Air NZ announces regional network cuts

[HamiltonWest]

Air NZ announces regional network cuts
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/6308934...twork-cuts.html

Eagle Air closure to cost high value jobs in Hamilton
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1411/S001...in-hamilton.htm

[Lindstrim]

Loosing more of New Zealand's regional heritage, but increasing the profile of another former regional airline

[Ian Warren]

Some people really are going to want rail to come back ..... awe hang on ..... they cut that back to around the regions

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Nov 11 2014,4:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some people really are going to want rail to come back ..... awe hang on ..... they cut that back to around the regions

What's this "rail" you speak of?

[zk2704]

Not looking very good at all.

They should have simply phase out the B1900Ds and replace them with Dash 8s and ATRs on those routes. They could have simply not cut services to those towns, but upgrade the services with bigger aircraft which are way more economical than B1900Ds. There are people who need those services, bigger aircraft is better than service cuts so that there is more profits made on the routes and higher demand.

Firstly, Air NZ shouldn't have brought Eagle Air back in the 1990's and the money wasted on the routes Eagle Air operated and the money invested for the 18 B1900Ds would have been spent on better, bigger and more economical aircraft. The thing is that if better aircraft than the B1900D were brought back then, the profits would be higher than how it is now.


Air NZ really needs to revise their fleet and make improvements to rake in more profits and demand.

[CHCalfonzo]

QUOTE (zk2704 @ Nov 11 2014,4:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They should have simply phase out the B1900Ds and replace them with Dash 8s and ATRs on those routes. They could have simply not cut services to those towns, but upgrade the services with bigger aircraft which are way more economical than B1900Ds. There are people who need those services, bigger aircraft is better than service cuts so that there is more profits made on the routes and higher demand.

And lost even more money! Lower costs per seat are only realised if you can fill the seats, flying an empty 50 seat aircraft is significantly more expensive than flying a half empty 19 seat aircraft!! Unfortunately there is no way to dodge the basic economics of airlines for these small towns. Unless the government is willing to go back to offering subsidies for regional routes there is little chance of these places seeing another air service for the foreseeable future.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (omitchell @ Nov 11 2014,5:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's this "rail" you speak of?

Little CHOO CHOOs and maybe a sparky

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (zk2704 @ Nov 11 2014,5:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Firstly, Air NZ shouldn't have brought Eagle Air back in the 1990's and the money wasted on the routes Eagle Air operated and the money invested for the 18 B1900Ds would have been spent on better, bigger and more economical aircraft. The thing is that if better aircraft than the B1900D were brought back then, the profits would be higher than how it is now.

There wasn't a better aircraft to buy back then. The only pressurised 19 seater available was the B1900D when Eagle made their purchase, and even then they had to reopen the recently-closed production line.

QUOTE (zk2704 @ Nov 11 2014,5:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Air NZ really needs to revise their fleet and make improvements to rake in more profits and demand.

Old B1900s, B737s and B747s going or gone, more new ATRs, A320s and B787s on the way - what more do you want?

Might be worth giving ANZ's accounting department a call and letting them know that you know better than them.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Nov 11 2014,10:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Might be worth giving ANZ's accounting department a call and letting them know that you know better than them.

[HamiltonWest]

http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/regionalcha...onal_Changes_AP

[Lindstrim]

They were looking at the JS31 and the 1900 when they bought them.

There are 2 reasons why they went with the 1900
1. WRE's runway length, at summer temps the JS31 was unable to carry the same load out due to it's smaller engines.

2. They got a very very good deal from Raytheon as they wanted to get rid of a large amount of spare parts that had accumulated over the production life of the 1900. And they re-opened it just for Eagle.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Lindstrim @ Nov 12 2014,6:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They were looking at the JS31 and the 1900 when they bought them.

There are 2 reasons why they went with the 1900
1. WRE's runway length, at summer temps the JS31 was unable to carry the same load out due to it's smaller engines.

2. They got a very very good deal from Raytheon as they wanted to get rid of a large amount of spare parts that had accumulated over the production life of the 1900. And they re-opened it just for Eagle.

Two good points here, the JS is the prettier aircraft, but performance and special deals make and break an airline.

[ardypilot]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Nov 11 2014,10:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Old B1900s, B737s and B747s going or gone, more new ATRs, A320s and B787s on the way - what more do you want?

Might be worth giving ANZ's accounting department a call and letting them know that you know better than them.

Zing!

[Bazza]

Well hopefully these steps may assist in providing some decent, up to date, affordable services to places like Dunedin.

A couple of months ago, my wife and I needed to fly Tauranga to Dunedin to attend an important family funeral. There were absolutely no flights available,
nor were there any from Auckland..all booked out for about 3 days. Had anything been available the prices were similar to what I had recently paid to fly to Brisbane/Gladstone.

Other relations living in Auckland beat us to the post and managed to get to ChCh and Timaru, and had to complete their journeys by Rental Car. It seems there are
no Jet Flights in or out of Dunedin..? No doubt it's good business to jam pack the smaller aircraft to the brim, allowing for the ridiculous fare structure that exists, similar
situation here in Tauranga.

[Ian Warren]

Cripes Dunedin off all places ! .. that is ridiculous and specific for an occasion that is important, I did not realize how apathetic the connections are, and Dunedin .. again is a primary center .. or least I would have thought so.

[cowpatz]

So Sunair is poised to take over from Air NZ on some of the abandoned provincial routes.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/ar...jectid=11357674

I certainly hope they are not considering using Piper Apaches and Aztecs for them. Just not suitable for todays scheduled air travel requirements.

These comments from John Key certainly show how isolated from reality he really is.

[Ian Warren]

It maybe an opportunity for Vincent Aviation to fill the spot ? since there little spot of strife in some to these regions.

[deeknow]

That sucks about the hassle your having Bazza.

QUOTE (Bazza @ Nov 12 2014,1:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It seems there are no Jet Flights in or out of Dunedin..?

There are Jet flights out of Dunedin but only direct to Auckland, on the A320.
Other options as you probably now know are B733/A320 AKL to CHC or WGN and then ATR/DH7 onto Dunedin from those locations.

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Nov 13 2014,9:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It maybe an opportunity for Vincent Aviation to fill the spot ? since there little spot of strife in some to these regions.

Don't think so Ian....
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries...rs-receivership

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Nov 13 2014,9:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I certainly hope they are not considering using Piper Apaches and Aztecs for them. Just not suitable for todays scheduled air travel requirements

Article mentions using 208s, don't Salt Air already operate them out of Kaitaia? Caravans might be big enough but aren't they a bit slow?

[Naki]

Salt Air sold their only Caravan to Sounds Air about two years ago. I think they still own a Airvan. Sun Air are talking about using a Caravan (which they would have to buy or lease) from Whakatane to Auckland and possibly onto Kaitia. Sun Airs current fleet includes 9 or 10 Aztecs

[ardypilot]

QUOTE (deeknow @ Nov 13 2014,12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Article mentions using 208s, don't Salt Air already operate them out of Kaitaia? Caravans might be big enough but aren't they a bit slow?

Salt Air sold thier 208 to Sounds Air back in 2013. Now registered ZK-SAY. The only fixed wing on thier books these days is the GA8 for scenics out of Kerikeri as far as I'm aware.

QUOTE (deeknow @ Nov 13 2014,12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't think so Ian....
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries...rs-receivership

This big shakeup in the provincial route structure would have seeminly been perfect for Vincent if the timing was right. Fortunately a few other 3rd level operators have indicated interest and will hopefully keep everything ticking along smoothly for passengers come April next year when Eagle start pulling out.