Ansett Townsville, WHAT THE........
Ansett returns to the sky
Ian Royall
05may05
THE Ansett name is to fly again – as a regional carrier in north Queensland.
A Townsville businessman has registered the name and hopes to launch passenger and freight services by August.
Terry Byrt has even adapted the old Ansett logo and red, black and white colours used by the airline in the late 1960s.
The new carrier will be formed by merging existing small carriers and the purchase of five 50-seat Fokker Friendships.
Mr Byrt said he was using the Ansett name "because everyone knows what it is".
Mr Byrt, with a background in mining and fishing, has formed a private consortium backed by $20 million funding.
"It's no joke and we haven't treated it like that," he said.
The names Ansett Airways, Ansett Air Freight and Ansett Airways Holdings were registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission five weeks ago.
"We've purchased five existing airlines in charter and RPT (regular public transport) operations. Just small ones," Mr Byrt said.
One of the airlines already holds a flying licence for high-density flights, he said.
The contracts would be settled after regulatory approval, Mr Byrt said.
Former Ansett staff had already contacted him with their opinions about the proposal, he said.
"A lot of them are saying, 'Congratulations, it'll be great to see the Ansett name back in the air'.
"Others are a bit more sceptical. We don't propose to be anywhere near the size of Ansett."
Mr Byrt said he hoped the carrier would fly routes to Gladstone, Mackay, Hamilton Island, Townsville, Mt Isa, Cairns, Brisbane and Horn Island in the Torres Strait.
Ansett, founded by Sir Reginald Ansett in 1936, collapsed in September 2001 with huge debts.
The article hints about the acquisitions of smaller regionals with infrastructure................M A C, you know who, or Alliance, or QRA. Who has heard, is involved, or can offer something to the industry regarding this.
The Local Industry would greatly appreciate information.
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