DJ/NZ announce joint trans-tasman network

[Steve Jones]

Press release:

AUCKLAND and BRISBANE, 16 May 2011: Air New Zealand Ltd (NZSX: AIR) and Virgin Australia Airlines1 (ASX: VBA) have today announced plans for their new-look joint trans- Tasman network, a key part of their new alliance.

The alliance will connect Air New Zealand’s domestic network of 26 ports to Virgin Australia’s domestic network of 31 domestic ports, offering the largest ever Australasian route network for trans-Tasman travellers. The new network announced today will be effective for the upcoming Northern Winter 2011 schedule (November 2011 – March 2012) and tickets will be on sale from July this year, when the codeshare commences.

Air New Zealand will operate approximately 70% of the capacity and Virgin Australia’s Pacific Blue2 airline will operate 30%, similar to the relative market share the airlines had prior to the commencement of the Alliance.

Total capacity is currently above that required by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and New Zealand Ministry of Transport (MOT).

It will see the adjustment of Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue flight times to ensure more convenient schedules for passengers, for example:
- Brisbane-Wellington – previously both airlines had flights at similar times four days per week and no afternoon flights on some days. The new schedule will see Pacific Blue operating a double-daily service of morning and afternoon/evening flights
- Brisbane-Christchurch – previously both airlines had flights at similar times four days per week. The new schedule will see the two airlines operate a combined double daily service of morning and afternoon/evening flights
- Queenstown-Sydney – previously both airlines had flights at similar times on
Tuesdays and Saturdays only, the new schedule will offer a flight five days a week in peak demand months
- Wellington-Sydney – previously both airlines had flights at similar times two days a week and no afternoon flights on some days. The new schedule will see Air New Zealand operating double-daily services of morning and afternoon/evening flights

There will also be transferring of capacity on some routes between the two airlines where appropriate, for example:
- Pacific Blue will take up Air New Zealand services between Sydney/Melbourne and Dunedin, operating during the December and January peak. There is also improved connectivity via Christchurch to new double daily Christchurch-Brisbane, Christchurch-Sydney and Christchurch-Melbourne services
- Air New Zealand will assume all Wellington-Sydney flying and Pacific Blue will
assume all Brisbane-Wellington flying

Capacity changes will occur on some routes to match demand and market conditions, for example:
- Capacity on Air New Zealand Auckland-Adelaide services will increase by 16%, with a daily service in the peak summer months, and Auckland-Perth services will increase to eight times per week (up 4%) over the summer peak.
- Air New Zealand will take over operation of the Auckland-Cairns route and frequency will be matched to projected demand
- Total capacity into and out of Wellington is up 3.5%, with Melbourne-Wellington enjoying the largest increase of 10.5% and Brisbane-Wellington up 5%
- Capacity on Christchurch markets will be reduced by around 14% to match the reduction in demand as a result of the recent earthquake

Total capacity to and from Auckland remains unchanged, including Air New Zealand’s widebody services on Auckland-Sydney, Auckland-Melbourne and Auckland-Brisbane.

“Since we received ACCC and MOT approval in December 2010, we have had dedicated teams from both airlines working closely together to optimise the network”, Air New Zealand Group General Manager Australasia Airline Bruce Parton said.

“The changes better match capacity to demand and in many instances this means a greater range of flight times by removing ‘wingtip flying’, as well as better connections to domestic Australia and domestic New Zealand flights.”

“In addition, as indicated last year, we are actively looking at a couple of potential new trans-Tasman routes which we will likely make a decision on before the end of the year,” says Mr Parton.

Virgin Australia Group Executive Commercial Liz Savage said: “With plans for the joint network now in place, we are focusing on the launch of our comprehensive product offering in early July. We will provide reciprocal Velocity and Airpoints frequent flyer programs and lounge access in Australia and New Zealand, as well as a coordinated offering of in-flight products and services, so that guests will receive similar first-rate service and benefits, no
matter which airline they fly.

“Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand are also committed to growing the market, with plans to grow capacity further from March next year for the Northern Summer schedule.

“Regional areas in Australia and New Zealand will also see significant benefits from the alliance, as the two airlines will offer codeshare flights on each other’s domestic services as part of connecting Tasman journeys. This will open up regional destinations in both countries like never before, making it easier for regional residents to get across the Tasman and for tourists to access regional destinations in Australia and New Zealand,” Ms Savage said.

The Alliance has four key components:
- A broad free-sale code share arrangement covering all Tasman sectors and domestic Australian and New Zealand sectors as part of a connecting journey
- A revenue share agreement
- Reciprocal loyalty scheme benefits to members of Air New Zealand’s Airpoints loyalty programme and Virgin Australia’s Velocity Rewards programme.
- Reciprocal lounge access to qualifying guests of either airline

[Brock Little]

Awesome news!!!

These two great carriers will (hopefully) benefit massively from this alliance. Wonder what potential new routes could be...AKL-CBR? A restart of OOL-WLG? Interesting times are ahead

[Mike W]

From "Australian Business Traveler"

The writer is patently not a fan of the 'merger' for his own reasons as in the script

http://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-austr...-july-relaunch

Virgin Australia's joint venture partnership agreement with Air New Zealand will take full flight from November, with the first changes being seen by passengers in just over a month -- and some aren't improvements from the traveller's perspective.
The changes are, in brief:
a new frequent flyer program for Virgin Australia, which will provide reciprocal points earning on Air New Zealand flights
reciprocal lounge access for Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand customers (even though Virgin Australia is not a member of Star Alliance)
coordinated offering of in-flight products and services across both airlines (though it remains to be seen how they will sort out fundamental differences like one airline offering full business class on some routes, and the other without a business cabin)
every Australia/New Zealand route divvied up between the two airlines, with only Auckland flights retaining service from both airlines
The alliance means Virgin Australia passengers can fly to Air New Zealand's 31 domestic destinations on Virgin Australia flight numbers, and in reverse, Air New Zealand passengers can access all of Virgin Blue's 26 Australian airports under Air New Zealand flight numbers.
The arrangements are still six months away from coming into effect -- they will start in November -- but tickets will be on sale from July.

