Air Australia (Strategic Airlines) BNE/HNL, MEL/HNL BNE/MEL

[Andrew Johnson]

in todays Australian, it says Strategic will change to low cost from 30OCT & fly new routes.

HNL from 14 DEC.

$499 one way from BNE & $599 one way from MEL.

Not that special.

+ who on earth is going to give them deals out of HNL to mainland USA ?

There's virtually no carrier that either flys to OZ already or codeshares, that will want them giving away seats to US mainland.

One possibility is Southwest, as has been talk of them flying to Hawaii since takeover of Air Tran.

Could a Southwest 737-700 do LAX/HNL without weight restriction ? (or shorter SFO/HNL or SFO/OGG)

Another is Allegiant who say they'll be starting Hawaii services next year with their 757's (think they have leased 8 or so).

& BNE/MEL ?

Will they use a 330 to connect BNE/HNL & HNL/MEL + 320's ?

They'll need to have decent frequency on BNE/MEL to capture some small business traffic surely.

Must be some very cheap old A320's around right now.

Surely if Air Australia make BNE/HNL &/or MEL/HNL work JQ would move or reroute some SYD/HNL to eg. SYD/BNE/HNL.

BNE/HNL hasn't been nonstop since Canada 3000 & before than QF in the early 90's if memory correct.

MEL/HNL had a short stint with AC 7 or 8 years ago for a few months only I think & only over Xmas period.

The new HNL routes will take a little business off QF & JQ SYD/HNL but not a huge amount as both BNE & MEL passengers hate having to go anywhere via bloody awful SYD, which can add 6 or 7 hours to an itinerary vs nonstop.

Also FJ fly 3 times a week NAN/HNL which might be effected somewhat, athough connections from BNE, SYD & MEL mean that an overnight in NAN might be required in at least 1 direction, or long wait between flights at NAN.