Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia Airlines have 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 code share commences.
Under the new network, Air New Zealand will operate approximately 70 percent of the capacity and Virgin Australia’s Pacific Blue airline will operate 30 percent, 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 alliance proposal to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and New Zealand Ministry of Transport (MOT).
The planned joint trans-Tasman network 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 operate 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 percent, with a daily service in the peak summer months, and Auckland-Perth services will increase to eight times per week (up 4 percent) 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 percent, with Melbourne-Wellington enjoying the largest increase of 10.5 percent and Brisbane-Wellington up 5 percent
* Capacity on Christchurch markets will be reduced by around 14 percent to match the ongoing reduction in demand as a result of the recent earthquakes
Total capacity to and from Auckland remains unchanged, including Air New Zealand’s wide body services on Auckland-Sydney, Auckland-Melbourne and Auckland-Brisbane.
For more information, visit www.airnewzealand.co.nz.
