News: Ansett tactics under fire
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News: Ansett tactics under fire
Sun "Canberra Times"
<a href="http://www.newsdirectory.com/go/?f=&r=oc&u=www.canberratimes.com.au" target="_blank">http://www.newsdirectory.com/go/?f=&r=oc&u=www.canberratimes.com.au</a>
Ansett tactics under fire
SCOTT HANNAFORD
A new-look Ansett would try to force Virgin Blue out of business and effectively close half of Canberra Airport, threatening hundreds of jobs and businesses, airport manager Stephen Byron warned yesterday.
Mr Byron said he had been told by the Fox/Lew consortium Tesna that Ansett would make it a "number one priority" to force Virgin Blue out of the market and "under no circumstances would Virgin be allowed to operate through the Ansett terminal after February 1".
Mr Byron said as Ansett had no immediate plans to fly to Canberra when it relaunched in February, the Ansett terminal would be abandoned indefinitely, with Virgin barred from using the empty terminal.
"The airport is, like many businesses at the moment, trying to hang on . . . and this would affect not only the airport but all the taxis, restaurants and would flow on to tourism and other businesses throughout Canberra," Mr Byron said.
He said he believed Ansett was in breach of its lease with the airport and had not paid rent or properly maintained the terminal. The airport would be seeking legal action if necessary to allow other airlines access to the facilities.
"It's ironic that Tesna has been crying out for greater controls against anti-competitive conduct and, at the same time, be engaged in . . . anti-competitive conduct."
A spokesman for Virgin Blue said the airline would build its own terminal in Canberra or operate out of a marquee if required, and would not be bullied by Ansett.
"If Mr Fox has any doubts about Virgin's ability to stick around he only needs to talk to British Airways. We will not be intimidated out of the market . . . and we will not let down the people of Canberra.
"Mr Fox needs to realise that running an airline is a little different from running a trucking business," the spokesman said.
"This clearly demonstrates that he is depending on a bloated, high-priced duopoly for the airline to succeed."
The spokesman said Canberrans had shown great support to Virgin Blue and the company would continue to add low-cost services to Canberra in line with that support.
A spokeswoman for Tesna and Ansett confirmed that the terminals would not be available for use by Virgin because Ansett was starting a new airline and would need the terminal space for its own services.
However, when asked when Ansett would start flying to Canberra and how long the terminal would remain empty, the spokeswoman said, "I can't reveal that, but Canberra is definitely part of our strategy.
"It is simply a fact of life that there will be strong competition and we will be making a very competitive start," the spokeswoman said.
She said Ansett would begin flying to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from February and would concentrate on the high demand routes before launching other services.
She said Kendell would be using some Ansett resources and planned to increase its services to Canberra from 62 flights a week to 68 on January 22.
By issuing a schedule of services the airline had met the condition of its lease on the Canberra terminal.
[ 22 December 2001: Message edited by: Wirraway ]</p>
<a href="http://www.newsdirectory.com/go/?f=&r=oc&u=www.canberratimes.com.au" target="_blank">http://www.newsdirectory.com/go/?f=&r=oc&u=www.canberratimes.com.au</a>
Ansett tactics under fire
SCOTT HANNAFORD
A new-look Ansett would try to force Virgin Blue out of business and effectively close half of Canberra Airport, threatening hundreds of jobs and businesses, airport manager Stephen Byron warned yesterday.
Mr Byron said he had been told by the Fox/Lew consortium Tesna that Ansett would make it a "number one priority" to force Virgin Blue out of the market and "under no circumstances would Virgin be allowed to operate through the Ansett terminal after February 1".
Mr Byron said as Ansett had no immediate plans to fly to Canberra when it relaunched in February, the Ansett terminal would be abandoned indefinitely, with Virgin barred from using the empty terminal.
"The airport is, like many businesses at the moment, trying to hang on . . . and this would affect not only the airport but all the taxis, restaurants and would flow on to tourism and other businesses throughout Canberra," Mr Byron said.
