Breaking News: Ansett denies VB terminal access for new routes
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It is an established fact that whilst airlines in competition may fight each other in public, behind the scenes they usually help each other out of trouble when aircraft go 'tech', divert etc. but I don't see this happening with VB/AN, largely because AN is now in the hands of non aviation management who don't appear to have a very long term view.
Honouring third party handling or renting of terminal facilities contracts have, until now, been excluded from the day to day market place as they are of mutual benefit.
I don't think what AN2 have done will endear them in any way to the travelling public and surely their days must be numbered if they continue to behave like this?
Honouring third party handling or renting of terminal facilities contracts have, until now, been excluded from the day to day market place as they are of mutual benefit.
I don't think what AN2 have done will endear them in any way to the travelling public and surely their days must be numbered if they continue to behave like this?
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*Virgin Blue's terminal ban sparks anti-competition accusations*
Ansett is refusing to let discount airline Virgin Blue continue using
its terminals at Launceston and Canberra.
Ansett is being accused of trying to stifle competition.
Ansett administrators have rejected Virgin's requests for extended
leasing arrangements.
As of today, Virgin will adopt a new manual check in and baggage process
until a new deal is finalised.
Virgin Blue's chief of commercial operations, David Huttner, says
Ansett's decision is a deliberate attempt to hinder competition.
Mr Huttner says he is appalled by Ansett's immature business approach.
"Surprising, unfortunate, a lot of words come to mind but you know we're
not going to spend a lot of time worrying about Ansett, we haven't so
far and we're not about to do so now," he said.
"Ansett's administrator says no leasing arrangements can be discussed
until the airline's sale to the Fox-Lew consortium is finalised at the
end of January.
Ansett is refusing to let discount airline Virgin Blue continue using
its terminals at Launceston and Canberra.
Ansett is being accused of trying to stifle competition.
Ansett administrators have rejected Virgin's requests for extended
leasing arrangements.
As of today, Virgin will adopt a new manual check in and baggage process
until a new deal is finalised.
Virgin Blue's chief of commercial operations, David Huttner, says
Ansett's decision is a deliberate attempt to hinder competition.
Mr Huttner says he is appalled by Ansett's immature business approach.
"Surprising, unfortunate, a lot of words come to mind but you know we're
not going to spend a lot of time worrying about Ansett, we haven't so
far and we're not about to do so now," he said.
"Ansett's administrator says no leasing arrangements can be discussed
until the airline's sale to the Fox-Lew consortium is finalised at the
end of January.
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There is a locked-out article in today's financial review which discusses Canberra Apt threatening legal action against ansett in order to wrest control of the terminal. Does anyone here have access to this article and then post it up here?
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Well, well, well .. Thats the best news I've heard since AN ceased operations in Sept.
I was at a meeting in Brissy this week where Lindsay addressed the group and when asked if he would give virgin access.. without saying a word he undid his pants, turned around, dropped them, bent over (he was enough of a gentleman to leave his blue undies at full mast).. and said does that answer the question? !!!!!
So virgin, the games that have been played in the past will look like a Sunday School picnic when Lindsay gets fired up!!
Go Lindsay !!
I was at a meeting in Brissy this week where Lindsay addressed the group and when asked if he would give virgin access.. without saying a word he undid his pants, turned around, dropped them, bent over (he was enough of a gentleman to leave his blue undies at full mast).. and said does that answer the question? !!!!!
So virgin, the games that have been played in the past will look like a Sunday School picnic when Lindsay gets fired up!!
Go Lindsay !!
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Why don't hey do what Ryanair is proposing fro DUB and Compass did in Adelaide? Build their own terminal.
Surely for CBR and LST it could be simply a couple of shipping containers stuck end on end. Virgin managed very well for the first few months of the Adelaide operations using a marquee (as is proposed for LST).
In fact I would argue that but for space restrictions, it was a better setup than what is in place now at ADL (where the baggage collection is open to the elements right at the other end of the terminal
Surely for CBR and LST it could be simply a couple of shipping containers stuck end on end. Virgin managed very well for the first few months of the Adelaide operations using a marquee (as is proposed for LST).
In fact I would argue that but for space restrictions, it was a better setup than what is in place now at ADL (where the baggage collection is open to the elements right at the other end of the terminal
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Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not anti or pro or have any connection Virgin Blue or any other airline either.
