Notes June 21-25 (edited)

Pacific Blue
Pacific Blue has started using Virgin Blue Boeing 737-8FE VH-VUG on its Denpesar Bali routes. VUG entered service as DJ151 SYD-DPS on Monday 15-June-2009. It also operated to WLG on Saturday 20-June-2009 as DJ68.

Virgin/Pacific Blue operated a charter to/from Christmas Island (XCH) arriving from Perth and returning to ADL on Wednesday 24-June-2009 as DJ9001/9002 using Pacific Blue 737 VH-VUN.

Pacific Blue have had a few issues with their dedicated WLG aircraft VH-VOQ. DJ68 BNE-WLG was canceled on Tues 23-June-2009 and the return DJ69 WLG-BNE on Weds 24-June-2009.

On Weds 24-June-2009 VOQ operated BNE-WLG-BNE as DJ7068/7071. The scheduled DJ68 was delayed until 0130 Thurs 25-June-2009 and arrived in WLG at 0705.

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Qantas/Jetconnect
Operational Spare ZK-JNC operated AKL-WLG then the scheduled QF38/133 WLG-MEL-AKL on Friday 19-June-2009.

Then on Sunday 21-June-2009 ZK-JNC operated AKL-WLG as QF6171 before operating WLG-SYD-WLG as QF48/117.

On Tuesday 23-June-2009 JNC positioned back to AKL as QF6172 before operating QF116/115 AKL-BNE-AKL.

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Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand have operated two charters this week with Airbus A320-232 ZK-OJB operating both flights.

The first was on Monday 22-June-2009 when OJB operated SYD-HIR as NZ1961 and positioned back to SYD as NZ6062.

On Weds 24-June-2009 OJB operated the second charter from SYD to MEL as NZ1943 before positioning back to SYD as 6044.
Thanks to MC for the confirmation that this charter went to Melbourne.

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Jetstar
The new Jetstar domestic schedule came into effect on Weds 24-June-2009 with the introduction of additional services on AKL-CHC and AKL-WLG and the introduction of the new CHC-WLG service. The new schedule also has some more "padding" to help JQ sort there OTP issues that have plagued them since their startup.

Tuesday 23-June-2009 saw the change of VH-VQC with VH-VQD in OOL with VQC having arrived from AKL before returning to CHC and VQD the reverse.

Weds 24-June-2009 saw JQ swap out VH-VQC for VH-VQR in MEL on the CHC-MEL-CHC flight.

Notes for June 18-20

Air New Zealand
Thurs 18-June-2009 Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGI NZ801/802 CHC-BNE-CHC
Fri 19-June-2009 Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGI NZ201/202 CHC-BNE-CHC
Airbus A320 ZK-OJA AKL-BNE-SYD-CHC NZ6043/1942/6044 operating a charter flight BNE-SYD
Sat 20-June-2009 Boeing 737-3U3 ZK-NGD NZ939/936 AKL-OOL-AKL
Airbus A320-232 ZK-OJA NZ6316 CHC-AKL

Jetstar
Jetstar continue using all 3 A320s on their domestic services to improve their OTP. (On time performance)
Sat 20-June-2009 VH-VQT operating JQ279 AKL-ZQN diverted to CHC due to weather closing Queenstown. As a result 3 flights ZQN-CHC-ZQN-AKL were cancelled and VH-VQT positioned back to AKL as JQ7984.

Qantas/Jetconnect
Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNB continued its ferry flight on Thurs 18-June-2009 flying from APW-HNL-ONT Apia Samoa to Honolulu Hawaii to Ontario California, on its final flight to Arizona where it is expected to be broken up and parted out.

Futher movements June 17

Wednesday 17-June-2009

Qantas/Jetconnect
Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNB departed NZ shores on the first leg of its ferry flight to the Arizona desert, departing Christchurch direct to Apia Samoa as QF6022.

Jetstar
Jetstar pressed A320 VH-VQS into service starting with JQ251 AKL-CHC to help improve their "ontime performance" after delays to previous flights meaning VH-VQT arrived back late into AKL after the morning rotations.

Jetstar also swapped VH-VQF for VH-VQC in OOL due to a mechanical issue, resulting in VQC's return to the tasman runs from AKL one day after leaving the CHC tasman runs.

