Regional airlines - routes and developments [Archive]

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dijical

6th Feb 2018, 00:59

With a lot happening in regional aviation, I thought a thread on the topic might be interesting. In particular the evolution of routes beyond the traditional service from a regional town to its state capital is becoming significant.

For example look at FlyCorporate's Orange - Melbourne, Jetgo's Dubbo to Brisbane and Melbourne, Airnorth's Toowoomba - Melbourne and the recently launched FlyPelican Newcastle - Adelaide.

One notable absentee from this evolution of flying interstate regional routes is REX. Why?

dijical

6th Feb 2018, 01:19

FlyCorporate has ramped up Tamworth - Brisbane to 18 flights per week and upgraded aircraft from Metros to SAABs.

What does this do to Jetgo's 4 flights a week jet service? Two competitors on a route that was empty a few years ago? Watch this space.

AmarokGTI

6th Feb 2018, 05:00

In particular the evolution of routes beyond the traditional service from a regional town to its state capital is becoming significant.

One notable absentee from this evolution of flying interstate regional routes is REX. Why?

Mildura VIC to/from Adelaide SA
Broken Hill NSW to/from Adelaide SA
Mount Gambier SA to/from Melbourne VIC
Merimbula NSW to/from Melbourne VIC
Broken Hill NSW to/from Mildura VIC
Port Augusta SA to/from Coober Pedy SA
etc etc.

Not absent at all.

None of those are to/from ITS state capital.

(Edited for spelling and to add States because a typo is more important than the facts, right?!) :*

sunnySA

6th Feb 2018, 06:44

So what is the state Captial of South Australia then, Wudinna?

CC
Perhaps it should be the capital, either that or Kimba or perhaps Yunta.

AmarokGTI

6th Feb 2018, 06:52

So what is the state Captial of South Australia then, Wudinna?

CC

Charlie U Need Typos

AmarokGTI

6th Feb 2018, 06:56

TBM-Legend

6th Feb 2018, 07:32

So what is the state Captial of South Australia then?

...well the 'Capital" of SA would be about $100.00 and some IOU's..

dijical

6th Feb 2018, 07:41

Hey Checklist Charlie.

Use your eyes.

OP:

In particular the evolution of routes beyond the traditional service from a regional town to ITS state capital is becoming significant.

I'm missing your point here. What is it?

dijical

6th Feb 2018, 07:45

Mildura VIC to/from Adelaide SA
Broken Hill NSW to/from Adelaide SA
Mount Gambier SA to/from Melbourne VIC
Merimbula NSW to/from Melbourne VIC
Broken Hill NSW to/from Mildura VIC
Port Augusta SA to/from Coober Pedy SA
etc etc.

Not absent at all.

Yes, true. But REX hasn't done much recently, these examples are mostly longstanding routes.

AmarokGTI

6th Feb 2018, 08:05

I'm missing your point here. What is it?

He/She was saying that I was wrong because Adelaide/Melb are state capitals. I was referencing your point regarding the routes being interstate, ie Mt G to Melb is not a route to/from that country towns state capital.

AmarokGTI

6th Feb 2018, 08:06

Yes, true. But REX hasn't done much recently, these examples are mostly longstanding routes.

More aircraft are being purchased but in the short term Rex is essentially at capacity.

Stardoggas

6th Feb 2018, 09:24

Yes, true. But REX hasn't done much recently, these examples are mostly longstanding routes.

Big expansion into QLD and WA over the last two years.

dijical

6th Feb 2018, 09:33

He/She was saying that I was wrong because Adelaide/Melb are state capitals. I was referencing your point regarding the routes being interstate, ie Mt G to Melb is not a route to/from that country towns state capital.

OK, point taken. Cairns - Mt Isa and Cairns - Townsville would be more examples of REX doing stuff.

Pinky the pilot

6th Feb 2018, 09:52

...well the 'Capital" of SA would be about $100.00 and some IOU's..

There would be more than a few people who would agree with that statement!:*:}

As for one former SA Regional route; I can still remember a regular route of Adelaide to Renmark and return that was abandoned well over 20 years ago simply because no-one used it! When it was dropped, the locals objected to its loss.:ooh:

So, a small Company advertised that they would re-instate it and did so.

Guess what happened! :=:ugh:

And so, it was dropped again! And the reason for this was made known!

The ensuing silence was embarrassing but deafening.:*

dijical

6th Feb 2018, 10:22

More aircraft are being purchased but in the short term Rex is essentially at capacity.

Any idea what REX are planning?

Stardoggas

6th Feb 2018, 17:35

Any idea what REX are planning?

