Asian carriers enter the Tasman battle

Singapore Airlines and Air Asia X set to join the locals, the LCC's, Emirates and some Chinese carriers in trans-taxman services.

For Malaysian LCC Air Asia X the announcement of the addition of an OOL-AKL-OOL tag to their existing KUL-OOL service, is a re-entry to the Tasman.  Previously they operated an OOL-CHC-OOL tag, however like many flights, this suffered and was ended as a result of low passenger numbers after the Christchurch earthquakes.

The new tag flight will operate daily with D70206 departing OOL at 08:40AEST (09:05) arriving in AKL at 16:00 NZDT (15:30NZST) and returning at 17:00 NZDT (17:30 NZST) arriving back into OOL at 17:25AEST (18:00) --> bracketed times are from the end of Daylight Saving in New Zealand OOL is in QLD which doesn't observe daylight savings.

Check out the announcement via Australian Aviation HERE

Singapore Airlines is set to launch a brand new service from SIN to WLG via CBR.  The new service will operate with the airlines A330 aircraft and will be their first service into the two capital cities. 

The new service will be 4x weekly with an announcement expected this week.

Check out the details (to date) on this service via the AFR HERE


________________________________________________________________________________
A reminder if you have Facebook to follow NZ Aviation Notes there, as more often than not we will be posting links and articles on the Facebook page rather than here on the blog

LAN commence 787 service

LAN have today commenced their dedicated 787 service to Auckland and Sydney.

LA801 operated by Boeing 787-8 CC-BBA departed Santiago 39 minutes late at 00:44CLST Friday 17-April-2015 bound for Auckland and onto Sydney.

The final A330 service on the route was operated by A330 CC-CQF as LA800 and departed Sydney at 10:17AEST Friday 17-April-2015 bound for Auckland and onto Santiago.

Later this year LAN will again upgrade the LA801/800 service moving from the Boeing 787-8 to the Boeing 787-9

CC-BBA the first LAN 787-8 on LA801 departing Santiago for Auckland and Sydney

JQs baggage woes

Jetstar's New Zealand operations have taken another publicity hit after issues with the baggage loading system in Wellington on Wednesday 08-April-2015.

Passengers on VH-VQA JQ290 CHC-WLG were the worst effected with their baggage remaining on the aircraft as it returned to Christchurch as JQ291 incidentally only delayed by 30 minutes.  The baggage was then unloaded at Christchurch and was finally delivered to passengers today Thursday 09-April-2015.  Passengers are quoted as saying no one at Jetstar knew what was going on, from staff at the airport to staff in the call centre.

Passengers arriving in from the Gold Coast on JQ167 experienced delays of 2 hours getting their luggage with some having theirs delivered by courier five hours after landing.  Flight Radar 24 shows A320 VH-VGI operating the return JQ168 WLG-OOL service was delayed by two hours as a result.

VH-VGP operating JQ292 WLG-AKL was also delayed as result with the flight departing at 12:46NZST two and three quarters hours after its 09:05NZST scheduled departure time.  This resulted in JQ299 AKL-ZQN and JQ296 ZQN-AKL also operating 3 hours behind schedule.

VH-VGU also experienced delays across the day stemming from Wellington beginning with JQ274 WLG-AKL delayed 90 minutes, this lead to delays on JQ247 AKL-CHC, JQ250 CHC-AKL, JQ285 AKL-DUD, JQ284 DUD-AKL, JQ269 AKL-WLG, JQ268 WLG-AKL

VH-VFI also experienced delays yesterday of 2 hours on JQ255/254/257/256 AKL-CHC-AKL-CHC-AKL these cannot be directly attributed to the baggage loading system in WLG although they may relate to crew being on one of the delayed flights from WLG.

Read more on the baggage handling delay at WLG via stuff.co.nz HERE including the passenger complaints.
**note the stuff.co.nz article incorrectly uses a photo of a Jetstar 787-8 with this article

VA(NZ) the (visible) end

The final New Zealand registered Virgin Australia aircraft ZK-PBL finished up last night Friday 13-March-2015 as VA161 AKL-BNE, bringing a visible end to VA(NZ).  

