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

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

JQ launch OOL-WLG/ZQN flights

Jetstar have today announced two new trans-tasman routes from the Gold Coast at a media event in Wellington.

The Gold Coast will now see a 3x weekly return service to Wellington and also to Queenstown.

WELLINGTON
The new flights to Wellington mark the first international service to WLG by Jetstar.  It appears the first flight on this route will take off on Friday 12-December-2014

JQ167 originates at the Gold Coast departing Coolangatta at 07:30 AEST Wednesday, Friday and Sundays arriving into WLG at 13:50 NZDT.  The return service JQ168 departs WLG W,F, Su at 14:30 NZDT and arrives into OOL at 15:15 AEST.


QUEENSTOWN
Queenstown will see its 3rd Jetstar international destination with Gold Coast following Sydney and Melbourne.  Flights between the two playgrounds take off on Saturday 13-December-2014

JQ193 departs OOL at 07:45 AEST Saturday, Monday and Thursdays arriving into Queenstown at 13:50 NZDT.  The return service JQ194 departs ZQN at 14:30 NZDT and arrives OOL at 15:00 AEST


All flights will operate with Jetstar's A320 aircraft.  One way launch fares on OOL-WLG are $99.00NZD and $129.00NZD on OOL-ZQN

At time of publishing the official Jetstar media release has not been published on their website but an article from stuff.co.nz can be found HERE

ZQN after dark

After years of trials, tests and even a few close calls, and the trial of a Pacific Blue pilot who took off after sunset, Queenstown Airport will now be allowed take off and landings after dark thanks to RNPAR.

Queenstown now has consent for flights until 10pm.  This means currently only flights in Summer (during Daylight Saving) will be able to land late due to the lack of suitable runway lighting, however the airport will look at this.

It is expiated it could cost up to $10M NZD to upgrade the runway, taxiway, approach path and off airport lighting as well as widen the runway from 30m to 45m.

Flights wanting to take advantage of the evening arrivals aren't likely to start until winter 2016 and will need to operate under the strict RNPAR conditions.

Queenstown Airport have released an excellent video which showcases how the RNPAR (Required Navigational Performance Authroisation Required) flights work. (below) there is also a NZ Herald article on this HERE

JQ grow their NZ operation

Jetstar have announced a growth to their New Zealand based operations with the fleet based in NZ growing by one to 9 Airbus A320s.

The addition of another aircraft to the base, will create 50 jobs for pilots, cabin crew and ground crew.

The additional aircraft will give the airline the capacity to add 20 flights per week to the key Auckland-Wellington route, with AKL-Christchurch and WLG-CHC increasing by up to 7 flights per week.  JQ will also add flights between Queenstown and Australia with MEL & SYD both getting 1 extra flight.

Although this adds 36 additional flights it is not a gain of 36 flights to the schedule with decreases occurring with MEL-CHC and Gold Coast (OOL)-CHC losing 1 flight per week, while JQ is dropping its ZQN-CHC route with the loss of 5 flights per week.  So the net increase in flights is 29/week.

Read the full press release from Jetstar HERE and Wellington International Airport's response HERE

JQ ups ZQN

Queenstown has had a big win from the announcement by Jetstar with additional flights from Melbourne and new flights from Wellington and Sydney.

Jetstar's new Sydney-Queenstown return flights will run twice weekly from 23 December.
The airline is planning the flights for Monday and Friday mornings, which is a welcome addition since there are no existing flights on Mondays.

Although not announced it looks like these flight will replace the current Monday and Friday morning flights from the Gold Coast to Queenstown.

The new once daily flight from Wellington to Queenstown has had a massive launch with a cheap fare sale

Jetstar is selling limited $7 fares today to promote its new Wellington-to-Queenstown route in a bid to further breach Air New Zealand's hold on the domestic market.

The NZ Herald also report that Auckland-Queenstown flights will be increased.

Read more from the nzherald.co.nz HERE & ausbt.com.au HERE