Pacific Blue to fly to Fiji

[Wirraway]

RELEASE
Virgin Blue Holdings Limited

Pacific Blue to fly to Fiji

Pacific Blue, Virgin Blue’s subsidiary airline, has today confirmed its intention to begin flights between Australia and
Fiji (Nadi) from September 2004, subject to regulatory approvals in both countries. Pacific Blue intends to initially fly
between Australia and Fiji 6 times per week, increasing to daily services in 2005 as demand increases. Final
schedule, fares and the Australian arrival and departure port will be announced in coming months, subject to securing
the appropriate approvals.

For further information:
David Huttner - Head of Strategy and Communication, Virgin Blue – ph: 04129 22122 or
Carolyn Neck - Investor Relations, Virgin Blue – ph: 07 3295 3978
Text Box: Date: 19 February 2004

==========================================

[lame]

Interesting timing, the announcement. ;)

This from New Zealand, Freedom Air will get the jump on them...... :ooh:

New Zealand-based low cost carrier Freedom Air has been granted government approval to operate a service between New Zealand and Fiji. The flights will operate between Hamilton and Nadi, beginning in April. This is the first time the carrier has operated to any international destination other than Australia.

[DJ737]

I recall SJ flying to Fiji a couple of years back:confused:

......and PB will be flying from Australia to Fiji :rolleyes:

DJ737

The Roo Rooter :E :ok:

[troppo]

theres gonna be a bunfight...

air new zealand has just announced their own cheap flights to fiji
airwork is trying to get up and running on the route
flight centre is doing its own charters there
plus freedom air
plus possibly pacific blue....
thats a whole lotta seats!

cheap flights for a little while at least i guess...

[Bugsmasha]

F*cking management once again screw us over. We were told that PB will be operating the Tasman and VB WILL go international to places such as Fiji, Bali etc.. So now a NZ airline will be operating international flights out of Oz instead of VB. At least Managements shares will incease and they will do all right out of it. Still waiting for the pay rise for inernational ops as promised in the EBA:yuk:

[DJ737]

Bugsmasha

I think you will find that the Fiji flights will be operated by Pacific Blue (Aust) as opposed to Pacific Blue (NZ), Two different companies, probably the same 737's though :rolleyes:

dj737

The Roo Rooter :E :ok:

[Bugsmasha]

DJ737 have you heard something I haven't? ( I have been on leave so quite possibly), Are they starting up another PB OZ? Will this mean they will have the 5th cabin crew member on board as per the OZ CAO's? Who will crew them?
Interesting:confused:

[DJ737]

NZ used to fly SYD-LAX so i think the precedent is already there :(

Name PACIFIC BLUE AIRLINES (AUST) PTY LTD
ACN 097 892 389

ABN 79 097 892 389

Type Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares
Registration
Date 16/01/2004
Next Review
Date 15/01/2007
Status Registered
Locality
of Registered
Office Brisbane QLD 4000
Jurisdiction Australian Securities & Investments Commission


DJ 737

The Roo Rooter :E :ok:

[Wirraway]

Fri "The Australian"

Pacific Blue targets Fiji
By Steve Creedy
February 20, 2004

PACIFIC Blue hopes to begin flights to Nadi in Fiji from September as it continues talks with several South Pacific islands about new services.

The New Zealand-based low-cost carrier is seeking permission from Australian and Fijian authorities to begin service with six flights a week, but wants to ramp up to daily services by 2005.

It will team with sister airline Virgin Blue to offer a range of Australian domestic connections in cities as far away as Perth.

The move brings Pacific Blue into direct competition with Fiji's Air Pacific, the strongest carrier in the region and backed by main investor Qantas.

Air Pacific chief executive John Campbell warned last year the airline would aggressively protect its market share and had "no intention of walking away from what we've worked fairly hard to build up".

Virgin spokesman David Huttner said yesterday there were still many people who thought Fiji was beyond their reach.

"Pacific Blue hopes to change that, just as Virgin Blue has for domestic tourism throughout Australia," Mr Huttner said.

"With affordable pricing, we will also make Fiji accessible to independent, and more adventurous, travellers who will move beyond the big resorts and fan out across the Fijian islands."

Mr Huttner said the airline would release schedules, fares and Australian ports in the coming months, subject to approval.

Talks were continuing with other South Pacific islands such as Vanuatu and Noumea.

"We hope to make further announcements within the next few months," he said.

=========================================

[nzer]

LAME - "Freedom" has previously operated to NAN - albeit it only for abrief period of time - so this will not bethe first time they have gone to other than Aussie - also, flights will be from CHC to NAN as well.

"Troppo" - "Airwork" and "Flight Centre" are one and the same as far as the Fiji flights goes.

"bugmasha" - "So now a NZ airline will be operating international flights out of Oz instead of VB." - So what ? QF operates onwards ex NZ both in its own right (LAX) and as codeshares (Aerolineas to sth America, Air Pac to HNL )- get with it - the days of protection - of routes, of markets, of pilots - are over.

"Troppo" - "Airwork" and "Flight Centre" are one and the same as far as the Fiji flights goes.

"bugmasha" - "So now a NZ airline will be operating international flights out of Oz instead of VB." - So what ? QF operates onwards ex NZ both in its own right (LAX) and as codeshares (Aerolineas to sth America, Air Pac to HNL )- get with it - the days of protection - of routes, of markets, of pilots - are over.

[VMCA]

dj737 is correct. Pacific Blue Australia crewed by VB

[lame]

When will I ever learn not to believe everything in the media. :(

Unless, it said they now have Government approval to operate these flights on a regular basis.

Are you sure that the previous flights were not just proving flights, or even charters, in which case the news story is correct? :confused:

[propaganda]

Do Airwork have their B733 up and running on the Fiji run, and does anyone know what they're like to work for ?....

;)

[Eastwest Loco]

DJ will need to get their cack together if they want to act like a serious airline and open more routes.

Over Sydney connecting flights have to have in some cases 2 hour minimum connecting times as they are not loaded as "through services".

This would mean over 3 hours on a non loaded dom-int transfer.

Sometime down the track we in the travel industry will be able to take DJ seriously.

The seed is there - their groups deparment is absolutely brilliant and far better than QF, but work is needed. Or maybe it is years that are needed.

More Fiji capacity is a damned good thing though.

Best all

EWL

[Airspeed Ambassador]

VMCA,

Don't get excited too soon. The other day BG briefed a group of new Cabin Supervisors undergoing training. When asked who would be crewing to Fiji, the response was PB. When asked why - the response was 'PB is the cheaper option'. Now if the FA's will be PB, I can't see why they would need VB pilots.

Time will tell.

AA