Wirraway
13th Aug 2004, 21:38
AAP
Virgin to start flights to New Caledonia
August 14, 2004 - 6:14AM
The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia has opened its skies to Pacific Blue Airlines by approving the Virgin Blue subsidiary's flights and fare schedule.
Pacific Blue, the international unit of Australian airline Virgin Blue, would operate two flights a week between Brisbane and the capital Noumea, company spokesman David Huttner said.
The Boeing 737 flights would have room for 180 passengers and cost between 125 and 390 euros ($A215 and $A670) for the 2,000km journey, he said.
It will join the only other carrier in New Caledonia, the government-owned Air Caledonia International.
The government had decided to admit Pacific Blue, even though it would be in competition with Air Caledonia, to "increase the number of visitors and develop tourism," air transport official Didier Leroux said.
Air Caledonia International said it was not concerned by the arrival of Pacific Blue and announced it would lower its fares for regional flights from September 13 in light of the new competition.
In the four years since its launch in 2001, Virgin Blue has captured 30 per cent of the domestic Australian market.
Pacific Blue concentrates on New Zealand and is due to expand later to the Pacific island nations of Fiji, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.
© 2004 AFP
===========================================
Virgin to start flights to New Caledonia
August 14, 2004 - 6:14AM
The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia has opened its skies to Pacific Blue Airlines by approving the Virgin Blue subsidiary's flights and fare schedule.
Pacific Blue, the international unit of Australian airline Virgin Blue, would operate two flights a week between Brisbane and the capital Noumea, company spokesman David Huttner said.
The Boeing 737 flights would have room for 180 passengers and cost between 125 and 390 euros ($A215 and $A670) for the 2,000km journey, he said.
It will join the only other carrier in New Caledonia, the government-owned Air Caledonia International.
The government had decided to admit Pacific Blue, even though it would be in competition with Air Caledonia, to "increase the number of visitors and develop tourism," air transport official Didier Leroux said.
Air Caledonia International said it was not concerned by the arrival of Pacific Blue and announced it would lower its fares for regional flights from September 13 in light of the new competition.
In the four years since its launch in 2001, Virgin Blue has captured 30 per cent of the domestic Australian market.
Pacific Blue concentrates on New Zealand and is due to expand later to the Pacific island nations of Fiji, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.
© 2004 AFP
===========================================