Rex to begin Brisbane 737 flights in April

REX - (Regional EXpress) plans to follow the launch of Sydney-Melbourne flights on the 1st March 2021 by adding Brisbane to the network in early April. The move will allow the airline to quickly build its footprint on the ‘golden triangle’ between Australia’s three east coast capital cities as it seeks to take advantage of a return in domestic travel demand. However, it will also increase the competitive stakes on these lucrative routes which will be heavily defended by Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Rex had previously slated the Queensland capital for the second half of 2021, with the airline’s Deputy Chairman John Sharp indicating earlier this year that its first six Boeing 737 jets would be dedicated to the Sydney-Melbourne route. The airline now says that it will begin flying “to Brisbane from Easter”, which this year falls on Sunday April 4th, 2021. Discussions are already underway with Brisbane Airport about opening a Rex lounge in the domestic terminal, to complement its Sydney and Melbourne lounges.

More jets, and more cities, to follow

A fleet delivery schedule sighted by Executive Traveller shows that all six of the leased Boeing 737 jets – which were formerly flown by Virgin Australia – are set to be delivered by the end of March. “If our services prove successful, we will inject up to 10 aircraft into the domestic market by the end of 2021,” Sharp says. “From there, we intend to develop a full domestic airline network, linking all the capital cities over time.” Despite the bullish east coast press, Sharp says the airline will exercise caution as it looks to the future growth of both its fleet and its network. “We'll be very careful and we will take things in stages as we see the market growing,” he tells Executive Traveller. “It’s a bit like having a weather vane really, we'll be looking to see how the weather is, what the weather is doing, and then we’ll adjust our behaviour accordingly.”

Growing Rex’s Boeing 737 fleet

 B737-8FE VH-VUF (CN 34168)     File Photo
VIRGIN AIRCRAFT BEING STRIPPED READY FOR REX LIVERY

As with the first six members of Rex’s Boeing 737 fleet, additional jets will be drawn from the former Virgin Australia pool, and in a two-class configuration of eight business class and 168 economy seats. “All we're looking at are the ex-Virgin aircraft, of which there are many and they’re VH-registered, so it’s pretty efficient way of expanding your fleet,” Sharp said “And there are hundreds and hundreds of these aircraft parked around the world so it's a bit of a buyer's market at the moment.”

                                                     File Photo

Rex, not Cex

Despite building up a dedicated capital city network, Sharp says the airline will retain its Regional Express branding for the Boeing 737 service. “We looked at other names” Sharp admits, “we looked at City Express but that had all sorts of connotations when you abbreviated it, so we thought that probably wasn’t very appropriate” he reflects with dry humour. “So we’re sticking with Rex. The brand's been around 18 years, it’s well known by travellers and we have a reputation for giving passengers a very good level of service."

"We think that brand is a good brand to leverage off for the launch of new domestic airline operations."

REX was established in 2002 when the Australia wide Airlines consortium (set up by former Ansett Australia employees) acquired Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines, merged the two companies and started operations in August 2002 as Rex

Rex operates the world's largest fleet of Saab 340 aircraft and as of June 2019, the airline operated an all Saab 340 fleet with 3 variants of the type.

REX SAAB 340B VH-ZXF (CN 340B-416)     File Photo

Story sourced from here
https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/rex-boeing-737-brisbane-sydney-melbourne-flights

Qantas' international 'rescue flights' are headed to Hobart

A second wave of overseas repatriation flights could make its way to Tasmania.

QANTAS B787-9 VH-ZND (CN 63390)     File Photo

Qantas plans to boost its overseas repatriation flights to bring home more Australians who remain stranded overseas, with the Boeing 787 flights landing at Hobart (my home town) where passengers will spend their 14-day quarantine at local hotels before returning to the mainland. As with previous Qantas flights from the UK and India to Darwin, a federal government subsidy will cover the essential operating costs of fuel on these charter flights. Passengers will pay a one-way economy fare at a flat commercial rate, as well as the cost of their hotel quarantine in Hobart.  It's reported that Tasmania's state government "still needs to confirm contracts with hotels, which would then allow the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Qantas to arrange flights from overseas to Hobart."

