency
•
OneSmart doesn’t charge for international ATM withdrawals
•
Eligible purchases earn Airpoints Dollars
•
Built in ePass to fly through domestic check-in
•
Built in PayPass to fly through the checkout for purchases under NZ$80.00
•
Transfer money to another OneSmart account using your mobile phone

“OneSmart is more functionally capable than any other New Zealand banking or loyalty card. It’s so loaded with features we believe it’s destined to become every Kiwi’s everyday essential card – at home and overseas,” says Air New Zealand Head of Loyalty Simon Pomeroy. “OneSmart will be New Zealand’s most widely distributed prepaid debit card with more than 700,000 New Zealanders set to receive it over the next few weeks.”

MasterCard’s New Zealand Country Manager, Albert Naffah, says MasterCard and Air New Zealand have collaborated to develop this smart card tailor made for New Zealanders. “OneSmart is an ideal card for all Kiwis and not just travellers. This card now brings together your everyday prepaid debit card, travel card, Air New Zealand Airpoints membership and ePass tag in one convenient package.” An Airpoints Card with a OneSmart Account can be used at 32.9 million locations, including more than1.9 million ATMs worldwide, wherever MasterCard is accepted.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10768676&ref=rss

Air New Zealand, the national carrier, wants to lift annual profit by $110 million by 2015 and is picking a better performance than the latest earnings performance which was sapped by natural disasters in the region.

The Auckland-based airline is aiming to boost earnings from long-haul flights, an under-performing part of the business, according to investor presentation slides lodged with the stock exchange. The airline's key planks would see it focus on in-flight products and services, deploy the new Boeing Dreamliner and cut costs.

It also plans to explore new markets in South America, Asia and North America, as well deepen network into China.

The target comes after Air NZ reported a second-half loss of $37 million in the six months ended June 30, when the airline's services were disrupted by earthquakes in Canterbury and Japan, leading to unprofitable 'compassionate' fares for Christchurch residents.

Chief executive Rob Fyfe described the period as the "most difficult Air New Zealand has faced in the past decade," and came as airlines around the world struggled with tepid demand for long-haul travel amid the global economic downturn.

Still, Air NZ is more upbeat about the coming year, saying it expects improvement on the latest financial year, though that will be impacted by external conditions.

Last month, the airline said it will add up to two million passenger seats a year to regional New Zealand destinations, spending US$270 million on as many as a dozen new ATR-600 turbo-prop planes.

Air NZ's dominance in the local market, with about 80 per cent of market share, underpins its Ba1 credit rating with Moody's Investors Service, and the implied support from government ownership lifts that to an investment grade Baa3 rating. That rating was put on a negative outlook in March as the natural disasters in the region and rising fuel costs create uncertainty for the airline's earnings.

The airline raised $150 million through an unsecured unsubordinated bond issue in September, paying annual interest of 6.9 per cent. The bonds last traded at $100.487 per $100 bundle on the NZX's debt market.

Air NZ's shares were unchanged at 97.5 cents in trading today, the lowest level since July 22 2009, and have shed 32 per cent this year.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/airlines/news/article.cfm?c_id=113&objectid=10768644

It's nice seeing the share price where it is today, I bought a couple of thousand at 22 cents (or close to it) 6 years ago.

Today marks 25 years of Singapore Airlines flying direct to Christchurch International Airport – a connection worth hundreds of millions of dollars locally and nationally.

The airline is celebrating the 25 year anniversary by permanently increasing daily services to Christchurch, a move welcomed by Christchurch Airport CEO, Jim Boult.

“This is very good news because the increase in flights means more than 1,995 tourists have direct access to the South Island every week,” says Mr Boult. “This is significant and exciting for Christchurch, the gateway to the South Island.

“Singapore Airlines has opened up the world for many South Island travellers and offered them an introduction to Asia and beyond. Conversely, the flights into Christchurch delight the airline’s travellers. We know most international travellers book a trip to New Zealand expecting to see stunning scenery, so flying into Christchurch over the Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains immediately meets that expectation.”

Christchurch Airport General Manager of Aeronautical Business Development, Matthew Findlay, says the 25-year relationship is highly valued by the airport.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the relationship between Christchurch Airport and Singapore Airlines,” says Mr Findlay. “We appreciate the loyalty and investment the airline has shown here and acknowledge Singapore Airlines’ stated intention to support the rebuilding of the city.

“New Zealand’s number one industry is tourism and well over half New Zealand’s international visitors fly directly into Christchurch. We know visitors consistently spend more time and more money in the South Island, so having Singapore Airlines bring more visitors directly here daily is good for us all.”

Jim Boult says Singapore Airlines flights also provide global connectivity for high value freight – another benefit for the local economy.

“The relationship with Singapore Airlines is worth more than $100 million to the New Zealand economy. It is important the Christchurch connection delivers that – especially at a time when we are re-shaping the future,” he says.

General Manager of Singapore Airlines New Zealand, James Lim, says when Singapore Airlines started flying between Christchurch and Singapore in 1986, the airline was proud to be the first international carrier to offer services out of Christchurch.

“Since then, we have brought more than a million passengers to the beautiful South Island and carried a similar number of people from Christchurch to Singapore and beyond,” says Mr Lim. “We are extremely proud of our long association with Christchurch.

“People know when they fly Singapore Airlines they will have an exciting journey at exceptional value. We take pride in offering a world-class on-board experience, with a strong commitment to service excellence, fleet renewal and product innovation for the comfort and convenience of our customers. We look forward to our next 25 years of service to Christchurch.”

General Manager of Singapore Airlines New Zealand, James Lim, says when Singapore Airlines started flying between Christchurch and Singapore in 1986, the airline was proud to be the first international carrier to offer services out of Christchurch.


Thats not correct CHC had Qantas and TAA then and also BA had a weekly flight from London.

Air New Zealand's financial boost in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup has failed to last and the airline is now talking down its full-year profit expectations, sending its shares into a steep descent, analysts say.

Air New Zealand's share price has dropped 22 per cent to 92 cents since the start of August. It is down nearly 40 per cent since the start of the year compared with the NZX 50 index which is off just 2.2 per cent.

Forsyth Barr aviation analyst Rob Mercer said that six months ago the airline was looking at the financial year to June 2012 with confidence given an increase in passengers during the Rugby World Cup and the start of its crucial trans-Tasman alliance with Virgin Australia. But the past three months had failed to deliver the expected growth in total traffic and yields had suffered.

While there was an improvement in Rugby World Cup-related travel, there were a lot fewer other travellers, he said.

Management moderated its earlier profit expectations for the next six months in a recent briefing to analysts, prompting a further share selloff.

"The language [has] shifted from a substantial improvement in earnings to, `We should be able to beat last year's earnings'," Mercer said.

The change in sentiment is in line with the International Air Transport Association, which has also downgraded its profit forecast for the global airline industry from US$4.9 billion (NZ$6.4b) to US$3.5b, earning a net margin of just 0.6 per cent.

If the European crisis evolved into a full-blown bank crisis and recession, the group estimated airlines could collectively lose more than US$8b in 2012.

Mercer said Air New Zealand's shares were being oversold as investors priced in the short-term uncertainty. The domestic and trans-Tasman parts of the business were travelling well, but long haul remained a big challenge.

The airline was holding a big review of its long-haul business, which was losing $1m a week. The aim was to gain $110m from long-haul by the 2015 financial year with a greater focus on Pacific Rim destinations and cost savings.

Air New Zealand told analysts that its market share and economics to Hong Kong and Los Angeles were good.

"But beyond there it gets a lot tougher," Mercer said.

Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said pulling out of London was an option.

Air New Zealand does not provide profit figures by route, but Deutsche Bank aviation analyst Geoff Zame said fares to London suggest it was losing money on the service. A return fare from Auckland to Los Angeles costs about $2200, but a fare to London costs only about $400 more.
Ad Feedback

"That highlights the challenge," Zame said. But pulling out of London was unlikely to happen.

"The Heathrow [landing] slots have value and the UK is still a big inbound market for New Zealand."

If Europe did implode, it would reduce travel demand and impact on Asian economies, Zame said.

But Air New Zealand was less exposed than its larger competitors because it was not a hub carrier over major Asian centres.

