Comings and goings #2

Here is a quick look at some of the notable comings and goings for airlines in the Australia/New Zealand region between the last update in March and now.

Air New Zealand have reduced their Boeing 737 fleet to just two frames, with two more leaving the fleet.
ZK-NGG Boeing 737-33A deregistered 17-June-2015 and noted recently in CHC wearing N303KH
ZK-NGR Boeing 737-33A deregistered 01-May-2015
ZK-EAK Beech 1900D deregistered 17-June-2015
During the period they gained the following A320
ZK-OXI Airbus A320 registered 13-April-2015

To enable Sounds Air's expansion and its replacement of Air new Zealand on some services Sounds Air have taken delivery of the following aircraft
ZK-PLS Pilatus PC12/45 registered 16-March-2015 ex VH-KWO
ZK-PLZ Pilatus PC12/45 registered 28-May-2015 ex VH-JMU
ZK-PLT Pilatus PC12/45 not yet registered still registered as VH-MWO arrived in NZ on 04-June-2015

The departure of the former Vincent Aviation fleet continues
ZK-VAI J31 deregistered 28-May-2015 to A3-SKY with Real Tonga Airlines delivered 04-June-2015
ZK-ECO BAe 146-200 deregistered 20-April-2015 to VH-SUF with Skyforce (Pionair Australia)registered 24-April-2015
VH-VNU Saab SF340B deregistered 7-April-2015 Exported to Guam with Skydive Guam

Cobham (National Jet Express) have taken delivery of another aircraft
VH-NJU Avro RJ85 registered 10-June-2015

Jetstar continued to receive Boeing 787-8s
VH-VKJ Boeing 787-8 registered 30-April-2015
VH-VKK Boeing 787-8 registered 19-May-2015

There have been several changes to the Qantas fleets
VH-NHY EMB120R deregistered 02-March-2015 exported to South Africa
VH-OGI Boeing 767-300 deregistered 06-May-2015 exported to USA
VH-OGL Boeing 767-300 deregistered 07-Aptil-2015 exported to USA
VH-OGO Boeing 767-300 deregistered 19-June-2015 exported to USA
VH-OGT Boeing 767-300 deregistered 16-June-2015 exported to USA
VH-TJI Boeing 737-476 deregistered 27-May-2015 exported to USA
VH-TJK Boeing 737-476 deregistered 30-April-2015 exported to USA
VH-OJA Boeing 747-400 deregistered 31-March-2015 to HAARS Aviation Museum Wooloongong

The next wave of Virgin Australia deliveries have been registered but are yet to be delivered, interestingly they have returned to the YF* rego block after receiving deliveries in the YI* block, suggesting these will be domestic aircraft. 
VH-YFS Boeing 737-8FE registered 12-May-2015 not yet delivered
VH-YFT Boeing 737-8FE registered 12-May-2015 not yet delivered
VH-YFU Boeing 737-8FE registered 12-May-2015 not yet delivered
VH-YFV Boeing 737-8FE registered 12-May-2015 not yet delivered

KRA announce initial routes

New start up Kiwi Regional airlines has announced its first routes with a launch focus on Dunedin.

From Sunday 27-September-2015 KRA hopes to use its single Saab SF340A on the following daily rotation DUD-ZQN-DUD-NSN-HLZ-NSN-DUD-ZQN-DUD

KRA has always wanted to operate routes without direct competition from the national carrier, and with this route structure they have succeeded in that.

Dunedin - Queenstown is a route that has only been offered by small regional operators in the past with 9 seat aircraft so the introduction of a 32 seat aircraft on double daily flights is a big jump.

Dunedin - Nelson is a brand new route linking together two of the South Islands larger centres, a route that has never had a direct service.

Nelson - Hamilton is a route that has previously been operated by both Origin Pacific and Air New Zealand.

Despite being Dunedin centric in this initial schedule, the airline will base its crews in Hamilton.

Read more about the KRA plans via stuff.co.nz HERE

JQ to the regions in NZ

Jetstar look set to enter deeper into their head to head battle with Air New Zealand in New Zealand, announcing they will base a 5 strong fleet of Dash 8 Q300 aircraft in New Zealand to fly regional routes.

In a period where Air New Zealand has downsized its regional flying and is reducing its regional fleet types, Sounds Air and Air Chathams are filling in the gaps left by Air New Zealand and new player Kiwi Regional Airlines has announced its intentions, this decision from Jetstar is certainly interesting.

The five Q300s will come from Qantas Link subsidiary Eastern Australian Airlines who will operate the aircraft for Jetstar.  Jetstar is still evaluating which routes it will fly the Q300s on from December and is seeking public feedback on proposed routes including Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson and Invercargill.

Jetstar made the announcement this morning in Auckland with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in attendance as well as New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Read more on the Jetstar announcement via one of these sources
stuff.co.nz HERE
nzherald.co.nz HERE
ausbt.com.au HERE

A return to the past... AA to SYD & QF to SFO

One world alliance partners Qantas and American Airlines have announced a 'return to the past' with their recent joint launch.

American Airlines will return to the LAX-SYD route after a 23 year absence while Qantas will return to the SYD-SFO route after a 4 year absence.

American will operate daily on the pacific route with its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Qantas will initially launch SFO on peak days moving to 6x weekly in January 2016.  They will utilise Boeing 747-400 aircraft freed up from the reduction of MEL/SYD-LAX flying which they will give over to AA.

Read more about the joint route announcements via
Australian Aviation - HERE
Australian Business Traveller - HERE, HERE & HERE