I would make the same comments if it were tried by either of the others.
I just get really p'd off with thugs in suits like Lew/Fox/ACTU when they start playing the same games they did with Compass and the rest.
They have not yet completed the process of hijacking the terminals, you may have forgotten who gifted them to Ansett on a coupla 100 years lease in the first place.
Our aviation infrastructure was bought and paid for by the public and should be available to anyone who wishes to service them.
They make a big mistake with the Australian public when they indulge themselves in this manner.
It proves the case for the folly of selling the airports in the first place.
Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not anti or pro or have any connection Virgin Blue or any other airline either.
I would make the same comments if it were tried by either of the others.
I just get really p'd off with thugs in suits like Lew/Fox/ACTU when they start playing the same games they did with Compass and the rest.
They have not yet completed the process of hijacking the terminals, you may have forgotten who gifted them to Ansett on a coupla 100 years lease in the first place.
Our aviation infrastructure was bought and paid for by the public and should be available to anyone who wishes to service them.
They make a big mistake with the Australian public when they indulge themselves in this manner.
It proves the case for the folly of selling the airports in the first place.
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Terminals off limits to Virgin
By Michael Bachelard and Steve Creedy
30nov01
THE battle for Ansett escalated into open warfare yesterday as the airline's administrators were accused of sabotaging competitor Virgin Blue by denying it access to terminals at the last minute.
Virgin said Ansett had withdrawn terminal access just 24 hours before Virgin was due to start services to Canberra and Launceston -- a move "solely focused on damaging people's travel plans".
Virgin and Chris Corrigan's Lang Corp have lodged a late bid to buy Ansett's assets but the failed airline's administrators have insisted on proceeding with a deal already struck with the Tesna consortium of Melbourne tycoons Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew.
Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson immediately criticised Ansett's actions in shutting out Virgin.
"Their actions are not in the interests of the travelling public and we really do expect better from them," a spokesman for the minister said.
Mr Anderson said earlier in the day he was "amazed" at reports that Ansett administrators Mark Mentha and Mark Korda were feted at an ACTU function, and called on them to "demonstrate ... that they have been objective" during the bidding process.
Claiming the terminals move harked back to behaviour not seen since the days of Compass Airlines, Virgin Blue said it would be forced it to call out extra staff to manually process passengers and baggage at the airports.
Virgin acknowledged it had no formal contract to use the Canberra and Launceston terminals but said the administrators had given no indication they would dishonour a long-standing practice of allowing it to use Ansett facilities.
"It shows that a company that has proclaimed it is flying for Australia is in fact only focused on being vindictive, and clearly not acting very Australian," chief executive Brett Godfrey said. "For all Tesna's talk about being the spirit of competition, clearly this doesn't apply to the routes they fly."
Mr Mentha and Mr Korda said it was not possible to agree to Virgin's new services because of Ansett's pending sale to Tesna. Any long-term agreements were a matter for the new owner but the administrators would honour existing agreements.
"As for Virgin Blue's request for an increase in frequencies, negotiations are continuing on price and scheduling," Mr Mentha said.
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday laughed off suggestions by Mr Fox of a conspiracy between the Government and Mr Corrigan. "We've helped Ansett in a number of other ways. But we are not in the business of playing favourites and we're not siding with Corrigan."
The Government this week turned down a request by Tesna for assistance in getting Ansett flying again, prompting outbursts from Mr Fox about unfair treatment and favouritism for Mr Corrigan.
Meanwhile, the Government's guarantee to cover the cost of tickets on Ansett Mark II has run out, with forward bookings now exceeding the $25million provided by the Government.
However, a spokeswoman for the administrators said they were personally liable for tickets not covered by the government guarantee.
By Michael Bachelard and Steve Creedy
30nov01
THE battle for Ansett escalated into open warfare yesterday as the airline's administrators were accused of sabotaging competitor Virgin Blue by denying it access to terminals at the last minute.
Virgin said Ansett had withdrawn terminal access just 24 hours before Virgin was due to start services to Canberra and Launceston -- a move "solely focused on damaging people's travel plans".
Virgin and Chris Corrigan's Lang Corp have lodged a late bid to buy Ansett's assets but the failed airline's administrators have insisted on proceeding with a deal already struck with the Tesna consortium of Melbourne tycoons Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew.
Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson immediately criticised Ansett's actions in shutting out Virgin.
