Alliance Airlines Vs Air North

[Zhoottoo]

Alliance beefs up Darwin basehttps://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/14cd71dc3e8e11dbe6b35ae409614827?width=650 (https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/14cd71dc3e8e11dbe6b35ae409614827)
Scott McMillan and Lee Schofield of Alliance. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The Australian
Robyn Ironside
JUNE 7, 2019

The small airline that Qantas wants to take over is expanding its wings in Darwin, quadrupling the size of its fleet in response to expected growth in the market.

From next month, Alliance Airlines will add another three Fokker jets to its existing one Fokker 100 aircraft based in *Darwin.

At the same time, staff numbers will increase from seven to 34, with additional pilots, engineers and cabin crew needed.

CEO Lee Schofield said the expansion had been in the planning for some time, with Alliance predominantly interested in mining and inbound tourism work.

“Alliance has always been able to sense opportunity when it might not necessarily be obvious to everyone else,” Mr Schofield said. “The aircraft will be available for wet lease so that opportunity will exist as well.”

Just this week Regional Express (Rex) also indicated it was considering operations out of Darwin due to financial uncertainty surrounding Air North’s US owner, Bristow.

Alliance managing director Scott McMillan said he believed the timing was perfect.

“People who know us know we always do things for a reason and we like to be ahead of the game,” Mr McMillan said.

“We’re setting up an operation in Rockhampton and that was before the election. So if Adani does happen, we are well positioned but we didn’t do it for that reason, we did it for a whole host of other reasons.”

He said Alliance had also been a step ahead of the pack on the resources boom with its fleet of Fokker 100 aircraft.

“When we started the (FIFO) business everyone said our aircraft were too big. Back then we had 91 seats in the F100s, now we have 100,” Mr McMillan said.

“As the FIFO industry grew, guess what? The F100 became the aircraft of choice.”

The airline is still awaiting a decision by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission on Qantas’s acquisition of a 19.9 per cent stake in Alliance.

In Seoul this week for the International Air Transport Association AGM, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce reiterated his desire to eventually take over Alliance.

“We like the management of Alliance, we think they’re well run and if we were to take them over, we would keep that management in place,” Mr Joyce said.

The three additional Fokkers to be based in Darwin were purchased by Alliance from Austrian Airlines four years ago and will be brought down under over the next six months.

The final Fokker 70 due to arrive in December will be painted with a special livery to mark the 100th anniversary of the first aerial flight from England on December 10, 1919.

Captain Ross Smith landed the “Vimy” at Port Darwin’s Fannie Bay airfield 27 days and 20 hours after departing Hounslow in London.

[feetonthedash]

Good stuff Alliance ,I would much prefer a good on time operator in a presentable professional aircraft than the old delayed dirty B717's.

[morno]

Good stuff Alliance ,I would much prefer a good on time operator in a presentable professional aircraft than the old delayed dirty B717's.

Don’t know what a 717 has to do with anything

[feetonthedash]

Don’t know what a 717 has to do with anything
Obviously QF want to buy Alliance outright and then
get rid of the B717 operations

[neville_nobody]

Obviously QF want to buy Alliance outright and then get rid of the B717 operations

Unlikely. I don't think 30+ year aircraft are going to stand up to that sort workload not to mention the burn fuel.

Possibly buy them new aircraft and rebrand QLink, or just leave them as is and funnel all the on carriage to QF whilst annoying VA simultaneously.

[exfocx]

Old 717s? How old are they compared to the F100? VARA and Impluse (or so I hear) are flying their F100s at reduced crz spds because of turbine blade wear issues and are doing so to increase the life span of the a/c.

[morno]

Obviously QF want to buy Alliance outright and then
get rid of the B717 operations

Yeah you do know that the F100’s are much older than the 717’s right? :hmm:

[krismiler]

It’s a question of which type will wear out first and force the operator into buying new aircraft. There are some nice offerings from Bombardier (Airbus) and Embraer (Boeing). Eventually issues such as fuel consumption, parts availability, dispatch reliability, airworthiness directives etc will come together and make the increased cost of a newer type worth paying.

[Bend alot]

It’s a question of which type will wear out first and force the operator into buying new aircraft. There are some nice offerings from Bombardier (Airbus) and Embraer (Boeing). Eventually issues such as fuel consumption, parts availability, dispatch reliability, airworthiness directives etc will come together and make the increased cost of a newer type worth paying.
I do not think either Alliance or Air North will have a replacement being new aircraft as any real consideration.

The nice offerings of newer type worth paying for, are too new or have failed larger operators.

I now see the market for the MAX!

[industry insider]

It’s a question of which type will wear out first and force the operator into buying new aircraft.

