Australian Airlines Airborne
Australian Airlines has it's first scheduled flight today.......this is from today's Sun Herald:
No-frills airline takes off for Japan
By Debbie Neilson
October 27 2002
The Sun-Herald
Australia's newest international airline, Australian Airlines, will leave for Japan this morning on its inaugural flight from Cairns.
The first of the four newly refitted wide-bodied 767-300 aircraft is expected to touchdown in Nagoya this evening. A second flight will arrive in Osaka soon after.
The aircraft will return to Cairns early tomorrow morning before carrying some transit passengers to the Gold Coast.
New Customs, Immigration and quarantine areas have been set up at Coolangatta Airport to process the arrival of the first stream of international visitors.
The Qantas subsidiary will offer daily return services to Nagoya and Osaka from Cairns, and three return services each week to Fukuoka, Singapore, Taipei and Hong Kong from November 21 and 22
Andrea Staines, Australian Airlines general manager, commercial, said flights from Japan were almost full for the first month, revealing little impact on the airline in the wake of the Bali bombings.
"Australia is still seen as a safe destination," she said.
Australian Airlines plans to increase the frequency of flights from Cairns and add new routes next year. Chinese destinations are being considered.
As well as Queensland, other popular tourism centres such as Sydney, Melbourne and Alice Springs are expected to benefit from the new airline.
The introduction of a fifth plane to the fleet early next year will mean the airline can focus on inbound travellers and also expand its non-stop outbound services.
Ian Thomas, an industry analyst with the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, said this could mean new routes to northern Asia, due to troubles in the region's south-east, or the introduction of services to safer Pacific destinations such as Fiji.
"The possibility of more terrorist attacks and a war in the Middle East will dictate timing on expansion to South-East Asia," Mr Thomas said.
Melbourne is expected to become the airline's second Australian hub, where the new airline is less likely to compete with Qantas's international routes.
While Australian Airlines offers only economy class, Ms Staines said it was not a discount carrier and would provide services like hot meals, snacks and in-flight entertainment to passengers.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members will also be able to redeem points on Australian Airlines flights.