Pacific Blue closer to NZ
Sat "Sydney Morning Herald"
Pacific Blue closer to NZ
By Scott Rochfort
January 24, 2004
Virgin Blue's international offshoot Pacific Blue on Friday cleared a hurdle in its quest for regulatory approval to fly across the Tasman, securing a New Zealand Air Operators Certificate.
The airline still has to conduct a "proving flight" on Tuesday to get the final tick from the NZ Civil Aviation Authority, ahead of its first Brisbane-Christchurch service on Thursday.
Pending NZ approval, Pacific Blue has yet to be granted its International Air Operators Certificate by Australian regulators.
With four Virgin Boeing 737s now in the Pacific Blue livery, Virgin Blue's head of strategy, David Huttner, said the NZ AOC included the right to fly extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) across the Tasman.
Last month, Virgin Blue "suspended" its right to fly ETOPS services in Australia, citing problems with its maintenance records.
Under ETOPS, a twin-engined aircraft (in this case a B737) does not need to remain within one hour's flight of an airport.
After hitting a mid-week high of $2.61, Virgin Blue shares closed 2c higher at $2.54 on Friday.
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