VA(NZ) will no doubt still have paperwork to complete and staff to transition across to VAI before it hands in its AOC but the visible face the 10 ZK registered aircraft have returned to Australia.

ZK-PBL will return to her previous Aussie registration VH-VUQ

VH-VUP ex ZK-PBK re-entered service today Saturday 14-March-2015 as VA607 BNE-MKY, while newly Virgin Samoa branded VH-YID operated this morning Saturday 14-March-2015 as VA152 BNE-AKL

Pacific Blue/Virgin Australia (NZ) commenced flying in 2004 between its home base of Christchurch and Brisbane a flight that continues daily to this date.  In 2007 it announced it would enter the New Zealand domestic market and indeed flew between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin from November-2007 to October-2010.

With the withdrawal of ZK-PBL the New Zealand register connection ends after 11 years of aircraft on the New Zealand register. 23/01/04 - 14/03/15

And the winner is.......

And the winner is ZK-PBL the final VA(NZ) bird

Boeing 737-8FE ZK-PBK flew her final flights as VA171/170 BNE-VLI-BNE on Monday 09-March-2015 before entering the Virgin Australia hanger.  She was struck from the New Zealand register today Tuesday 10-March-2015 and will enter the Australian register as VH-VUP.

VH-VOR ex PBF at time of writing has not entered service but will no longer carry the Virgin Samoa titles.  ***UPDATE*** VH-VOR operated her first flight as VA1384 BNE-ADL today Tuesday 10-March-2015

VH-YID flew from Brisbane to Townsville on Tuesday 03-March-2015 as VA9939 where she entered the paint hanger and was given the Virgin Samoa titles and Tupu'itea name.  Unlike PBF she does not sport the tribal colour band on the engines.  She returned to Brisbane as VA9938 on Sunday 08-March-2015 and at time of writing has not flown since.

VH-VOR/ZK-PBF arriving at AKL in the old Polynesian Blue colour scheme ©nzompilot

Another first for Virgin Australia goes to VH-VUB ex ZK-PBJ which takes the honour of the first ex ZK bird to return to New Zealand.  VH-VUB operated VA160 BNE-AKL on Monday 09-March-2015

Then There Were two

Thursday 05-March-2015 saw Virgin Samoa branded Boeing 737-8FE ZK-PBF operate her final flight on the New Zealand register flying VA161 AKL-BNE.  Upon completion she was towed across the airport and entered the Virgin Australia hanger for business class upgrade and entry to the Australian register.  She will take up VH-VOR.

Meanwhile VH-VUH ex ZK-PBI re-entered Virgin Australia service on Tuesday 3-March-2015 as VA773 Brisbane to Cairns

VH-VUD ex ZK-PBG re-entered Virgin Australia service today Friday 06-March-2015 as VA304 Brisbane to Melbourne

Into The Final Countdown

VA(NZ) has entered the final countdown with just 3 frames remaining on the New Zealand register.

ZK-PBG operated its final service as VA161 AKL-BNE Sunday 01-March-2015 before entering the Brisbane hanger for her business class upgrade and entry to the Australian register as VH-VUD. She was struck from the New Zealand register today Monday 02-March-2015.

ZK-PBG arriving into a stormy AKL in 2007 ©nzompilot

At time of writing VH-VUH ex ZK-PBI had not yet re-entered Virgin Australia service.

Meanwhile despite having flown Business Class equipped aircraft on various Tasman routes for most of the past month, Virgin Australia officially launched Business Class across the Tasman with VA144 SYD-AKL on Saturday 28-February-2015.  From this date all SYD-AKL flights will offer business class.  The 3 remaining ZK registered aircraft will continue to operate but will not operate on SYD-AKL.  Currently PBL is operating out of BNE, PBF on AKL-MEL and AKL-PI services and PBK is on SYD-NAN and SYD-CHC routes.

Read more about the Business Class offering on Tasman services via
austbt.com.au HERE
Australian Aviation HERE

VA(NZ) starts to disappear

As part of the ongoing cost cutting measures announced at the AGM in November, Virgin Australia New Zealand was set to be integrated back into Virgin Australia International.

This visible signs of this began today Friday 30-January-2015 with Boeing 737-8FE ZK-PBA being struck from the New Zealand register.

