Tiger to fly Tasman !!!
 

reported in Australian on Fri that TT @AKL talking about slots.


But what routes would TT fly ex AKL ?


Certain Qld ports once or twice a week ?


Maybe to bump up AKL/MCY ?


AKL/NTL ?


AKL/AVV ?


or take over some of the AKL/OOL services ?

Its a breach of Virgin's agreement with ANZ if they drop services on any trans tasman services, so there will be no "taking over" routes. Tiger is not inclusive of that deal either.

So what you will see is probably extra capacity from the existing three bases, possible red eye flights from MEL/SYD/BNE.

I'd imagine Bali is not far away either, Fiji is a strong market too.

you wouldn't do red eyes out of SYD. A 2200 departure would arrive at 0300 ish.


No airline would want to get any closer to curfew than 2200.


Maybe VA/NZ could ask for variation of the dodgy alliance, ie. not reduce capacity, just introduce a lower cost airline.


That would prob satisfy both govts.

JQ did do some extra SYD/NAN flights recently that were arriving in NAN at some silly hour like 0300.


Guess it might give them better utilisation of aircraft if depart OZ on a Sat night.

Maybe as ad hoc services to squeeze some revenue out of positioning flights....haven't TT agreed to get some of their maintenance done in CHC by NZ ?

adhoc ?


No you wouldn't be talking to AKL about a few adhocs.


Yes NZ are doing their maintenance @ CHC I read somewhere too.


Do NZ & TT have same engines on their A320's ?


You never know, they might also be looking at some of the abandoned routes on a low frequency basis like twice a week into


HLZ
ROT
PMR
DUD/SYD + DUD/MEL but AVV makes more sense


& maybe even IVC

It appears that everyone is adding AKL to the flights. Emirates now the flies the A380 from Dubai to Brisbane to AKL, and A380 from Dubai to MEL to AKL....
I asked Emirates chief, and he said that AUS airports are charging so much to overnight, that they just hop to AKL, and in reality, the flights are pretty full, especially coming back to DXB.

Perhaps NZ is a cheap place to park?

Underfire
 

You forgot the daily EK A380 DXB/SYD/AKL/SYD/DXB as well:ok:

Most likely you will see a new PER base shortly, with DPS on the cards.

MEL is TT's hub and as such much expansion may emanate from there.

@Underfire... the flights from BNE/SYD/MEL to AKL and back are daylight so the aircraft wouldn't be overnighting in Australia even if they didn't pop across to AKL

I'd expect them to take loss making Perth to Phuket and Bali services off Virgin sometime soon.

With a lower cost base than Jetstar I'd imagine their keen to jump into the Bali and possibly Jakarta markets against AirAsia from Perth.

MEL/AKL has lots of VA/NZ flights - currently 25/week using B738, A320, B772 & B773 aircraft.


Are you suggesting that TT would take over some of these ?


We don't think so, but maybe AVV/AKL or CBR/AKL ?


Think VA/NZ would only want TT to take over very poor performing routes, or poor performing times of the day or back of clock where they might get better aircraft utilisation without any extra aircraft required.

I heard that it was cheaper for Emirates to operate the Tasman than to stay parked up in Oz for 7-8hrs, so a quick flit to AKL and back to save some $ & earn some $

the dollars come from Kiwis going to Europe etc. not to OZ.

Perth - Phuket is pushing it a bit for the older A320s, it doesn't quite have the legs of the B737 NG. You'd need to run the numbers carefully first. The newer Sharklet aircraft perform better but it's still a long time in a narrow body aircraft with no IFE.

Perth - Bali could be a better market as Virgin are up against Air Asia with their lower cost base.

getting off topic.


The Tasman is obviously where TT are looking, but where exactly ?

AVV is totally out of the question, once burnt, twice shy comes to mind.

NAN/AKL/DPS are looking to be initial routes.

JQ just got deal from hell from Vic govt RE AVV


"NAN/AKL/DPS are looking to be initial routes." ???


TR could do that.


TT are surely looking at either taking over poor/thin NZ/VA routes or supplementing good ones offering a more basis product, or new routes altogether.


The Kiwis would surely love more routes across the tasman to help their tourism industry.


People from TSV might not want to fly CNS/AKL or BNE/AKL but they might go if there was a TSV/AKL. Would only have to be twice a week initially.

Looks like terminal expansion at NTL is just about complete, with provision for international ops. (as well as commencement of runway extention). Pressumably JQ or VQ/ TT are looking at possibilities for international ops from NTL.

Would absolutely love it and support them to the 10th degree is they went domestic in New Zealand!