Zame said the airline's low share price meant the Government's planned partial sell-down of its 74 per cent stake would wait for a "more favourable set of circumstances".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/6125065/Air-New-Zealand-talks-down-earnings

For airplanes comes a new fuel

A Australian invention, which transforms discarded plant biomass, such as agricultural waste, into petroleum, in less than half an hour. The invention has captured the interest of two major airlines, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand, who have decided to explore its potential as an aviation fuel development.
The two companies have announced they have signed the agreement with the company that owns the patent, to support the commercialization of the technology, called catalytic hydrothermal reaction (HTR-CAT).
''A technology that provides a more clean, rapid and cost-effective treatment of biomass, and it the first of its kind in the world" - was declared.
The oil obtained, that the parties involved hope it will be produced in large scale in Australia or New Zealand, can 'be treated in existing refineries and refined into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. A demonstration plant, funded by the Australian Government, it was already built north of Sydney.

For those that dont venture into the Christchurch threads....


Couple shots from last week.

Im slowly warming to the new terminal, especially when you can still go into parts of the old one. I still miss the old terminal though...

The old

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The transitionary

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The new

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Thanks Luka, I love the new look, I can't say that I liked the old one much - anything 60's / 70's is not my cup of tea :( .... CHCH is well on it's way to becoming a modern city :hug:

Air New Zealand and ANA will establish a closer partnership in Japan from March 25 next year, providing travellers on both airlines with improved access to destinations in Japan and New Zealand.

Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe and Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a Star Alliance CEO meeting in Ethiopia this week to develop the partnership covering areas such as code share and ground handling services in Japan.

The partnership will give Air New Zealand passengers easy access beyond the gateways of Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai). ANA operates more than 700 flights a day to 48 domestic destinations. ANA customers will have access to destinations in New Zealand and the Australasian region beyond the gateway of Auckland.

The partnership will also open up Japan as a corridor for New Zealanders travelling to Europe and other Asian destinations. ANA flies to the four European cities of London, Paris, Munich and Frankfurt as well as a range of Asian destinations including China, India, and Korea.

Air New Zealand’s group GM international airline, Christopher Luxon, said while Japan has been an important destination for Air NZ for three decades, the new relationship will help further extend its reach both within Japan and to points beyond.

"We have a clear strategy to develop strong alliances to support our core business and this new ANA code share is a good example of putting that strategy into action.”

Air New Zealand will move its Narita airport base to Terminal 1 South from March 25, placing it alongside other Star Alliance carriers and giving customers access to excellent terminal facilities including a modern lounge operated by ANA and smooth transit to connecting flights operated by ANA and other Star Alliance partners.

ANA’s executive VP of alliance, Keisuke Okada, said the partnership will add more value to ANA's network, which will now include New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands as a choice for our customers.

"ANA is also willing to promote New Zealand as a leisure destination within the Japanese market and we look forward to working together to continue to grow Japanese outbound passenger numbers to New Zealand.”

The code share arrangement between ANA and Air New Zealand is subject to regulatory approval. Air New Zealand’s flight frequencies will remain the same. When the new code share launches in March next year the airline is scheduled to operate five times a week to Tokyo and three times per week to Osaka
http://www.flightcentric.com/FC/FCNews/Air-NZ-ANA-strengthen-ties-3598.aspx

21 December 2011
SC153/2011

Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean today announced Air New Zealand has been awarded the contract to operate regular return airline services to Norfolk Island from Brisbane and Sydney.

The Federal Government awarded the contract following a tender process for an underwritten air service to the Island.

Air New Zealand will commence services in March 2012 using a 168-seat A320 aircraft.

Minister Crean said the announcement was a great outcome and natural fit for the airline.

"Air New Zealand has operated into Norfolk Island since 1947 and has significant presence in the Tasman market,"
Mr Crean said.

"The airline currently operates a weekly service between Auckland and Norfolk Island.

"Attracting a carrier of this size and experience will kick-start Norfolk Island tourism activity and provide greater economic opportunities for the community.

"The contract means the Norfolk Island Government will no longer have to carry the huge financial cost of running an airline.

"Those funds can now be directed towards other important community services and infrastructure.

"The Federal Governments commitment to underwriting an air service to Norfolk Island is part of the broader strategy to achieve a sustainable future for the Norfolk Island community."
http://www.minister.regional.gov.au/sc/releases/2011/december/sc153_2011.aspx

Really like the way Christchurch airport looks, wanna trade it for our crappy pumpkin rock thing?

Air New Zealand goes all black again

JbuCcdbIC0U


Air New Zealand goes all black once again, revealing the world's largest commercially operated plane sporting the national rugby team's colour. The Boeing 777-300ER was painted by 14 people working in shifts 24 hours a day for over a week, with 700 litres of chrome-free primer and paint. Boeing vice-president everett delivery centre, Jeff Klemann, said the job was one of the most challenging painting jobs they have ever done. "But the paint team was up for the challenge and the results are absolutely outstanding. I am very proud of what the paint team has achieved," he said. It took one and half days to prep and paint the aircraft entirely black, and a further five days for the intricate detail of the silver fern and the Koru symbol. The remaining time was spend on the finishing touches. All Blacks rugby players Kieran Read and Andy Ellis got a close look of the aircraft last month, when they led it out of the paint hangar facility in Seattle. "I always feel a huge amount of pride when I pull on the All Blacks jersey with the silver fern to represent my country on the rugby field and to see that replicated similarly on something this big is just awesome," Ellis said. Read said the plane looked "sensational" and would turn heads at airports around the world. "I reckon they should paint all their planes like this!" Air New Zealand said contrary to popular belief, the black paint would not cause the aircraft to heat up a great deal. The more than 330 individual TV screens inside create more heat than the all black paint job. "The all black colour scheme and silver fern are a key part of both New Zealand's and the All Blacks' identity, so we're excited to be able to take that iconic imagery to the world on a flying billboard that's more than 242 feet (73.9 metres) long," Air NZ group general manager international airline, Christopher Luxon, said. "It will certainly get people's attention when they see it at Auckland, Los Angeles, London Heathrow and Melbourne airports over the coming year." The plane was expected to be delivered to Air NZ this month following the completion of its interior fit out. By mid next year Air NZ would have six aircraft featuring the all black livery including two Airbus A320s and three Beech 1900D turbo-props.

Air New Zealand wins top airline 'Oscar' for second time.

A global airline industry magazine has named Air New Zealand the world's top airline for the second time in three years.
The United States-based Air Transport World gave the New Zealand airline top honours in its annual awards, which have been running for nearly 40 years, picking it as the best airline in the world in the past 12 months.
The judges described Air New Zealand as an industry trendsetter in several areas, including product innovation and social media, and praised it for its staff motivation.
The airline was also commended for its efforts in helping communities hit by the Christchurch earthquakes.
Air New Zealand also won the airline of the year award in 2010, and chief executive Rob Fyfe said another win was a huge thrill.
"Winning ATW Airline of the Year in 2010 was, in my view, one of the greatest accolades that had ever been bestowed on Air New Zealand - in our industry it's equivalent to winning an Oscar. To pick up the award again this year is simply outstanding."
Fyfe will accept the award at a ceremony in Singapore on February 13.
Other recent recipients of the airline of the year include Dubai-based carrier Emirates last year, and Korean airline Asiana in 2009.
Prime Minister John Key, who is also Tourism Minister, congratulated the airline, saying the award was an acknowledgement of the hard work staff and management had put in.
"Air New Zealand is a vital part of our tourism infrastructure," Key said.
"Often, the first experience incoming visitors have of New Zealand is with the national carrier, and those first impressions count."
Tourism Industry Association New Zealand chief executive Tim Cossar said it was an exceptional achievement for the airline to win the award twice in three years.
"It also highlights to New Zealanders the innovation and quality of our multibillion-dollar tourism industry," he said.

Photo from the Australian Aviation:
Air NZ's new black 777 looks very stylish

http://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AirNZ-777-300-black.jpg

Thanks Jarden, it is the "Prada" of planes :colgate:

Thanks Jarden, it is the "Prada" of planes :colgate:

Totally agree. It 'really nice. The style is unique! :)

Totally agree. It 'really nice. The style is unique! :)

Just hope it helps fill the planes. Long-haul hasn't been doing so well as of late.

Just hope it helps fill the planes. Long-haul hasn't been doing so well as of late.

CEO, board directors and shareholders with other managers, they think they get more good and great results with this new campaign. We'll see if they can reap the benefits. For now, I can only praise the initiative. :)

The target of a mystery foreign group approved to make a $1.3 billion investment in New Zealand last year is likely to be a listed company such as Auckland Airport, given the secrecy about the plan, a market commentator says.

The sale did not proceed but the deal inflated figures for approved foreign investment in New Zealand to almost $1.9b last year, according to Overseas Investment Office figures. The deal could still go ahead in future...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/business/national-business/6223747/Auckland-Airport-may-be-targeted-asset

Wellington Airport named one of world's scariest landings:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/wellington-airport-named-one-world-s-scariest-landings-4683330

Loads rise across Tasman for Air NZ:
http://www.travelweekly.com.au/getattachment/824c9dff-3141-45ca-8041-a13a556017c0/pdf.aspx

Air New Zealand has ruled out abandoning the London route and plans to start flying to new destinations this year.