ZK-PBA operated her final flight under NZ rego as VA161 from Auckland to Brisbane last night Thursday 29-January-2015 before entering the Virgin Australia hangar to cross over to the Australian register.

ZK-PBA began life as VH-VOO and it is possible that she may return to that registration.

Reports suggest that the remaining 9 Virgin 738s will all cross to the Australian register by March ending almost 10 years of Pacific Blue/Virgin Australia aircraft on the New Zealand register.

ZK-PBA seen in CHC in 2008 when Pacific Blue operated NZ domestic services © nzompilot

Sad & Beautiful

THE SAD

Air New Zealand has lost one of its first female captains to a suspected brain aneurism shortly after she landed NZ175 a Boeing 787-9 in Perth.

Captain Ann Barbarich a 27 year veteran with the airline, was well respected in the Air New Zealand and New Zealand Aviation communities.

She was part of a four man flight crew on board the flight, and made a textbook landing before becoming unwell.  She was initially treated by doctors on board before being rushed to Perth hospital.

The thoughts of this blog are with her family and colleagues after this terrible event.

Read about Captain Barbarich via The New Zealand Herald HERE or stuff.co.nz HERE

THE BEAUTIFUL

The New Zealand Herald have also run an article this week on the interior refits of the Air New Zealand Boeing 777-219 fleet.  The article and video mentions and shows the second of the aircraft to undergo the upgrade ZK-OKE.

Business Premier refit of ZK-OKE - photo © New Zealand Herald

Read the story and watch the video HERE

NZ/SQ alliance approved

Finally 4 months after the Singapore authorities approved the alliance, the New Zealand Government has given its approval to the new alliance between Star Alliance partners Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines for flights on the AKL-SIN route.

The alliance will see Singapore Airlines hand over its evening flight (SQ281/282) 08:45-22:45AKL/ 23:50-06:40+1SIN which is currently 5x weekly, to NZ who will operate it as a daily 772ER service.  SQ will hold onto their morning flight (SQ285/286) 21:10-10:50+1AKL 12:10-19:00SIN which operates with a 773ER.  This will be up gauged seasonally to operate with SQ's A380.

With the addition of the A380 to the SIN-AKL route, AKL will host 4x A380 on the ground each day with EK already operating 3x A380 to AKL.

Charles Spillane, Auckland Airport's acting general manager aeronautical commercial, says the new alliance will bring substantial capacity growth and improved connectivity.
"This alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines demonstrates the commitment that both airlines have to growing connections between Singapore and New Zealand and we congratulate them on this," said Spillane.

Read more on the reaction to the alliance's approval via The New Zealand Herald HERE 

QF 'give up' share on tasman with route cuts

In another sign that QF is struggling, the airline has announced they will cut up to 15 Trans-Tasman flights to Auckland per week.

From October 26th Qantas will cut their MEL-AKL and SYD-AKL services by one flight a day while cutting BNE-AKL to just 5 flights per week down from double daily.

In July 2013 Qantas pledged to maintain "existing capacity on trans-Tasman routes that both Qantas and Emirates fly" as a condition of approval for its partnership with Emirates, and the airline says it will continue to comply with that requirement.

Most if not all of these flights are operated by Jetconnect the New Zealand based subsidiary airline that has a lower cost base than Qantas itself.

Jetstar will step in adding a new 6x weekly MEL-AKL and weekly SYD-AKL services but will drop their 3x weekly ADL-AKL service.

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand are expected to benefit as their alliance picks up any additional passengers and or flights required on these routes, as VA earlier this year reported that Trans-Tasman was in good shape.

Read more about Qantas' cuts from Australian Business Traveller editor David Flynn HERE

NZ change BHE-AKL flights

Everyone knows this blog has an affinity with Blenheim New Zealand, NZWB/BHE and here is a post with good news for the Sauvignon Blanc capital of the world

Blenheim businesses are celebrating with Air New Zealand's announcement that the BHE-AKL route will shift to all Dash 8 Q300 aircraft.

Blenheim Shuttle owner Duncan McIntyre, who transports people to and from the airport, said increased passenger numbers would benefit a lot of Marlborough businesses.
"It helps everyone," Mr McIntyre said.
"Everybody wins. Anything that helps Marlborough is great."   

