Wirraway
27th Aug 2004, 06:28
http://www.stuff.co.nz/
Freedom Air raises the pressure
27 August 2004
The airline dogfight continues with Freedom Air's launch of another four extra flights to Fiji and Australia out of Christchurch.
The Air New Zealand-owned value for money airline is introducing a second Christchurch to Fiji flight from next year, for South Islanders wanting to escape the winter.
Freedom will also add two extra flights to the Gold Coast and one extra to Brisbane each week thanks to the arrival of a fifth aeroplane.
The new flights begin from March next year.
Acting general manager Michael Young said the Fiji services had been a winner and the extra flights were needed to meet demand.
Freedom will also have more seats to fill as it replaces its 142-seat Boeings next year for 168-seat Airbus aircraft.
"It'll be a lot more seats to fill," Young said.
According to Christchurch International Airport Freedom flew 100,000 passengers out of Christchurch in the year to August, and the airline has become an important player since it reintroduced its international services in October 2002.
Young said low cost fares mean more people were flying, but there was still plenty of competition. He said the launch of budget rival Pacific Blue earlier this year "hadn't helped" Freedom, but the market was growing.
"I think there's more South Islanders flying. The thing to remember is that Qantas has always been strong out of Christchurch."
Young said the airline was also looking at establishing a crew base out of Christchurch, and would be trialling the idea to see how it went.
"For some reason a number of our people have homes in Christchurch. We will schedule services so they can be based out of there. The key thing is that it could improve the lifestyle options for crew."
Freedom has followed the lead of the other airlines and increased its fuel surcharge from $10 to $20 per flight to cover the rising cost of fuel. Young said Freedom's fuel bill had risen 35% this year.
While Freedom was a successful airline it was facing more competition as full service airlines cut their prices to match, Young said.
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Freedom Air raises the pressure
27 August 2004
The airline dogfight continues with Freedom Air's launch of another four extra flights to Fiji and Australia out of Christchurch.
The Air New Zealand-owned value for money airline is introducing a second Christchurch to Fiji flight from next year, for South Islanders wanting to escape the winter.
Freedom will also add two extra flights to the Gold Coast and one extra to Brisbane each week thanks to the arrival of a fifth aeroplane.
The new flights begin from March next year.
Acting general manager Michael Young said the Fiji services had been a winner and the extra flights were needed to meet demand.
Freedom will also have more seats to fill as it replaces its 142-seat Boeings next year for 168-seat Airbus aircraft.
"It'll be a lot more seats to fill," Young said.
According to Christchurch International Airport Freedom flew 100,000 passengers out of Christchurch in the year to August, and the airline has become an important player since it reintroduced its international services in October 2002.
Young said low cost fares mean more people were flying, but there was still plenty of competition. He said the launch of budget rival Pacific Blue earlier this year "hadn't helped" Freedom, but the market was growing.
"I think there's more South Islanders flying. The thing to remember is that Qantas has always been strong out of Christchurch."
Young said the airline was also looking at establishing a crew base out of Christchurch, and would be trialling the idea to see how it went.
"For some reason a number of our people have homes in Christchurch. We will schedule services so they can be based out of there. The key thing is that it could improve the lifestyle options for crew."
Freedom has followed the lead of the other airlines and increased its fuel surcharge from $10 to $20 per flight to cover the rising cost of fuel. Young said Freedom's fuel bill had risen 35% this year.
While Freedom was a successful airline it was facing more competition as full service airlines cut their prices to match, Young said.
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