Folks,
It is a fact of life that it is much cheaper to run a NZ based and licensed airline than an Australian one.
Pilot remuneration is only a relatively small part of the cost equation, but obviously favourable to the other side of the pond.
Under the TTMRA, there is no limitation on setting up a base in Australia, Pacific Blue would not be the first.
The fact that there are relatively few VH- B737 shuttling back and forth on the Tasman -- for any local airline -- should tell you something.
Tootle pip!!