Air NZ to operate Australia - Norfolk Island flights

[Jon Harris]

From today's Travel Daily...

Air New Zealand selected as successful Norfolk Island aviation tenderer

Air NZ will provide services to Norfolk Island from both Brisbane and Sydney, after winning the recent government tender to provide the services.

The new operation will complement the airline's existing weekly flights between Auckland and Norfolk Island, with group gm Australasia Bruce Parton saying the move will see Air NZ now flying a total of five days per week into Norfolk Island.

A 168-seat Airbus A320 will be used for the Australia-Norfolk routes, which Parton said are a "good fit into the airline's short-haul schedule.

"We are excited about the opportunity to deliver our award-winning, uniquely Kiwi experience to customers who will be travelling with us between Australia and Norfolk Island," he said.

Parton said another benefit for Norfolk Island Tourism is the ability for Air NZ to offer dual destination travel, while the carrier will leverage its strong distribution platform in Australia to assist with the ongoing promotion of Norfolk Island as a destination.

Initially Air NZ will operate twice per week from Sydney to Norfolk Island (on Mon and Fri) and two per week ex Brisbane (on Tue and Sat) with the operation to commence on 02 Mar 2012.

The carrier is also confident that demand will allow it to deliver additional flights during busy tourism months.

Air NZ's "Seats to Suit" product will be on offer on the Norfolk flights, which will be available for booking from tomorrow.

[Jarden S]

Looks like no more MEL and NTL to NLK runs anymore.
Bad luck for Our Airline what will they do with the spare 733?
Air NZ will have to squeeze more flying out of there A320s.

[Sarah C]

It doesn't actually say Our Airline wont continue operating and if anything, NZ are operating on days Our Airline isn't. The island needs more than 4 return services a week, so I would assume Our Airline aren't withdrawing.

[lloyd fox]

No Sarah unfortunately OUR Airline lost the contract, and i was under the impression it lost the contract because they wanted a Australian owned carrier to operate the flights and yet Air New Zealand is not a Australian carrier either. ??

Anyone have the correct goss.

[lloyd fox]

Also VH-NLK is currently in MNL mayby being repainted or already has been sold ???

[Sarah C]

VHNLK is in Manila for maintainence. Our Airline has two aircraft at the moment, it might sell after March.

[Steve Jones]

One would suspect that DJ will codeshare on the NZ services? I guess from a Norfolk Island perspective, this deal with NZ opens up not only SYD and BNE but connectors from across the country.

[Gavin Otto]

It doesn't actually say Our Airline wont continue operating and if anything, NZ are operating on days Our Airline isn't. The island needs more than 4 return services a week, so I would assume Our Airline aren't withdrawing.

From the Australian Governments Tender System

Description

The Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government (Department) is seeking Tenders for the provision of underwritten air services from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island (services).

This Tender represents a significant business opportunity with reduced risk and a certainty of return due to the underlying demand for services and the Commonwealth's commitment to underwrite the services if revenue falls below an agreed threshold.

The Department intends to enter into a contract with the successful Tenderer in late 2011, with services to commence in March 2012. The initial term of the contract will be for three years, with two options to extend the contract for two further periods of between one and two years each.

The Department's offer of underwriting is exclusive to the successful Tenderer for the term of the contract. The Commonwealth does not intend to underwrite any other scheduled airline service provided to Norfolk Island from mainland Australia.

Other Instructions
An optional industry briefing will be held in Sydney on Wednesday, 19 October 2011. Details of the venue and time are provided in the RFT.

Questions regarding the RFT are to be directed to the Contact Officer, Mr Jim Kichenside, email IOT_Proposals@regional.gov.au. The Department will make its responses to questions available to all Tenderers through AusTender.

The Request for Tender (RFT) document includes the Statement of Requirement; Information Pack; Conditions of Tender; Draft Contract and the Tender Response Form.

Conditions for Participation
Tenderers should note that to submit a compliant tender, Tenderers must meet the Minimum Content and Format requirements, the Conditions for Participation and the Essential Requirements specified in the Request for Tender (RFT).

Timeframe for Delivery
The successful Tenderer will be required to provide scheduled air services from 1 March 2012 to ensure continuity of service.

If Our Airline did continue to operate to NI, they wouldn't be covered by any government underwriting

[Jarden S]

Qantas could easily enter the market, could a MEL-NLK route work without a subsidy.

[Adrian B]

I wouldn't think so given there is a cap on the number of visitors on the island at any time due to accommodation restrictions.