Eco Airlines seeks green light for Brisbane-Pacific services
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Eco Airlines seeks green light for Brisbane-Pacific services
travelbiz.com.au
Eco Airlines seeks green light for Brisbane-Pacific services
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today confirmed it has received an application for a foreign air operators certificate from start-up carrier Eco Airlines, a Hong Kong-based charter operation that intends to base itself in Brisbane.
The airline wants to wet-lease two Russian Yakovlev Yak 42Ds from a Russian carrier, Karat Air.
The start-up wants to operate two weekly charters - one from Brisbane to Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, on to the city of Majuro in the Marshall Islands, followed by Kiribati’s capital, Tarawa, and then to Nadi in Fiji.
Its other route links Brisbane with Honiara and the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia and Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas.
The airline was intending to take to the skies in July but it has taken longer to get approval from CASA than was expected.
CASA said it was close to finishing the safety inspection of the aircraft, although there were still a few outstanding matters in the airline’s application which the authority wanted addressed.
A CASA spokesperson said after being approved by that authority, Eco Airlines had another hurdle to jump. It would also need to apply for a licence from the International Air Services Commission.
Eco Airlines has appointed Aerius Travel as its main general sales agents for passenger services.
12 August 2004
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Eco Airlines seeks green light for Brisbane-Pacific services
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority today confirmed it has received an application for a foreign air operators certificate from start-up carrier Eco Airlines, a Hong Kong-based charter operation that intends to base itself in Brisbane.
The airline wants to wet-lease two Russian Yakovlev Yak 42Ds from a Russian carrier, Karat Air.
The start-up wants to operate two weekly charters - one from Brisbane to Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, on to the city of Majuro in the Marshall Islands, followed by Kiribati’s capital, Tarawa, and then to Nadi in Fiji.
Its other route links Brisbane with Honiara and the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia and Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas.
The airline was intending to take to the skies in July but it has taken longer to get approval from CASA than was expected.
CASA said it was close to finishing the safety inspection of the aircraft, although there were still a few outstanding matters in the airline’s application which the authority wanted addressed.
A CASA spokesperson said after being approved by that authority, Eco Airlines had another hurdle to jump. It would also need to apply for a licence from the International Air Services Commission.
Eco Airlines has appointed Aerius Travel as its main general sales agents for passenger services.
12 August 2004
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ECO AIRLINES BEGINS OPERATING FROM BRISBANE TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC
ECO Airlines will begin air services from Brisbane to the Central Pacific in February 2005, providing new jet passenger and cargo capacity to the region. Initially this service will be provided on a weekly-unscheduled charter basis.
ECO Airlines will be operating two routes. Brisbane to Pohnpei with a stopover in Honiara allowing passengers to enter the gateway to the Federal States of Micronesia. It is planned for this service to be extended to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The second service for ECO Airlines will take passengers from Brisbane to Tarawa, the main atoll of Kiribati and onto Majuro in the Marshall Islands and return.
The aircraft to be used is a Yak 42D combi. These aircraft were constructed to service major European centres and are as such, fully approved as stage 111 noise compliant plus it is equipped with all the latest avionics including TCAS, GWPS and GPS.
Business Class for Economy Prices
The large tri jet aircraft originally designed to carry more than 100 passengers is configured to offer a combination of 54 passenger seats and ten tonnes of cargo. With only 54 passenger seats to fill and so much space ECO Airlines have fitted Business Class seats with appropriate space but are only charging Economy airfares.
By offering convenient daylight departure times to the Pacific in conjunction with a premium economy class product the airline is looking to develop business, government and community traffic to and from the region. This is in addition to the leisure travel market catering specifically for the dive, surfing and eco tourism sectors. Pohnpei is a growing market for surfers and is the gateway to some of the most spectacular dive sites in the Pacific.
Passengers will also appreciate the three, turbo-fan jet engine safety offered by the Yak 12D when flying over such large tracts of ocean.
"Commercially, ECO Airlines will be providing a service transporting fresh Australian food products and high value materials into all destinations and returning with fresh seafood for our market in Australia and continuing onto Japan" says ECO Airlines General Manager, Clive Abbott.
The first YAK 12D tri jet arrives in Brisbane on the 25th Jan and it is planned that the airline will use up to 4 aircraft, depending upon demand. Airfreight capability is badly needed in the Pacific according to company sources and being a combi (convertible from passenger to freight) this allows for maximum flexibility for inter island operations.
Eco Airlines say that initially they will only operate out of Brisbane but over the next twelve months ECO Airlines plans to extend its network to include other destinations in Oceania, which will offer opportunities to expand trade links and develop tourism.
ECO Airlines Passenger enquiries:
Tel: +61 2 8080 5696
E-mail: [email protected]
Cargo enquiries:
Queensland Cargo Service
Tel: +61 7 3860 4782
E-mail: [email protected]
===========================================
ECO Airlines will begin air services from Brisbane to the Central Pacific in February 2005, providing new jet passenger and cargo capacity to the region. Initially this service will be provided on a weekly-unscheduled charter basis.
