.jpg)
.png){kind=small}
Partnership talks are under way between Air New Zealand and Air Chathams after Covid-19 scuppered previous plans. An interline agreement would allow customers to book Air Chathams connecting flights through Air NZ, creating one itinerary and eliminating the need to recheck luggage. Emeny said he could not reveal too much about the interline proposal due to commercial sensitivity. “What I can say is that [Air NZ] will be looking to establish something this year, and not too far into this year. “It will be a staged roll-out, but we don’t know which routes will be taken up. “That’s still up for discussion, but this is a very big step.” He said there was “clear intent from Air NZ” and the national carrier recognised the importance of regional connectivity. Air NZ chief transformation and alliances officer Mike Williams said the airline did its best to serve communities nationally. “Smaller operators play a critical role and do an excellent job. “We are in discussions with Air Chathams about potential opportunities to work more closely with them”... Emeny said an interline agreement had been close to completion before the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020. “We’ve been in a bit of a holding pattern since then, waiting for Air NZ to have some capacity. Now, it looks like they’re keen to do it."
The full article can be found here : https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/on-the-up-air-chathams-and-air-nz-mull-interline-deal-for-improved-regional-connectivity/SPNVEWKTSJFOTIURHIVTQWBYEE/
My own observation is that if this goes ahead this could well signal Air NZ withdrawing from some regional ports
Indeed, would be interesting which ports Air New Zealand would let go, I would be picking Timaru, Hokitika and maybe Whangarei.
ReplyDeleteAir Chats would need more aircraft to achieve this
It wouldn't need to be Air Chats. There are other regional operators who could pick up those routes
DeleteOrigin are the only other ones that have suitable Aircraft to operate any kind of interline flights with Air NZ.
DeleteWhat goes around, comes around. Air New Zealand setting up one or more interline agreements with regional airlines reminds me of how Air New Zealand Link got going back in 1988!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. This could also be a way to buy Air NZ time in terms of replacement of the ageing and seemingly increasingly unreliable Dash 8 fleet, despite the bulk of them being the youngest in the world (they were the last off the production line). Reducing the Dash 8 routes would certainly help manage this. Can't see Air Chats picking up the South Island routes unless they go ahead with the talked about WAG-CHC route providing the opportunity to rotate aircraft without financially crippling positioning flights. But the likes of AKL to Whangarei, Taupo and perhaps even New Plymouth would be a good fit for Saabs. Air Chats have several ex Aussie birds sitting around in Auckland.
ReplyDeleteIt makes a lot of sense to start interlining with larger regional operator's like Air Chathams and possibility Originair.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Steve's observation "could well signal Air NZ withdrawing from some regional ports', as I have a feeling Air NZ wants to operate an all ATR72-600 regional fleet for future regional routes.
You never know, might see in the future, some Q300's operating in Air Chathams and/or possibly in Originair livery's.
Getting rid of the Metroliners was a step towards this making this interline happen. Part of the deal with having a interline with a Star Alliance carrier is having Aircraft with a On-board lavatory and a Standup cabin.
ReplyDeleteAlso the introduction of a 'Seats to Suit' kind of fare structure that Air Chats have recently introduced, brings them more in line with Air NZs Regional product.