ozjet gone
Bottom line is that a 34yo 737-200 does not cut the grade in 2009.
The -200 have never had the legs to get to the island in all conditions and has been little better than the f28-100's. The reason NFA used the -200 is that it was better than the alternatives available at the time.
Over recent weeks a/c going u/s has not only cost OJ lots of money, but has had a significant impact on everyone to do with Norfolk, and cost everyone lots of money, not the least of which was affected pax.
OZD (painted in Nlk colours) was fairly reliable, but the other a/c that have ben substitued over recent times are dogs.....
The tech and cabin crew have always been outstanding and those that aren't continuing with OA will be missed, however no-one can do a good job with substandard equipment.
OJ renewed the contract a couple of years ago conditional upon supplying a -300 by the end of 2008, something they appear never to be really planing on doing.
They where later given 12months notice of termination of the contract (due to expire middle of May). The end of the contract shouldn't have really come as a suprise. I understand they where previously offered an out at the end of last year but chose to persist for the full 12months notice period.
I don't think the 600+ pax effected during the last week, and 1,000s during the last couple of months by delays as a result of OJ engineering issues would think it is a bad idea to replace them sooner rather than later.