The flights currently operate 4x daily 2 utilising the Q300 and the other two with the staple Beech 1900D.  There are currently 5 flights on Friday's with an additional 1900D service, just 3 on Saturdays and 5 on Sunday's with one operated by Mt Cook with an ATR 72.

From Next week Monday 10-February-2014 the flights shift to all Q300 aircraft with 4 flights daily Sun-Fri & 3 on Sat.  However the 4th flight on Sunday's remains with the 1900D and there are a few changes over Feb to meet increased demand for events in Blenheim.

Read the full Marlborough Express article HERE

Air Nelson Q300 at BHE

NZ to partner with SQ

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines have announced a new partnership on the Singapore - New Zealand routes.  These two already work together with their membership in Star Alliance and their ownership of shares in Virgin Australia.

The new alliance will allow NZ to re-enter the AKL-SIN market replacing SQ on 5 weekly services (SQ281/282) and adding a further two to offer 7 weekly services operated by the 772ER.  SQ will slowly add the A380 to their SQ285/286 service replacing the B773ER although initially this will only be seasonal with the 773 remaining in the off season.

I do not yet know if NZ will retime their new flights away from the late night AKL timings that SQ currently has on SQ281/282 but it seems to make sense for better fleet utilisation

The A380 should be clear of the terminal by the time 2 of the 3 EK A380s arrive so this shouldn't cause gate issues.

With the A380 replacing the B773ER their should be a capacity increase of 30% on the route.  

SQ will keep their SIN-CHC service as part of this partnership.

NZ hasn't flown its own aircraft to SIN since 2006, with the NZ code disappearing off SQ flights in 2007.  

For more on this partnership see the following:
nzherald.co.nz ARTICLE
stuff.co.nz ARTICLE
ausbt.com.au ARTICLE
NZ announcement to NZX HERE

Airwork launches on market

Auckland based Airwork has launched an IPO with the aim to list on the NZX by December

Aircraft leasing and maintenance company Airwork has launched an initial public share offer to raise up to $40 million and float on the stock exchange.
The Auckland company is offering up to 15.4 million new shares at $2.60 per share and expects to begin trading on the NZX main board by December 19 if the minimum amount of $30m is raised, according to a prospectus issued yesterday.

Airwork operates an engineering arm, a helicopter arm as well as a fleet of aircraft (F27, B733F, B734F, SWM) flying on behalf of New Zealand Post in NZ and Toll Priority in Australia.

Read more on their float from stuff.co.nz's Business Day HERE

Airwork NZ's Fokker F27 ZK-PAX seen at NZWB ©nzompilot

NZ announce first 789 route

Perth is the winner with Air New Zealand announcing its first route with the Boeing 787-9 will be AKL-PER in October next year.

Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon made the announcement at the official opening of the airline’s Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Auckland today. A feature of the centre is the only Boeing 787-9 full cabin interior outside the factory in Seattle.

The cabin mock-up has outlined how Air New Zealand will outfit its interior with 302 seats in a 3 class layout.  18 lie flat Business Premier seats, 21 Premium Economy seats and 263 economy seats.  All seats feature a new entertainment system which is slimmer and has a higher resolution than that on the 773.

'We've taken advantage of new inflight entertainment hardware and that's allowed us to introduce new monitors and also allowed us to slim down the back of the seat considerably from those which have had inflight entertainment. (in the past) That allows much more personal space."

Air New Zealand program director Kerry Reeves with in flight service manager Priyanka Girish
Photo / Dean Purcell /nzherald

Read more on the new 789 cabin and the first flights to PER at Air New Zealand's Flying Social Network HERE or the nzherald HERE

Could SA replace NZ in MRO?

While its a bit of a stretch to think its SA code namesake South African Airlines would replace Air New Zealand Link on services into Masterton, there is a chance that Sounds Air may bring services back to the airport.

Sounds Air would not look to replace the national airline on its Masterton-Auckland service rather operating a new Masterton to Wellington service to offer passengers an alternative to traffic queues and exorbitant parking charges at Wellington.