ECO Airlines will be operating two routes. Brisbane to Pohnpei with a stopover in Honiara allowing passengers to enter the gateway to the Federal States of Micronesia. It is planned for this service to be extended to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The second service for ECO Airlines will take passengers from Brisbane to Tarawa, the main atoll of Kiribati and onto Majuro in the Marshall Islands and return.
The aircraft to be used is a Yak 42D combi. These aircraft were constructed to service major European centres and are as such, fully approved as stage 111 noise compliant plus it is equipped with all the latest avionics including TCAS, GWPS and GPS.
Business Class for Economy Prices
The large tri jet aircraft originally designed to carry more than 100 passengers is configured to offer a combination of 54 passenger seats and ten tonnes of cargo. With only 54 passenger seats to fill and so much space ECO Airlines have fitted Business Class seats with appropriate space but are only charging Economy airfares.
By offering convenient daylight departure times to the Pacific in conjunction with a premium economy class product the airline is looking to develop business, government and community traffic to and from the region. This is in addition to the leisure travel market catering specifically for the dive, surfing and eco tourism sectors. Pohnpei is a growing market for surfers and is the gateway to some of the most spectacular dive sites in the Pacific.
Passengers will also appreciate the three, turbo-fan jet engine safety offered by the Yak 12D when flying over such large tracts of ocean.
"Commercially, ECO Airlines will be providing a service transporting fresh Australian food products and high value materials into all destinations and returning with fresh seafood for our market in Australia and continuing onto Japan" says ECO Airlines General Manager, Clive Abbott.
The first YAK 12D tri jet arrives in Brisbane on the 25th Jan and it is planned that the airline will use up to 4 aircraft, depending upon demand. Airfreight capability is badly needed in the Pacific according to company sources and being a combi (convertible from passenger to freight) this allows for maximum flexibility for inter island operations.
Eco Airlines say that initially they will only operate out of Brisbane but over the next twelve months ECO Airlines plans to extend its network to include other destinations in Oceania, which will offer opportunities to expand trade links and develop tourism.
ECO Airlines Passenger enquiries:
Tel: +61 2 8080 5696
E-mail: [email protected]
Cargo enquiries:
Queensland Cargo Service
Tel: +61 7 3860 4782
E-mail: [email protected]
===========================================
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The Pacific really needs good reliable airline transportation. I hope these guys are able to make the numbers work. A lot of deals have gone sour when dealing with Pacific Govts. Air Nauru never have the room for fresh fruit and veg (or much of anything for that matter) going to Tarawa and beyond. Good luck to them!!My fingers are crossed.
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I think this outfit has a real potential in the pacific region. In fact, the mastermind behind the whole operation has invested quite a lot of his own money into it.
With a former job as the CEO of Air Nauru (subsequently sacked for doing a good job, political interference, scapegoating etc, etc), he has certainly done the numbers so tailored made for a unique region as the pacific where the normal costs of running a "proper" airlines are simply too much for the micro-nations to afford, unless you have the likes of Fiji with their booming tourist industry.
This particular person is well qualified in the industry. He knows exactly how the other "island" airlines operate. Armed with this experience, he will exploit every avenue in making air travel/freighting in the pacific affordable and down right difficult to compete against.
Air Nauru, although more experienced than most in the area, will need to employ the likes of it's former CEO to even start giving eco a run for their money. Alas, Air Nauru still runs like a government department, having not learnt from years of unprofitability and may be at it's end.
Who knows? Stranger things have occurred in the islands.
With a former job as the CEO of Air Nauru (subsequently sacked for doing a good job, political interference, scapegoating etc, etc), he has certainly done the numbers so tailored made for a unique region as the pacific where the normal costs of running a "proper" airlines are simply too much for the micro-nations to afford, unless you have the likes of Fiji with their booming tourist industry.
This particular person is well qualified in the industry. He knows exactly how the other "island" airlines operate. Armed with this experience, he will exploit every avenue in making air travel/freighting in the pacific affordable and down right difficult to compete against.
Air Nauru, although more experienced than most in the area, will need to employ the likes of it's former CEO to even start giving eco a run for their money. Alas, Air Nauru still runs like a government department, having not learnt from years of unprofitability and may be at it's end.
Who knows? Stranger things have occurred in the islands.
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EPIRB,
I believe Eco flew their inaugral flight last weekend out of Brisbane, tech stopping at Honiara, then Tarawa followed by Ponape.
I heard the flight was quite empty with a few extra staff on as balast.
The latest I heard was that they are already running into a bit of financial problems created by the delay in their start up.
I believe Eco flew their inaugral flight last weekend out of Brisbane, tech stopping at Honiara, then Tarawa followed by Ponape.
I heard the flight was quite empty with a few extra staff on as balast.