Air New Zealand
NZ795/796 CHC-MEL-CHC was operated by Boeing 737-3U3 ZK-NGD in lieu of an A320.

Notes for June 17

Qantas/Jetconnect
A few changes to the fleet usage over the period in focus. Operational spare Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNC has been working full time on the AKL-BNE-AKL-BNE-AKL route QF116/115/126/125.
It began operations on Saturday 13-June-2009 to cover an engine change to Boeing 737-476 ZK-JTS, and is now covering a maintenance period with Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNN not flying.

ZK-JTS positioned from AKL to CHC on Saturday 13-June-2009 for the engine change as QF6171 and on Sunday 14-June-2009 positioned back to AKL as QF6172 after the change.

On Tuesday 16-June-2009 ZK-JND positioned from WLG to AKL as QF6174, with Boeing 737-476 ZK-JTQ positioning from AKL to WLG as QF6173. This resulted in the cancellation of QF48/117 WLG-SYD-WLG being canceled.

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Jetstar
A bit of a bumpy start for Jetstar in NZ domestic, with the malfunction of an automatic baggage loader in Wellington, and while Kiwi's get used to the ways of a LCC. Flights have been operating late as a result, but things are reported to be getting better as people become accustomed to the change, and the new services.

Jetstar have been operating Airbus A320-232s VH-VQB and VH-VQT domestically, with VH-VQF operating the AKL trans-tasman flights and VH-VQC and VH-VQU the CHC trans-tasman flights.

On Tuesday 16-June-2009 Jetstar positioned A320 VH-VQS from SYD to AKL as JQ7993, and also swapped VH-VQC for VH-VQD in MEL on the CHC-MEL-CHC flight.

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Pacific Blue
Pacific Blue have been using Boeing 737-8BK VH-VOX on domestic flights in New Zealand to cover the scheduled maintenance of its NZ fleet. VH-VOX entered domestic service on Monday 08-June-2009 on CHC-WLG-AKL flight, having arrived in CHC from SYD. It has covered for both ZK-PBI and now ZK-PBK as they undergo routine maintenance.

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Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand have a couple of A320s laid up in maintenance and as a result have had the following noted operating on the trans-tasman routes.
Monday 08-June-2009 Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGJ NZ731/732/739/738 AKL-BNE-AKL-BNE-AKL
Sunday 14-June-2009 Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGH NZ203/204 CHC-BNE-CHC
Monday 15-June-2009 Boeing 737-3U3 ZK-FRE NZ191/192 CHC-MEL-CHC Tuesday 16 June-2009 Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGH NZ195/196 CHC-MEL-CHC

Also noted during the period was an internal repositioning flight of A320-232 ZK-OJD operating NZ6312 from CHC to AKL

Notes for June 11

Qantas/Jetconnect Notes
Qantas ceased domestic services on Tuesday 09-June-2009 with Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNC operating the last flight QF2728 WLG-AKL. JNC was then parked up in Auckland as an operational spare, to cover the trans-tasman flights now operated by Jetconnect.

Qantas also retired Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNB on Monday 08-June-2009 after it operated CHC-ROT-CHC-ZQN-CHC. JNB will be flown to Arizona for storage at a later date.

Qantas/Jetconnect continue to operate on trans-tasman runs from AKL and WLG.

WLG-SYD flights have not changed, while Jetconnect have replaced Qantas Mainline on the MEL run, with a re-timed service.
The WLG-BNE route has now closed with the last flight on Sunday 07-June-2009 with ZK-JTR operating QF58/57.

Auckland to Brisbane flights remain twice daily with the afternoon QF126/125 being re-timed. The Auckland to Melbourne flights have increased to three times daily with changes to timings and aircraft used.
Qantas have also replaced 3 return daily B767 Auckland-Sydney services with Jetconnect aircraft.

QF26/25 MEL-AKL-LAX-AKL-MEL operated by Qantas Boeing 747-400 aircraft now only operate LAX-AKL-LAX with the removal of the Melbourne legs, which are now operated by Jetconnect aircraft.

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Jetstar Notes
Jetstar commenced domestic services in New Zealand on Wednesday 10-June-2009. They commenced with two A320 aircraft VH-VQB and VH-VQT. VQB arrived into Auckland from Sydney as JQ7981 early on the 10th, while VQT had arrived late on the 9th as JQ7983.