He said he believed Ansett was in breach of its lease with the airport and had not paid rent or properly maintained the terminal. The airport would be seeking legal action if necessary to allow other airlines access to the facilities.
"It's ironic that Tesna has been crying out for greater controls against anti-competitive conduct and, at the same time, be engaged in . . . anti-competitive conduct."
A spokesman for Virgin Blue said the airline would build its own terminal in Canberra or operate out of a marquee if required, and would not be bullied by Ansett.
"If Mr Fox has any doubts about Virgin's ability to stick around he only needs to talk to British Airways. We will not be intimidated out of the market . . . and we will not let down the people of Canberra.
"Mr Fox needs to realise that running an airline is a little different from running a trucking business," the spokesman said.
"This clearly demonstrates that he is depending on a bloated, high-priced duopoly for the airline to succeed."
The spokesman said Canberrans had shown great support to Virgin Blue and the company would continue to add low-cost services to Canberra in line with that support.
A spokeswoman for Tesna and Ansett confirmed that the terminals would not be available for use by Virgin because Ansett was starting a new airline and would need the terminal space for its own services.
However, when asked when Ansett would start flying to Canberra and how long the terminal would remain empty, the spokeswoman said, "I can't reveal that, but Canberra is definitely part of our strategy.
"It is simply a fact of life that there will be strong competition and we will be making a very competitive start," the spokeswoman said.
She said Ansett would begin flying to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from February and would concentrate on the high demand routes before launching other services.
She said Kendell would be using some Ansett resources and planned to increase its services to Canberra from 62 flights a week to 68 on January 22.
By issuing a schedule of services the airline had met the condition of its lease on the Canberra terminal.
[ 22 December 2001: Message edited by: Wirraway ]</p>
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Could this "new airline" be the resurrection of the KD CRJs as mentioned by 100_Above recently?
If his post is correct, is there not room at the CBR terminal for both AN and VB?
Any thoughts, anyone, I'm not familiar with the CBR layout?
Regards,
TheNightOwl.
If his post is correct, is there not room at the CBR terminal for both AN and VB?
Any thoughts, anyone, I'm not familiar with the CBR layout?
Regards,
TheNightOwl.
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Has it occurred to any of the luminaries on this forum that Virgin will probably end up using the Ansett terminals in any case.
Either by:
Leasing direct from FLEW.(Likely)
Ansett take over of virgin.(Less likely)
In any case, don't be surprised to see Virgin work in with Ansett in some way.
This will give feeder capacity to all concerned, including Singapore Airlines, who would just love such an arrangement.
QF would just love this!
Either by:
Leasing direct from FLEW.(Likely)
Ansett take over of virgin.(Less likely)
In any case, don't be surprised to see Virgin work in with Ansett in some way.
This will give feeder capacity to all concerned, including Singapore Airlines, who would just love such an arrangement.
QF would just love this!
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I wonder how much Godfrey and his moaning team payed Mr Byron to say that...
Anything for publicity when you will be fighting to keep your head above in the near future <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Anything for publicity when you will be fighting to keep your head above in the near future <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
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Desperate measures by desperate men.
As I have said before, Ansett will not put Virgin out of business and they will certainly not put Virgin out of business by denying them terminal space.
Remember - Virgin started out with no terminal space. It is their product that will keep them profitable. To this point, we have not seen Ansett's new product only one of the proposed new owners dropping his pants at a Company meeting and a whole lot of bad press.
As I have said before, Ansett will not put Virgin out of business and they will certainly not put Virgin out of business by denying them terminal space.
Remember - Virgin started out with no terminal space. It is their product that will keep them profitable. To this point, we have not seen Ansett's new product only one of the proposed new owners dropping his pants at a Company meeting and a whole lot of bad press.
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Please remember Eeenie Weenie was denied terminal access at CBR so we checked the punters in kerbside or "behind a blade of grass" as it was then noted. I made absolutely no difference and business folk loved it. Pettiness will turn around and bite them if they are not careful.
Best all
EWL
Best all
EWL