I think that the E 170s are all still quite new. That's why Air North is able to offer such excellent service and is doing so well, propping up the remains of Bristow.

All of the F100s whether Alliance, VARA or Network are getting long in the tooth.

[Rated De]

There are scores of A320 to be rotated out of Jetstar.
That the JQ model is saturated is the reason the aircraft need to be sent elsewhere so the AUD$9.5 billion order of A320 and A321 has a home.

Thus the strategy was to link Network and Alliance.
IFF Airnorth remains a weakened position then the entity can chip away at the centre corridor.

The strategy is to use the A320 ex-JQ, by pass the Qantas 'mainline' contract and establish coast to coast subsidiary operations.
It is complemented with the Stream Lead's (the former AIPA President) pivotal role in IR. As part of the brief, the original concept was to demonstrate a shortage exists (due poor remuneration) and expand the 'beach head'
It is well known these entities are struggling for pilot supply. With the re-election of the idiots in Canberra, they are likely emboldened that the IR environment is less hostile to the ambition.

Whether they have sufficient pilots is the Achilles heel.

Try they will.

[Zhoottoo]

Sweet ride....

https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/06/alliance-airlines-to-grow-darwin-base/ALLIANCE TO CELEBRATE 1919 GREAT AIR RACE WINNERS WITH SPECIAL LIVERY ON FOKKER 70Meanwhile, Alliance Airlines said it would paint a Fokker 70 due to be delivered to Australia in December with a special livery that features the winners of the 1919 Great Air Race.

The aircraft, VH-NUY, will honour pilots Ross and Keith Smith, along with mechanics Sergeants Walter Shiers and James Bennett, who won the competition in their Vickers Vimy G-EAOU.

The aircraft took off from Hounslow aerodrome in West London on November 12 1919 and landed a Fannie Bay in the Northern Territory 29 days later. Countries they flew through before reaching Australia included France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia before reaching Australia.

Alliance Airlines said VH-NUY would recreate the route from London to Darwin, aiming to touch down exactly 100 years to the minute at 1540hrs on 10th December 2019.

The livery was designed by Netherlands-based Lila Design.

https://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Untitled_1170.jpgAn artist’s impression of the Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 paying tribute to the 1919 Great Air Race winners. (Alliance Airlines)

[Icarus2001]

So are they painting the age of the airframe on the tail now?

I'll get my coat.

[Arthur D]

Fantastic initiative Alliance - Well done!

Nice to see an airline in Australia honouring aviation history other than their own.....

Believe it or not, Australia had a proud Aviation history before 1920 and even after than a lot of pretty cool things happened which did not involve the red rat.

[Global Aviator]

Sweet ride....

https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/06/alliance-airlines-to-grow-darwin-base/ALLIANCE TO CELEBRATE 1919 GREAT AIR RACE WINNERS WITH SPECIAL LIVERY ON FOKKER 70Meanwhile, Alliance Airlines said it would paint a Fokker 70 due to be delivered to Australia in December with a special livery that features the winners of the 1919 Great Air Race.

The aircraft, VH-NUY, will honour pilots Ross and Keith Smith, along with mechanics Sergeants Walter Shiers and James Bennett, who won the competition in their Vickers Vimy G-EAOU.

The aircraft took off from Hounslow aerodrome in West London on November 12 1919 and landed a Fannie Bay in the Northern Territory 29 days later. Countries they flew through before reaching Australia included France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia before reaching Australia.

Alliance Airlines said VH-NUY would recreate the route from London to Darwin, aiming to touch down exactly 100 years to the minute at 1540hrs on 10th December 2019.

The livery was designed by Netherlands-based Lila Design.

https://australianaviation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Untitled_1170.jpgAn artist’s impression of the Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 paying tribute to the 1919 Great Air Race winners. (Alliance Airlines)

What a great initiative... Will they get the free publicity deserved?

[TBM-Legend]

Go to the Qantas Museum or HARS to see history or watch Alliance Interactive Museum fly by...

All good...

[Zhoottoo]

**** Darwin Airport to be renamed Fokker Field ****

Alliance, VARA and as of 27 October 2019 Network Fokkers

Air North Jungle Jets for how much longer?FLYING TOURISM BOOST FOR THE TERRITORYDARWIN (https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/search/location/Darwin) PUBLISHED ON 13TH JUNE 2019 AT 7:53

Qantas and Tourism NT announce new tourism agreement
Qantas to launch new route from Darwin to Broome
Aircraft change between Darwin and Alice Springs
Discounts for residents of Yulara and surrounding communities

Qantas and Tourism NT have announced a new three-year marketing agreement aimed at attracting more tourists to the Northern Territory.

