Sunstate to HVB and ZBL?(Merged)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: YBBN
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ABC News
Sunshine Express pulls out of scheduled flights
Sunshine Express pulls out of scheduled flights
Sunshine Express Airlines has announced it will cease regional flights at the end of September, after QantasLink announced it was starting services on two of its routes.
Merger talks between Sunshine Express and Regional Express Airlines fell through last week. The Sunshine Coast-based airline services Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Biloela and several New South Wales locations. The airline's executive director, Phil Laffer, says the company has serviced regional Queensland for seven years.
"Unfortunately, it has been an incredibly difficult situation for us over the recent weeks particularly after the QantasLink announcement," he said. "We just cannot continue airline services under those circumstances."
The airline will continue to offer charter services.
Merger talks between Sunshine Express and Regional Express Airlines fell through last week. The Sunshine Coast-based airline services Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Biloela and several New South Wales locations. The airline's executive director, Phil Laffer, says the company has serviced regional Queensland for seven years.
"Unfortunately, it has been an incredibly difficult situation for us over the recent weeks particularly after the QantasLink announcement," he said. "We just cannot continue airline services under those circumstances."
The airline will continue to offer charter services.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hopefully Rex will have a close look at Mac Air. Wouldn't have a clue what value Mcfarlane has placed on the company but I'd love to see them get out of bed with Qantas. Could only mean good things.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: messemate way to bondi icebergs
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
The sunshine pilots from what I understand will be helped to find work with Brindabella/Pearl/Alliance.
Good to see an operator that has to pack up try to take care of their staff
Good to see an operator that has to pack up try to take care of their staff
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: YBBN
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Local airline's switch will cost SEQ services
Maryborough will lose its air link, and Brisbane services to Tamworth and Armidale are in doubt after a decision by Maroochydore-based Sunshine Express to concentrate on charter work.
But from October 1, its Brisbane to Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie services will be operated by Brindabella Airlines.
Sunshine Express ran into trouble last month when one of its five aircraft was written off in an accident during routine maintenance. But the final coffin nail was driven by QantasLink, which decided to service Hervey Bay and Biloela once again.
Sunshine Express spokesman Phil Laffer said the airline had been able to justify the cost of flying into Maryborough and Hervey Bay, "But we cannot do Maryborough alone and because QantasLink has taken away out Biloela market as well, we have no choice but to scale back our operations from the end of September," he said. "It is a classic case of the big guy winning over the little guy."
Mr Laffer said the company was working hard to find alternative airlines to operate to Tamworth and Armidale.
Fortunately and agreement with Brindabella meant the Canberra-based airline would take up to two of Sunshine's four Metro airlines and five pilots. Talks were proceeding with other airlines which might take some of the remaining staff.
Mr Laffer said the airline's future lay in charter work, which was plentiful because of the continuing minerals boom. "We saw the writing on the wall with the finals straw being the QantasLink move into Hervey Bay and Biloela," he said. "We are moving towards controlled shutdown. It will not be a financial disaster."
Last month Sunshine Express appeared likely to become part of the REX aviation group, but talks collapsed because there was no certainty that it would employ Sunshine's workforce of 40.
But from October 1, its Brisbane to Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie services will be operated by Brindabella Airlines.
Sunshine Express ran into trouble last month when one of its five aircraft was written off in an accident during routine maintenance. But the final coffin nail was driven by QantasLink, which decided to service Hervey Bay and Biloela once again.
Sunshine Express spokesman Phil Laffer said the airline had been able to justify the cost of flying into Maryborough and Hervey Bay, "But we cannot do Maryborough alone and because QantasLink has taken away out Biloela market as well, we have no choice but to scale back our operations from the end of September," he said. "It is a classic case of the big guy winning over the little guy."
Mr Laffer said the company was working hard to find alternative airlines to operate to Tamworth and Armidale.
Fortunately and agreement with Brindabella meant the Canberra-based airline would take up to two of Sunshine's four Metro airlines and five pilots. Talks were proceeding with other airlines which might take some of the remaining staff.
Mr Laffer said the airline's future lay in charter work, which was plentiful because of the continuing minerals boom. "We saw the writing on the wall with the finals straw being the QantasLink move into Hervey Bay and Biloela," he said. "We are moving towards controlled shutdown. It will not be a financial disaster."
Last month Sunshine Express appeared likely to become part of the REX aviation group, but talks collapsed because there was no certainty that it would employ Sunshine's workforce of 40.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: East Coast
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The GM has been very busy over the last few days trying to locate jobs for the pilots and operations staff. From what I hear he has been successful in securing 18-20 jobs/interviews for pilots and 3-4 positions for the ops staff.
It’s a shame to see SEA go (just short of its 8th Birthday), but if all goes well the pilots and ops staff should have jobs at Alliance, Brindabella, Pearl, Pel-Air, Rex, Qantaslink and possibly OzJet.
It’s a shame to see SEA go (just short of its 8th Birthday), but if all goes well the pilots and ops staff should have jobs at Alliance, Brindabella, Pearl, Pel-Air, Rex, Qantaslink and possibly OzJet.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what I hear there will be few (if any) staff left without employment and that Managment are working hard to place staff with other/replacement operators.
Rex should be ashamed of the way they have acted in this whole saga
Rex should be ashamed of the way they have acted in this whole saga
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: YBBN
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Found the following on another site:
QantasLink accelerates plan for regional flights
Hope they find a carrier for Brisbane-Armidale/Tamworth flights ASAP 
QantasLink accelerates plan for regional flights
QantasLink will accelerate its plans to launch flights to Hervey Bay and Biloela flights following the demise of Sunshine Express. It will now begin the services on October 1, one month ahead of schedule. Sunshine Express will cease its schedule operations at the end of September.
Qantas said it will carry all passengers holding Sunshine Express tickets from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Biloela for travel between October 1 and January 31. Qantas group general manager Regional Airlines Narendra Kumar said Sunshine Express passengers should contact the carrier or their travel agent for details.
The offer to take passengers will rub salt into the wounds of Sunshine Express, which claimed the launch of the routes was a key factor in its decision to call a halt to operations.
Qantas said it will carry all passengers holding Sunshine Express tickets from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Biloela for travel between October 1 and January 31. Qantas group general manager Regional Airlines Narendra Kumar said Sunshine Express passengers should contact the carrier or their travel agent for details.
The offer to take passengers will rub salt into the wounds of Sunshine Express, which claimed the launch of the routes was a key factor in its decision to call a halt to operations.
