|
|
Post by corsair67 on Mar 13, 2007 13:19:32 GMT 12
From The Australian.
Qantas may stop NZ operations
March 13, 2007.
QANTAS has announced it will be forced to stop its New Zealand and Pacific operations if a Bill designed to protect Jetstar is passed by Parliament.
Qantas general counsel Brett Johnson said a Bill proposed by Family First Senator Stephen Fielding would have unintended consequences on subsidiaries of the Flying Kangaroo.
"If enacted, this (Bill) runs the real risk of forcing Qantas to materially change its current operation,'' Mr Johnson said.
Mr Johnson made the comments at the opening of a parliamentary inquiry into how the airline's proposed sale would affect Jetstar.
"For example, Qantas has a wholly owned New Zealand incorporated subsidiary, Jet Connect Limited, which operates scheduled international air transport services as it operates 737 services on the Tasman and in domestic New Zealand on behalf of Qantas," he said.
"The Bill, if enacted would require Qantas to cease this operation.''
The Bill is called the Qantas Sale (Keep Jetstar Australia) Amendment Bill.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kereru on Mar 13, 2007 13:51:27 GMT 12
I had heard a rumour last week that Qantas was going to pull out of NZ but for a different reason. One only has to listen to the scanner for a while to get an indication of loadings at push back and there in lies the answer? I hope it doesn't happen either way. If it does maybe that is when Pacific Blue will start NZ domestic flights?
Colin
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 13, 2007 13:55:40 GMT 12
Qantas has already pulled out of their 8-flight per week Christchurch-Wellington route this week, citing they need the planes in Australia. That means that route is now Air NZ monopolised.
|
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Mar 13, 2007 13:59:58 GMT 12
Is the QANTAS service that bad in New Zealand that people are suddenly flocking to Air NZ, or are there other reasons behind their lack of passengers?
I've flown with them a few times while I've been in NZ, and they seemed alright.
Maybe the whole possible law change senario is a good excuse to pull the pin on their NZ operations, without QANTAS losing face?
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 13, 2007 14:11:59 GMT 12
Could they by law operate the NZ domestic operations under Jet Star
|
|
|
|
Post by phil82 on Mar 13, 2007 14:38:20 GMT 12
"Is the QANTAS service that bad in New Zealand?"
Well, they fly the routes, but my experience TransTasman is that the aircraft are a bit shoddy. They are now quite old [-300] when the opposition like Virgin has upgraded, and ANZ use fairly new A330s. On my last flight from Sydney, the aircraft was filthy, and the lights in one toilet were not working. I wrote to Qantas, but got a wishy-washy reply. In short, they don't care.
I also missed out on being shagged by a ex-undercover police hostie.
|
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Mar 13, 2007 14:50:54 GMT 12
You were lucky then: I gather she was from the NSW Police Dog Squad - and she wasn't one of the handlers!  She was genuinely shocked that Ralph hadn't contacted her after their fling - what did she expect, a proposal of marriage?!  |
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Mar 13, 2007 15:12:32 GMT 12
Qantas service and aircraft may be shocking - but they DO have biscuits in flight !  |
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Mar 13, 2007 15:52:53 GMT 12
Biscuits - the way to a passenger's heart? |
|
|
|
Post by Kereru on Mar 13, 2007 16:22:43 GMT 12
Is the QANTAS service that bad in New Zealand that people are suddenly flocking to Air NZ, or are there other reasons behind their lack of passengers? I've flown with them a few times while I've been in NZ, and they seemed alright. Maybe the whole possible law change senario is a good excuse to pull the pin on their NZ operations, without QANTAS losing face? I think this might be working well for ANZ? flightbookings.airnewzealand.co.nz/vgrabview/I check it daily for specials and have got some goodies like $59 from Christchurch to Auckland. A friend got an airfare to Tauranga for $58 return and it was cheaper than the bus and much shorter duration. Colin |
|
|
|
Post by Kereru on Mar 13, 2007 16:26:03 GMT 12
Qantas has already pulled out of their 8-flight per week Christchurch-Wellington route this week, citing they need the planes in Australia. That means that route is now Air NZ monopolised. One 737 left NZ for freight service in Australia or at least that was the reason I was quoted? Not sure how true that is but if they are lightly filled then something has to give. Colin |
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Mar 13, 2007 16:50:38 GMT 12
In fact, I think 3 737-300s have been brought back here for coversion into freighters for AAE, and they were supposedly being replaced in NZ service by 737-400s.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kereru on Mar 13, 2007 19:53:46 GMT 12
Four 737-376 have gone off the NZ register over the last year or so. JTP (02/06/06) and JTQ (23/06/06) which are 400 series were brought over to do the Wellington trans Tasman service and intially spent some time on domestic routes here. They may still do some domestic flights in combination with trans Tasman services. ANZ uses an A320 from time to time on domestic duties here so they may utilise aircraft where best needed or when maintenance dictates. It will be a shame if they pull out. My daughter goes to Christchurch and Wellington with her job and sometimes goes Qantas and on the early morning flight they get a nice Muffin with their Coffee. Maybe now that ANZ has removed the biscuit they could remove the Muffin and save the service? Perhaps not. ;D Colin |
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 13, 2007 20:30:45 GMT 12
QANTAS will pull out of NZ if Jetstar is protected by the governemnt? I thought QANTAS owned Jetstar?!!
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 13, 2007 21:28:17 GMT 12
The Girl Guides should have been at the terminals selling their biscuits. would have got a whole packet for the price that ANZ was charging for their stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 13, 2007 22:03:19 GMT 12
There is not a shortage of passengers - tonight's 3 News had an item about how Air New Zealand keeps overbooking internal flights and leaving several passengers behind as there's no room - so there are plenty of passengers to go around.
I guess since Air New Zealand is owned by the people of NZ and Qantas is foreign, I know which I'd rather give my custom to.
|
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 13, 2007 22:05:24 GMT 12
The airline that provides the best service? No competition = crap service and higher prices for the privilege. They must be saving thousands not carrying all those heavy biscuits.
|
|