"Their actions are not in the interests of the travelling public and we really do expect better from them," a spokesman for the minister said.
Mr Anderson said earlier in the day he was "amazed" at reports that Ansett administrators Mark Mentha and Mark Korda were feted at an ACTU function, and called on them to "demonstrate ... that they have been objective" during the bidding process.
Claiming the terminals move harked back to behaviour not seen since the days of Compass Airlines, Virgin Blue said it would be forced it to call out extra staff to manually process passengers and baggage at the airports.
Virgin acknowledged it had no formal contract to use the Canberra and Launceston terminals but said the administrators had given no indication they would dishonour a long-standing practice of allowing it to use Ansett facilities.
"It shows that a company that has proclaimed it is flying for Australia is in fact only focused on being vindictive, and clearly not acting very Australian," chief executive Brett Godfrey said. "For all Tesna's talk about being the spirit of competition, clearly this doesn't apply to the routes they fly."
Mr Mentha and Mr Korda said it was not possible to agree to Virgin's new services because of Ansett's pending sale to Tesna. Any long-term agreements were a matter for the new owner but the administrators would honour existing agreements.
"As for Virgin Blue's request for an increase in frequencies, negotiations are continuing on price and scheduling," Mr Mentha said.
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday laughed off suggestions by Mr Fox of a conspiracy between the Government and Mr Corrigan. "We've helped Ansett in a number of other ways. But we are not in the business of playing favourites and we're not siding with Corrigan."
The Government this week turned down a request by Tesna for assistance in getting Ansett flying again, prompting outbursts from Mr Fox about unfair treatment and favouritism for Mr Corrigan.
Meanwhile, the Government's guarantee to cover the cost of tickets on Ansett Mark II has run out, with forward bookings now exceeding the $25million provided by the Government.
However, a spokeswoman for the administrators said they were personally liable for tickets not covered by the government guarantee.
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The fed's were pivotal in ensuring AN remained beyond the grasp of SQ, a move that would have saved the company, twice.
"I dont give a **** about AN" - Max the Axe
On two occasions, Mr Anderson insisted that they will not allow the market to be skewed in favor of AN. For gods sake, QF have 91% market share only as a result of leasing aircraft from other outfits.
VB have been handed huge amounts of state and fed gov money without which they would not exist. Beatty almost wet his pants trying to help VB become a QLD carrier.
Any airline run by Brett and Rob has serious credibility concerns.
The business market in oz is not brand loyal. To think pax will flock to VB as a result of the terminal debacle is pathetic.
"I dont give a **** about AN" - Max the Axe
On two occasions, Mr Anderson insisted that they will not allow the market to be skewed in favor of AN. For gods sake, QF have 91% market share only as a result of leasing aircraft from other outfits.
VB have been handed huge amounts of state and fed gov money without which they would not exist. Beatty almost wet his pants trying to help VB become a QLD carrier.
Any airline run by Brett and Rob has serious credibility concerns.
The business market in oz is not brand loyal. To think pax will flock to VB as a result of the terminal debacle is pathetic.
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oicur12, just curious as to the use of Federal funds by VB. Obviously they recieved state funds to set up in QLD (offered to ANY company willing to do the same),but was unaware that they recieved fed funds.
PLEASE EXPLAIN
PLEASE EXPLAIN
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eilse s,
was at school during your pilots dispute.
If your VB you have done for pilot conditions what Al Quida has done for aviation.QF will have their conditions under more pressure soon.Well done,ruined the industry in 89 and come back for a second crack eh.
was at school during your pilots dispute.
If your VB you have done for pilot conditions what Al Quida has done for aviation.QF will have their conditions under more pressure soon.Well done,ruined the industry in 89 and come back for a second crack eh.
Evertonian
Foxtrot. Read my response to you re the dole again. It was a flippant response attempting to highlight how conditions were eroded in DJ's awards, remember, $1 more is marginally better than the dole. It was not intended as a literal figure. As for a good decision, no, I don't think it is a good decision. It tarnishes the AN name & does appear petty. As a creditor of AN, I'm angry that PWC were removed & this sham Union administrator is in place, eroding my returns. My point is that I don't give a rats AR$E about that whining Bratt & his English airline.
So, Virgin Blue are getting FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE at LST!!!
Is THAT in the spirit of competiton Brett? That's not a level playing field is it? Perhaps we should lobby CBR and demand they stp assisting Virgin Blue?