Chief executive Rob Fyfe said in a note to staff that the airline would adopt a more seasonal approach to the loss-making London route in the face of weak demand.

"Passenger numbers are flat at best and, when put against the backdrop of economic turmoil in Europe, any pickup in demand for long-haul air travel from London looks unlikely in the foreseeable future."

The United States economy was also expected to suffer from slower global growth.

Qantas said at the end of last year that it would reduce capacity to Europe and budget carrier AirAsiaX, which flies to Christchurch, has scrapped all European services, blaming economic conditions, high taxes and rising fuel costs.

Fyfe told analysts last year that no stone would be left unturned as part of a comprehensive review of its long-haul business, which was losing $1 million a week, including the possibility of pulling the koru out of London.

However, with the review nearing completion, Fyfe has ruled out axing the flagship route. Instead, Air NZ would respond by better matching capacity to reduced passenger demand on the London service via Hong Kong and Los Angeles, he said.

This week onward flights to London via Hong Kong had been cut from daily over the peak Christmas period to five times a week. "It doesn't mean we're pulling out of London, and we have no current intention of withdrawing our presence from any market we serve."

London remained an important market, with Britain being the second-largest source of inbound visitors to New Zealand after Australia, Fyfe said.

Reduced services on some routes would free up planes to add capacity on other parts of the network or open new destinations. "You can expect to see some new routes announced during the year."

The airline has previously set its sights on further expansion to Asia and potentially South America.

A review of costs across the business had also resulted in savings of "tens of millions of dollars per year" since July last year, including a reduction in staff numbers of nearly 200 through natural attrition.

More than 100 other head office jobs were expected to be lost as part of a company-wide corporate overhead review.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/6308001/Air-New-Zealand-keeps-London-run

^^Regarding the above post there is a new forum to read on this topic:
Air NZ Keeps LHR Routes + New Routes Planned
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5366961/

What is mentioned is one new destination in Asia and one new destination in South America. Details to be released in february. Many suggest ICN/DPS/MNL and GRU/GIG as possible candidates.

Air NZ domestic picks up 0.3% increase:
http://www.etravelblackboard.co.nz/article.asp?nav=2&id=80831

Manila? Seriously? Go to SIN or KUL over MNL any day.. Seoul seems a more realistic route. Bali? Maybe in the chilly winters :P

An interview with Air NZ CEO Fyfe and his success and his future on close up can be seen here:
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/fyfe-success-and-his-future-video-4708657

3 February 2012


Kiwis will now be able to fly non-stop to the popular holiday destination of Bali with the launch of Air New Zealand’s new twice weekly service between Auckland and Denpasar Airport.


The Boeing 767-300 service will operate seasonally over the peak demand period of June to October, but has the potential to operate year round if there’s sufficient demand.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe says Bali is already a popular destination for Kiwis and the non-stop service will now make it even more accessible.

“Our flight time of eight and a half hours is a significant improvement on the indirect services offered by competitors that can involve long layovers and a total journey time of at least 14 and sometimes more than 24 hours.”

“We’ll be offering our flexible and popular ‘Seats to Suit’ fare structure on the Bali route with great pricing and arrival and departure times to be announced closer to the on-sale date of 23 February,” Mr Fyfe says.

“Bali has a stable tropical climate and great value food and accommodation, making it a really affordable way for New Zealanders to enjoy a resort style holiday in Asia at a fraction of the price of other destinations.”

The inaugural flight will depart on Wednesday June 20, subject to government and regulatory approvals. The Boeing 767-300 has 24 Business Class and 204 Economy Class seats.

Bali is a great addition to Air New Zealand’s portfolio of island destinations which includes Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Samoa, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Norfolk Island, Niue and Honolulu.

Air New Zealand last operated services between Auckland to Bali in the 1990s using a Boeing 767-200 aircraft.
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/press-release-2012-bali-is-air-new-zealands-newest-international-route

Totally agree. It 'really nice. The style is unique! :)

not really, here is the all black A320

http://www3.airlinesanddestinations.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/110128-airnzallblack-01.jpg

and the all black beach 1900D

http://www.airteamimages.com/pics/141/141203_800.jpg

and it owes more than a little to Heff's big bunny 727

http://ihaventyetbecome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/big_bunny.jpg

That last one is a DC9 not a 727. But a good comparison.

More like a Boeing 717 which is basically what you said but re-named after Boeing acquired McDonnell-Douglas.

Well, it's still a DC9. The 717 was an updated version. (Developed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95) Updated engines & avionics.

Just back to the All Black 777-300ER, I don't really like it. I prefer the standard livery, though I wish they had of left the pacific wave. :(

I could easily tell it was like a DC9-30 short body and by the old car next to it so that photo was taken well before they were renamed to 717s eg early 80s.

So who is going to try air nz service to Bali then?
The airfares will have to be competitive or kiwis will continue to take the one stop option via OZ to save a few $$$.

After the DC-9 came the MD80/90 then Boeing bought MD and it became the 717 in 1998. There is also the Chinese copy the Comac ARJ21 built using the tooling from the Chinese license built MD90.

I think the Comac has a new wing, and new engines obviously.

and it owes more than a little to Heff's big bunny 727

http://ihaventyetbecome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/big_bunny.jpg
Just saw this on airliners.net.....

This is Hef's big bunny now:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6J4og0hLPXQ/SxI8VrnvesI/AAAAAAAAADc/ZD1zCX9c1Po/s400/XA-JEB-Cadereyta.jpg

pretty sad isn't it, just think what stories that plane could tell if it could talk, I doubt there has been a plane since that has carried as many hot women.

The interior was pretty tasteful as well.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2011/02/2011-02-281125-copy.png

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2011/02/2011-02-281132-copy.png

Oh yeah, would have loved to witnessed some of the on board parties! :lol:

Runway to be resurfaced

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/6390797/Runway-revamp-ready-to-roll

Work is to begin on Monday night on a $3 million resurfacing of the Nelson Airport runway, but it won't affect scheduled passenger services, airport chief executive Kaye McNabb said.

A team of 40 contractors will be working through the night over two weeks from next Monday to resurface the 61,000 square metre runway.

Mrs McNabb said around 8500 tonne of asphalt will be required to complete the task, which will be done in sections. About 500 tonnes of asphalt will be laid each night, which is "no mean feat".

"Fulton Hogan is undertaking the work and planning has been detailed. Particular attention has been given to reducing disturbance to nearby residents as much as possible including such details as muffling the backing beepers on the plant being used.

"It is still likely that there will be some residents disturbed by the operations and we offer our sincere apologies in advance" Mrs McNabb said.

"The team will do all it can to minimise noise."

Air NZ plans more flights after Qantas cuts AKL to LAX service:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-city/news/article.cfm?l_id=164&objectid=10785950

Record travel on WLG-Queenstown link:
The launch of Jetstar's Queenstown-Wellington air link has boosted arrivals in the Central Otago resort town.

Traffic totalled 11,416 passengers in January, the busiest month ever at the airport.

Simon Barr acting chief at the airport says: "In the past this route has not been a significant contributor to our overall domestic passenger volume. However latest figures show that in January, 13.2 per cent of all our domestic travellers were on a Queenstown-Wellington service, compared with 4 per cent in previous months."

Air NZ plans more flights after Qantas cuts AKL to LAX service:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-city/news/article.cfm?l_id=164&objectid=10785950

Record travel on WLG-Queenstown link:
The launch of Jetstar's Queenstown-Wellington air link has boosted arrivals in the Central Otago resort town.

Traffic totalled 11,416 passengers in January, the busiest month ever at the airport.

Simon Barr acting chief at the airport says: "In the past this route has not been a significant contributor to our overall domestic passenger volume. However latest figures show that in January, 13.2 per cent of all our domestic travellers were on a Queenstown-Wellington service, compared with 4 per cent in previous months."

I think total traffic for January was over 100K not 11K. Its good to see that Jetstar is being rewarded for pioneering this route with jets. Be interesting to see how long it will take Air NZ to follow....

Qantas pulling out of AKL-LAX is a massive bonus for Air NZ.

I dont know why the NZ government maintains it open skies policy with Australia. Especially when we continue to screw you guys around. You should never have opened up that route to a other non Kiwi or US carriers.

--- waits for Jetstar to announce they are picking up the route. shudders.

Qantas pulling out of AKL-LAX is a massive bonus for Air NZ.