While criticism continues of the national carrier's decision to can its Masterton-Auckland route, Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told The Dominion Post his airline would meet Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell on Monday to discuss stepping into the breach from November.   

Sounds Air would offer an early morning departure from Masteron in one of its Cessna C208 Caravan's on the short flight to Wellington where passengers can then connect onto an Air New Zealand service to Auckland or Christchurch.

Read more on the potential offering HERE

Airways New Zealand, flow and arrival management

Airways New Zealand have launched a world first flow and arrival management system at Auckland.

Airlines operating into and out of Auckland are set to save tens of millions of dollars in fuel following the implementation of an integrated flow management and arrival management system. In what is said to be a world-first deployment, airlines are already benefiting from significantly reduced airborne delays and optimised flight profiles.

There is evidence that in 2007 the average airborne delay into AKL was 3.5 minutes and since the introduction of this service the average airborne delay is just 23 seconds.

This looks to be a well worth it system based on the information contained in the article from Australian Aviation on their website HERE and is something that I think Brisbane Airport and Airservices Australia should be VERY keen on considering the epic airborne delays in Brisbane airspace.

NZ regional changes

In what appears to be a common trend Air New Zealand is slashing more 1900D services with AKL-MRO and WLG-WAG being cut, and AKL-ROT going to Q300 for morning services.

This follows in the footsteps of earlier changes including a morning Q300 service on the WLG-BHE route replacing two 1900D services.  The extra Q300 capacity is due to the new ATR 72-600s being introduced to several Q300 routes.

The Auckland to Masterton route ends in February 2014, while the Wellington to Wanganui service ends in December this year.

Blaming uneconomic operations and lack of demand, Air New Zealand executives told Wairarapa mayors today the service from Masterton Airport would cease from February 5.

In scuttlebutt around the internet there is word that Air New Zealand subsidiary Eagle Air is looking to sell 8 of their 1900D fleet but this is yet to be substantiated by any proof.

The main article for this on the NZ Herald website appears to have been removed despite being a trending topic and most read story with the links returning you to the home page, however the article can still be seen at the Wairarapa Times-Age site HERE (which itself is a subsidiary of the NZ Herald)

JQ launch ADL-AKL

Jetstar have launched a new 3x weekly service between Auckland and Adelaide from December 16th.

The service will operate Monday's, Wednesday's & Saturdays utilising the mainstay of the JQ short haul fleet the Airbus A320.

Jetstar Group Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said the launch delivers the first direct low fares flights between the two destinations.“The customer response to our trans-Tasman flying has been strong over the past few years and we’re delighted to now introduce direct flights from Adelaide to Auckland,” Mr Koczkar said.

It is yet unknown if the flight will route AKL-ADL-AKL or ADL-AKL-ADL

This introduction will see Air New Zealand lose their monopoly on this route, however Qantas have also previously operated this rtoute.

Read more including the introductory sale fares at the Jetstar website HERE

QF trans-tasman changes

As part of their alliance with Emirates, Qantas have announced changes to their trans-tasman services opening up the international network to New Zealand travellers.

All changes will come into effect from 27-October-2013

The biggest announcement is the introduction of twice weekly Perth-Auckland flights for the December - January  period.

The new Auckland-Perth service will operate during the holiday season with a twice-weekly A330 service from early December this year through to 1 February 2014.

As stated these flights will operate with an international configured Airbus A330 which gives Business travelers the option of lie flat seats which will be useful on the overnight PER-AKL leg.
This service will operate as QF111 PER-AKL 20:30-07:50* and QF112 AKL-PER 11:40-14:05

The announcement will also see a lot of the existing QF4* codes replaces by new QF13*/14*/15* codes.

Christchurch currently sees QF45/46 operare SYD-CHC-SYD during the day, this will be changed to operate as QF139 SYD-CHC in the evening with a 23:55 arrival and the return will now operate as QF138 CHC-SYD with an 07:30 departure, opening up connecting international flights out of SYD.

The only QF service not to see a timetable change is QF38 MEL-WLG which will become QF172 all other services see a timetable change of around 30 minutes

A full list of the flight number changes is

Read more from the official Qantas Press Release HERE and the NZ Heralds article on the new Perth service HERE