Carnarvon and Monkey Mia in june.

tail wheel

6th Feb 2018, 20:00

...well the 'Capital" of SA would be about $100.00 and some IOU's..

One of the best one liners I've seen on PPRuNe in twenty years!! :ok: :}

dijical

6th Feb 2018, 23:41

Australia's "newest" regional RPT airport is Wollongong Airport (https://www.facebook.com/WollongongAirport/).

Jetgo has been operating for 3 months. Passenger numbers on the Melbourne route climbed to 2,040 in January (+97 over December) with a load factor of 73%.

Numbers to Brisbane were less impressive, declining slightly to 1,177 (-184 over December), with only 52% load factor. The airline has already reacted to these weaker numbers by dropping the Saturday Brisbane flight.

MajorLemond

9th Feb 2018, 07:07

How is Rex going these days?

Those Saabs must me getting on. Any plans for a type replacement some time down the track?

On eyre

9th Feb 2018, 07:19

Fleet replacement will unfortunately be the ultimate death of Rex.

Goat Whisperer

10th Feb 2018, 03:16

Fleet replacement will unfortunately be the ultimate death of Rex.

I wouldn't say death but with no 30 seaters in production I don't know their plan. ATR42s are bigger and way dearer than an old 340B. What else is there?

On eyre

10th Feb 2018, 04:59

Exactly my point GW !!

TBM-Legend

10th Feb 2018, 06:56

The Saab has a very long life left and the airframe is very well made. Think DC-3...

dijical

23rd Mar 2018, 22:52

First flight was on Thursday. Anyone able to comment on load/acceptance?

An interesting development in the business model for Pelican. I would have thought Jetgo with its smaller aircraft, access to GDS etc would have been a better bet. I guess Pelican has the visibility in the NTL market to hopefully make up for that.

Going Nowhere

24th Mar 2018, 02:07

Or they’re smart enough to stear clear of Jetgo

dijical

24th Mar 2018, 10:44

Or they’re smart enough to stear clear of Jetgo

Why, what's wrong with Jetgo?

aussie1234

24th Mar 2018, 11:02

Didn’t think the problem with the Saab was the airframe, I thought it was Honeywell’s support of the avionics?

dijical

24th Mar 2018, 11:27

Jetnogo

I would suggest the reason they removed the ability to comment on their FB page was because they got too many negative reviews.

Yes, they seem to be juggling serviceable aircraft at the moment.

Ned Stark

24th Mar 2018, 23:27

Too many people and cities have been burned by Jetnogo. Product quality speaks for itself.

hiwaytohell

25th Mar 2018, 07:58

You really are a clown Ned. 43 out of your 46 posts bag Jetgo and wrong everytime!

Ned Stark

27th Mar 2018, 19:19

You really are a clown Ned. 43 out of your 46 posts bag Jetgo and wrong everytime!
Thanks hiway:ok:

dijical

29th Mar 2018, 03:01

I wouldn't say death but with no 30 seaters in production I don't know their plan. ATR42s are bigger and way dearer than an old 340B. What else is there?

Silver Airways in the US is a 100% SAAB 340 operator which is switching to 100% ATR42s.

So it can be done. REX is being rational with its 340s - using the most cost effective option currently available.

dijical

29th Mar 2018, 03:03

You really are a clown Ned. 43 out of your 46 posts bag Jetgo and wrong everytime!

Even doomsayers will end up being right some of the time.

Ned Stark

30th Mar 2018, 18:28

Even doomsayers will end up being right some of the time.

Only have to be right once..

dijical

16th Apr 2018, 11:31

Jetgo ceases Tamworth-Brisbane route after competition from Fly Corporate (https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/5345060/jet-gone-tamworth-loses-airline-as-jetgo-flies-away/)

So Jetgo finally bows to the inevitable. Brisbane-Tamworth was never a smart choice for Jetgo, especially with the limited schedule they offered. It's much more suitable for FlyCorporate's 340Bs and decent frequency.

I suspect Jetgo is struggling for passenger numbers on a few routes. Their one positive surprise packet is Wollongong-Melbourne, where they're struggling to put enough seats into the market.

It will be interesting to watch how this business model pans out.

aviation_enthus

16th Apr 2018, 12:43

Unfortunately I’d say that was inevitable. A month or two ago Fly Corporate announced they were increasing their schedule to Tamworth, compared to Jetgo having a reduced one from a few years ago when they started. Pretty obvious who was winning that battle.

WLG to MEL and BNE should work with the ERJ. Likewise MEL-DBO. I’m surprised they haven’t tried MEL-Tamworth yet!