I dont know why the NZ government maintains it open skies policy with Australia. Especially when we continue to screw you guys around. You should never have opened up that route to a other non Kiwi or US carriers.

--- waits for Jetstar to announce they are picking up the route. shudders.

IMO, JQ is likely to start an AKL-LAX service.

And... Bye bye Air Australia (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10786160)

--- waits for Jetstar to announce they are picking up the route. shudders.


Exactly...

There is a good interview with Fyfe on Orient aviation about Air NZ direction he states that if they had the 787s in the fleet now it would be saving the airline $200 million per year in less fuel and maintenance costs.

Link:http://www.orientaviation.com/section.php?currenyIssue=I20120112170148-CryKX&currentSection=coverstory&currentArticle=A20120202120202-yM34P&

Air NZ long-haul passenger numbers fall in January; shares drop
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/airlines/news/article.cfm?c_id=113&objectid=10787245

Air New Zealand to start direct flights to the Sunshine Coast.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10787524

Air NZ to cut jobs on profit plunge

http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/02/air-nz-to-cut-jobs-on-profit-plunge/

Qantas pulling out of AKL-LAX is a massive bonus for Air NZ.

I dont know why the NZ government maintains it open skies policy with Australia. Especially when we continue to screw you guys around. You should never have opened up that route to a other non Kiwi or US carriers.

--- waits for Jetstar to announce they are picking up the route. shudders.

The NZ government have it better - rights from Australia outwards. But they've never taken advantage.

Rights from Sydney, Melbourne ad Brisbane to Asia are probably more lucrative for NZ than Auckland to NA for Qantas. But they've never got their act together to use them.

I think some routes from CHC and WEL stopping in Brisbane and heading on to Asia would work well.

So 2 more 787s on order still a long wait:
Air New Zealand confirmed that is has converted two options for Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, bringing its total order of the fuel efficient aircraft to 10. The carrier said it has also agreed to new terms with Boeing that will see the first 787s delivered in the second quarter of 2014, more than three years later than originally expected.

“Despite the extremely frustrating and costly delays, we strongly believe the 787-9 is the right aircraft for Air New Zealand and worth the wait,” Fyfe said.

Update at 0720GMT 23FEB12

As per 23FEB12 GDS timetable and inventory display, Air New Zealand’s initial changes to Northern Winter 2012/13 season to North America as follows.

As always additional changes remain possible:

Auckland – Honolulu eff 15NOV12 Service Increases from 3 to 4 weekly, compared to 2 in Northern Winter 2011/12 season
NZ010 AKL1030 – 2015-1HNL 763 x135
NZ009 HNL2145 – 0600+2AKL 763 x247

Auckland – Los Angeles eff 11DEC12
NZ002/001 77W Daily
NZ006/005 77W Day x2 772 Day 2

Auckland – San Francisco Service Increase compared to 5 weekly in Northern Winter 2011/12 season
28OCT12 – 09DEC12 Service operates 6 weekly
eff 10DEC12 Daily

NZ008 AKL1930 – 1030SFO 744 x357
NZ008 AKL1930 – 1045SFO 772 357

NZ007 SFO1900 – 0500+2AKL 744 x357
NZ007 SFO1900 – 0510+2AKL 772 357

NZ008/007 Day 3 service operates from 10DEC12

Auckland – Vancouver eff 13DEC12 Service Increase to 5 weekly, compared to 4 weekly in Northern Winter 2011/12 season
NZ084 AKL2000 – 1215YVR 772 x12
NZ083 YVR1815 – 0530+2AKL 772 x12
http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/23/nz-w12update1/

Air New Zealand will not be parking its planes or dropping any markets as the listed airline looks to adjust capacity and boost profitability, says chief executive Rob Fyfe.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/airlines/news/article.cfm?c_id=113&objectid=10787819

Air New Zealand will not be parking its planes or dropping any markets as the listed airline looks to adjust capacity and boost profitability, says chief executive Rob Fyfe.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/airlines/news/article.cfm?c_id=113&objectid=10787819


I find it interesting that they are sacking staff whilst at the same time exercising options for a couple more dreamliners. This is unusually short-term reactional behaviour by Air NZ. I guess asset sales must be in the wind.

I find it interesting that they are sacking staff whilst at the same time exercising options for a couple more dreamliners. This is unusually short-term reactional behaviour by Air NZ. I guess asset sales must be in the wind.

I don't think we know enough information yet to make a judgement call as there could well be back-office or front office functions that are currently overstaffed. As for the Dreamliner’s, they will replace the remaining 747's providing a much more fuel-efficient service while also opening up new markets, so the two points above are not mutually exclusive.

High-flying future for Queenstown Airport
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5066/5578119139_2c670b9841_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blamethemonkey/5578119139/)
The Queenstown Lookout - (HDR New Zealand) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blamethemonkey/5578119139/) di blame_the_monkey (http://www.flickr.com/people/blamethemonkey/), su Flickr

Queenstown Airport's future is so bright its bosses have hinted at expanding into off-site retail and real estate after reporting a $6 million profit for the past six months. Airport corporate general manager and acting chief executiveKaren Castiglione dropped the expansion hints at the end of presenting the airport corporation's six-monthly report and draft statement of intent to Tuesday's Queenstown Lakes District Council's finance and corporate committee. The corporation would "pursue other commercial activities on land owned by the airport", Ms Castiglione said. Airport chairman John Gilks said airport business revolved around a core trade of aeronautic operations but also included "an awful lot of commercial activity, including rental car facilities and retail". Adding to the hints about growth, Mr Gilks said Scott Paterson, the corporation's new chief executive, who is due to start his job officially next Thursday, was the right man to lead the airport into a further period of expansion. "The next few years will be characterised by development one way or another, and Mr Paterson has the skills and experience in infrastructure and development to see us in pretty good shape." Ms Castiglione declined to comment further on the plans. Although Mr Paterson attended the meeting in a non-official role, he was introduced to Queenstown Mayor Vanessa van Uden, councillors and committee members, and gave them an assurance he was looking forward to a "speaking role" in the imminent future. In the last six months of last year the airport's aeronautic operations revenue rose by 7 per cent to top $6 million, which was an increase of $428,000 on the same period in 2010. That growth rate was bested with a rise of 18 per cent in commercial operations, including retail, commercial transport tariffs and parking charges, taking the entire revenue stream to almost $2.5 million for the six-month period. Construction of a Hertz rental car site within the airport complex also began late last year, and is slated to be finished by May.

Auckland Airport profit up 5.5pc
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3539/3629794161_3c7b054cd2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rovingisydney/3629794161/)
Auckland airport (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rovingisydney/3629794161/) di Roving I (http://www.flickr.com/people/rovingisydney/), su Flickr

Auckland International Airport, New Zealand's biggest gateway, posted a 5.5 per cent increase in first-half profit on passenger growth and said full-year earnings would be "at the higher end" of its guidance. Net profit rose to $69 million, or 5.22 cents a share, in the six months ended December 31, from $65.5 million, or 4.99 cents a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Sales rose 8.9 per cent to $215.9 million, while expenses climbed 15 per cent to $54.5 million, which it said largely reflected work ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The biggest single contribution to the gain in revenue was from retailing, where sales rose 13 per cent to $61.8 million. Revenue from airfield income, passenger services and terminal services charges combined rose 6.6 per cent to $95.5 million and the company flagged further increases to fund development of a new domestic terminal. The airport company has diversified from its core Auckland airfield business, developing its land holdings to accommodate a hotel, retailing, offices and airport services, and investing in airports in Queenstown and Queensland. Total international passengers rose 6.5 per cent to 3.96 million in the first half while domestic passengers rose 0.9 per cent to 3.13 million. January including the biggest week for international passengers ever recorded, it said. Volumes through the airport are now pushing the capacity limits of the current domestic terminal, chief executive Simon Moutter said. The company has been looking at building anew domestic terminal, with a decision expected in the next few months, he said. The existing domestic terminal, dating back 40 years, "is becoming increasingly inadequate" especially with the arrival of larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320. Providing the new infrastructure will represent "a significant investment that will affect airport charges." Auckland Airport had previously flagged full-year net profit, before any one-time items and fair-value accounting changes, would be "in the $130 millions." "We are firmly on track to meet the higher end of this guidance" subject to volatility in the global market, non-cash charges and adverse events, Moutter said. The company will pay a first-half dividend of 4.4 cents a share, up from 4 cents a year earlier. The shares were last at $2.445 and have advanced 8.9 per cent in the past 12 months. Auckland Airport is rated a 'hold' based on the consensus of 11 recommendations compiled by Reuters. The company's share of profits from associates -its holdings in North Queensland Airports, Queenstown Airport and Auckland Airport Holdings - rose about 220 per cent to $2.7 million. North Queensland sales rose 7.4 per cent to A$$57 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, fair-value adjustments and investments in associates rose 16 per cent to $37.5 million. Queenstown Airport sales rose 9.9 per cent to $8.5 million, while EBITDAFI rose 4.9 per cent to $6.2 million.

