Wirraway
9th Jun 2004, 11:21
ABC News Online
Wednesday, June 9, 2004. 7:37pm (AEST)
New Virgin Blue flights fail to worry Jetstar
Jetstar has rejected suggestions that Virgin Blue could be picking up some of its Launceston business.
Virgin Blue will soon add late evening flights between Launceston and Melbourne on Friday and Sunday nights.
It says the flights are needed to meet additional demand that has occurred since Jetstar started late last month.
But Jetstar's manager of corporate relations, Simon Westaway, says that is ludicrous.
"Jetstar's been operating for two weeks out of Launceston so that's an interesting claim," he said.
"We are very pleased with numbers in to and out of Launceston since we've launched on 25 May.
"We're offering an increased schedule compared to our competitors on that market.
"We do four times daily services in both directions between Launceston and the mainland."
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AAP
June 9th 8:05pm
Jetstar hasn't hurt our bookings: Virgin
June 9, 2004 - 8:05PM
Virgin Blue Holdings chief executive Brett Godfrey said bookings were unaffected by the launch of Qantas Airways' low cost carrier Jetstar.
"No, and there's no reason to expect there to be any decline," Mr Godfrey told AAP from Singapore.
"Jetstar is a carve-out of Qantas. There's no change."
Jetstar took to the skies two weeks ago, as a move by Qantas to take on the growing domestic low-cost travel market.
Comparable booking numbers for the two cut-cost carriers are not yet available, which means analysts are still divided on whether Jetstar will seize market share from Virgin Blue or its parent, Qantas.
Jetstar and Qantas together expect to hold 65 per cent of the local market, which would leave 35 per cent to the Richard Branson-backed Virgin Blue.
But Virgin Blue has said it wants 50 per cent of the market. It recently said it had 33 per cent, after three years in business.
Mr Godfrey, currently in Singapore for the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting, said Virgin Blue was open to the prospect of forming a joint venture in Asia.
"If something comes along ... we'll certainly consider it," he said, adding "there's nothing tangible on the table right now".
He said Virgin Blue was flexible about the size of its stake, but the joint venture would have to offer direct benefits to Virgin Blue, whose prime focus would still be its own operations.
Virgin Blue, which counts Australian transport group Patrick Corp Ltd among its biggest shareholders, runs 46 aircraft in Australia and New Zealand but plans to add Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu to its list of destinations from September.
Virgin Blue shares rose one cent to $2.05 and Qantas fell five cents to $3.43.
© 2004 AAP
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Wednesday, June 9, 2004. 7:37pm (AEST)
New Virgin Blue flights fail to worry Jetstar
Jetstar has rejected suggestions that Virgin Blue could be picking up some of its Launceston business.
Virgin Blue will soon add late evening flights between Launceston and Melbourne on Friday and Sunday nights.
It says the flights are needed to meet additional demand that has occurred since Jetstar started late last month.
But Jetstar's manager of corporate relations, Simon Westaway, says that is ludicrous.
"Jetstar's been operating for two weeks out of Launceston so that's an interesting claim," he said.
"We are very pleased with numbers in to and out of Launceston since we've launched on 25 May.
"We're offering an increased schedule compared to our competitors on that market.
"We do four times daily services in both directions between Launceston and the mainland."
==========================================
AAP
June 9th 8:05pm
Jetstar hasn't hurt our bookings: Virgin
June 9, 2004 - 8:05PM
Virgin Blue Holdings chief executive Brett Godfrey said bookings were unaffected by the launch of Qantas Airways' low cost carrier Jetstar.
"No, and there's no reason to expect there to be any decline," Mr Godfrey told AAP from Singapore.
"Jetstar is a carve-out of Qantas. There's no change."
Jetstar took to the skies two weeks ago, as a move by Qantas to take on the growing domestic low-cost travel market.
Comparable booking numbers for the two cut-cost carriers are not yet available, which means analysts are still divided on whether Jetstar will seize market share from Virgin Blue or its parent, Qantas.
Jetstar and Qantas together expect to hold 65 per cent of the local market, which would leave 35 per cent to the Richard Branson-backed Virgin Blue.
But Virgin Blue has said it wants 50 per cent of the market. It recently said it had 33 per cent, after three years in business.
Mr Godfrey, currently in Singapore for the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting, said Virgin Blue was open to the prospect of forming a joint venture in Asia.
"If something comes along ... we'll certainly consider it," he said, adding "there's nothing tangible on the table right now".
He said Virgin Blue was flexible about the size of its stake, but the joint venture would have to offer direct benefits to Virgin Blue, whose prime focus would still be its own operations.
Virgin Blue, which counts Australian transport group Patrick Corp Ltd among its biggest shareholders, runs 46 aircraft in Australia and New Zealand but plans to add Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu to its list of destinations from September.
Virgin Blue shares rose one cent to $2.05 and Qantas fell five cents to $3.43.
© 2004 AAP
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