Two bits of news in the Stuff series on regional airlines in New Zealand...
What aircraft do you fly, and how many do you have?
Originair operates British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft. We are currently operating two Jetstreams and are planning to add two more of the type.
What are your future plans?
Further inter-regional services are being considered.
- So I presume that ECI and ECJ are the two... or am I being too optimistic?
- Now, if you were Originair what inter-regional routes would you think? It doesn't sound like they want to take on Air NZ.
My guess for new routes would be resumption of NPL and/or NPE. Otherwise a new route, maybe NSN-TRG?
ReplyDeleteECI i believe won't be returning to service, especially with them removing the titles recently. So I would say it looks like a new import would come in.
Interesting that they haven't tried to restart NPL yet... I think it would be a lean route at the best of times
DeleteFlew it 5 times total, 2 in the Jetstream, 3 in the King Air. Always fill on the King Air, roughly 12-14 on the Jetstream. Not bad numbers really.
DeleteThis was the Sunday flights
Yes it makes sense to serve more regional routes not served by Air NZ to NSN. So start with the biggest first eg TRG to NSN more HLZ to NSN even DUD to NSN. They could even do TRG to PMR after increasing HLZ to PMR to daily.
ReplyDeleteKiwi Regional did those NSN to DUD, HLZ and TRG. DUD was the poorest performer and I don't think it would be a goer... NSN-TRG and NSN-HLZ could be - even middle of the day. Kiwi Regional was usually at least 50% full on those sectors which makes a good J32 load.
DeleteAgree re DUD but what about ZQN? Didn't KR try or were saying they were going to do NSN-ZQN-DUD? Think NPE would be better than NPL. If they do their homework linking tourist and strong retirement areas like TRG, NPE, NSN, and ZQN for the independent non tour group tourists makes some sense, maybe also ROT or TUO. These travellers are more middle of the day travellers. Would need a good well recognised travel agency to promote it - like the arrangement Air Chats have.
DeleteOne route dropped by Air NZ when it dropped Hamilton to PMR that hasn't been picked up yet.. PMR and Wellington....
ReplyDeleteReconnecting PMR with Wellington with a better timed Ham-PMR-WEL could work?
How well did the PMR WEL flight work when Air NZ operated it with the B1900 then the Q300 when you compare it with a 19 seat J32
Nah, without a interline agreement, PMR-WLG will never work. Much like the HLZ-AKL flights. Train is much cheaper and is very very convenient
DeleteAgreed - People on that flight were transhipping to other NZ services... I have been on a HLZ-WLG where people transhipped to WLG-PMR... HLZ-PMR was full!
DeletePeople are now coming down to Christchurch to transit to a flight back north on a daily basis. So for example HLZ to CHC to PMR or NPE to CHC to TRG. Some don't want to drive even if its only a short distance between cities. But most go in one direction eg AKL to CHC to IVC etc.
DeleteHow about this for a schedule:
ReplyDeleteSu NSN 1500 NPE 1615
NPE 1645 NPL 1735
MPL 1805 NPE 1900
Mo NPE 0650 HLZ 0740
HLZ 0810 NPE 0900
NPE 0930 BHE 1030
BHE 1520 NPE 1620
NPE 1650 HLZ 1740
HLZ 1810 NPE 1900
Tu NPE 0650 TRG 0750
TRG 0820 NPE 0920
NPE 0950 NSN 1055
NSN 1500 NPE 1605
NPE 1635 TRG 1735
TRG 1805 NPE 1905
We NPE 0650 NPL 0740
NPL 0810 NPE 0900
NPE 1650 NPL 1740
NPL 1810 NPE 1900
Th NPE 0650 HLZ 0740
HLZ 0810 NPE 0900
NPE 0930 NSN 1035
NSN 1515 NPE 1620
NPE 1650 HLZ 1740
HLZ 1810 NPE 1900
Fr NPE 0650 TRG 0750
TRG 0820 NPE 0920
NPE 0950 BHE 1050
BHE 1500 NPE 1600
NPE 1630 TRG 1730
TRG 1800 NPE 1900
NPE 1930 NSN 2035
Few problems.
DeleteSunair tried for years to to fly a lot of those routes, like TRG-NPE and HLZ-NPE. There just isnt the level of demand to support a 19 seater airliner.
Sounds Air tried BHE-NPE without much success. If Sounds Air couldn't make it work, even with a PC12, Origin wouldnt have a chance.
I know Origin tried NPE-NPL before, but it wasnt getting many numbers. It was NPE-NSN that people wanted. Origin would do well to introduce NPE and TRG I agree, but not via each other