Skywest out, Skippers in.

[Ted Nugent]

Tourism slump blamed on dumped airline

GEOFFREY THOMAS AVIATION EDITOR, The West Australian
January 18, 2011, 6:20 am

The State Opposition and tourism operators have warned of a slump in tourism to the Coral Coast after the Government decided to dump Skywest Airlines as the exclusive operator for flights to Carnarvon and the growing centres of Monkey Mia and Kalbarri.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell will announce in Geraldton today that Skippers Aviation will take over flights to the centres from Skywest from March 1.

Comment: Stability needed in flight routes

Mr Buswell, who could not be reached for comment, will also announce Qantas 717 jet services to Geraldton and Exmouth from the same date.

Yesterday, shadow tourism minister Ljiljanna Ravlich criticised the decision as "poorly thought out" and warned that it would have a negative impact on tourism.

Ms Ravlich's concerns relate to "downgrading of aircraft equipment" and Skippers' apparent lack of international connections to bring in tourists.

Skippers plans to use 30-seat Brasilias on the routes, supplemented by 50-seat Dash 8s on some Carnarvon services, whereas Skywest is using 50-seat Fokker 50s on all flights.

Skywest has been serving these loss-making routes as part of the Coastal Network Contract, which includes the profitable Geraldton and Exmouth routes.

However, the Government has de-regulated Geraldton and allowed Qantas to operate on the Exmouth route from March 1.

Skywest and Skippers declined to comment.

Aspen Parks, operator of the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort and nine other tourism facilities in WA, has called for a guarantee that the existing minimum level of service and standards will be maintained.

A past winner of the Sir David Brand Award for tourism, Kalbarri Edge Resort director Jon Jessop, said the decision was the final nail in the coffin for tourism on the Coral Coast.

He said the Government had given no priority to ensure that the local tourism industry survived.

With FIFO competition heating up, could this be the saviour for Skippers?

[topend3]

With FIFO competition heating up, could this be the saviour for Skippers?

3 x basket case RPT routes? Would not have thought so... bad news for these 3 towns me thinks, the Skywest service ****s all over Skippers...

[The Green Goblin]

On the upside, at least they'll get an APU :8

P.S

Whats the bet they'll be running Metros by years end? :}

[one dollar short]

All very interesting stuff...

Yes the skywest service is better.
Yes bras's and dash's have APU's which will make for a nice change on those hot days....
and yes skippers used metros the last time they had a crack at sharkbay etc when they had it last time. 2004 ish ?


A few questions that people could help me with....
Are skippers going to recieve additional renumereation from the Govt to operate kalbarri and shark bay, or simply tie them in with Carnarvon trips to make money ??
Do skippers hold a high cap RPT AOC ? Ie will we see anything bigger than a dash-100 going into carnarvon ?

so much going on in the west ............

[topend3]

they operate the -300 model but is that just on charter?

State Government announces preferred airlines for WA regional air services
Portfolio: Transport

Transport Minister Troy Buswell today announced the preferred airlines to provide regulated air services to Western Australian regional centres.



The announcement follows a review of intrastate air services and two Request for Proposal (RFP) processes undertaken for airlines to provide services to 14 regional communities.



The following airlines have been nominated to provide air services on the regulated networks and routes below:



o Perth/Albany, Perth/Esperance
Skywest Airlines



o Perth/Mt Magnet/Meekatharra
Skippers Aviation



o Perth/Laverton/Leonora
Skippers Aviation



o Perth/Wiluna/Leinster
Skippers Aviation



o Perth/Learmonth
QantasLink and Skywest Airlines



o Perth/Carnarvon/Monkey Mia/Kalbarri
Skippers Aviation



o Broome/Derby/Fitzroy Crossing/Halls Creek
Golden Eagle Airlines




“Skywest will offer additional direct flights on the Perth to Albany and Perth to Esperance network, as well as extra services connecting Busselton with Perth and Albany; and Ravensthorpe with Perth and Esperance,” Mr Buswell said.