AAX to axe Christchurch route next?
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my


PETALING JAYA: After announcing its withdrawal from popular European and Indian cities earlier this year, AirAsia X (AAX) is set to axe its KL-Christchurch-KL route, according to a source.

“It may announce the cut as early as this week and suspend flights within the next few months,” the source added.

Those in the know claimed that the airline was making losses on the route although it did stimulate demand for the twice weekly flights to New Zealand.

In January, AAX said it would stop flying to London, Paris, New Delhi and Mumbai. It is learnt that AAX is moving away from long-haul to medium-haul flights.

“We see this as a change in network strategy as it is moving away from the longer flights,” CAPA Centre for Aviation senior analyst Brendan Sobie said.

AAX seemed to be focusing on routes that were in the eight to nine-hour flying radius and it would take 13 hours to fly to London or Paris and 11 hours to Christchurch.

The only other Asean airline to fly into Christchurch is Singapore Airlines which operates on a daily basis.

Sobie said that the farther an airline flew, the higher its cost and for LCCs, cost management is a big part of its business. He added that the biggest cost advantage for LCCs was really shorter flights.

That's a shame. From all I've heard it's been a bloody successful route! This will be a huge shame for us as tourist $ are what we need.

Sorry but if it was a successful and profitable route they wouldn't be cutting it.

Airport upbeat on full-year outlook

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/12/68855826_3b7d0d9887_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jestyr/68855826/)
Auckland Airport (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jestyr/68855826/) by Jestyr (http://www.flickr.com/people/jestyr/), on Flickr

Auckland Airport is not taking growth in Asia Pacific for granted as it pushes its full-year financial forecast towards the top of guidance, according to chief executive Simon Moutter. "We're very clear in the business today that we think we are providing investors with an interesting proposition which is a relatively low-risk exposure to the Asian growth story and practically every part of our business is demonstrating the benefit of that approach," Moutter said. But the airport would not think its Asia-Pacific location meant it would benefit from growth by accident. "We think as an island nation on the bottom of the planet we have to work pretty hard and we have to innovate and do a bit more to earn a preferential slice of that Asian growth."

The NZX-listed airport yesterday reported net profit for the six months ended December 31 up 5.5 per cent at $69.1 million, with underlying profit up 15 per cent to $70.8 million. Total international passenger movements at the airport, including transits, rose 6.5 per cent to 4 million for the period, with strong growth out of Singapore, China and Australia. Moutter said that was an excellent performance and he was "cautiously optimistic" about near-term prospects, with full-year profit, excluding any fair value changes and other one-off items, expected to be at the high-end of guidance of the $130 millions. The second half of the financial year had started well, particularly in terms of passenger volumes, with January having the busiest week for international arrivals and departures ever recorded, the airport said.

China Southern Airlines in November increased its flights to a daily service, which was showing every week in the number of visitors, Moutter said. In total 141,424 people arrived at the airport from China last year - an increase of 19.3 per cent - with the month of December up 29.1 per cent. "If anything our view on Asia has heightened as the global economy shifts and the continuing concerns in Europe, which several years ago were not being predicted to be quite so long lasting," Moutter said. "So certainly the travel markets continue to change and we think the emphasis on Asia as a source of passenger volume growth for New Zealand has increased." Outbound tourism from China was 70 million trips last year - a rise of more than 20 per cent, Moutter said.

The growth rate was phenomenal by any standards and the United Nations had predicted China would become the No 1 country in terms of both receiving and sending tourists in the next five to seven years, he said. New Zealand's share of Chinese outbound tourism last year was only 0.2 per cent and those visitors spent $457 million, excluding international airfares, which was greater than the $447 million spent by United States visitors. "We hear a lot of noise in the market from tourism entities who are not yet adapting to manage this new opportunity but the numbers speak for themselves and the potential is there." Auckland Airport's share price closed down 4c yesterday at $2.40.5.

Goldman Sachs head of research Marcus Curley said it was a strong result. "International passenger volumes were strong partly due to underlying growth, partly due to the Rugby World Cup and partly due to [the airport's] efforts of bringing in some new carriers," he said. Auckland Airport said revenue was $215.9 million, up 8.9 per cent on the same period the previous year, with a strong performance from retail and car parking businesses. Total domestic passenger volume growth was up 0.9 per cent to 3.1 million. The airport was experiencing capacity constraints and sub-optimal performance at the domestic terminal and was working on plans for a new terminal, Moutter said.

Sorry but if it was a successful and profitable route they wouldn't be cutting it.

More often that not, many airlines axe successful routes when they loose far too much money when they had them. You can have a successful route but not make enough money off the fares to cover running costs.

You can have a successful route but not make enough money off the fares to cover running costs.

Which by all accounts is the situation they find themselves in with Christchurch. It is an extremely successful route by passenger numbers, but any flight over 9hrs really starts to hurt financially. Its why their European routes were cut.

Also, there has recently been a share swap with MAS - their competitor as the only direct flight on the MY-NZ route. I haven't flown MAS back to NZ since AAX launched the route (their premium flat bed is about the same price as MAS economy) but I would think that MAS (who fly KL-AKL) will have suffered.

I also wouldn't rule out some backroom horse-trading now that each party owns a small stake in the other. As anti-competitive as that may be, this is Malaysia....

Which by all accounts is the situation they find themselves in with Christchurch. It is an extremely successful route by passenger numbers, but any flight over 9hrs really starts to hurt financially. Its why their European routes were cut.


Which seems to suggest that under current business models long haul LCC's don't work. Hopefully the 787 & A350 might change this.....

Which seems to suggest that under current business models long haul LCC's don't work. Hopefully the 787 & A350 might change this.....

Could do, but yes, I cant think of a long haul (+9hrs) LCC that has survived.

If you think about it, in the time it takes to make a return flight to NZ with a full load, they could have gone (from KL) to Hong Kong (4hrs) with a full load maybe 4-5 times.

Australians Prefer Air New Zealand

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5135/5560114091_c6f44a935b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/superhero-monkee/5560114091/)
Air New Zealand 77W Business Premier Cabin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/superhero-monkee/5560114091/) by lindsay.gardiner (http://www.flickr.com/people/superhero-monkee/), on Flickr

Air New Zealand has been named ‘International Airline of the Year’ in the inaugural Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards in Australia. Roy Morgan surveyed nearly 4,000 people who’d used an international airline in the previous 12 months and Air Zealand was rated the Best International Airline for customer satisfaction in 2011, winning more months than any other airline throughout the year. Air New Zealand’s average satisfaction rating for the year was 89%. Air New Zealand General Manager Australia Cam Wallace, says winning the International Airline of the Year category in Roy Morgan’s first Australian Customer Satisfaction Awards is a great honour. “For years we’ve pursued a strategy that recognises that our people rather than planes are our most valuable asset and it’s really pleasing to see that acknowledged by the people who fly with us.”

Mr Wallace said the award reflected Air New Zealand’s commitment to delivering customers a uniquely Kiwi experience in what is one of the world’s most competitive industries. “We believe the ability of our people to adapt quickly to changing customer expectations, new competitors and uncertain economic conditions has enabled Air New Zealand to outperform most of our peers in terms of the genuine service we deliver to our Australian passengers and those around the globe. Last year Air New Zealand won more than 25 awards across the business – recognising such diverse areas as innovation, in-flight product, design, brand and marketing strength and

The following from the ATW online:
Air New Zealand (NZ) has announced a capacity increase between Auckland and several North American destinations, after Qantas decided to withdraw its Auckland-Los Angeles route in May.

This move closely follows the mid-February collapse of Australian regional Air Australia (formerly Strategic Airlines), which grounded its fleet Feb. 17, after it said there were “no funds available to meet operational expenses.”

NZ will increase its 12X-weekly Los Angeles-Auckland (AKL) service to 14X-weekly in mid-June, using a combination of 304-seat Boeing 777-200 and 332-seat 777-300 aircraft. It will begin using 379-seat 747-400 on its San Francisco-AKL service, moving the route to 5X-weekly beginning in April, and upgrading to a daily service during peak demand periods. Its AKL-Vancouver service, which has previously operated between 2X- and 4X-weekly, will move to a 5X-weekly 777-200 service during the peak December-February season.

“Air New Zealand is able to add further capacity into North America if there is sufficient demand,” the carrier said.

