It looks like Originair is set to drop its thrice weekly flights between Hamilton and Palmerston North. Flights in September are sporadic with the last flight available on the 26th of September.
Originair commenced its flights between Palmerston North and Hamilton on the 19th of October 2020 with BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-JSK, under the command of Captain Murray Vincent and First Officer Josh Hutchison, flying the first of its weekday services, OGN 419 from Palmerston North to Hamilton and the return service OGN 426.
 |
| Originair's BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-JSK arrives at Hamilton on the inaugural flight from Palmerston North on 19 October 2020 |
Air New Zealand's operation on this route was well patronised but the national carrier did not resume the route after Covid. Originair never offered a schedule that suited business travellers and the route failed to reach a sustainable level.
Actually had tickets booked HLZ-NSN return for October... looks like its back the National Carrier via WLG. Shame. I liked Originair.
ReplyDeleteOrigin air is on its way to going tits up. We are not allowed to fly them for work either due to multiple issues.
ReplyDeleteLike?
DeleteExtremely doubtful that's the case, sounds like someone is telling fibs here. Originair are without a doubt one of the better operators in New Zealand. They adjust their schedule to suit demand, no point flying empty cans around the country and losing bulk money. No point selling tickets for less than it costs to operate the aircraft like some other operators are doing. Have you noticed Origin are the only operator not constantly moaning to the media for more taxpayer money to pay off debt?
DeleteOrigin are not in the media “moaning” because they don’t actually do anything. You can see the covers on those planes for days on end at NSN. Costs are low when you are not flying.
DeleteThey don't do anything? That's odd, seem to be a couple aircraft in the air most days. Keeping costs low seems to be a prudent move in the current economy? Costs are kept low when flying to suit demand, but debt continues to increase when some operators fly at a loss. Seems pointless to do so?
DeleteWhere are you getting your load factors from? I work for a GA airline that isn’t Origin and our planes are always full?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360806546/regional-route-be-scrapped-next-month-costs-s
ReplyDeleteoar-airlines
Now confirmed by the media
As Steve has pointed out through his personal observations.
ReplyDeleteIt's just simply down to not providing an actual schedule that is aimed at the main market and in this case. The business first thing in the morning and last thing at night service. It is basically the replica situation that Air Chathams is currently finding with Whakatane and what essentially was the reason why Taupo and Westport failed with Origin. Sounds air did say that there are the passengers there but their PC12 unfortunately was becoming incredibly expensive.
A pressurised 15 seat Caravan would have been the ultimate aircraft for a number of these routes.
Why is that the case?
Simply because Origin and Air Chathams do not have the spare aircraft to be based overnight at these airports.
Why doesn't Air Chathams or Origin buy the required extra aircraft to provide these communities with the required services they need for the main market being the business/Auckland commute?
First and foremost...
Unlike Air New Zealand though Eagle air, Air Nelson and Mount Cook airlines.
These airlines do not have a comprehensive national/New Zealand wide network to place these aircraft on to keep them running and making money..
i.e Eagle air/Air Nelson B1900D/Metro/EMB-110/Saab/Dash overnight aircraft in Whakatane/Taupo/Westport/Whanganui etc to be then deployed on the Auckland to Blenheim/Rotorua/Nelson/Tauranga or the Wellington to Nelson/Gisborne/Timaru/Whanganui to then be put back on their respective Westport/Taupo/Whakatane evening service/overnight base.
Basically these aircraft are currently spending the best part of the day just sitting around occurring airport parking fees and effectively making a loss.
Secondly..
To keep with fleet commonality and keep operational costs down, these airlines would have to find a second hand 30-40 year old key word 'operational and in good condition' Saab/J32 which is like finding a needle in the haystack not to mention a massive gamble. For it to sit around doing nothing 7am-5pm and essentially occuring a loss for the airline...
Unless these airlines want to go all out and buy a multimillion dollar ATR 42-500/600 which is essentially the only pressurised turboprop on the market that is new... There are no options for a new 15-30 seat pressurised aircraft.
This is the situation all of our key small airlines face...
Solution...
Is for Air New Zealand to open up and not only allow full interline on their flights for access of the entire network, from Whakatane to Invercargill to Glasgow... But allow these airlines aircraft in whatever form that would be...
A lease or hire or whatever.
To allow these idle aircraft to operate on Air New Zealand's network be it under Air New Zealand's flight number or for Air New Zealand to simply outright give some of their off-peak or lower performing routes to these airlines.
An example would be Whakatane Saab being deployed on a Auckland to Rotorua 1030 sector then a Auckland to Gisborne 1300 sector to then return for its 1830 Auckland to Whakatane service.
Another example would be..
A planned maintenance schedule for Air NZs Q300 and Air New Zealand uses Origins J32 on any affected Wellington based Q300 schedule for that day.
Another option would be for Air New Zealand to effectively "donate" their Dash 8s to these airlines and with it, those lower performing routes.
There are many out the box ideas to try and I honestly feel that Air New Zealand and all of these airlines can work and interline together but still keep their individual identities and most importantly... not being in competition with each other.
I honestly feel that Air New Zealand can absolutely 100% use and support these airlines especially as like a feeder pilot program for their main fleet. I also get that feeling especially with the uncertain fate of the Dash 8s... I do get that feeling that Air New Zealand will be looking towards a future where, unless a new aircraft comes on the market. It's just going to be a ATR72/Airbus 320/321 domestic fleet servicing only the key ports.
I don't understand why all the smaller carriers don't simply link up and pool resources. I am surprised HLZ/PMR couldn't work but the schedule is not suitable for business traffic.
ReplyDelete