Continues

[Jarden S]

Originally Posted by Brock Little

Awesome news!!!

These two great carriers will (hopefully) benefit massively from this alliance. Wonder what potential new routes could be...AKL-CBR? A restart of OOL-WLG? Interesting times are ahead

Air NZ in a recent news article said it was looking into Canberra and Sunshine Coast as their next Australian ports. But CBR flights would not begin till the end of 2012, when terminal facilities are expected to be completed...

Don't know if OOL-WLG will work, as not long ago PacBlue were about to launch the route but it never went ahead, maybe very poor bookings. AkL-NTL might also be a possibility.

[Jarden S]

The alliance means Virgin Australia passengers can fly to Air New Zealand's 31 domestic destinations on Virgin Australia flight numbers, and in reverse, Air New Zealand passengers can access all of Virgin Blue's 26 Australian airports under Air New Zealand flight numbers.

That should read the other way round with Air NZ's 26 domestic destinations and Virgin's 31.

[Jack Melon]

Originally Posted by Jarden S

Air NZ in a recent news article said it was looking into Canberra and Sunshine Coast as their next Australian ports. But CBR flights would not begin till the end of 2012, when terminal facilities are expected to be completed...

Don't know if OOL-WLG will work, as not long ago PacBlue were about to launch the route but it never went ahead, maybe very poor bookings. AkL-NTL might also be a possibility.

Thats a bit weird, a launch flight didn't take off hmmm, anyway as for ntl, i live there, and a NZ destination would do us great, even Norfolk island is a success here. A friend of mine's dad had heard some rumors about NZ ops (he works a ntl). Also Hobart, Adelaide and Perth are also strong future destinations. Hope all goes well!

[Brock Little]

Never heard of PacBlue about to launch OOL-WLG, but it's been just over a year since NZ announced they would be dropping it (I was going to use the direct service to get to NPE more easily, but no!). Would be good if they start it up again though, but that's wishful thinking. AKL-NTL, AKL-HBA would definitely be on the cards though.

Originally Posted by Jack Melon

Also Hobart, Adelaide and Perth are also strong future destinations.

Did you mean Virgin Australia serving PER and ADL from AKL? Because NZ already have AKL-PER and AKL-ADL non-stop flights. That said, I don't think a 738 would have the range to do AKL-PER non-stop, nor the appeal for a ~7 hour flight. Maybe if they routed it via a secondary stop, but that wouldn't make sense as passengers could connect on a domestic Virgin Australia flight anyway. AKL-ADL on the other hand...that may be possible, but NZ is increasing capacity on the route anyway, as they are on AKL-PER (both during peak time), as stated in the article.

Hope we see some expansion into destinations that really need that direct link to NZ!

[Justin L]

I think Jack Melon was referring to HBA, ADL and PER flights as possible routes from NTL.

But let's keep this thread on topic.

[Stefan Perkas]

Evening all,

Here are some changes effective 30/10/11

As per 03JUN11 GDS timetable display, Air New Zealand is gradually adjusting planned Trans-Tasman operation from 30OCT11, as part of its joint-venture deal with Virgin Australia Group member Pacific Blue.
Changes so far as follows:

Auckland – Adelaide 05DEC11 – 05FEB12 Increase from 6 weekly to Daily (New flight on Wednesdays)
NZ791 AKL0815 – 1035ADL 320 D
NZ792 ADL1135 – 1815AKL 320 D

Auckland – Brisbane Boeing 747-400 service operating once a week, ends on 04DEC11. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operating on selected service

Auckland – Cairns Air New Zealand from 30OCT11 continues to operate 4 weekly service, compared to 3 weekly in NW10. Pacific Blue reduces from 2 to 1 weekly

NZ775 AKL0710 – 0925CNS 320 x246
DJ119 AKL0710 – 0925CNS 73H 7

NZ776 CNS1025 – 1810AKL 320 x246
DJ118 CNS1025 – 1810AKL 73H 7

Auckland – Melbourne Boeing 747-400 aircraft operates on selected days during selected period

Auckland – Perth 11DEC11 – 29JAN12 Increase from Daily to 8 weekly
NZ177 AKL0655 – 0930PER 763 7
NZ175 AKL1405 – 1640PER 763 D

NZ178 PER1040 – 2205AKL 763 7
NZ176 PER1750 – 0515+1AKL 763 D
NZ177/178 does not operate on 25DEC11 and 01JAN12

Auckland – Sydney 5 Daily. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to operate once a week on selected period

Wellington – Melbourne eff 30OCT11 Service operates 8 weekly, compared to Daily in NW10
NZ855 WLG0620 – 0825MEL 320 D
NZ853 WLG1550 – 1755MEL 320 5
NZ852 MEL0925 – 1455WLG 320 D
NZ850 MEL1855 – 0025+1WLG 320 5

Wellington – Sydney eff 30OCT11 Increase from 9 to 14 weekly
NZ845 WLG0640 – 0820SYD 320 D
NZ849 WLG1530 – 1710SYD 320 x6
NZ846 SYD0920 – 1430WLG 320 x6
NZ842 SYD1810 – 2320WLG 320 D

Source: http://airlineroute.net/2011/06/03/nz-tasman-nw11/