Plans for a plane spotting cafe at Wellington airport:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/6535049/Cafe-planned-near-airports-runway
AirAsia X set to cancel NZ operations:
Industry sources say the Malaysian budget airline has approached Air New Zealand about the availability of special fares to cater for passengers who will have their travel plans disrupted by their flights being cancelled.
Read More:
http://tvnz.co.nz/travel-news/airasia-x-set-cancel-nz-operations-4764129

Auckland Airport welcomes immigration vision
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4049/4321178093_b7e4a56663_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/horizon729/4321178093/)
International_Departures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/horizon729/4321178093/) di horizon_ (http://www.flickr.com/people/horizon729/), su Flickr


Focus rightly on wider economic benefits of immigration and on smarter processes and outcomes. Auckland Airport has welcomed the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) launch of their vision for 2015. The vision outlines a blueprint for improving immigration policy and processes to deliver better outcomes for New Zealand. Auckland Airport general manager corporate affairs, Charles Spillane, congratulated the INZ team on their work, and said that the new vision continues their recent outstanding partnerships with tourism and with other export industries to serve New Zealand's long-term interests. "In a global climate when immigration matters are often very sensitive, Immigration New Zealand is fast becoming a model for a progressive, smart immigration service that keeps the bigger goals in mind. This future vision will help them find the optimal balance between protecting the integrity of New Zealand, and promoting better social and economic outcomes by making it easier for the best qualified migrants and highest-value visitors to get here." Auckland Airport is particularly welcoming of the focus outlined in the vision on better service, better systems, and better outcomes. "The commitment made by the Government to a new high-tech online immigration system will, when fully implemented, make a huge difference to the ease of visa application for potential migrants and visitors. "New Zealand has some significant disadvantages in global tourism and trade terms. Basically we are small and we are a long way from anywhere. Because of this, New Zealand must have fewer barriers to visitation or doing business with than with our global competitors. Having a world-class immigration system and visa application process will make a real difference to that goal." said Mr Spillane. The INZ vision also outlines an operating model that manages low risk and high risk better, that delivers consistent and transparent service, and can identify and target higher-value markets and higher value applicants. "Immigration is but one part of a much bigger 'NZ Incorporated' jigsaw. By aligning the market priorities of INZ with those of the tourism and trade industries and New Zealand's economic development interests, and by managing risk in a much more dynamic and targeted way, we believe there is a far greater likelihood of success for the country." "We all have shared goals in seeing New Zealand succeed globally and in accelerating our economic prospects - our future living standards will depend on it. We look forward to working with INZ on turning their vision into more visitors, more trade opportunities, and more value for New Zealand.", said Mr Spillane.

That is surely Melbourne's departure screen though?

^^
Hahaha :lol: ... Actually, the photo has nothing to do with the Auckland airport ... I wanted to find a picture in HD, with a nice contrast, so that I could put in the post. :)

From Air Asia's Facebook page the official announcement:



AirAsia X, the long-haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia, today announced the suspension of its services to Christchurch, New Zealand as part of the realignment of its network.

The current four times weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch will be suspended with the last flight on 30 May, 2012 (from Kuala Lumpur) and 31 May, 2012 (from Christchurch).

AirAsia X will offer guests who hold bookings after these dates an option of a full refund, a reroute to another AirAsia X destination (e.g. Australia to Kuala Lumpur or Kuala Lumpur to North Asia), or a rebook of a return flight prior to 31 May, 2012 (subject to availability). All changes will be made at no additional cost to mitigate the inconvenience caused as a result of the withdrawal. All affected guests will receive an e-mail stating the available options. The options will also apply to any travel booked within Malaysia or to other Asian destinations on the AirAsia network in conjunction with the confirmed Christchurch-Kuala Lumpur booking.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said “The decision to withdraw from Christchurch was a difficult one, but was made taking into account our strategic focus in consolidating our network on markets where we have built up stable, profitable routes.”

Be social, be unconventional! The case of Air New Zealand

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5136/5406721280_c8be2180e0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anz787900/5406721280/)
Air New Zealand Airbus A320 All Blacks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anz787900/5406721280/) di ANZ787900 (http://www.flickr.com/people/anz787900/), su Flickr

The industry is in crisis, and the sky is dominated by the giants of the air transport such as Air France-KLM, BA-Iberia, United-Continental in this scene ... how can a small company to be known around the world? Air New Zealand is not only one of the best social media case study of aviation, but a source of inspiration. The goal is clear: to strengthen the brand and consocere Air New Zealand and abroad. The prerequisites are there: airline solid, innovative, high quality (also elected this year to ATW Airline of the Year 38th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards 2012). The approach and 'revolutionary does not invest in traditional media, but all converge on social media leveraging their global reach. The result: with a small budget compared to traditional advertising campaigns of competitors, an exponential increase in brand awareness and media coverage surprising. But above all, customer engagement, loyalty, recognition and reputation. A relational approach that enhances the ability to create a direct relationship with its audience.
Visiting the site The Flying Social Network you can get a complete and up to date on which and how many shares have been - and are - made by ANZ on social channels:
1. ANZ has completely changed the rules of branding in the field of aviation;
2. The starting point was in key rethink unconventional, social and viral elements of communication / advertising characteristic and distinctive for an airline, first and foremost the safety videos, a few examples:
"Nothing to Hide" employees explaining the same protagonists dressed in body paint only the safety instructions. But the message goes beyond this is obvious: in a time of low cost airlines and bargain prices (which then inevitably soar when booking or at check-in is more than a few pounds in luggage ...) prices and service ANZ are transparent, there is nothing to hide ... how to communicate it, is very innovative!
3. The choice of mascot Rico and make it "live" in social networks through a surreal storytelling, was totally unconventional (and had shared the same New Zealanders about what could be representative of their nation - but this was expected, of course) and if innovative compared to others in the industry.
4. The large space is also reserved to activities and contests that first of all have fun, are not mere advertising campaigns and trivial style "I like something" or "Someone likes my company" where the engagement reduces the possibility to win a trip-prize.
5. ANZ has produced a massive media coverage only through the action of digital marketing and PR without buying advertising space (saving considerably on traditional advertising budget). His videos are gone viral on the NY Times, the press specializes in marketing and communication, and even in magazines about music and Hip Hop.
6. Even in the presence of an integrated general guidelines and a well-researched editorial plan, every social media is constantly analyzed, monitored and managed by developing content and ideas related and relevant to its audience.

ANZ fails to follow the trend and ride, to understand the expectations of his audience constantly surprising him and involving him in activities and contests, almost creating a real community "ANZ addicted", attracting the attention of those influencers that amplify with a tweet causing the message to reach millions of potential customers. In a nutshell: funny, unconventional, viral, enagaging and definitely successfull. Kia Ora!

Air New Zealand cuddles its passengers
"Cuddle class", the class of pampering. Because we embrace, to sleep comfortable on those three places of aircraft that are transformed into a bed (restricted).
But also because the basic idea is that, and it is increasingly common: the pampered traveler, make them feel that the flight is cut out for him. Extra comfort, a meal at a fast lane for boarding, the baggage that comes more quickly, a few inches to stretch their legs: details, price increases more or less light than the traditional economy, but they can make special crossing for those who can not afford the business.
Of course, by dint of extras the price could rise but it is hard to resist the temptation to pay little and get a personalized treatment. That's why companies are working very well recently invented: the crisis of flights has added to the economic crisis and the result is that it is increasingly difficult to attract passengers. And those who decide to fly, at the end are increasingly demanding. For his long intercontinental flights Air New Zealand has invented cuddle class: the result of laboratory tests and the idea is simple but revolutionary, three seats that stretch and, together, form a bed, reversing the usual position of the nap in plane.
You pay half of the place occupied in more in a row, but privacy is guaranteed, for example, for families who want more space for children or for couples who wish to be intimate. So a greater comfort, the feeling of using a special service (not all rows of seats are empowered to transform into beds), but without spending as first class.

Air New Zealand Ltd. (AIR), the nation’s biggest carrier, still sees a risk that its order for Boeing Co. (BA) 787 Dreamliner planes will be further delayed, Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said.

The first 787 was delivered to Japan’s All Nippon Airways (9202) in September, more than three years late because of struggles with new materials and manufacturing processes. Air New Zealand is the initial customer for the 787-9, a longer version of the 787-8, and is to start receiving 10 of the planes in 2014’s second quarter.

Rob Fyfe, chief executive officer of Air New Zealand Ltd., announced in January that he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the year. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Enlarge image Air New Zealand Chief Sees Risk of Boeing Delivery Delays

Air New Zealand is raising ticket prices to reflect the increased cost of fuel and has reduced its capacity on some domestic and so-called Trans-Tasman routes between Australia and New Zealand.

