OzJet Aircraft

[AN CSO]

With OzJet planning on starting operations in late August or early September, is there any movement of European Air Charter B737 fleet into the paint job?

The aircraft will need to be put on the Australian register and that takes 6 - 8 weeks to complete so the aircraft would need to start heading down under in late May/ early June.

What would the average cycles/hours be on these aircraft and how reliable have they been?

Are any European Air Charter crews heading down under to help with the startup?

[eurostar builder]

One aircraft has been there since March 20th

Check out the photos on Airliners
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?front=yes&maxres=500&keywords=ozjet

[AN CSO]

Thanks eurostar builder, I should have mentioned that the first aircraft is already here. What I'm after is when the next 2-3 aircraft will be heading downunder and if anyone at European Air Charter knows which ones they will be.

[crewboi83]

Apparently the Ex Manardi a/c G-GPFI is next... there was an a/c being sprayed at BOH last week, and all i seen was the black tail popping out the back of the hanger... so maybe that could be it!

[Oshkosh George]

European have registered an ex Ryanair -200 EI-CJI as G-FIGP. This could be the aircraft being sprayed.

The Cof A category is shown as Exported,so could be for Oz,although only Brit registered on the 11th April.

[circseam]

Hasn't Ozjet also changed its business plan from being a Low cost start up to business class only flights and I preume these will only be to the main cities on the coast?

With existing full service players already established and the introduction of Qantas / Virgin Blue on the low cost side of things surely Ozjet is heading for a fall.

The formula one advertising must be costing them a small fortune (Didnt European also sponser the F1 outfit also) too and the mobile advertising board usually is static after very few short laps.

Saw the interview with Stoddy on ITV grand prix, habitual coffee drinker, smoker and hardly sleeps........must be all the thought of the ex-employees of European and suppliers whom are owed.

[Zigzag]

Hasn't Ozjet also changed its business plan from being a Low cost start up to business class only flights and I preume these will only be to the main cities on the coast?

Your point being? Jetstar have gobbled up what's left over of the "low yield" (to put it nicely) traffic, leaving no opening whatsoever in that end of the market.

With existing full service players already established and the introduction of Qantas / Virgin Blue on the low cost side of things surely Ozjet is heading for a fall.

Players? There is only 1 player - Qantas. That is where the perceived opening is. Qantas has a monopoly, and according to a number of travellers, commentators, etc., the monopoly shows, if you get my drift. Whether this opening is enough to sustain Ozjet permanently remains to be seen. I'm not convinced it's "heading for a fall" though. Time will tell.

[Legal_Counsel]

I understand the South Australian Government will assist Ozjet only if it hubs in Adelaide and provides RPT to certain remote regions with economy high density seating. The Government is not interested in its business model as it is not essential for RPT.

From my perspective, if I were running Ozjet, I would hub it in Adelaide and operate RJ70, RJ85 or RJ100 (or BAe146) aircraft throughout the mining districts (WA/NT/N NSW/N QLD) in full economy with wider seats and more leg room with say 50 passengers (RJ70) . This is a proven business market. It should not fly MEL-SYD or even ADL-MEL as these can be adequately serviced by current jet standards. I would stay well clear of the tourist routes. Iwould concentrate on flying only two or three aircraft in a shuttle between two city pairs for a start and concentrate getting WA traffic into Adelaide (if range permits). A good city pair would be PER-ADL. :ok:

[eurostar builder]

RE Ozjet

CEAI 737 arrived back at Bournemouth for maint and departed back to Oz.

A long way from Home for 3 days work.

Also whats happening with the 146s there getting from New Zealand.

[Legal_Counsel]

Yes a rather expensive exercise.

I suppose the deal with AAES is off or it couldn't do the work until it got the approvals or it was put on the Australian register. Without an AOC I couldn't see the aircraft going onto the register so that might explain it. I had also heard that all the BAe146s were ging back to the UK and their is not substance to the rumour that Ozjet made any payment on them.



:confused:

[Zigzag]

Nice try L_C, but you're (once again) wrong......

The 146's were never bought by Ozjet, but by European Skybus (EAAC). Where their intended long term fate is is anyone's guess.

FYI (and Eurostar), CEAI passed thru Bournemouth on it's way to Romania (as far as I'm lead to believe), however it will be back in Aust in good time. Nothing to do with AOC's, approvals, VH reg, etc.

[Legal_Counsel]

Thanks Zigzag. I have since heard, and this probably fits with what you are saying, it was required for a business charter.

Yes the BAe146 is an interesting story: From the Ansett Australia Virtual Site

"14/03/2004 - Ansett BAe146's - OzJet

From www.theaustralian.news.com.au

OZJET - the start-up airline planned by Formula One entrepreneur Paul Stoddart - will fly former Ansett aircraft.

But the six BAe-146 jets he will buy have not flown since Ansett collapsed in March 2002.

The Herald Sun confirmed yesterday the Minardi team boss has his sights set on planes grounded at Melbourne's Essendon airport.

A source close to the Melbourne-based insolvency specialists Mark Mentha and Mark Korda said last night Stoddart had produced a "robust business plan" and was close to sealing the deal. "

And so on it goes I guess - presumably they were going to buy them but haven't.