From today's Advocate
NEW Burnie-Melbourne carrier Free Spirit Airlines says it plans to resume flights in September.
Free Spirit has been grounded since early June, claiming its crew had been "poached" by another airline.
It had hoped to resume flights in July.
"We are now in the final stages of bringing on line the right replacement crews to restore operational capacity," managing director Roman Badov said yesterday.
"We expect to emerge from our current situation a stronger and more robust airline."
The claims about poaching incensed established Melbourne-Burnie carrier Regional Express (Rex).
Free Spirit did not directly name Rex, but Rex accused it of making "scurrilous comments which tarnish our reputation" and claimed Free Spirit had averaged just 2.25 passengers per flight in May, and cancelled half its flights.
Free Spirit disputed the figures.
Yesterday, Mr Badov said: "The passenger loads we had been experiencing during our first month of operations exceeded our expectations and showed the merits of our business model.
"People are interested in a more competitive and affordable travel solution along currently monopolised regional routes.
"Unfortunately, flight crew leaving without giving any of the required notice have left us with no choice but to suspend our services until we can resolve the crew shortage."
Last edited by Rotor Work; 6th Aug 2015 at 23:05.
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