The Auckland-based airline is postponing the retirement of some of its four-engine Boeing 747 jumbo jets to plug the gap. China Eastern Airlines Corp. in October swapped an order for 24 Dreamliners for smaller Boeing planes, in part due to the delays.

“We’ve had delivery dates, I guess the question is more what’s the level of confidence those aircraft will arrive on those dates,” Fyfe said today in an interview in London. “The delays have been frustrating” though the 787 will be a “really good aircraft” when it arrives, he said.

Boeing says the Dreamliner will be as much as 20 percent cheaper to operate than comparably sized jets, due to materials that are lighter than traditional aluminum. The twin-engine plane seats 210 to 290 passengers and is being marketed to fly long-haul routes that have been the domain of larger aircraft.

A spokeswoman for Boeing said the planemaker doesn’t discuss customer delivery dates.
Profit Decline

Air New Zealand said Feb. 23 that net income fell 61 percent to NZ$38 million ($31 million) for the six months ended Dec. 31 as fuel costs surged and a weak global economy crimped demand.

“The big difference in the past six months has been the rapid escalation in the oil,” Fyfe said. “When oil stays at an escalated level your hedges only buy you time to adjust; sooner or later you become fully exposed to that oil price.”

Brent crude has gained more than 16 percent this year in London to about $125 a barrel mainly on concern that conflict with Iran could choke off oil exports from the Persian Gulf.

Air New Zealand is raising ticket prices to reflect the increased cost of fuel and has reduced its capacity on some domestic and so-called Trans-Tasman routes between Australia and New Zealand. The carrier also plans to cut as many as 441 jobs by the end of June.

The board is now searching for Fyfe’s replacement, after announcing in January that he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the year. Fyfe, 50, who was named CEO in October 2005, said he has yet to decide what he will do next.

“There’s been a lot of speculation as to what I’ll do, but I haven’t made any commitments, in fact I’m not even entering into any conversations at the minute,” Fyfe said. “There’s far too much to do at Air New Zealand before I leave.”


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-12/air-new-zealand-chief-sees-risk-of-boeing-delivery-delays-1-.html

Queenstown airport almost hit 1 million pax last year:
2011 calender stats
AKL 13,703,043
CHC 5,592,529
WLG 5,135,000
ZQN 966,574
DUD 776,508
NSN 758,250

Christchurch had the bigest drop of 405,000

Queenstown airport almost hit 1 million pax last year:
2011 calender stats
AKL 13,703,043
CHC 5,592,529
WLG 5,135,000
ZQN 966,574
DUD 776,508
NSN 758,250

Christchurch had the bigest drop of 405,000

Great stats. According to their latest passenger stats on the website, Queenstown airport expects passenger numbers to pass 1 million this March. Approximately 200k international and 800K domestic. it will be the first NZ airport, other than the big 3, to ever service 1 million passengers in a year. Hopefully Dunedin and Nelson will follow, although probably quite a few years from now I expect...

I started a new article on wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busiest_airports_in_New_Zealand

Most NZ airports don't have reliable PAX numbers a lot needs to be improved.

Air NZ grounds its ATR fleet due to hairline cracks:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/101189/about-3000-people-affected-by-grounded-planes.

Also an extra flight to Shanghai.
As per 19MAR12 GDS timetable and inventory display, Air New Zealand in Northern Winter 2012/13 season is introducing 5th weekly rotation on Auckland – Shanghai Pu Dong service. This would be the carrier’s 3rd year in a row to increase service on this route.

New flight operates on Wednesdays from Auckland, Thursdays from Shanghai.

Schedule:

NZ289 AKL2345 – 0710+1PVG 772 x26
NZ288 PVG1415 – 0650+1AKL 772 x37

That's the 7 weekly flights to China used up then. Will they apply for more flights?

I started a new article on wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busiest_airports_in_New_Zealand

Most NZ airports don't have reliable PAX numbers a lot needs to be improved.

I think Ardmore would figure highly in the air movement stats.
Couldn't find any data though unfortunatley

I started a new article on wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busiest_airports_in_New_Zealand

Most NZ airports don't have reliable PAX numbers a lot needs to be improved.

Thanks for this jarden - very informative and good links :cheers:

I think the CHC wiki site is very poor :ohno:

Dave, You can always edit it yourself if you have more info to contribute its fairly easy to use but they like a source.

Hopefully Dunedin and Nelson will follow, although probably a quite few years from now I expect...

The Nelson Airport Wikipedia article said that it was already around 1 million per year, although I don't know how accurate those figures are.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if it would pass 1 million within the next two to three years with the new fleet of ATR's coming online and airport expansions to handle more growth.

LOL, MSN NZ struggling to find a modern photo of Wellington Airport, photo off Wiki from 1969.

http://travel.msn.co.nz/travelnews/8439246/wellington-airport-resumes-after-fog-lifts

Nelson is actually 758,250 those are from their annual report for 2011. Queenstown will be the first regional airport to pass the 1 million mark it should do it this year as is growing the fastest in the country.

LOL, MSN NZ struggling to find a modern photo of Wellington Airport, photo off Wiki from 1969.

http://travel.msn.co.nz/travelnews/8439246/wellington-airport-resumes-after-fog-lifts

:lol: Pathetic !


Gr8 news for Q'town, to think that the town only has 23 000 inhabitants and it's the fastest growing Airport in Australasia :cheers:

The Nelson Airport Wikipedia article said that it was already around 1 million per year, although I don't know how accurate those figures are.



I think you'll find that those numbers include people just visiting the terminal to see people off etc.. According to the official financials actual travelling passenger numbers were around 760K 30/06/2011. Considering that Palmerston North and Napier are only around the 450 - 500K per annum the number of passengers through Nelson is astonishing. In terms of financial performance it has one of the best ROEs ( return on equity) of a provincial airport in both Australia and NZ. There aren't too many airports in regional NZ paying the local councils six figure dividends every year.

I think you'll find that those numbers include people just visiting the terminal to see people off etc.. According to the official financials actual travelling passenger numbers were around 760K 30/06/2011. Considering that Palmerston North and Napier are only around the 450 - 500K per annum the number of passengers through Nelson is astonishing. In terms of financial performance it has one of the best ROEs ( return on equity) of a provincial airport in both Australia and NZ. There aren't too many airports in regional NZ paying the local councils six figure dividends every year.

This is because we sit at the centre of Air Nelson operations. Nothing more. Although it is nice to see Nelson doing better than bigger cities in something for once.

I do think that we should try to make it an international airport. There must be some demand for international travel coming in and out.

^^
Why? I really don't see the point of making NSN an international airport.
Wellington is a short hop away, direct and frequent services to AKL and CHC....

Nelson/ Abel Tasman is a very popular destination for vistors to NZ but it is generally not a stand alone destination (such as skiing holidays to Queenstown for Australians for instance).

Air New Zealand: mini-golf tournament at high altitudes
Passengers traveling on Air New Zealand will be offered the opportunity to participate in an event of in flight entertainment out of the ordinary to celebrate the sponsorship and the beginning of the New Zealand Pro-Am Golf Tournament, passengers can now play miniature golf along the corridors of airplanes in the New Zealand company. The event, called "30,000 ft. in flight putting challenge", was designed by James Gibson, head of sponsorship of the Air New Zealand. "At Air New Zealand go crazy for rugby outside the aircraft, and crazy golf in them: we look forward to offering our passengers the opportunity to attend one of the biggest golf events of the world even before landing. Who wants to can put on display his skills, while others will simply enjoy watching a tournament improvised on board." Four passengers will be given the opportunity to participate and win prizes related to golf after the event, the winner will enjoy a package that includes flights, accommodation and two tickets to the final tournament of golf plus a set custom golf clubs, provided by another sponsor of the tournament.