The joint agreement, worth up to $4.5 million, will focus on promoting the Territory across Australia and key international markets like the United States.

The new agreement is an almost 20 per cent increase on the previous agreement signed in 2016 and the Northern Territory is the first state or territory that Qantas has re-signed.

The partnership will include advertising in key markets, collaboration on media and industry initiatives and promotion of special fares and major events including Parrtjima, the Darwin Festival, Bruce Monroe: Tropical Light and the Field of Light exhibition.

Importantly, the Territory will be promoted across Qantas’ marketing and digital platforms, including to the airline’s 12 million Frequent Flyers.

Qantas Group Chief Marketing Officer Stephanie Tully said the cooperation between the Northern Territory Government and the national carrier helped promote Darwin, Alice Springs, Uluru and the rest of the Territory.

“Qantas is proud to be the biggest private sector supporter of tourism to the Northern Territory and this deal will see us continue sharing this special place with the rest of Australia and the world,” Ms Tully said.

“Qantas has a deep history with the Northern Territory, and we understand the key role we play in bringing tourists and business travellers to the region which in turn drives the local economy.”

Qantas and Jetstar operate up to 288 flights in and out of the Territory each week, offering more than two million seats a year in both directions. The Group’s presence supports more than 400 local jobs and contributes more than $150 million to the Territory’s economy.

Network changes

From late October, Qantas will launch a new route between Broome and Darwin operated by QantasLink’s 100-seat Fokker F100*. Flights will operate non-stop three days per week and provide a new direct option for corporate travellers as well as providing connections for domestic and international travellers.

The new route has been made possible with the introduction of F100 aircraft on flights between Darwin and Alice Springs* while maintaining a double daily frequency for the majority of the year to better match existing and forecasted demand on the route.

The larger Boeing 737 aircraft which has operated on the route for the past two months has proven to be bigger than needed. The F100 is closer in size to the Boeing 717 which operated on the route until recently.

Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David said the F100 will commence Broome-Darwin and Darwin-Alice Springs flights from 27 October 2019.

“This Broome route is the fourth new route the Qantas Group has launched in the Territory in the past year – Qantas launched two new routes to Uluru from Darwin and Adelaide in March and Jetstar launched Brisbane to Uluru in August last year,” Mr David said.

To celebrate the launch of Broome-Darwin, Qantas is offering special fares of $199 one-way for travel between 27 October 2019 to 27 March 2020 for sale until 24 June 2019.

Extension of Resident Fares

Mr David said Qantas had extended its resident fares program, and from today will offer discounted fares for residents of Yulara and surrounding communities, providing more affordable air travel to Darwin.

Residents can access discounts of between 20 and 30 per cent off any Economy flight to Darwin, except sale fares. Each resident can use the discount on up to 12 return fares for personal travel each year, saving at least $122 off the cost of a return trip.

Residents in Yulara join Alice Springs residents in the program, which offers flight discounts for people living in select remote cities to access their capital city.

NT Government Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Lauren Moss MLA, said the new tourism agreement, new route and resident fares were fantastic news for Territorians.

“The NT Government works closely with our airline partners to encourage tourism growth, new routes and accessible airfares, as we know they are vital for creating and supporting jobs in our tourism sector, and for improving the lives of Territorians.

“Broome is an ideal destination to link to Darwin. Darwin and Broome have unique and appealing qualities, and now travellers will be able to plan a trip that incorporates visiting both regions.

“The new tourism agreement, new route and new resident fares are a great vote of confidence in the Territory by Qantas.”

For more information on resident fare eligibility and to book visit qantas.com/residentfares (opens in new window) (http://qantas.com/residentfares)

*Subject to government and regulatory approval

[Rated De]

There are scores of A320 to be rotated out of Jetstar.
That the JQ model is saturated is the reason the aircraft need to be sent elsewhere so the AUD$9.5 billion order of A320 and A321 has a home.

Thus the strategy was to link Network and Alliance.
IFF Airnorth remains a weakened position then the entity can chip away at the centre corridor.

The strategy is to use the A320 ex-JQ, by pass the Qantas 'mainline' contract and establish coast to coast subsidiary operations.
It is complemented with the Stream Lead's (the former AIPA President) pivotal role in IR. As part of the brief, the original concept was to demonstrate a shortage exists (due poor remuneration) and expand the 'beach head'
It is well known these entities are struggling for pilot supply. With the re-election of the idiots in Canberra, they are likely emboldened that the IR environment is less hostile to the ambition.

Whether they have sufficient pilots is the Achilles heel.

Try they will.


As was stated earlier this week.
It begins.
https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/flying-tourism-boost-for-the-territory/