The latest I heard was that they are already running into a bit of financial problems created by the delay in their start up.
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Thanks Sal-e. It will be interesting. I can't see how two airlines could compete here. I can't help but wonder if the islanders would really want to try another airline.
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EPIRB,
The latest I've heard is that both Rex Banks and Clive Abbott have left this airline. I also haven't heard of any further flights by Eco, or whatever they've renamed it as.
Several governments in the region are still in talks about allowing it to operate to their countries. I believe the main question with the governments is that they seem satified with Air Nauru, inspite all it's drawbacks.
I think the governments of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and possibly Ponape (FSM) and Kosrae are mulling over Air Nauru's consistancy and reliability. This problem may only be solved if these countries are share holders with the airline.
As you know, Nauru is in financial strife. Last I heard was that they were on the verge of losing their sole aircraft, having defaulted on payments to the EXIM bank of the US and a court case which was to see EXIM repossess the aircraft.
About US$10 million is owing for the full and final payment of the aircraft.
The Nauru government are considering abandoning the lease to keep deal to just a plain lease. With a credit rating like theirs, that may not be possilbe.
I think a good solution would be to offer a share of the airline to any of the above countries which would obviously include positions in directly managing the airline, pay the remaining bit of the loan with the share sales, have a mix of flight attendants from the participating countries, make redundant at least half of Air Nauru's overstaffed employees, and rename and remarket the airline to something more reflective of the region.
But as you know, simple solutions like this are too hard for the islands. You never know, Nauru might be desperate enough to consider such a radical solution.
Whatever they decide, time certainly isn't on their side.
The latest I've heard is that both Rex Banks and Clive Abbott have left this airline. I also haven't heard of any further flights by Eco, or whatever they've renamed it as.
Several governments in the region are still in talks about allowing it to operate to their countries. I believe the main question with the governments is that they seem satified with Air Nauru, inspite all it's drawbacks.
I think the governments of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and possibly Ponape (FSM) and Kosrae are mulling over Air Nauru's consistancy and reliability. This problem may only be solved if these countries are share holders with the airline.
As you know, Nauru is in financial strife. Last I heard was that they were on the verge of losing their sole aircraft, having defaulted on payments to the EXIM bank of the US and a court case which was to see EXIM repossess the aircraft.
About US$10 million is owing for the full and final payment of the aircraft.
The Nauru government are considering abandoning the lease to keep deal to just a plain lease. With a credit rating like theirs, that may not be possilbe.
I think a good solution would be to offer a share of the airline to any of the above countries which would obviously include positions in directly managing the airline, pay the remaining bit of the loan with the share sales, have a mix of flight attendants from the participating countries, make redundant at least half of Air Nauru's overstaffed employees, and rename and remarket the airline to something more reflective of the region.
But as you know, simple solutions like this are too hard for the islands. You never know, Nauru might be desperate enough to consider such a radical solution.
Whatever they decide, time certainly isn't on their side.
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EPIRB,
Air Nauru still has the Norfolk, although not directly. Norfolk Jet Express now uses Alliance but with all of Alliances tech problems, they end up chartering Air Nauru while their hardware gets fixed.
The word is Alliance is not too pleased with NJE anyway due late payments.
Last I heard, NJE is behind paying Air Nauru some $350,000, small bickies in this game but not to Air Nauru as you may understand.
As we speak, a big court case is taking place in Melbourne regarding the future of Air Nauru.
Rumour has it that the aircraft, after departing from Nauru from Australia, was called back by the President of Nauru in fear of having the aircraft repossessed by creditors once on Australian soil. After much coercing by the Chief Pilot to the Minister in charge of the airline, the aircraft took off again for Australian arriving several hours behind schedule.
By this afternoon, we'll all know the fate of this little airline.
This story, I think deserves its own thread. This was supposed to be about Eco Airlines.
I guess related in a way. Air Nauru fails, the competition won't have competition. Cheers.
Air Nauru still has the Norfolk, although not directly. Norfolk Jet Express now uses Alliance but with all of Alliances tech problems, they end up chartering Air Nauru while their hardware gets fixed.
The word is Alliance is not too pleased with NJE anyway due late payments.
Last I heard, NJE is behind paying Air Nauru some $350,000, small bickies in this game but not to Air Nauru as you may understand.
As we speak, a big court case is taking place in Melbourne regarding the future of Air Nauru.
Rumour has it that the aircraft, after departing from Nauru from Australia, was called back by the President of Nauru in fear of having the aircraft repossessed by creditors once on Australian soil. After much coercing by the Chief Pilot to the Minister in charge of the airline, the aircraft took off again for Australian arriving several hours behind schedule.
By this afternoon, we'll all know the fate of this little airline.
This story, I think deserves its own thread. This was supposed to be about Eco Airlines.
I guess related in a way. Air Nauru fails, the competition won't have competition. Cheers.