Review of WA Intrastate Air Services

[Chadzat]

Well the new "framework" has been released by the WA state government and to my mind it looks like a dogs breakfast. At the end of the year the regional network could either look drastically different or it could end up exactly the same.

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/aviation_fisher_presentation.pdf

Interested in people's take on what is likely to happen or what would be the best result for the operators currently involved in the regulated routes.

For mine, VB will bring the ejets in on GET. Leaving an interesting situation for KBI and SHK.

Everything else seems to be up for grabs with some routes even open to 2 licences. :ugh:

[Dog One]

Isn't YPKU - YBRM, or YPKU - YPPH part of the WA system?

[Led Zep]

"Encourage charter to operate as RPT."

Err, what? :confused:

[Skystar320]

Isn't YPKU - YBRM, or YPKU - YPPH part of the WA system?

Yes, but are they fully de-regulated air-routes?

BTW, wonder if REX will bid????

[neville_nobody]

Encourage charter to operate as RPT

I would suggest CASA may have a few words to say about that.......

You may find what they mean is that clients spilt the cost of a charter, but if they don't then they've got no idea.

[Xeptu]

Encouraging RPT.

What that means guys is where an operator conducts routine charter services to a destination that is not served by an RPT operator, then they would encourage that operator to make those services RPT so that the travelling public can buy a seat to that destination. Their not implying that the operator would not have to comply with statuary RPT criteria.
The operator is most likely going to say thanks but no thanks, but at least they were encouraged.

[Dog One]

Hot off the web, Airnorth starting Darwin Broome Pt Hedland Karratha twice a week from June 1 using the E170

[topend3]

true true, great news for the Pilbara with a connection to the Top End.

YPKU is deregulated like all the other jet routes in WA.

[sled_driver71]

I wonder how much input the 'actual' clients get on these decisions?

What I hear is that KBR and SHK are only serviced because Skywest have around 70% rights to Gero with the other 30% open for competition (Skippers had a go but to no avail). Could be wrong tho.

So If Gero is opened up then why would Skywest continue to service these towns at a lost? And then what for KBR and SHK? Piston twins out of Gero??? Im sure they'd love that!

A fine line that will need to treaded carefully if these smaller tourist communties are to get are fair deal...

[Dog One]

Topend 3

Any feed back on how the Karratha Broome Darwin service is going?

[topend3]

very well, initial loads have been very positive! this was an unserviced market and great for locals to be able to get up to Broome and Darwin

[Dog One]

Thats great to hear. An Army colleague of mind based in Dili, says the jet services into Dili are also very busy. Its also interesting to note that AN are doing it with their money, no large Government hand outs from the NT or WA Governments. No doubt J* or DJ would have touched the government coffers for a few million to provide the service! The NT government have paid out a lot of money over the years to attract such services by J*, DJ or Go Cat. When the money runs out, the services stop.

[topend3]

Dog one check your Pm's

[High-Bypass]

The NT government have paid out a lot of money over the years to attract such services by J*, DJ or Go Cat. When the money runs out, the services stop.

We can only hope...

[Chadzat]

The plot thickens. Did QF not want Albany and Esperance after all? What do they want Network for?


Airfare war looms from WA shake-up
GEOFFREY THOMAS AVIATION EDITOR, The West Australian November 18, 2010, 2:25 am


A savage fare war is expected on the Perth to Exmouth and Geraldton air routes from March in one of the biggest shake-ups of WA’s turbulent airline industry.

The Geraldton route is to be deregulated while Qantas and Skywest will slug it out for the Exmouth business.

An announcement on the revamp and new five-year contracts is expected from Transport Minister Simon O’Brien within days.

Sources say Busselton will be added to the Perth-Albany 8service and Ravensthorpe to the Perth-Esperance route, with 8Skywest to keep its exclusive hold on both.

Carnarvon, Kalbarri and Monkey Mia were left in the cold with no airlines tendering to serve them.

However, the Government will be negotiating with Skywest to provide services to the towns.

The Perth to Geraldton route is likely to become a fare bloodbath as airlines use discounts to buy 8market share. Skywest now flies there 42 times a week.

Mr O’Brien faces tough negotiations to get air services to the Coral Coast. Only 100 passengers a month fly to Kalbarri and 500 to Monkey Mia on direct and indirect flights via Geraldton and Exmouth. Kalbarri gets three weekly flights and Monkey Mia five.

Skywest and Skippers Aviation hold two major contracts — coastal and inland.

They enjoy monopolies on profitable and marginal routes in exchange for servicing other towns at no cost to the State.

Under the new framework, Sky8west retains exclusive rights to Albany and Esperance, with industry watchers surprised the Government did not award Qantas rights.

Skywest’s innovation of routing services through Busselton and Ravensthorpe is thought to have swung the contract.

Local business groups were also concerned that competition would result in similar service times in the early morning and evening with planes half full.
Skippers Aviation, owned by Stan Quinlivan, retains exclusive rights to Meekatharra, Wiluna, 8Laverton, Leinster, Leonora and Mt Magnet.

[Mr. Hat]

Another infomercial by GEOFFREY THOMAS AVIATION "EDITOR"

[Johnny_56]

Would there be anyplace for a smaller operator based out of say Carnarvon or Geraldton to do a daily run to Shark Bay and Kalbarri and feed onto flights out of Geraldton. I'm sure there'd be companies out there who'd appreciate the opportunity of a government subsidy for providing 500 seats per month.

I know that it's due to come out in a 'few days', just speculating!

[Icarus2001]

Not really, low capacity would be fine.

At 500 pax per month. 125 a week...four flights a week at 31 pax or even five flights a week at 25 pax.

Why would they need a high capacity AOC?

[Skystar320]

Because XR has the wrong type of aircraft.

A Fokker F50 aircraft of 50seats is too huge for this type of market.

[topend3]

talk of perth-albany via busselton makes me laugh, all that would do is extremely piss off a lot of people in albany...

[poteroo]

Whoever put the Albany-Busselton-Perth proposal up must live on another planet. We can drive to Perth in 4 hrs, and given that it takes you 2 hrs by Skywest - (allowing for 'waits' at both ends) - the differences will be even closer with an in between stop at Busselton. Add another hour to their times and you'll be lucky to save an hour from Albany.

So far - nobody in sleepy ol' Albany has twigged to the proposed diversions yet......but once they do - there'll be some flak arriving at Minister O'Briens' office.

I guess that we'll still be stung for over $500 return - but the extra great scenic via Busselton should make the exorbitant fares better value?

happy days,

[XRlent320]

Don't get your knickers in a twist yet. As has happened with Ravensthorpe and ESP I dare say the BLN connection will be additional services. ESP still get their two direct flights per day plus they now get 4 extra per week via NRT on the return leg. This takes it upto 3 flights most days to ESP.

[D'pirate]

It's hard to justify these services from an economic point of view even in the best of times as there is just not enough population out there, and that's why Jet*,Tigre et al don't offer 4 flights a day into these ports. XR or whoever runs them ends up being targeted by the uninformed. Be careful what you wish for-too many in the market and you may end up with no one there to serve them long term and then you HAVE to drive 4 hours-no choice even if it does save you a few bucks after the Landcruiser's been filled up! :E

[alidad]

The di#kheads at Busselton who put a curfew on Busselton Airport don't deserve a Greyhound bus service via Ceduna.