“Albany and Esperance residents will also continue to get a special fare that provides a significant discount on the normal full economy fare.


“People travelling on the Perth to Learmonth route will now have a choice of flying either QantasLink or Skywest - both of which will provide jet services.”



The Minister said Golden Eagle Airlines would continue to operate the subsidised Kimberley service linking Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek with Broome.



“Under the new arrangements a link to Derby will be added to the Kimberley network, which will provide valuable connections for local communities and give access to the regional hospital, local government and cultural centres,” he said.



“Kimberley passengers will benefit from Golden Eagle’s planned introduction of an aircraft that is pressurised, powered by turboprop engines, and bigger, faster and more comfortable than the current aircraft.



“Skippers Aviation will continue to operate the Perth to Goldfields network, serving Mount Magnet, Meekatharra, Laverton, Leonora, Wiluna, and Leinster, similar to the previous service.



“The biggest change to the State's regional air services is opening the Perth to Geraldton route to competition.



“Skippers Aviation will provide services to Carnarvon, Monkey Mia and Kalbarri, ensuring that regular public transport air services continue on these routes.”



Subject to successful negotiations, airlines selected to provide services on the protected routes will have their rights and obligations codified in a deed, with the new arrangements to be introduced from February 28, 2011.



The new system will operate for an initial term of five years with a possible extension of up to another five years, subject to a review undertaken midway through the first term.

[Boston]

Umm, didn't the Kalbarri and Shark Bay routes go to Skippers (as well as a share of Geraldton) a few years back only for them to dump them after a few months?

[The Green Goblin]

Wait until Buswell starts sniffing the seats of a Metro after a run up the coast in the middle of a west coast summer.......

He won't know what hit him :p

[YPJT]

Carnarvon, Shark Bay and Kalbarri. Three locations that would have found it very difficult (read costly) indeed to make the necessary infrastructure changes, purchase equipment and employ trained screening staff for the 2012 change to >20 Tonne MTOW trigger for screening.

Simple answer, go to a smaller aircraft such as Q300. Just a thought;)

.

[topend3]

good point YPJT the F50 being just over the 20T cutoff

[YPJT]

Yes there was much angst when that line in the sand was drawn. Despite their protests though, once the white paper was out, there was little that could be done to change it.

Rex and a few others around the country along with the airports they serviced breathed a collective sigh of relief.

[Chadzat]

CVQ will only be seeing a q300 if Skippers has a High Capacity RPT AOC though.

Whats a Braz like with wheelchair and DPL passengers?

[bagchucka]

budgies getting a twin turboprop?

times are a changin'!

[Flying Meat Cleaver]

Budgie, twin turboprop, tell him he's dreamin!!! Believe it when I see it! Let me guess, it'll be there in 8 weeks time!

FMC.

[mustman]

Whats the goss for budgies? What are they getting?

[flyingfox]

"Skywest didn't comment" Must be the first time HD didn't give GT something to report! That's news in itself!! ;)

[Capn Bloggs]

Wait until Buswell starts sniffing the seats of a Metro after a run up the coast in the middle of a west coast summer.......
Very clever GG! :ok:

200nm sector in the 717. No rest for the wicked on that one. "Come on girls, where's my brekkie?! We're going down soon!"

Plenty of time available coming back home though, I suppose. :}

[hongkongfooey]

200nm sector in the 717. No rest for the wicked on that one

Getting soft in your old age bloggs ? Try 100nm in an A321 ;)

[pianokeys]

Budgie with pressurised turboprop, has the company got a new owner and GM, wonder where the money is going to come from for a Turboprop.
probably looking for a Q400 or ATR 72.

[Engineer_aus]

ATR's is what I have been told by a little birdie.

[Icarus2001]

200nm sector in the 717. No rest for the wicked on that on

Bloggs, don't your colleagues do an 80nm sector in a Bae146?

