Things look peachy for future NZ domestic

Future Air New Zealand Link/Air New Zealand National looks like it will have a brighter outlook for the carrier than current Air New Zealand Link/Air New Zealand National.

Future Air New Zealand Link/Air New Zealand National will reopen the tourist route Christchurch-Mt Cook-Queenstown with Mt Cook Airline ATR 72-500s while the current Rotorua-Christchurch-Queenstown ATR route will get a bump up to a B733.

The Mt Cook route will operate for a six week trial period from 23-December-2012, while the Rotorua Boeing flights will operate between November 2012 and March 2013.

These announcements from Air New Zealand come on the back of the announcement made in late October that Air New Zealand will order seven new ATR 72-600 aircraft with an option for a further five.  These aircraft are expected to be based in Auckland, with the operator as yet unknown.

So the future for domestic services in New Zealand looks to be a healthy one for the National carrier.

Read more about the route upgrades from stuff.co.nz HERE and the new ATR purchase from ausbt.com.au HERE

Virgin Business class close

Virgin Australia have announced that from 18-January-2012 all flights in the SYD-MEL-BNE triangle will operate with the new business class offering.

On board the 737, there are two rows of business class in a 2-2 configuration, with a standard domestic business 38 inch seat pitch. (Pitch is the distance between your seat back and the one in front: the space that's yours during the flight.)

All flights on these routes will operate with either new or refitted B73H equipment, with passengers able to see these seats now as the aircraft become more common in the fleet.

Read more from ausbt.com.au HERE

Air Australia media reveal

Air Australia had its media reveal/launch yesterday in Brisbane, and showcased its new look livery and new staff uniforms.

Air Australia's  livery is undeniably eye-catching: a lime-and-white fuselage where the green cleverly morphs into the lightest of golds, to play up the Australia's national colours in a refreshingly un-bogan manner, with touches of silver-grey. That's accompanied by more obvious boomerang-style flourishes in the logo, wingtips and tail.

The first aircraft in the new livery is A320 VH-YQC which arrived back into Brisbane at 0100 yesterday in preparation for the 1000 media release.

Air Australia are also looking to launch a frequent flyer scheme, but it looks to be based on the fly X times and get the next flight free type of scheme.

Read more on Air Australia's media launch from ausbt.com.au HERE and couriermail.com.au HERE