News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[Aidan]

Whilst Tiger is in the news for all the wrong reasons, it is interesting to note that 32% Shareholder of Tiger Airways, Singapore Airlines has plans to start its own fully owned Low Cost Carrier (LCC) with longhaul widebody jets next year. It is believed that these services will be designed to go head to head with Jetstar & Air Asia X on some routes. In some cases the new LCC will replace Singapore Airlines branded aircraft and the first 2 Australian destinations for the 'downgrade' are Brisbane & Adelaide

Why the wallbash? It'll mean cheaper flights between Adelaide and Singapore, and there will still be a full service airline flying between Adelaide and Singapore.

Is the service on Singapore Airlines really so exceptional that you think it isn't worth it?

[Splashmo]

There would be some advantages to having a new LCC direct from Singapore to Adelaide, but if it replaced Singapore Airlines it would mean the loss of a full-service airline that seamlessly connects to a huge number of destinations around the world, and one that plenty of people seem happy to pay for at the moment. Qantas with its three services per week doesn't really compare. It would probably be a huge win for Cathay and Malaysia if it happened.

[Thanial]

Hey guys, im new here so i hope this works... ive copied an article from smh about Gold Airways, they've been planned for a while now but they may be launching soon, including possible services to Adelaide.

GOLD OLD GOLD GLIES IN FACE OF ADVERSITY
The seven-year-old airline without a fleet of aircraft has not let the ongoing turmoil in the aviation sector dampen its business plans.
RMA Gold Airways, which in an interview with the Herald more than five years ago spoke of its plans to raise $70 million and buy a few A380 superjumbos, has resurfaced with a new capital-raising plan.
It has signalled its plans to list on the ASX. ''It's been a challenge for us to get this far and we are hopeful that the upcoming IPO will be fruitful,'' Gold's founder and executive director of ''core values'', Jens Buche, said in an email to CBD. ''[There's] still much to be done before the prospectus is lodged,'' he said.
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Now based in the Melbourne suburb of Ascot Vale, Buche - a former Ansett worker - did not provide many clues about his plans.
''Being a sweat-equity venture, it's rather like running a hurdle race in the dark, but we are getting over the obstacles,'' he said.
The self-dubbed ''ultra low fare premium'' airline on its website says: ''The business plan is now mature having been tested against a complete world economic cycle with excellent resilience to oil price, currency and passenger market fluctuations which has attracted the attention of investors.''
The RMA in the airline was named in honour of the Ansett founder, Reg Miles Ansett. Gold has maintained very low operating costs over the past few years due to its lack of aircraft and fuel expenses. One wonders if the IPO will be timed for September's 10th anniversary of the Ansett collapse.

I also read that with the possible collapse of Tiger, some aviation experts believe that airlines such as AirAsia could come to Australia in their place. Sorry i've got no link or article for that one, can't remember the URL

[bm7500]

There would be some advantages to having a new LCC direct from Singapore to Adelaide, but if it replaced Singapore Airlines it would mean the loss of a full-service airline that seamlessly connects to a huge number of destinations around the world, and one that plenty of people seem happy to pay for at the moment. Qantas with its three services per week doesn't really compare. It would probably be a huge win for Cathay and Malaysia if it happened.

I agree. It also wont help the perception of Adelaide as a truly international city when the worlds best full service airline stops flying here.

As for RMA Gold taking to the skies, I will believe that when i see it.

[Aidan]

There would be some advantages to having a new LCC direct from Singapore to Adelaide, but if it replaced Singapore Airlines it would mean the loss of a full-service airline that seamlessly connects to a huge number of destinations around the world, and one that plenty of people seem happy to pay for at the moment. Qantas with its three services per week doesn't really compare. It would probably be a huge win for Cathay and Malaysia if it happened.

I agree. It also wont help the perception of Adelaide as a truly international city when the worlds best full service airline stops flying here.

Singapore Airlines is the worlds best? A quick Google search reveals they're currently second:

THE WORLD'S BEST AIRLINES : 2011

1 Qatar Airways
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Asiana Airlines
4 Cathay Pacific Airways
5 Thai Airways International
6 Etihad Airways
7 Air New Zealand
8 Qantas Airways
9 Turkish Airlines
10 Emirates

[bm7500]

A statement from CASA earlier this evening:

CASA TO SEEK TO EXTEND TIGER SUSPENSION

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is to seek to extend the suspension of Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd.

An application will be made to the Federal Court which will have the effect of continuing the suspension.

CASA seeking a continuation of the suspension until 1 August 2011.

The application will be lodged at the Federal Court in Melbourne.

If CASA completes its investigations and determinations before 1 August 2011 and is satisfied Tiger Airways Australia no longer poses a serious and imminent risk to
air safety it may be possible for it to resume operations earlier.

The suspension of Tiger Airways Australia’s operations remains in place at until either the Federal Court refuses CASA’s application or CASA withdraws it.

CASA is making the application to the Court because investigations into Tiger Airways Australia will not be completed by the end of the initial five working day
suspension period.

CASA will continue to work in a constructive and co-operative manner with Tiger Airways Australia during the investigation.

CASA suspended Tiger Airways Australia’s operations on 2 July 2011 because it believed permitting the airline to continue to fly posed a serious and imminent risk to
air safety

.

[bm7500]

Some good news for Adelaide Airport and for those of us who are fans of Fokkers

Alliance expands Adelaide base

Alliance Airlines will significantly grow its operations in Adelaide with the expansion of its maintenance facilities there, and the basing a Fokker 100 jet in the South Australian capital.