VH-VQB inaugurated the WLG route operating the first JQ263 and VH-VQT operated the first Christchurch route JQ245.

Inevitably as seems to be the case with launches/first flights there were some teething problems and flights ran up to 2hrs late as a result.

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Pacific Blue Notes
Pacific Blue continue to grow in leaps and bounds, coming close on the heels of the announcement of the new Hamilton services, Pacific Blue have now also announced the introduction of trans-tasman flights to Queenstown and Dunedin, and the re-introduced of the Sydney to Wellington service.

The press release can be found HERE

The new services look like this

DJ88 SYD-ZQN 1030-1540 TUES, SAT
DJ89 ZQN-SYD 1630-1755 TUES, SAT

DJ64 BNE-DUD 0845-1425 TUES, THURS, SUN
DJ65 DUD-BNE 1515-1720 TUES, THURS, SUN

DJ56 SYD-WLG 0930-1415 MON, WED, FRI
DJ57 WLG-SYD 1545-1710 MON, WED, FRI

Qantas/Jetconnect Notes

Qantas Jetconnect Boeing 737-376 ZK-JNO which was retired from service when the 4th B734 ZK-JTS entered service has ended its working life. JNO was withdrawn from the register on 25-May-2009 and has been "broken up" at CHC. The nose cone and weather radar, wings and tail have been removed. The fuselage will remain intact and has been sold to ANZES subsidiary Altitude, to use as a cabin mock-up for their 737 BBJ interiors business.
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The countdown is also on for Qantas/Jetconnects domestic services with Jetstar set to replace them flying into AKL, WLG, CHC and ZQN from Wednesday 10-June-2009, this means the end of domestic jet services into Rotorua from Tuesday 09-June-2009.

Air New Zealand Notes

Air New Zealand movements of note over the period to this post include, but is not limited to.

09-May-2009 NZ739/738 AKL-BNE-AKL operated by B733 ZK-NGE
10-May-2009 NZ739/738 AKL-BNE-AKL operated by B733 ZK-NGH
13-May-2009 NZ731/731 AKL-BNE-AKL canceled
21-May-2009 NZ6844 WLG-SYD ZK-OJN repositioning flight due fog in MEL
01-June-2009 NZ731/732 AKL-BNE-AKL operated by B733 ZK-NGH
05-June-2009 NZ731/732/739/738 AKL-BNE-AKL-BNE-AKL operated by B733 ZK-NGJ
06-June-2009 NZ939/938 AKL-OOL-AKL operated by B733 ZK-NGJ
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Air New Zealand have bid a sad farewell to the first B744 in NZ service when ZK-NBS departed AKL for LAX and ROW (Roswell, New Mexico, USA) to be scrapped. More on NBS's history can be found on Mikes blog HERE

Pacific Blue Notes

Pacific Blue have launched their new services from Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney to Denpasar Bali, and from Melbourne and Adelaide to Nadi Fiji.

The first flights were as follows:
VH-VUQ MEL-DPS-ADL DJ153/194 Weds/Thurs 03/04-June-2009
VH-VUN MEL-NAN-ADL DJ185/156 Thurs 04-June-2009
VH-VUN DPS-SYD-DPS DJ150/151 Friday 05-June-2009

On Friday 05-June-2009 the DJ184 NAN-MEL flight operated by VH-VUM diverted to Brisbane. VH-VUM positioned to MEL as DJ9060 on Saturday 06-June-2009 before operating the scheduled MEL-NAN-ADL flights.
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Pacific Blue launched Trans-Tasman services from Hamilton New Zealand at a press conference there on Wednesday 03-June-2009.
Services will operate from Hamilton (HLZ) to Sydney and Brisbane. The full press release can be found HERE

Schedule

HLZ-BNE
DJ85 0600-0750 Mon, Sat, Sun
BNE-HLZ
DJ86 1830-2330 Thurs, Sat, Sun
HLZ-SYD
DJ103 0600-0740 Tues, Thurs, Fri
SYD-HLZ
DJ104 1900-0015* Mon, Weds, Fri

Services are expected to be operated with B737-800s.