More mechanical problems cut OzJet flights
Fri "Sydney Morning Herald"
More mechanical problems cut OzJet flights
By Scott Rochfort
December 9, 2005
AFTER a bumpy first week in the air, Australia's newest domestic airline, OzJet, has encountered more mechanical problems which delayed two flights between Sydney and Melbourne yesterday morning.
The airline blamed the cancellation of a peak hour service out of Melbourne and another out of Sydney on a faulty "hydraulic pipe".
But OzJet founder Paul Stoddart hit out at the media's reportage of his airline's teething problems, saying journalists paid little attention when Qantas and Virgin Blue cancelled flights or had technical problems.
"If out of 100 flights a week you end up with one problem it's quite normal," Mr Stoddart said. He complained how a leaking hydraulic pipe could warrant media coverage while a cracked window on a Virgin Blue flight last week barely made it into the newspapers.
He questioned why the Herald was interested in a cancelled OzJet flight while he could "see cancelled [flights] from the opposition". At the time Mr Stoddart made the comment, around 10.30am, Qantas or Virgin Blue had cancelled no flights between Sydney or Melbourne yesterday.
According to the latest Bureau of Transport Economics figures for September, Virgin Blue cancelled 0.2 per cent of its flights, Jetstar 0.2 per cent and Qantas 1.2 per cent.
Mr Stoddart initially blamed the cancellation of four OzJet flights last Thursday on the lack of demand for midday services. The airline has since rejigged its timetable. However, last Thursday's delays were put down to one of OzJet's 30-year-old 737-200s having mechanical problems on a wing flap.
Mr Stoddart said OzJet knew it would always have a few teething problems and have a tough time attracting business passengers during December and January.
"We've really budgeted for the losses," he said. He declined to say how much the airline was losing.
OzJet's latest statements about its business plan staying intact do not explain why the airline has sharply changed its previously stated policy of not undercutting Qantas and Virgin Blue's fully flexible fares.
Last month OzJet said it was not planning to lower its ticket price below $305 one-way.
It is now selling one-way tickets for $249.
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