OZJet to replace Freedom at Palmerston North

[flyjoe180]

Australian airline OzJet is flying to the rescue of Palmerston North with plans to start trans-Tasman services in March, replacing Freedom Air.

www.stuff.co.nz/4255979a11.html

[corsair67]

Interesting to note that the article mentions B737-300 aircraft. OzJet currently only operates B737-200s at the moment; so it either a typo, or OzJet is purchasing new aircraft?

Good news for Palmerston North, but I don't know how viable the service really is, especially with Wellington just down the road.

[beagle]

can ya erops a -200

[flyjoe180]

Do you mean ETOPS?

[andyc]

PMR - SYD is 2269KM, so well within range of a 732.

But would you want to cross the Tasman in a 737 thats 30+ years old?

What this will come down to - as Corsair 67 mentioned - is economics. Can Ozjet make a profit on a route using older, less efficient aircraft than competitors flying out of WLG?



Andy

[flyjoe180]

Maybe they have a-300 coming from another source, a lease? I wouldn't imagine they would pull an existing -200ADV from their Australian network.

[greaneyr]

andyc said:

Can Ozjet make a profit on a route using older, less efficient aircraft than competitors flying out of WLG?

I believe the key is that they have said they are offering business class service as well as economy class. I know a few frequent travelers who wouldn't consider flying on anything without business class. I think the industry may be slowly realising that people are over 'no-frills cattle class' service and actually want the option of traveling in some degree of comfort. Business class = less seats to have to sell on each sector.

The closeness of Palmy to Wellington is often cited as a reason why an INTL service out of Palmy might fail, but remember Hamilton is closer to Auckland than Palmy is to Wellington and that never stopped anything.

[beagle]

flyjoe180 said:

Do you mean ETOPS?

there is a difference

I thought when it first came into being with twins doing more over water longer range flights, it was called erops, but hear it referred as etops nowadays.