ASIA PULSE
Virgin Blue to Receive 1ST Jets for NZ Service by Month-End
BRISBANE, Sept 10 Asia Pulse - Budget carrier Virgin Blue said the first aircraft destined to fly its planned trans-Tasman route are due to arrive in Australia before the end of the month.
Virgin Blue chief executive officer Brett Godfrey said the Boeing 737 aircraft would be used domestically in Australia until the New Zealand regulation process was completed.
The company has applied for an air operator's certificate in NZ, and slots to fly eight daily return services between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
A final decision on the routes, start-up timetable and number of planes has not been made but flights are expected by Christmas.
"Our first Pacific aircraft arrive towards the end of this month," Mr Godfrey told reporters in Brisbane today.
"They will probably go into domestic service in Australia because clearly we are not going to be flying the Tasman this month.
"Our plan is still subject to New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority regulations and we still have more discussions with them to take place before I give you a date as to when that will be.
"As we did in our first start-up, we are not going to step out the blocks without having everything in place."
Virgin Blue said yesterday its plans would not be deterred by the Australian competition watchdog's decision to deny approval for an alliance between Qantas and Air New Zealand.
Virgin Blue has already begun advertising for cabin crew to staff its proposed new NZ-based subsidiary and has enlisted the help of airline leasing and human resources consultant Rishworth Aviation to get its NZ operations off the ground.
ASIA PULSE
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Last edited by Wirraway; 10th Sep 2003 at 23:24.