[Capn Bloggs]

Icarus, I'm talking about jets, not formating hairdryers. :}

[The Green Goblin]

I believe the shortest jet sector would go to Airnorth, Karratha to Port Hedland in the jungle jet :{

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

C'mon Bloggs,

I well remember some very nice 'ole timers' doing the 90nm BRM - Derbs in the ole '28'....bet they didn't even get a 'cuppa' on that one......
'Traffic was'.....

Cheers:ok:

[outback aviator]

:hmm: How about Brissi - Coolie in a DC-9 or a B 727? A faily quick trip!!:D

[Long John Silver]

or Tulla - Essendon in the space shuttle....:E

[Saintly]

Flew Skippers today to Carnarvon - first time for me flying with them.

No food - they only served water, tea or coffee. I flew on the Brasilia - small plane - not enough leg room.

I prefer the SKywest F50 over the Braz. The Braz is louder compared to the F50. Having said that - the flight time to Carnarvon from Perth is roughly 15 minutes quicker then the F50.

I miss the Skywest service. I wonder if other passengers who are flying to Carnarvon, Monkey Mia and Kalbarri enjoy flying with Skippers or prefer Skywest?

Anyways the contract lasts for 5 years with the State Government to review in the middle of the 5 years.

Cheers,
Saintly.

[Skystar320]

Skywest any day, especially with their new ATR72's on the way.

[Saintly]

I guess also I have been used to flying with Skywest from Perth to Carnarvon and back - been doing it since 1995. I was on the last Skywest flight from Carnarvon to Perth on 28th Feb.

How lucky was I - I've heard stories of passengers flying on final flights to destinations and I didn't think it would happen to me - but it did.

One passenger was upset - I was in a way too (but I wasn't crying like she was) - Skywest were good to me - I never had any problems with them - except when they were late. Also, the Fokker 50 was my and still is my favourite turboprop aircraft. I kinda grew up on the F50 when I used to fly to Carnarvon and back for holidays. It's hard to explain - I guess you just get attatched to certain aircraft - especially when you have been flying on it for a long time.

Skywest improved heaps after Ansett went under - epecially with them arriving on time. They have gone from strength to strength.

In terms of Carnarvon airport - the good thing that came out of all this was that the staff were all moved on to work for Skippers. I know the lady who runs the airport - she has got the Skippers contract - similiar to Skywest. Always gives me a window seat too which is good and never has to ask for my I.D when I check in cos she knows me. She has been there for 28 years - when Ansett (when the noisy F28 and quiet BAe 146) and then Skywest used to fly to Carnarvon, some of you people may know who I'm talking about. I find the country staff at regional airports are not as uptight - they are more relaxed and you can have a chat with them as I do.

Ah well - let's see how Skippers go. I wonder if they can do the same or a better job as Skywest did.

It will be interesting to see after the 5 years wheather Skippers keep the contract or Skywest return. Maybe Skywest won't be interested in serving Carnarvon, Kalbarri and Monkey Mia anymore? Who knows? We may have another new airline fly to those ports like Network or Maroomba for example.

Let's face it - airfares to these destinations are never going to be cheap - doesn't matter which airline flies there. I paid $300 (with Skippers) from Perth to Carnarvon and back - which is similiar to Skywest. If you book early enough - then you can get a reasonable priced airfare but if you book late - then expect to pay heaps.

I guess the only positive thing with flying in a Brasilia is that the Braz is quicker than an F50. As for the Dash 8 - well Skippers use the 200 version and that version has roughly the same speed as the F50. In fact my return trip to Perth is on the Skippers Dash 8. Miss the F50 though.

Cheers,
Saintly.

[topend3]

Screening is coming for turboprops over 20 tonnes so this will make it difficult for these ports to be served by a larger aircraft than say Braz...

[Brian Burke]

Great to hear Jan has kept her role at CVQ even if it is with JW... Top Lady!