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says more than 29,000 Australians around the world have now registered with the agency, its embassies and consulates as wanting to return to Australia.
Boosting arrivals "We’re working every option to help as many Australians return home as quickly as possible" said Prime Minister Scott Morrison in announcing the plan in Hobart earlier today. Morrison added that the government was liaising with other states about increasing the number of quarantine spaces available at the country's international gateways. Victorian state premier Dan Andrews has already indicated that Melbourne Airport could reopen to international passenger flights towards the end of this month, having been closed since July following a dramatic 'second wave' surge in coronavirus cases.

#BringThemHome

Today's announcement comes as an online campaign under the #BringThemHome banner lobbies for the removal of all arrivals caps. A group said to be "representing the thousands of people stuck around the globe due to the inability to find a guaranteed seat" due to the strict limit on arriving passengers, called on the government to "stop restricting Australian citizens and residents, as well as their family, from returning home." Qantas will this month run five repatriation flights from London (on 7 November and 11 November) and New Delhi (on 9 November, 23 November and 27 November) to Darwin, where passengers will settle into the Howard Springs quarantine camp for the following fortnight. The airline had also flagged its intent to launch rescue flights from Johannesburg, but has yet to provide more details.

New Zealand-Hobart flights
In related news, the federal government will invest almost $50 million in upgrading Hobart Airport's international facilities with customs and biosecurity offers, with plans to begin direct flights from New Zealand to Hobart from early 2021. "This has been an incredibly tough year for Australians, and particularly our tourism and hospitality sectors, but the deal will mean tourists from low-risk areas can come to sample Tasmania's incredible experiences, sights and produce," Morrison said. Morrison said the trans-Tasman flight schedule would allow for three flights per week in warmer months and two flights per week in winter, although he didn't indicate which airlines – Qantas, Virgin Australia or Air New Zealand – might take advantage of the route.
Hobart has always had an international terminal, it was opened in 1983 to facilitate Trans-Tasman air traffic. Air New Zealand would fly from Christchurch to Hobart every Saturday and Trans Australian Airlines would fly every Wednesday.  In 1985 the terminal was upgraded, along with the runway, to provide limited 747 operations. There have been no international flights serviced by the airport since 1998, when Air New Zealand suspended operations to Christchurch.  Trans Australian Airlines suspended flight 12 months before hand. At present the terminal is used solely by Skytraders for flights to Antarctica and occasional charter airline flights. The terminal's apron has a single wide-body parking bay overlapping two narrow-body bays. This bay is able to accommodate large wide-body aircraft up to and including Boeing 747-400 and 777-200. The international terminal's apron is used primarily for domestic operations and Skytraders' seasonal Antarctic flights.





Story sourced from here

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-to-launch-international-rescue-flights-to-hobart

Iceland’s new super low cost carrier - MOM Air,

There are already a couple of low cost carriers in Iceland, and now there’s a third one. Well, at least that’s the claim, and some people suggest that MOM Air is trying to copy the branding of defunct WOW which ceased operations on the 28th March 2019 or the whole thing is just a joke.
A website was recently published for MOM Air, which claims to be a new Icelandic super low cost carrier. According to the company’s website, long-term financing has already been secured, with both foreign and domestic investment. It’s claimed that the airline will start taking bookings as of today (Monday 9th November), and will have a press conference on Tuesday (10th November), which will provide details on the company’s operations, employees, fleet, and more.

Below is a picture of the MOM Air livery.

MOM Air will initially operate a fleet of six Airbus A320neo aircraft. It’s claimed that the airline has gotten good lease opportunities due to the pandemic. As the comfort of the onboard experience is described:

MOM Air destinations

MOM Air’s destinations will allegedly include the following:

• Berlin
• Boston
• Copenhagen
• Dublin
• Glasgow
• New York
• Oslo
• Rome
• Stockholm
• Toronto
• Washington

That does seem awfully similar to WOW Air’s destinations.
On each MOM Air flight there will be two free seats for the first people to book.

