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Bill Hamilton gives REX 6 months
As reported on ABC AM Radio today Bill Hamilton of AOPA fame says he gives REX 6 months citing operational costs etc as part of the reasons for their downfall.
Now, if I was a member of the flying general public I would, upon hearing that, say to myself that I wouldn't book ahead for any of my trips just in case the airline fold and I lose my money. What a negative and jealous little industry we have. REX will provide jobs and a service to some country towns who really need to have an airlink or they will die. Whatever we think of those involved or of their chances of survival how about some positive thinking and give them and others who try a fair go. |
I don't always agree with Mr Hamilton, but in this case I'll make an exception.
There has been way way too much politics and carpetbagging and too little expert reality in this whole scenario for there to be any confidence that it'll get up and stay up. I will fight to the death for the regions and the necessity of regional air services they are as much part of the social fabric of out nation as is the road system. They should not be the playthings of the pollies and carpetbaggers. |
He also said he would be happy to proven wrong.
Doesn't sound like dooom and gloom, more a realistic view. Dog |
He cited his usual reasons for Rex's demise, fuel tax, airport charges and maintenance costs. Sounded more like a slug at CASA, Airservices and the Gov then Rex. Its the nature of jounalists to find a credible source to make a negative statement when things are looking up. Personally I think Rex will get up, in fact I'm betting the farm on it!:)
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Turbulence ahead for new airline
A leading aviation industry expert has given new regional airline Australiawide six months before it collapses. Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association technical director Bill Hamilton does not believe the airline, to fly as Regional Express, or REX, will survive. "Airport charges, fuel charges, the cost of maintaining aircraft, the cost of paying for all the services you have to have for an aircraft, the minimum costs that have to be covered, are really quite high," Mr Hamilton told ABC radio. "At the end of the day, this is what will beat them." He gave the airline six months before it folded. "I would be very surprised to see it go much longer than that and I'll be very, very happy to be proven wrong," he said. Australiawide took ownership of former Ansett subsidiaries Kendell and Hazelton airlines last week, overcoming a range of hurdles to merge the two regional carriers. Former Hazelton owner Max Hazelton said there was little doubt the airline faced a bumpy ride because of expanding operating costs. "They can only make money on discount fares providing they get the high load factor. "They've got to get their costs down to where that can be achieved." Mr Hazelton said the key factor for the new airline was to get schedules right. "(Passengers) like to leave the country in the early morning and arrive in Sydney at around 8.30am where they can be in the city by 9am, and they want to leave the city at five or six o'clock at night," he said. "Australiawide have got a fleet of 29 aeroplanes, so they might be able to give some pretty good services." Former Kendall company secretary Kerry Carmichael said there was no passenger loyalty anymore and people looked only at price. "If the price is cheap, they will go with that particular airline," he said. ©AAP 2002 Ninemsm for you to read........complete...... |
Mr Hazelton;
put his finger right on it. Mr Hazelton said the key factor for the new airline was to get schedules right. "(Passengers) like to leave the country in the early morning and arrive in Sydney at around 8.30am where they can be in the city by 9am, and they want to leave the city at five or six o'clock at night," he said. What do you do with the fleet during the rest of the day? Been here done that and there is NO simple answer, and ALL the marketing hype, smoke and mirrors in the world wont increase the population of downtown Dubbo by one person and you wont be able to get the entire population of downtown Dubbo to fly to Sydney or wherever once a year let alone once a week. That has and will always be the real problem in the regionals Mr Hazelton knows that better than most. Cheap fares will only dilute your revenue base at the very times you have the passengers attention, i.e in the morning and evening. Promotional cheap fares and services to "fill in the day" and get the utilisation up are speaking to towns already emptied out of "fares" by the morning services. Or worse, and this is usually the case, you wind up with the SAME amount of traffic spread over 2 flights with LESS TOTAL revenue.:eek: Inland Marketing know the market and its idiosyncracies well AND have the real interests of the regions, because they are them, at heart. Blind Freddy where are you old chap? |
Mr Hamilton knows what he is talking about, and he doesn’t say things lightly without the information to back it up. :D :D :D :D
Feel free to contact Bill Hamilton via AOPA on 02 9791 9099 and see for yourself. If he is not there, leave your name and number and he will get back to you. :) :) :) |
Price=Cost + Profit
Surely when selling a product or service one calculates the cost to provide it and then adds a profit margin to derive the cost to the consumer.
