New Regional NZ Airline's

[ZK-KAG]

So now we actually have a new airline unlike the Kiwi Pacific hoax.

Kiwijet is starting services in December using two 737-300 aircraft on main trunk routes, including Invercargill, initially. It has backing from Southwest Airlines in the US. Shall be interesting to see how Air NZ responds to this...

Full story found here... http://stuff.co.nz/4045999a6011.html


~ZK-KAG~

[Kelburn]

Interesting, when does it start flying?

[ZK-KAG]

Kiwijet is starting services in December

[Kelburn]

Which terminal will they depart and arrive at in Wellington and Auckland?

[ZK-KAG]

At Auckland it will obviously have to be the domestic, whether it will be at the gates or on a hard stand I dont know...

[JonARNZ]

Interesting stuff, as a frequent traveller this is great news, and as a FS repainter I can't wait to see what the 733's look like.

[flynz]

Which terminal will they depart and arrive at in Wellington and Auckland?

The airline, which has the backing of United States company Southwest Airlines, said it planned to offer domestic services between Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill...

It didnt mention Wellington in there Kelburn

[FlyingKiwi]

I feel this venture will end in tears.

[deaneb]

I feel this venture will end in tears.

Indeed - history proves that its near impossible to survive against the main players in this field.

Deane

[scon]

OMG this is big news.

Here is my 2c worth. Australia can barley get on with 3 domestic airlines.

Kiwijet starts everyone like it for a few months. With the backing of the Air New Zealand group ANZ domestic will lower there prices and become more available. With the backing of the Qantas group QJC lowers there price and become more available. Kiwijet gets shafted.

The only thing in my mind that could change this is that if the QF merger goes through , and due to cost the new management pulls out of NZ leaving a hole for Kiwijet to fill.

In regards to the terminal I know that they are in the process of building a new domestic terminal at Auckland, Just the one building for ANZ and QF so kiwijet my be accommodated there

I believe I similar thing happened in the 80's with an airline called Kiwi Air. Air New Zealand did a good job on them.

Regards, Scott

[Zöltuger]

The only thing in my mind that could change this is that if the QF merger goes through , and due to cost the new management pulls out of NZ leaving a hole for Kiwijet to fill.

well according to that article:

With the assistance of Japanese and American backers, Mr Weil hopes to purchase the New Zealand arm of the business, known as Jet Connect, from the new owners for about $24 million.

I think this would be an excellent idea, because Qantas isn't interested in expanding in NZ, whereas new owners could bring new investment, routes and fares.
I think NZ is getting big enough for 2 major players too, with all the growth in air travel

[ZK-KAG]

With the backing of the Qantas group QJC lowers there price and become more available. Kiwijet gets shafted.

I dont think QJC will be around too much longer...If you read the other snippet of info, it looks like this guy wants to buy out QJC...and I imagine he will concentrate on making QJC into Kiwijet...

The only thing in my mind that could change this is that if the QF merger goes through , and due to cost the new management pulls out of NZ leaving a hole for Kiwijet to fill.

Well we know now that the QF & NZ merger isnt going through so as I said above I think QF will pull out slowly and in a dignified way, leaving Kiwijet to take over.

I believe I similar thing happened in the 80's with an airline called Kiwi Air. Air New Zealand did a good job on them.

Kiwi International was an international operator, so its a bit different, and the launch of Freedom Air basically strangled them.

~ZK-KAG~

[ZK-KAG]

I think NZ is getting big enough for 2 major players too, with all the growth in air travel

I imagine that this news would not have come happily to Richard Branson as Virgin are also looking at setting up here...

~ZK-KAG~

[victor_alpha_charlie]

well it sounds like the **** is about to hit the fan, but yay! price wars!

And no wellington? I thought you said MAIN trunk lines? how are Invercargill and Dunedin more 'main' than wellington?

[scon]

Just read on A.net that this airline may not be owned by SW but just Following the SW model.

[ZK-KAG]

So from reading the A.net thread it seems that:

1) Air NZ
2) QF JC
3) Kiwijet
4) Virgin
5) Ozjet
6) Jetstar

all want to operate in the NZ domestic market... Seems like some are going to be dissapointed!

~ZK-KAG~

[scon]

So from reading the A.net thread it seems that:

1) Air NZ
2) QF JC
3) Kiwijet
4) Virgin
5) Ozjet
6) Jetstar

all want to operate in the NZ domestic market... Seems like some are going to be dissapointed!

~ZK-KAG~

In my opinion the ones that will miss out will be

Ozz jet
Virgin

and depending out on how things work with the QF takeover bid

Kiwijet may miss out

[benwynn]

Hey Scon,

IMO Its going to be pretty hard to keep Virgin Out of New Zealand. Pacific Blue is already based in NZCH, so it will be hard lol.

As for ozijet, yeah your right, they only operate charter anyway.

[ZK-KAG]

IMO Its going to be pretty hard to keep Virgin Out of New Zealand. Pacific Blue is already based in NZCH, so it will be hard lol.

I agree with that, when Branson sets his mind on something he usually follows through...

As for ozijet, yeah your right, they only operate charter anyway

There are rumours that Kiwijet may be the NZ version of Ozjet effectively ruling out Ozjet anyway... "Kiwi"jet and "Oz"jet...hmmm

I dont think Jetstar are going to bother...so that leaves NZ, Kiwijet and Virgin to slug it out...interesting times ahead

~ZK-KAG~

[Zöltuger]

here are my potential scenarios:

A: Kiwi enters but QJC pulls out entirely, Virgin may enter depending on how big Kiwi gets
B: Kiwi enters, but QJC pulls out in favour of Jetstar, Virgin won't bother domestically.
C: QJC purchased by Kiwi, Virgin may enter depending on how big Kiwi gets
D: Kiwi folds soon after entering.

I don't see OzJet being a threat. The NZ business market is just too small to justify, unless they maybe did WLG-AKL-SYD-AKL-WLG early in the day.