Aviation 'key part' of rebuild
Aviation hubs in Christchurch will be a source of employment growth for a city trying to recover from the earthquakes, Airways New Zealand boss Ed Sims says. Airways' air traffic control operation in Christchurch is by far the largest in the country containing about 60 per cent of Airways' 730 staff despite the loss of some business after February 22. Sims said after nine months in the leadership role with Airways he wanted to reaffirm the group's commitment to the quake-hit city as a core base for its nationwide operations. "In terms of aviation expertise, one of the lovely things about Christchurch and one of the areas I'd like to work more collaboratively in ... is you've got three if not four centres (including the airport and Air New Zealand's engineering centre) including the cadet training college that are centres of real aviation expertise," he said. "That's something I think we've underdeveloped, underexploited. If the four of us work collectively then as Christchurch rebuilds then aviation should be one of the cornerstones." Sims wants to drive Airways' export-based revenues, from the sales of its systems offshore, from 15-20 per cent of total revenue to up to 50 per cent within the next 10 years, partly through boosting investment in Canterbury staff and also by training foreign air traffic controllers. "To be honest that was one of the key reasons I joined the organisation as it had the opportunity to grow the export side of the business, and to demonstrate how forward thinking a lot of the technological thinking is." The state-owned enterprise reported revenues of $152.6 million in the year to June 30, 2011, up from $145.4m in the 2010 financial year. Sims said Airways wanted to sell systems to help overseas traffic controllers best recruit potential trainees and then train them. Airways was already working directly with controller trainees from the Middle East. As a result of the February 22 earthquake a group of Saudi Arabian air traffic control students based in Christchurch rapidly left the city at the behest of the Saudi's General Authority for Civil Aviation group. The first year students gaining language skills were now based with a Kaplan English language school in Auckland, while the second year students were doing flight simulation courses in Palmerston North. Sims wanted to see the eventual return of such training schemes to Christchurch. Airways was in talks with potential groups responsible for trainee air traffic controllers from Abu Dhabi, Oman, China and Hong Kong to come to Sir William Pickering Drive for those courses. Airways engineers were chasing opportunities in software support for the software giants in the industry including Lockheed Martin, Thales and General Electric, and also developing collaborative decision making tools including an "arrivals manager". In conjunction with Air New Zealand, Airways had developed a web-based system to control the sequencing of departures of aircraft so they do not arrive too early at their destination airport forcing them into a holding pattern above the ground. This system could collectively save airlines tens of millions of dollars in fuel, Sims said. Christchurch was a strong base for engineers, systems support and the country's air traffic controllers employed to manage the air space between airports. The national roles would remain here. "And even despite everything that's happened in the last 18 months I still think we're right to have a single centre, with a contingency backup (in Auckland), and we're right to have it in Christchurch."

NZ has got enough international airports already the population is well covered by the existing 8 airports as we only got 4.5 million people compared to 10 international airports in Australia for its nearly 23 million people and a much larger country geographically speaking. So we are well supported for our small market size.

^^
Why? I really don't see the point of making NSN an international airport.
Wellington is a short hop away, direct and frequent services to AKL and CHC....

Nelson/ Abel Tasman is a very popular destination for vistors to NZ but it is generally not a stand alone destination (such as skiing holidays to Queenstown for Australians for instance).

I was just suggesting as it would be a viable alternative in case Wellington has problems with weather or something.

But I don't mind not having it. Just as long as ANZ doesn't stop it's current investments in the airport, I'm happy.

I was just suggesting as it would be a viable alternative in case Wellington has problems with weather or something.

In bad weather, domestic flights are already diverted to Palmerston North are they not.

In terms of international flights into the capital, I guess they just delay them.

Thanks IThomas for that positive artical about Aviation in CHC :-)

^^ You're welcome :) ... is always a pleasure to contribute to the forum of the beautiful and fantastic New Zealand! :hug:

Not delay them as PMR gets international diversions also if WLG has bad weather. That's how they keep their international airport status despite no scheduled flights and the odd private jet from time to time.

Not delay them as PMR gets international diversions also if WLG has bad weather. That's how they keep their international airport status despite no scheduled flights and the odd private jet from time to time.

Hi Jarden, I have added a few more airport stats to your Wiki page. We just need New Plymouth, Rotorua or Tauranga stats to have a top ten. As yet I haven't found any verifiable 2011 stats for these airport.

Thanks camfloss, Yes it is hard to find reliable data, on TRG website they say about 200,000 I even left out hawkes bay as only really an estimate. I think ROT maybe in 10 place I will email them. So different than Australia where bitre have accurate numbers for 100 airports except AVV

Yeah rotorua is 10th and new plymouth is 11th. I saw some statistical thing yesterday with it in. I know real descriptive :ohno:

Direct from NPL Airport - 2011 300,960

Air NZ and All Nippon Airways sign deal

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4147/5010706300_2904903772_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53161794@N06/5010706300/)
Air New Zealand A320 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53161794@N06/5010706300/) by Suzuki san (http://www.flickr.com/people/53161794@N06/), on Flickr

A new code sharing deal between Air New Zealand and Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) has begun this week, with the first flight under the arrangement landing in Auckland this morning. Air New Zealand is hoping that the new deal with ANA will help rebuild the lucrative Japanese tourist trade to New Zealand. This was last year dealt a double blow by first the Christchurch earthquake then in quick succession by the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Air NZ deputy chief executive Norm Thompson said Japanese tourist numbers had seen a dramatic fall over the past few years, but the earthquakes had meant what was once a 160,000 visitors per year market was now down to around 60,000. As part of the new code sharing deal, Air New Zealand last night moved its terminal operations at Narita airport to sit alongside facilities used by ANA and other Star Alliance airlines.

Such a close link with ANA should make it easier for New Zealand travellers to use Japan as another hub for catching connecting flights to Europe and other Asian cities. Another connection between the two airlines is the new Boeing 787 aircraft - the so-called 'Dreamliner'. ANA was the first airline in the world to fly the innovative carbon-fibre composite plane. Air New Zealand has ordered 10 of the larger capacity version of the planes and hopes to start flying them in 2014.

Direct from NPL Airport - 2011 300,960

Thanks for that NZ1 added NPL with ref but not ROT as can't find reliable data with source and ROT airport do not reply to my email asking for it.:ohno:

Thanks for that NZ1 added NPL with ref but not ROT as can't find reliable data with source and ROT airport do not reply to my email asking for it.:ohno:

I guess they must have better things to do than promote their airport to the world through Wiki I guess.... they have a Facebook page, quite a good one, I might ask there....

Air New Zealand to go daily to Shanghai

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6047/6311657314_8cd8d9747b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vj_bhana/6311657314/)
air-new-zealand-b744s-suh-suj-auckland (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vj_bhana/6311657314/) by bizjetboy (http://www.flickr.com/people/vj_bhana/), on Flickr

Air New Zealand plans to operate daily services to China within the coming 12 months. Following a review of current services into China – Air New Zealand has determined that this expansion will best be achieved by consolidating services into Shanghai and serving Beijing as a one-stop destination in conjunction with Star Alliance code-share partner Air China. The airline will add a fifth weekly service to Shanghai from July 4 as it focuses it efforts on continuing to build this natural gateway between New Zealand and China. Air New Zealand’s Group General Manager International Airline, Christopher Luxon, says, “We’re confident of the potential for long term growth from one of China’s most modern and populous cities.” Air New Zealand will suspend the twice weekly direct Auckland - Beijing service from 30 June 2012 as it concentrates on growing the Shanghai service.

Mr Luxon says Air New Zealand still considers Beijing to be an important and growing market and the Air China code share arrangement provides convenient connections between Shanghai and Beijing in both directions. “Air New Zealand has been operating to mainland China for more than five years and is highly committed to the potential of the market long term. We’ve just appointed the first ever head of our Asia operations, Sandeep Bahl, who is a highly experienced airline executive in the region. Sandeep took up his new role in our Shanghai office at the beginning of the month. “Under his guidance we will focus our marketing and sales resources on the Shanghai region of around 14 million people as we seek to provide customers a daily service to and from this important gateway in China.” Air New Zealand first began flying to Shanghai in 2006.

So they will drop Beijing, probably as a result of their longhaul review to cut losses from their operations must be the worst performing city in the network. The other 2 frequencies could be used to open a new port in China.

So they will drop Beijing, probably as a result of their longhaul review to cut losses from their operations must be the worst performing city in the network. The other 2 frequencies could be used to open a new port in China.

From what I've read the main Beijing Capital International airport is nearly saturated with limits on slots etc. Perhaps focusing on Shanghai's Pudong offers Air NZ more flexibility.

Also with China Southern entering the market with daily services has swampped the market with cheap seats to many points on the mainland which has really affected Air NZ loads and also most Chinese PAX prefer Chinese airlines, that don't help it either.

IVC actual passengers:
281,633 for 2011.

www.comu.govt.nz/resources/pdfs/ia/ia-ar-11.pdf, page 6

Thanks Richard

http://www.marlboroughairport.co.nz/Current-Reports.aspx
Page6


Blenheim/ Marlborough

2011 passenger numbers = 212,179

Not bad for a town about the size of Masteron.

Rotorua airport passenger numbers are expected to be about 227,578 for the year ending June 2012


http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/airport-eyes-rotorua-queenstown-direct-flights/1049584/

Would there be any other airports with more than IVC and ROT? Where do Whangarei and Tauranga sit?

I'd assume above Blenheim but below Rotorua?