MOM Air will operate coronavirus flights

Airlines don’t let people with coronavirus fly, but that’s not an issue on MOM Air. MOM Air will make aviation history by offering both coronavirus and non-coronavirus flights:
People who are quarantined, infected, exposed, or have antibodies, may travel on the coronavirus flights; crews on these flights will all have antibodies
Other flights will be for those that don’t fit into the above group

Mommy food, pay for toilet paper, and Beyoncé

So the onboard food will be called “mommy food,” and you’ll even have to pay for a power port and toilet paper. Up until this point the company has been using the working name “Who runs the world,” clearly in reference to a Beyoncé song:

If this is a joke, the thing I find strange is the claim that tickets will go on sale on Monday and there will be a press conference on Tuesday:

• If this is a joke, wouldn’t you want to play it out a bit longer?
• Are tickets actually going on sale, in which case this could be a scam intended to take money from people?
• If tickets don’t go on sale and there’s no press conference, this will be a lot of effort for a joke that lasts just a few days

So the bottom line is this
The super low cost airline will operate a fleet of A320neos between North America and Europe via Iceland, and will charge for everything, from “mommy food” to toilet paper. Oh, and there will be flights for people with coronavirus.

Clearly this isn’t serious, I just can’t quite figure out what the motive is…

Watch this space as they say..

Man critically injured after small plane crashes near Brisbane

A 24 yr old pilot has been dragged from his smouldering plane with horrific head, chest and abdominal injuries moments before the aircraft exploded in flames after crashing in a Brisbane paddock. The Morane-Saulnier was inbound to Brisbane's-Archerfield Airport,(ACF/YBAF) from an unknown airport in New South Wales. The aircraft came down in the rural suburb of Greenbank in Logan about 2.30pm last Friday, only 6 km's away from my home. The plane caught fire after coming to a halt at the base of a large tree, with all but the tail section of the plane consumed by flames. Two local residents were the first on scene, where they found the pilot lying beside the smouldering wreckage. They dragged him to safety just before the aircraft caught alight. The young pilot was airlifted to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition. It is not known what caused the accident but engine failure is the prime suspect.

Aircraft Information

Aircraft: Morane-Saulnier 

Type: MS.893A Rallye Commodore 180

Owner: Private

Registration: VH-UQI

Serial Number: 10962

Engine Model: Textron Lycoming IO-540
Built: 1969

For Sale: 10 747s and 6 A340-600s?

Would you like to buy 10 747s? How about 6 A340-600s?

Thai Airways is selling a large portion of its widebody fleet and they can be yours. A340-500s, - 600s, 777-200s, - 300s, and 747-400s are all available. Don't need that much room? Well, you can pick up a pair of 737-400s to suit your needs.

The below was taken from the Thai Airways website

Market Survey : Used Passenger Aircraft for Sale

Interested parties, please contact e-mail: aircraftsale@thaiairways.com

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (“THAI”) would like to cordially to invite you to participate in the Bidding Process for the sale of THAI’s Used Aircraft with the registrations and the information below. 

The aircraft for sale include: A300-600, B737s, B747s, A340s, and B777s. 

All Aircraft data is subject to be verified/revised as necessary.

All Aircraft are offered for sale on an “As-Is, Where-Is” condition.

Please submit your interest to e-mail: aircraftsale@thaiairways.com within November 13, 2020

Aircraft & Engine Type	Unit (s)	MSN	YoM	Condition	Expecting Delivery
A300-600	1	681	1993	As is	Q1/21
PW4158
B737-400	2	26613, 26614	1992/1993	As is	Q1/21
CFM56-3C-1
A340-500	3	624 , 628 , 775	2005-2007	As is	Q1/21
RB211-TRENT 553
A340-600	6	677 , 681 , 689 , 710 , 719 , 953	2005-2008	As is	Q2/21
RB211-TRENT-556
B747-400	10	26609, 26610, 27724, 27725, 28705, 28706, 32369, 32370, 33770, 33771	1993-2003	As is	Q2/21
CF6-80C2-B1F
B777-200	6	27726, 27727, 27728, 27729, 27732, 27733	1996-1998	As is	Q2/21
RB211-TRENT 875
B777-300	6	29150, 29151, 29211, 29212, 29213, 29214	1998-2000	As is	Q2/21
RB211-TRENT-892

Air New Zealand ordered to freeze international bookings

The New Zealand Government has ordered Air New Zealand to put a freeze on all international bookings to New Zealand as projections show the country’s Covid-19 quarantine facilities nearing capacity. New Zealand has 32 managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities across the country with operational capacity for 6260 people. Since March 26 there have been 66,441 people pass through the facilities. An Air New Zealand spokeswoman told Stuff it was instructed by the Government on Wednesday evening to put a hold on new bookings on international services until Tuesday to help ensure there was space available in quarantine accommodation for inbound passengers for the required 14-day period. “We were advised of the requirement on Wednesday evening and actioned it accordingly,” the spokeswoman said. Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) figures show projected occupancy across managed isolation facilities in 14 days time is 6062, leaving just 3 per cent vacancy. Projected occupancy is based on ticketing sales provided by airlines. The squeeze on MIQ facilities comes following a sustained period of excess capacity, with the average occupancy rate since September 19 sitting at 73 per cent, according to MBIE data. 

