1279shp
26th May 2005, 20:50
From the paper today!
Hamilton could become a battleground between Air New Zealand's Freedom Air and Qantas' budget arm Jetstar.
Jetstar announced plans this week to start flying the Tasman by the end of this year and said it would reveal its destinations in early August.
Freedom Air's decision on the same day to more than double services between Hamilton and Sydney to five times a week from December could indicate that Waikato is on Jetstar's list.
Hamilton is strategically located, drawing passengers from throughout the central North Island, including rapidly growing Tauranga and tourist centre Rotorua.
Jetstar would start talks with some airports soon, spokesman Simon Westaway said. But he would not say which.
Hamilton International Airport chief executive Hugh McCarroll said he had provided market information to Jetstar, but had not yet heard back.
He said Brisbane could support a twice-daily service with two carriers.
However, Freedom general manager Stephen Jones said the Sydney decision was made after research showed that just 10 per cent of Waikato passengers flew to Sydney through Hamilton International Airport. The rest went to Auckland.
The timing of the service increase was also not related to Jetstar's plans but coincided with the start of the summer schedule, and the arrival of Freedom's four new A320s.
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation analyst Ian Thomas said whether or not Freedom's Hamilton-Sydney service was in anticipation of Jetstar's arrival, Freedom would be repositioned to combat the threat.
Jetstar was likely to target some secondary airports, as well as replace some Qantas services out of the main centres, to help absorb the 30 per cent capacity being added to its fleet over the next year, he said. Other options were South Island centres to take advantage of the tourism market.
Qantas could also replace its loss-making New Zealand domestic service with Jetstar, which would get around market resistance to the strongly Australian brand.
Qantas was also keen to keep Christchurch-based Pacific Blue in check, Mr Thomas said.
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Hamilton could become a battleground between Air New Zealand's Freedom Air and Qantas' budget arm Jetstar.
Jetstar announced plans this week to start flying the Tasman by the end of this year and said it would reveal its destinations in early August.
Freedom Air's decision on the same day to more than double services between Hamilton and Sydney to five times a week from December could indicate that Waikato is on Jetstar's list.
Hamilton is strategically located, drawing passengers from throughout the central North Island, including rapidly growing Tauranga and tourist centre Rotorua.
Jetstar would start talks with some airports soon, spokesman Simon Westaway said. But he would not say which.
Hamilton International Airport chief executive Hugh McCarroll said he had provided market information to Jetstar, but had not yet heard back.
He said Brisbane could support a twice-daily service with two carriers.
However, Freedom general manager Stephen Jones said the Sydney decision was made after research showed that just 10 per cent of Waikato passengers flew to Sydney through Hamilton International Airport. The rest went to Auckland.
The timing of the service increase was also not related to Jetstar's plans but coincided with the start of the summer schedule, and the arrival of Freedom's four new A320s.
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation analyst Ian Thomas said whether or not Freedom's Hamilton-Sydney service was in anticipation of Jetstar's arrival, Freedom would be repositioned to combat the threat.
Jetstar was likely to target some secondary airports, as well as replace some Qantas services out of the main centres, to help absorb the 30 per cent capacity being added to its fleet over the next year, he said. Other options were South Island centres to take advantage of the tourism market.
Qantas could also replace its loss-making New Zealand domestic service with Jetstar, which would get around market resistance to the strongly Australian brand.
Qantas was also keen to keep Christchurch-based Pacific Blue in check, Mr Thomas said.
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