BB :ok:

[Saintly]

:)
Cheers,
Saintly.

[Saintly]

topend3 - any reason why ports such as Carnarvon would not be ideal for the screening to take place if aircraft over 20T would fly there?

Do you think this came into consideration by the State Government when they decided to scrap Skywest and give it to Skippers?

I would of thought an airport like Carnarvon would be able to have screening checks. CVQ is much bigger than Monkey Mia and Kalbarri Airport.

I guess for now - screenings wont be needed so long as Skippers or aircraft under 20T fly to Carnarvon, Kalbarri and Monkey Mia.

Interesting to see what happens in the future if aircraft that are over 20T do eventually fly back to these ports and if screenings do take place.

Cheers,
Saintly.

[topend3]

definitely no reason why not, i guess there could be some space issues, to allow both pax and baggage screening to take place.

the bigger issue is the cost of providing the service, if the council has to pay for it they will want that money back from the airline, who in turn will want it back from the passenger.

[Saintly]

yeah I agree. I just think the screening system would be good. Even though it is a regional airport - Carnarvon could do with it - as well as other regional airports. When it comes to safety - any measures are good.

But like you said, in the end it will be the passenger who will pay for the cost - and how much extra it would be in an airfare is anyone's guess.

I dont know the dimensions of Carnarvon's terminal but it is fairly big - not bigger than Geraldton but its bigger than Kalbarri and Monkey Mia - those airports are like tin sheds.

Cheers,
Saintly.

[Icarus2001]

When it comes to safety - any measures are good.

Please explain how screening at regional ports will increase SAFETY given that baggage handlers, engineers and cleaners enter the mysteriously named "sterile area" without being screened?

[Mr. Hat]

Thats it Icarus. Its a total sham and a waste of money.

[Erin Brockovich]

Just a matter of time before FLU vaccinations become mandatory - and our government will tell the public it's for our benefit.

"Strangely" this will cause a mass viral outbreak "forcing" the government to declare a state of emergency.

Citizens will be rounded-up, screened and put into holding yards without question because we are used to the process at airport security screening.

The NBN, increased police powers and the ‘Carbon-cash for elected criminals’ scheme chess pieces are already in place.

The future doesn’t sound too safe to me



oh yeah......who are Skippers again?

[airmuster]

Carnarvon is still looking at constructing a new airport north of town. There are a few minor issues to be ironed out re flooding of access roads, but they should be easily overcome. Screening and what ever other STUPID so called safety measures would no doubt be put in place then.

But then it may all get shelved eventually as they discover that the expense is just too great for the amount of pax that use CVQ.

[Saintly]

Click on this link. Also listen to both audios too.


New airline on par with Skywest - ABC North West WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/03/24/3173028.htm)


Cheers,
Saintly.

[Capn Bloggs]

New airline on par with Skywest - ABC North West WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=42X487496&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Flocal%2Fstories%2F2011%2F0 3%2F24%2F3173028.htm&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pprune.org%2Fnewreply.php%3Fdo%3Dnewre ply%26noquote%3D1%26p%3D6332009)
That's a rather odd-looking Bras; are the CVQ ones fitted with a front aircon fan to cool the pilot?

[Saintly]

Capn Bloggs - are you talking about the picture in the article? Looks like a Pilitus PC-12 aye.

Looks nothing like a Braz.

[Capn Bloggs]

Having a bit of fun with the #$%^& journos, Saintly. ;)

[Saintly]

yeah haha lol

[topend3]

just goes to show most punters have no idea what they are flying in...

"When you compare the air craft types, the air fares, the number of seats available and the number of services, everything comes out to be fairly similar," he said.

[Saintly]

topend3: I agree. I reckon I could do a better job at being minister for transport haha. Nah not really - but maybe minister for aviation.

But fair dinkum - Chair Sniffer Buswell has no idea about aviation.