From Tuesday, it will be compulsory for anyone planning to come to New Zealand to have a confirmed booking at a facility using a new voucher system, dubbed the Managed Isolation Allocation System (MIAS). Airlines will not allow travellers to board a New Zealand-bound flight unless they have a voucher. Board of Airlines New Zealand executive director Justin Tighe-Umbers said airlines were seeing strong demand for seat bookings from people returning to New Zealand between now and Christmas. “There is limited managed isolation and quarantine accommodation, so people need to be sure they have secured a place by getting a voucher from the New Zealand Government,” he said. It’s not the first time the Government has instructed airlines to put a halt on bookings. In July airlines put a freeze on new bookings for several weeks following a request from the Government, so its MIQ facilities were not overwhelmed by returning New Zealanders seeking refuge from the worsening global pandemic.

Megan Woods, caretaker Minister for MIQ, said the logistics of managing the flow of people into managed isolation, their corresponding immigration status and coordinating with airlines was a complex exercise. “Although recently there has been a period of lower demand, we are seeing demand increase with the approach of Christmas holidays and MIQ facilities will be operating at their target capacity,” Woods told Stuff. She said the MIAS helped manage the timing of people entering New Zealand so their place in a managed isolation facility could be guaranteed. “We strongly encourage everyone who has already bought tickets to confirm with their airlines that their flight is operating and to make sure that they hold a managed isolation voucher for their arrival date.”






Story sourced from here
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/123241168/air-new-zealand-ordered-to-freeze-international-bookings-as-kiwis-flock-home-for-christmas

British Airways' A380s now grounded until 2021

British Airways' Airbus A380s are likely to be grounded until at least early 2021 in the wake of a sweeping travel ban imposed by the latest UK lockdown. The month-long lockdown, which will be in place from this Thursday the 5th November through to the 2nd December, bans non-essential overseas travel. "People cannot travel internationally or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted exemptions," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, although "inbound international travel will continue to be governed by the travel corridor approach." Senior cabinet minister Michael Gove has already suggested the lockdown could be extended if coronavirus-related deaths and hospital admissions continued to rise. British Airways' owner IAG said earlier this month it would operate only 30% of its 2019 capacity in the current quarter: a number that's certain to plummet as domestic schedules are crimped, along with flights to Europe and further afield.

BA's superjumbo stand-down

All 12 of BA's Airbus A380s have stood idle since March 2020, when the airline joined carriers worldwide in slashing flights as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. Bringing those double-deckers back has proven to be a moving target due to lack of overall demand as well as border closures in key markets, with BA's most recent timetable update in October once again scrubbing the A380s from the schedule. The 469-seat superjumbo previously plied the skies to seven major North American cities, Johannesburg, Singapore and Hong Kong. Most of the British flag-carrier's A380s remain parked at France's Chateauroux airport, although they've all been rotated through BA's maintenance base for a check-up. In brighter pre-pandemic days, British Airways expected to begin upgrading its A380s from 2023 to feature the latest Club Suites business class, with those private pews replacing the dorm-like Club World seats. The year prior was earmarked for the debut of BA's first Boeing 777-9 jetliners, to be adorned with the same Club Suites business class and a refreshed first class.
The 777-9 is now running at least a year behind schedule, however, pushing BA's timeline back to at least 2023 without accounting for any delivery delays which the airline and Boeing may agree.

With BA having already prematurely retired its entire Boeing 747 jumbo fleet, speculation has mounted that the A380 may follow, although a British Airways spokesperson said "the A380 is still a valued part of our fleet and there are currently no plans to retire them."

Full story sourced from here

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/british-airways-airbus-a380s-grounded-until-at-least-2021#:~:text=British%20Airways%27%20Airbus%20A380s%20are,bans%20non%2Dessential%20overseas%20travel.