If this process is followed I fail to see how high costs will sink an airline. The real issue as Gaunty points out is bums on seats. They have planned a 90 minute shuttle schedule SY-CB for $216 one way. Not cheap! |
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Mr Thomas is doing something similar in the west. I wish these people would support rather than grandstand, because the end result is a greater length of dole queue.
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Planned Root quote: A leading aviation industry expert |
why can't these clowns (and thats all they are) get on the radio and say something postive?????
Why do they have to say these things on the day of launch? Is this Hamilton clown running again for president? trying to attract abit of attention??? A new airline, with some new ideas, be they good or bad, having a go. Competition for Qantas, a choice for the travelling public in regional Australia. Come on guy's lets give em a go Bill Hamilton go back to your little box!!!!!!!!! |
Sic 'em Rex!!:cool: :cool: :cool:
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Competition for QF
Yes I think you have it there - who does (or has he retired?) WJR Hamilton work for?
To be fair, the media will always take a negative spin off a comment like this and run with it regardless of whatever else Bill might have said. Just look at the recent Airshow prangs in Europe - NBN TV in the Hunter added the beauty "... leading people to question weather people should be exposed to such danger at Airshows in Australia". Pure tosh yet trotted out by the reporter with a perfectly straight face, regardless of the fact NBN is one of the biggest sponsors of Airshows in this region. Hopefully WJRH will bear the brouhaha in mind next time the media ring up for comment! :D ;) |
I agree with Cruncher
He is actually running his own agenda to bash 1) CASA 2) Airservices 3) Maintenance Requirements He doesn't give a f@t r@ts @rse about Rex does the former Capt. Outback Pilot He will say absolutely ANYTHING to push his own agenda. And I have witnesses I hope to hell REX stick it up his ****... Michael Jones and all! |
The word is that Bill was NOT speaking on behalf of AOPA but it seems as the above scribe mentioned was again blinded by his desire to be in the media limelight!
It is about time that the Board of AOPA established a policy for media comment and enforced it. And really, it is not AOPAs place to comment on such matters - they have far more important matters to consider. |
REFER "REX AND SINGAPORE":D
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Basically, the media will always ring WJRH on any subject because, right or wrong, he simply can't keep his trap shut.
DS tends to do the same thing. G'day :rolleyes: |
There is a story about a young stud bull, who was notorious for jumping over fences. As years went on, he had jumped thousands of fences, until one day he didn't quite make it. He tore his balls off on the barb wire. He was no longer a stud bull. He thought what he could do next in his reduced capacity, and he became a CONSULTANT. Ring true???
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More room on the bandwagon
Let this be a lesson for all of you, if you have any desire to help the GA industry in this country and spend countless hours of your own personal time going through the CASA papers and other sh!t, dont ever expect any pilot to cut you a break for being misquoted.
You will never receive anything but "you should have done it this way" and all your motives will be questioned because you have made a successful career out of aviation. Bill apparently was *not* speaking on behalf of AOPA. AOPA continually cops a bagging because they are the *only* ones to bag. Come on boys and girls, get on the bandwagon and tear down this man for opening his mouth because someone asked him a question! my turn, I think his plane is the wrong colour... absolutely disgusting... Its green, surely this must be an attack on Virgin Blue because he worked for Qantas..... <deep breath> Anyway.... lovely day outside... Dog :p :p :p :p :p |
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