If the ERJ had the performance MEL-PLO would be a good route as well. I’d imagine they’d definitely be able to do daily if not twice daily after a while.

dijical

4th Jul 2018, 02:06

Looks like FlyPelcan is no longer offering flights between Sydney and Newcastle.

The airline's website route map still displays the route, and there seem to have been no announcements cancelling the route, but the flights no longer show up on the booking engine. Can anyone confirm?

Going Nowhere

4th Jul 2018, 02:26

Looks like it has been replaced with a single NTL-TRO-NTL service each week to cycle the aircraft around.

Probably doesn’t make much commercial sense with Rex also on the route.

TBM-Legend

4th Jul 2018, 06:30

I wonder how the F100 run NTL-ADL is going?

mr flappy

5th Jul 2018, 03:20

When did Pelican get F100s?

Horatio Leafblower

5th Jul 2018, 03:37

When did Pelican get F100s?
It's a deal set up with Alliance.

dijical

9th Sep 2018, 12:10

Less than a year after JETGO first started services from Wollongong, Shellharbour Council has given the nod to Fly Corporate to step in as a replacement. Flights between Wollongong and Melbourne Essendon, together with a more limited schedule between Wollongong and Brisbane, start on 12 November.

It will be interesting to see if a SAAB 340B turboprop service will be viable in such close proximity to Sydney. A lot of Illawarra locals certainly hope so.

https://flycorporate.com.au/booking/schedules/wollongong/ (http://flycorporate.com.au/booking/schedules/wollongong/)

onehitwonder

9th Sep 2018, 20:51

Can the Saab safely operate in and out with a full load?

dijical

10th Sep 2018, 04:25

Can the Saab safely operate in and out with a full load?

My understanding is that the SAAB can operate in and out of YWOL under a full load.

Icarus2001

10th Sep 2018, 04:49

Under a full load, strange choice of terms.

dijical

10th Sep 2018, 05:14

Under a full load, strange choice of terms.

Really? Is the point unclear or simply not to your liking?

wheels_down

10th Sep 2018, 12:01

$500 return? Full Loads? Whaaaaat?

Ladloy

5th Dec 2018, 03:26

I'm hearing rumours that Rex has been in meetings with ATR about acquiring 42s. Is there any truth to this? I wonder what that will mean for some potential routes in the future.

onehitwonder

5th Dec 2018, 04:51

aviation_enthus

5th Dec 2018, 06:11

REX - ATR went to Wagga probably some 6-12 months ago to check out Rex's facilities and discuss 42's but it was a 10 year plan
Corporate - Not hearing good numbers out of Dubbo (4 in 7 out on one day) or Wol (14 in, 13 out)
Pelican - Quiet achiever
Skytrans - Kicking a few goals
Sharp - Quiet achiever

Rex have always said the SAAB has another 10-15 years of life left in it. If you look at their planning that’s what they’re expecting. Eg Sim in Wagga, investment in spares from the US etc. They also have created a replacement LCD screen for the old CRT EFIS screens as they’re getting very hard to find these days. The fact they operate 50+ airframes gives them sufficient scale to develop cheap solutions as any problems arise.

If Corporate can’t make Dubbo or WLG work it’s cause their fares are to expensive. WLG in particular has Sydney just up the road. You’ll find there will be a limit to the ‘price premium’ people will pay to avoid driving to/from Sydney. QantasLink and AirNorth have the same issue with their services ex Wellcamp.

Fly Pelican should be able to last a long time. There’s always been a market for 19 seat flights around various parts of NSW. Aeropelican, Impulse, Masling, Rex, Brindabella all operated similar routes. As long as they don’t waste money or try and get to big they’ll be ok!

Skytrans ‘kicking a few goals’ ???!!! Hahaha that’s got to be the best joke I’ve heard in a while. Look at what they started with when West Wing bought the assets and look at the scraps that are left now... Many problems with U/S aircraft. Also Rex are lurking in the background waiting to pick up extra work in FNQ.

Sharp: see the comment about Fly Pelican. Similar operation, tight margins but should be able to stick around with good management.

Also worth keeping in mind is the fact that Viking now own all the plans to the complete De Haviland series including the Dash 8 100->400. I would almost be tempted to put money on them bringing out a redesigned 100/200 in the next 10 years just as all the current models of ‘classic’ Dash 8’s get too old and expensive to operate (plus the SAAB/Brasilia etc). That’s exactly what they’ve done with the Twin Otter.

Left 270

5th Dec 2018, 21:08

Skytrans - Kicking a few own goals

Ladloy

6th Dec 2018, 00:58