Alliance already bases, and performs line and heavy maintenance on, its fleet of five Fokker 50s in Adelaide, but the airline will hire an additional 10 maintenance engineers and will perform maintenance on its Fokker 100 and Fokker 70 jet fleet there as well.

“Our national operations have increased so substantially that our core maintenance facility in Brisbane will soon be fully utilised, and we need to establish a second major base to support our growing fleet of jets, which recently increased from 16 to 20,” said Alliance Airlines managing director Scott McMillan.

“We are close to securing regulatory approval to expand our Adelaide capabilities to include jet maintenance, and will advertise nationally this week for 10 more aircraft engineers.”

Two Fokker 100s are due to arrive in Adelaide from Europe in early August where they will undergo major maintenance before entering service with Alliance, with the airline saying one Fokker 100 will be based there from the fourth quarter.

Alliance says it has also expanded into the tourism market, winning contracts to fly tourism charter flights to South Australian tourism destinations including Kangaroo Island, the Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre and Coober Pedy.

Alliance first opened its Adelaide base in 2007, and today employs 74 South Australian based staff.

http://www.australianaviation.com.au

[Westside]

When do we get to meet the Fokkers?

[Thanial]

Alliance says it has also expanded into the tourism market, winning contracts to fly tourism charter flights to South Australian tourism destinations including Kangaroo Island, the Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre and Coober Pedy.

Wonder how long the flights to KI will last... seems to be a doomed route.

[bm7500]

Alliance says it has also expanded into the tourism market, winning contracts to fly tourism charter flights to South Australian tourism destinations including Kangaroo Island, the Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre and Coober Pedy.

Wonder how long the flights to KI will last... seems to be a doomed route.

They are charter flights not RPT flights to KI. Therefore they are booked on demand.

[bm7500]

I have heard this one before, so will believe it when i see it...

Etihad eyes Perth and Adelaide for Australian expansion

In brief: Etihad is looking to expand its Australian footprint with flights from both Perth and Adelaide to Abu Dhabi.

Speaking at a travel industry conference in Melbourne today, Etihad's local national sales manager Wayne Borland said that Perth was “definitely on the radar”, with Adelaide also “on the list”.

The WA capital has long been tipped as Etihad's next Australian port and makes even more sense in light of the airline's alliance with Virgin Australia, which now has three Airbus A330s with business class shuttling daily between Sydney and Perth on its 'Coast to Coast' service.

Still on the drawing board is Etihad's shared lounge with Virgin Australia at Sydney International Airport, although an Etihad spokesman told Australian Business Traveller that "the timing, location and design details for the venture are not confirmed at this stage."

http://www.ausbt.com.au

[bm7500]

Air Traffic Figures have been released for the F11 financial year.

http://www.adelaideairport.com.au/asset ... 202011.pdf

Year on year growth of 3.7% was achieved with Domestic (2.9%) and International (4.1%) sectors performing positively and the Regional market

in particular performing strongly (11.6%). A volcanic ash plume from a Chilean volcano caused a network wide disruption in the

Australian aviation market in June. Domestic flights were particularly heavily impacted, however flights to and from New Zealand were also cancelled.

There have been a small number of capacity additions (either larger planes or additional services) following the cancellations applied

to assist in moving stranded travellers, but for the most part the cancellations represent lost passengers.

[bm7500]

Tiger Airways is to close their Adelaide crew base. No surprises there really. I just hope the SA Government recoup their investment.

More here: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/tiger-air ... 6112331848

[Ho Really]

Cathay to fly direct to Adelaide

Cathay Pacific will add three weekly non stop flights to Adelaide from Hong Kong over the Australian summer. The services begin on November 24 and will operate on a Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Four other weekly flights to Adelaide will continue to operate via Melbourne. “We believe the non stop and same day connections will prove popular in bringing tourists into South Australia over our summer,” Dane Cheng, Cathay South West Pacific general manager said.

Travel Today

Cheers

Correction: The three weekly non stop flights are from Adelaide to Hong Kong, not the other way round. My bad by cutting and pasting.

[muzzamo]

I think these new Cathay flights are great news.

In particular this is great news for those wanting to fly from Adelaide to Japan. We have sufferd from a real lack of reasonably priced and convenient links to Japan (i've been following flights for a while).

The new flights depart Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 07:45, allowing same day connections to Tokyo for around $1100 return (return flight is overnight)

Previous schedule:
CX104
Departs Adelaide 12:10pm
Intermediate stop in Melbourne.
Arrives Hong Kong 21:50pm
Flight duration: 19 hours 20 minutes!!!
Connecting to
Departs Hong Kong 00:40AM
Arrives Tokyo Narita 06:00AM

New schedule
CX174
Departs Adelaide 07:45AM
Arrives Hong Kong 14:30PM
Flight duration: 14 hours 5 minutes ( a major improvement)
Connecting to
CX500
Departs Hong Kong 15:20PM
Arrives Narita 20:20PM

You can see for flights to Tokyo the new schedule is a huge improvement in convenience. I suspect the same would be true for other North Asian Destinations eg China.
Things are slowly getting better for Adelaide international services, we now have MAS flying 3 days a week to KL in the morning and 3 days a week in the afternoon, meaning convienient connections to South East Asia (and Europe for the afternoon flights), and CX flying 3 days a week to HK in the morning for convenient North Asian connections and the remainder in the afternoon for their other connections.

Combine this with an eventual arrival of Etihad or Emirates for 1 stop Europe flights and we are set.