Geoffrey,
Nice that you could join us.
In response to your points;
1. Being the second biggest jet operator has nothing to do with the selection of 717's or any other aircraft. The passengers will get what QANTAS gives them if there is an economic case to introduce a new aircraft type.
2. The new hangars are not a sign that new aircraft are coming. NJS has identified how vulnerable they are, by relying on Qantas for so much of its income through the Qantaslink contract. They are trying very hard to win outsourced maintenance contracts with other airlines. Not to mention the fact that we have long needed some hangar space to work on our own aircraft!
3. Talks with Boeing does not equal 717's for NJS! Airconnex is another matter.
4. Next to the 146 lease rates, $115,000/month is not cheap. Some of our aircraft are so old, they probably pay us to have them!
5. The 717 is a great aircraft for the right market. The east coast is that market. Long runways, cooler temps, short sectors, this is where the 717 shines. On many current 146 routes, particularly in the summer months, the 146 would still uplift a better load. In WA the majority of routes need a 70-80 seat jet. The 717 would be half empty most of the time on exsisting routes (other than those were Qantas no uses 737's) eg Kalgoorlie, Broome, Karratha.
6. Virgin doesn’t (at this stage) seem too interested in flying on all the Qantaslink routes (just those serviced by QF 737's). Many of the 146 routes would not support two jet services.
7. See note 4 again!
Sorry Geoffrey, I would love to have a new 717 but I just don't see it happening. The info that is filtering down to us is that Qantas are interested in smaller regional jets (70-90 seats) in the longer term but that NJS would NOT necessarily be the operator of such aircraft. The BAe146 won’t be here forever but its here for a while yet.
AA
Last edited by Airspeed Ambassador; 28th May 2002 at 13:48.