Backpacker Express

[cdb]

Hmm, does anyone know if Backpacker Express have got off the ground yet?

For those not in the know, they were a start-up planning to run 741s from EGKK-YSSY or something similar.

I remember plans of all-Y with a bar upstairs!

[Globaliser]

The last I heard, they failed to get any licences for the India routes that they were planning to use, and that was because they weren't sufficiently far ahead in their startup plans. Which really put them into a bit of a vicious circle.

I haven't heard any more since then, neither am I really expecting to.

[1DC]

Read somewhere that Qantas claimed all of the India licences and blocked them out, can't remember if it was a reputable report or not.....

[Globaliser]

1DC: Read somewhere that Qantas claimed all of the India licences and blocked them out

The IASC determination is available here. There is a condition that "Qantas is required to operate a minimum of 1350 seats per week by 30 September 2004 and to fully utilise the capacity by 1 November 2005" (paragraph 8.3, page 17) and QF is operating 1350 seats at present.