787-9 roll out

Image Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren via ausbt.com.au

Boeing have rolled out the first 787-9 from their hanger, and while this is not technically Australian/New Zealand news, its getting a mention here in NZ Aviation Notes as once the testing program is complete this aircraft will arrive in the Air New Zealand fleet.

Boeing expects this first 787-9 to make its inaugural test flight next month, and says that many lessons from the production of the 787-8 have been fed into the evolution of the -9.

I cannot wait to see this bird in one of the new Air New Zealand liveries previously mentioned on this blog (HERE)

The anticipation of the launch of the 787-9 by NZ grows with every passing day.  Read the full article by Australian Business Traveller editor David Flynn HERE

How to score free QF FF membership

Want to become a Qantas Frequent Flyer member but not pay the joining fee? Australian Business Traveller have have found a way for people to sign up to become a Qantas Frequent Flyer member without having to pay the $82.50 joining fee.

Simply click this LINK and sign up if you're an Australian resident, otherwise join the Jetmail email newsletter from Jetstar and join that way, as well as getting email promotions and low fare offers from Jetstar

Read ausbt's article HERE

NZ launch PPQ-CHC

In a widely expected and not unsurprising move Air New Zealand have announced they will introduce flights between Christchurch and Paraparaumu utilising Air Nelson Q300 aircraft.

Air Nelson Q300 at NZWB - file photo ©nzompilot

The new once daily service will begin in November and operate PPQ-CHC in the morning Monday-Saturday with the return CHC-PPQ in the afternoon.  The Sunday service will operate in the afternoon PPQ-CHC-PPQ.

Air New Zealand are offering launch fare of $59 one way.

Read more from Air New Zealand on their flyingsocialnetwork blog HERE or the Christchurch Press article HERE

New niche regional player in Australia?

Yesterday saw the official announcement of a new niche regional player ConnectJet.  The airline will be based in regional NSW at Dubbo and offer flights from Dubbo to Essendon in Melbourne via Griffith, operating a single B1900D aircraft.

It is with much pleasure Connect Jet – a new brand of Airline – announces new* air services connecting Dubbo N.S.W to Melbourne (Essendon) and to Griffith by the end of the year. Connect Jet plans to operate 24 weekly services operating 7 days per week to Melbourne (Essendon) offering customers early morning departures and evening return flights

The press release above reports 24 weekly services, but after studying the timetable it is 24 sectors, with double daily DBO-GFF-MEB & return and once daily return flights on weekends.

Image from connectjet.com.au

ConnectJet's website also suggests they are looking to operate between Dubbo & Brisbane, Dubbo & Gold Coast, Dubbo & Newcastle and Dubbo & Cobar.  But as their Dubbo-Griffith-Essendon flights are still subject to regulatory approval, its too soon to hold ones breath on future expansion.

Another big point contained in the press release is the fact the airline has not yet confirmed it will actually fly from Dubbo as it is still in negotiation with the council regarding security screening charges that the council is imposing on commercial operators that do not need to apply to aircraft the size of the 1900D.

The airline has not announced where it will source the 1900D from, but it appears to have some powerful backing with the website proudly proclaiming Sponsored By: Toll Priority, Linfox and Essendon Airport, and obviously Linfox own Essendon

The "who is ConnectJet" page on the website is interesting as it contains a stock image with cabin crew photoshopped into the CJ colours.  I am sure I have seen other Australian operators use this image in their colour as well.  It also contains the following paragraph, which to me doesn't read quite right.

Our founders and senior management team is made up of commercial pilots and aviation regulator managers. We know what it takes to build and operate a quality airline from the ground up, with your safety being our number one priority.

• Read the press release HERE
• view the website HERE
• checkout the timetable HERE

NZ+VA alliance to be extended***

&

The ACCC has given tentative approval for the extension to the alliance between Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia for their joint trans-tasman services.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has signalled in a draft ruling that it will approve the tie-up for another three years - two years less than the airlines were seeking.

Further to the shorter approval length the ACCC will seek to impose capacity conditions on eight routes, this will prevent the two airlines from reducing current capacity on these routes including two highlighted by the ACCC Melbourne-Christchurch and Sydney-Dunedin.

The airlines will also have to provide performance data to help the ACCC decide whether their alliance has had an ''adverse effect on competition more generally''.

As expected the airlines will push for the ACCC to extend the approval to the 5 year term they originally sought as well as pushing for the capacity conditions to be dropped.  Despite the tentative approval from the ACCC the alliance is still subject to approval or rejection by the New Zealand Department of Transport, although I expect them to agree with and approve the ACCC decision and conditions.

Read more on the renewal via brisbanetimes.com.au HERE

Virgin now 60% owner of TT

  

Virgin Australia has now completed its 60% acquisition of Tigerair which was first announced in October last year.

The deal, which was announced on October 30 last year, will see Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti become chairman of Tigerair to lead the low-cost carrier’s revitalisation.

The aim is to grow Tigerair to become a sustainable and respected budget carrier within Australia.  It is still not confirmed what the final fleet size will be as when the take over was announced Borghetti said the fleet would grow to 35 aircraft by 2018, but in later statements said this may not in fact be the case.

Read more on the competed acquisition via Australian Aviation HERE

More updates to come

As you are aware I recently transitioned NZ Aviation Notes to a new domain www.nzompilot.info and renamed it to nzompilot presents... NZ Aviation Notes

This was just the beginning of some changes I am making to streamline my online presence. nzompilot will continue to grow as an online brand in the near future.  I will be making some design changes to this and my personal blog Musings from the mind of nzompilot 

Fear not the news, views, photos and other coverage that has been the core of NZ Aviaiton Notes will not change, I will continue to bring you coverage of goings on in the Australian and New Zealand aviation scene.

One of the changes already introduced see's NZ Aviation Notes with a presence on both Facebook and Google+ So if you're on either of these sites please follow this blog.

VA Velocity points for 4 legs

Something else that occurred last week while I was away, was the launch of Virgin Australia's Frequent Flyer for Pets.

Yes thats right, if you are transferring your Cat or Dog around Australia on a Virgin Australia domestic flight it will now have the opportunity to earn you 300 Velocity points

Screen shot of Velocity Frequent Flyer email

Virgin are also running a Facebook competition to find the new "face" of Virgin Australia's Pet Frequent Flyer program, a Pet Ambassador - head to the page to enter your moggie or canine.

Tiger rebrands

With it's controlling interests soon to be Virgin Australia, Tiger has undergone a rebranding, now being know as TigerAir

Australian Aviation: (James Morgan)

The name change and dropping the leaping Tiger logo for large ‘Tigerair’ titles promises to be the first step in the airline’s rebranding and repositioning as it comes under Virgin Australia control and seeks to move on from the brand damage caused by its 2011 grounding, turn around heavy financial losses, and grow to become a more aggressive competitor to Jetstar in the Australian low cost airline market.

CEO Rob Sharp says this is just the first step in the process for the new TigerAir

Read more at Australian Aviation HERE