The Brasilia is not that similiar to an F50. The Braz carries has 30 seats while the F50 has a maximum of 58 seats (high density). However standard seating is 50 seats with Skywest configuiring the F50 to have 46 seats.

The F50 is more like a comfortable turboprop - better leg room than the Braz and also a lot quieter. Ive heard from a few mates of mine who fly Skippers that the Cabin Crew offer the passengers ear plugs as the noise is quiet loud - I wasn't offered ear plugs on my flight.

The only good thing about the Braz is that its 30-50 knots quicker than the F50.

Apart from the difference in aircraft, the Skippers service is there or there abouts when comparing the service to Skywest. Only thing is that they don't serve food which as shame and Skywest's catering was pretty good.

Skippers have the same airfares as Skywest. I paid $300 to CVQ and back to Perth. I still think Skywest is slightly better.

I prefered going on the 36-seat Dash 8 when I came back to Perth a few days ago. I found the Dash 8 better than the Braz - more comfortable
thats for sure.

The only other thing different also was that Skippers have a baggage allowance of 23kg whereas Skywest had 20kg. So I guess that's handy.

Cheers,
Saintly.

[The Green Goblin]

And the experience levels.

Skywest you're getting pretty experienced crew.

Skippers you're getting, well.......read the skippers thread!

[Saintly]

The Green Goblin: Where can I find this Skippers thread?

Cheers,
Saintly.

[Saintly]

This may seem stupid of me to bring this subject up as it's been a year since Skippers took over some of the coastal routes that Skywest used to do but:

How has Skippers been going on the Carnarvon, Kalbarri and Monkey Mia routes?

Are the passengers happy with the Skippers service or do they prefer Skywest.


I am flying Skippers to Carnarvon in two weeks time. I delibrately booked a return airfare from Perth-Carnarvon-Perth on specific days that were operated by the Dash 8.

I couldn't stand go in the Brasilia. Just a small cramped aircraft. Apart from it being a quick aircraft - not much else good going for it.

Anyways I hope to hear your comments about Skippers on these coastal routes as its been 18 months since they took over from Skywest on those routes.




Cheers,
Saintly.

[FRQ Charlie Bravo]

Anyone, anyone? Bueller Bueller?

[Icarus2001]

as it's been a year since Skippers took over some of the coastal routes that Skywest used to doand which Skippers used to do before Skywest used to do...:ok:

[metrodashbrazconkie]

I am not sure why you ask this as there is no alternative to skippers anyway. Both aircraft types are just as good as one another by the way. :)

[myshoutcaptain]

No they're not - the EMB120ER Brasilia is better. :ok:

[Saintly]

Great to hear Jan has kept her role at CVQ even if it is with JW... Top Lady!

BB :ok:

Was just looking at this old thread and noticed the comment above about Jan. Sadly she passed away in 2016.

[sumtingwong]

Yes, a lovely Lady. When passing abeam CVQ, I still smile and think of ‘The Silver Fox’.

[Saintly]

Yes, a lovely Lady. When passing abeam CVQ, I still smile and think of ‘The Silver Fox’.


Yes it was very sad at the time. I'm sure a few people on this forum knew Jan. She had not been well.

CVQ airport is still run well these days. There is also a "in memory" of Jan thing at the airport as well which is nice. Good, hard-working airport staff such as Jan who have good customer service skills don't get enough recognition from airlines, especially those staff who work at regional airports and she worked at CVQ for 30-odd years.

[VH-MLE]

Yes, Jan was a fantastic lady. We lived in YCAR for several years & she was a great ambassador for both the town & air service. I'm sad to hear that she's not with us anymore...

[Saintly]

Yes, Jan was a fantastic lady. We lived in YCAR for several years & she was a great ambassador for both the town & air service. I'm sad to hear that she's not with us anymore...

I'm actually surprised her passing wasnt advised on this forum because it seems there are a few people on the forum who knew her.