MUNT
26th Jul 2007, 09:25
From the SMH:
Craig Platt
July 26, 2007 - 11:30AM
Australia's airfare wars continued today with budding South Pacific carrier Norfolk Air announcing $1 fares from Sydney to Melbourne - including taxes.
The announcement follows a decision by the Norfolk Island-based carrier to begin direct flights from Melbourne in October, removing the need for passengers to travel through Sydney to the tiny island 1600 kilometres east of Sydney.
A spokesman for the airline said the special fare would be available on flights returning to Melbourne from Norfolk Island via Sydney, starting from October 19.
"Sydney to Melbourne is the main game in Australia, yet we're seeing Qantas and Virgin Blue just throwing feathers at each other and we still don't know if Tiger Airways is going to chance its hand on the route," Norfolk Air general manager Ewan Wilson said in a statement released today.
Mr Wilson said visitors from Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia presently made up 16 per cent of all arrivals to Norfolk Island, and he expected the new Melbourne services to rebuild numbers from those markets.
The new Melbourne flights will feature a two-class service offering an economy cabin and eight Bounty Class (business) seats. Due to weight restrictions, at least 18 seats will be available for the Sydney to Melbourne route each week. The $1 fares would continue to be available until an aircraft upgrade occurs next year, but may continue beyond that.
Flights will leave Melbourne International Airport at 12.50pm every Friday and arrive on the island at 5.50pm local time. Return flights will leave at 8am on Fridays and arrive in Melbourne at 11.50am, after a brief Sydney stopover at Sydney's international terminal.
The news comes after a week of intense competition between budget carriers, with newcomer Air Asia X promising $11 promotional fares to London, Jetstar expanding its domestic routes, Tiger announcing $59.95 one-way fares from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast and Virgin Blue announcing the name of its new long-haul airline, V Australia.
Craig Platt
July 26, 2007 - 11:30AM
Australia's airfare wars continued today with budding South Pacific carrier Norfolk Air announcing $1 fares from Sydney to Melbourne - including taxes.
The announcement follows a decision by the Norfolk Island-based carrier to begin direct flights from Melbourne in October, removing the need for passengers to travel through Sydney to the tiny island 1600 kilometres east of Sydney.
A spokesman for the airline said the special fare would be available on flights returning to Melbourne from Norfolk Island via Sydney, starting from October 19.
"Sydney to Melbourne is the main game in Australia, yet we're seeing Qantas and Virgin Blue just throwing feathers at each other and we still don't know if Tiger Airways is going to chance its hand on the route," Norfolk Air general manager Ewan Wilson said in a statement released today.
Mr Wilson said visitors from Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia presently made up 16 per cent of all arrivals to Norfolk Island, and he expected the new Melbourne services to rebuild numbers from those markets.
The new Melbourne flights will feature a two-class service offering an economy cabin and eight Bounty Class (business) seats. Due to weight restrictions, at least 18 seats will be available for the Sydney to Melbourne route each week. The $1 fares would continue to be available until an aircraft upgrade occurs next year, but may continue beyond that.
Flights will leave Melbourne International Airport at 12.50pm every Friday and arrive on the island at 5.50pm local time. Return flights will leave at 8am on Fridays and arrive in Melbourne at 11.50am, after a brief Sydney stopover at Sydney's international terminal.
The news comes after a week of intense competition between budget carriers, with newcomer Air Asia X promising $11 promotional fares to London, Jetstar expanding its domestic routes, Tiger announcing $59.95 one-way fares from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast and Virgin Blue announcing the name of its new long-haul airline, V Australia.