G.Khan.
Despite attempts by TNT/Newscorp to dislodge that "sharing" practice, it did continue, especially at MEL. AN & TN often swapped parts with the bare minimum of paperwork. Competition was something the idiots in Fawlty towers worried about. At the airports, we all helped each other. Sadly, never again I imagine.
As an employee of the airline, formally known as Ansett Australia, I cringe when reading about Fox dropping his pants. Credibility is everything in business. Oh well, at least he didn't bend over & show us his Soloman!!!
As for a good decision, no, I don't think it is a good decision. It tarnishes the AN name & does appear petty. As a creditor of AN, I'm angry that PWC were removed & this sham Union administrator is in place, eroding my returns. My point is that I don't give a rats AR$E about that whining Bratt & his English airline.So, Virgin Blue are getting FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE at LST!!!
Is THAT in the spirit of competiton Brett? That's not a level playing field is it? Perhaps we should lobby CBR and demand they stp assisting Virgin Blue?G.Khan.
Despite attempts by TNT/Newscorp to dislodge that "sharing" practice, it did continue, especially at MEL. AN & TN often swapped parts with the bare minimum of paperwork. Competition was something the idiots in Fawlty towers worried about. At the airports, we all helped each other. Sadly, never again I imagine.
As an employee of the airline, formally known as Ansett Australia, I cringe when reading about Fox dropping his pants. Credibility is everything in business. Oh well, at least he didn't bend over & show us his Soloman!!!
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Buster
Not just AN people but all Australians save those equally brain damaged would have cringed.
It is possible to link the words Buffoons and Hubris in regard to these people.
If I had, or it was possible to own shares in Andersens, I would be selling as fast as I could. When this thing finally grinds to its inevitable conclusion the liability cases will bury them in court for the next century or two in the wash up.
I dont know what the "spokesman" for the administrators is smoking but it must be good, when they trot out the "administrator is personally liable for all fares" when commenting on the now filled up of the $50,000,000 gaurantee Govt cap.
Al tickets subsequently issued are now personally guaranteed by the administator, somehow I don't find that at all comforting.
Not just AN people but all Australians save those equally brain damaged would have cringed.
It is possible to link the words Buffoons and Hubris in regard to these people.
If I had, or it was possible to own shares in Andersens, I would be selling as fast as I could. When this thing finally grinds to its inevitable conclusion the liability cases will bury them in court for the next century or two in the wash up.
I dont know what the "spokesman" for the administrators is smoking but it must be good, when they trot out the "administrator is personally liable for all fares" when commenting on the now filled up of the $50,000,000 gaurantee Govt cap.
Al tickets subsequently issued are now personally guaranteed by the administator, somehow I don't find that at all comforting.
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The Federal Government is keen to back the Lang bid for Virgin Blue for 2 reasons,
Firstly, it would give QF huge leverage in cost cutting. VB would be a lower cost base wedge into the high cost airline industry in this country, giving Dixon a level of power unavailable before at EBA time.
Secondly, it would present the lesser of two evils to QF in the market place. The F/L plan to continue Star Alliance membership with the inclusion of rewards schemes and the like would enable AN to win back the corporate accounts that provide higher yield. VB, without these (especially alliance partnerships) will do much less damage to QF.
The events of recent days have been about politics, not aviation. Don’t under estimate the power that Dixon wields in CBR.
If I were an employee of Virgin Blue, I would have been shaking at the thought of Mr Corrigan becoming involved.
Firstly, it would give QF huge leverage in cost cutting. VB would be a lower cost base wedge into the high cost airline industry in this country, giving Dixon a level of power unavailable before at EBA time.
Secondly, it would present the lesser of two evils to QF in the market place. The F/L plan to continue Star Alliance membership with the inclusion of rewards schemes and the like would enable AN to win back the corporate accounts that provide higher yield. VB, without these (especially alliance partnerships) will do much less damage to QF.
The events of recent days have been about politics, not aviation. Don’t under estimate the power that Dixon wields in CBR.
If I were an employee of Virgin Blue, I would have been shaking at the thought of Mr Corrigan becoming involved.
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Doctor Hibbert, Also do not under estimate the power Qantas Chairwomen Margaret Jackson wields in CBR. Just look up her CV. I can remember when she was first appointed to the Australian Wool Corp, then Telstra. Many others since.