Jetstar Pulling out of regional NZ

[ozziekiwi]

Just heard on the midday TV1 news that Jetstar will be ending their regional NZ services wef 30 November. Another kick in the guts for the people living in these areas. Now the greedy national carrier will charge whatever they want and goodbye to specials and deals. Just like Mt Cook did in the 70's and 80's when they had the monopoly on Mt Cook and Queenstown. GRRRRRRR

[billyt]

Originally Posted by ozziekiwi

Just heard on the midday TV1 news that Jetstar will be ending their regional NZ services wef 30 November. Another kick in the guts for the people living in these areas. Now the greedy national carrier will charge whatever they want and goodbye to specials and deals. Just like Mt Cook did in the 70's and 80's when they had the monopoly on Mt Cook and Queenstown. GRRRRRRR

Obviously the real cost of running these services is more than they were charging for them. Perhaps being greedier would have helped.

[KiwiAvi8er]

Sad news for the affected staff. I read they will be offered roles within the company but little consolation for the Napier guys.

[Lookleft]

It would be nice if Jetstar allow the pilots and CC to move across to the jet operation.

[Big_saint]

Originally Posted by Lookleft

It would be nice if Jetstar allow the pilots and CC to move across to the jet operation.

So far I believe if JQ Regional does close the crew will be offered positions at, Qlink, Jetstar (both NZ and Aus), Jetconnect, and I think there may be an option of Express Freighters Australia.

[spektrum]

So far I believe if JQ Regional does close the crew will be offered positions at, Qlink, Jetstar (both NZ and Aus), Jetconnect, and I think there may be an option of Express Freighters Australia.

You mean they'll be offered the chance to do a plethora of aptitude and sim tests, attend a few interviews at their own cost only to be offered a spot on a hold file for 12 months? Thats how the Qantas group treats people my friend.

[wheels_down]

Are not some flight crew on secondment over there due to crewing issues?

Jetstar have the image in NZ that Tiger has here. Damage was done in the first couple of years and the ship has long sailed.

Your 6pm A321 Melbourne to Sydney is full of suits. Your 6pm Auckland to Christchurch is half fill leisure. The corps just won’t touch it over there

[aussie1234]

Flights always full but if you only charge $29 a seat you ain’t gonna make a dollar. Kiwi’s, like aussies, always prefer the national carrier but with Qantas and AIRNZ partnering up, was this part of the deal?

[Big_saint]

Originally Posted by spektrum

You mean they'll be offered the chance to do a plethora of aptitude and sim tests, attend a few interviews at their own cost only to be offered a spot on a hold file for 12 months? Thats how the Qantas group treats people my friend.

The Qantas group thinks about the almighty $, and if they reposition these pilots into roles inside the group efficiently they save $'s on redundancy. If this was a reposition to SH or LH then yes I can see a minimum of a 12 month wait, but it's not. The subsidiaries who would take these pilots are still actively recruiting so to absorb the roles of 5 airframes into 4 subsidiaries I can see it being done reasonably quickly.

[James 1077]

Originally Posted by aussie1234

Flights always full but if you only charge $29 a seat you ain’t gonna make a dollar. Kiwi’s, like aussies, always prefer the national carrier but with Qantas and AIRNZ partnering up, was this part of the deal?

I don't think that it is a matter of preferring the national carrier. I don't rate Air NZ too highly but fly with them in preference to JetStar as the general rule of thumb is that if you need to get to your destination then fly Air NZ. If you don't need to be there then JetStar's fine.

Not sure if this is still the case but it was a few years ago and has stuck.

[pinkpanther1]

I wonder what will happen to the 5 airframes? Does Qlink need another 5 Dash 8s? or will they be sold off?

[waren9]

when the boss isn't making any money, you're really only on a paid job search. its a shame, but if they'd spread their focus to include maintaining a reliable schedule right from the start rather than a laser focus on costs they might be in a different position now.

sorry for the upheaval for those affected.

[empacher48]

I feel the guys and gals in the operation. Here is hoping that the upheaval they are facing comes with a successful result at the end of the process.

[Going Nowhere]

Originally Posted by pinkpanther1

I wonder what will happen to the 5 airframes? Does Qlink need another 5 Dash 8s? or will they be sold off?

QLink just paid to have the interiors updated so I'm guessing they'll be back in QLink colours no doubt.

Standby for Aus-based expansion. There's plenty of regional ports that QF currently don't serve.

The crew could be offered jobs in QLink in Aus. There's plenty of vacancies, especially on the Q300 fleet.

[73qanda]

They may look back on it and be thankful if they can quickly and easily transition to an A320 or a 737. Hopefully that’s what happens.

[wheels_down]

It’s a nuisance if your Kiwi based, family, mortgage...highly undesirable for some to move to Oz.

FO 320 Kiwi or Q300 in Oz.

[HappyBandit]

Yeah might be s good option to fill those command vacancies too. Good luck everyone.

[rmcdonal]

Originally Posted by pinkpanther1

I wonder what will happen to the 5 airframes? Does Qlink need another 5 Dash 8s? or will they be sold off?

A better way of putting that would be "Does Qlink need their 5 Dash 8s back?"

[Sparrows.]

Originally Posted by rmcdonal

A better way of putting that would be "Does Qlink need their 5 Dash 8s back?"

3 of them are due for heavy maintenance, so most likely staying in AKL for that. So at best 2 back to QLink in the short term.

[MikeHatter732]

Originally Posted by Going Nowhere

The crew could be offered jobs in QLink in Aus. There's plenty of vacancies, especially on the Q300 fleet.

They are short with captains at the moment (2 vacant spots at Sydney), but they shot themselves in the foot when they upped the command requirements recently.

The FO base is pretty strong (i.e. averaging 30hrs stick a month [Brissy FO's struggling to hit double digit stick).

Definitely will keep at least a few of the airframes, they seem to be running pretty close to capacity recently.