NTL international ?
 

few stories around yesterday such as this one below, imply that NTL has not had international services in the past.


NSW closer to second international airport - 9news.com.au


Freedom used to fly NTL/AKL/NTL using a 733 if I recall correctly. they pulled out around 2003.


A well funded BNE group proposed taking over the route using 757's, initially as charters, but got very little support locally & idea was scrapped. What's different now especially when heading into a massive recession ?

Would be interesting to test the water NTL Tasman, followed by Bali with the NEO and international operations, with local support.

The NTL airport in 2003 is a but a shadow of the present operation, and with Sydney being a cluster, as well as the most expensive airport in the Asia Pacific region, it might be a winner.

I counted 5 wide bodies waiting for a bay the other morning..... what a disgrace.

Apparently Busselton is the next big regional international destination...:}

OzJet also operated once a week to/from NLK with the Norfolk Air liveried B737-200.

Could see NZ give it another go within the next 24months, the 777/787 being used more on the Tasman it will free up some more A320's to test the waters on other routes. AKL-ADL is being upgraded to an 789 5x weekly, so that could free up an A320.

not sure in NZ pulling out of NTL in 2003 was because Freedom was being closed down. Loads were good apparently, but who knows what the yields were like.

NZ fly seasonally AKL/MCY (twice a week in winter I think). MCY/BNE is a lot closer & quciker to drive than NTL/SYD. Must be a major PITA for anyone from NTL area, wanting to fly internationally. They either must fly to BNE or MEL 1st or make the long trek to SYD.

Maybe an airline like Malindo, who now fly daily KUL/DPS/BNE daily could fly DPS/NTL & continue onto any New Zealand port. Being Malaysian, think they have automatic rights to fly the Tasman.

Unlike the Air Asia's/M rats, they could use a 737-800 or 737-900ER & fly to smaller airports in NZ. Twice a week would work initially (could a 738 do DPS/NTL without any weight restriction ? Note they have less seats on their 738's that either QF or VA.

Freedom Air (SJ) wasn't closed down until 2008, in fact it wasn't closed down more its back end was re-named to Zeal 320 Ltd who became the A320 operator for NZ. Which today still forms the back of an NZ's Intl A320 services, effectiviely giving them an near LCC cost base.

The Tasman has grown allot in the past 13 years,




AKL-MCY operates for the majority of the year now and can be upto 4-5 weekly at peak. Every year NZ is growing the service, with the goal to be weekly year round.