ozjet

[Mal]

Speaking of which... from Googling around I have found some sites referring to the 737-200 Advanced as being capable of up to 2,800 miles range. Perhaps they will be able to do PER.

That is correct. But not in the configuration that OzJet have. the 2800 Miles range probably refers to the JT8D-17R/17AR or JT8D-17/17A engine configuration.

If I am correct on my description of the type of config for OzJet planes (I did find it on a site that described earlier history for OzJet's planes so cannot verify it's accuracy), then it is not designed for 2800 miles.

NM's comment is correct. There is more to flying than just the distance the plane can go on a tank of fuel. I still don't see Perth as an option until other types of planes come into the Ozjet fleet - unless they do a ADL tech stopover for more fuel which I can't see the passengers liking.

 

[thadocta]

And more to the point, I think they should be consolidating their market firstly, and that is servicing the Golden Triangle, namley SYD-MEL-BNE. Adding BNE as their third destination would enable them to capture a huge part of the corporate travel market, providing that when they introduce BNE they do it via both SYD-BNE and MEL-BNE flights. This will stand them in good stead for further expansion.

Dave

 

[swissbignose]

But in terms of niche markets, flights from Perth would cater to those individuals that would prefer comfort for the multi-hour trip at a reasonable price. (Assumption being made that O7 would offer seats at a reasonable price).

QF charge $1400* one way from SYD or MEL to PER for J and $750* - $850* for Y, B and H.

There are something like 38 J seats on an A330 (either A333 or A332), 52 J seats on the rare B743 and up to 12 J seats on a B73H (and possibly B734).

Compare that to 60 J seats on O7's 732 available (if past O7 pricing is a guide) at $800. Position it at the right time of day, and surely there would be high load factors.

* Prices quoted based on flying out on Tuesday 7th February and returning on Thursday 9th February on direct flights between city pairs. Readers should note that flights on QF in J would earn up to 4593 FF points from SYD to PER or vice versa and 80 Status Credits, and up to 3785 FF points from MEL to PER or vice versa and 80 Status Credits. Flights on O7 do not currently earn FF points or Status Credits.

 

[NM]

I agree. If O7 could offer SYD-PER for under $800 return, they would scoop quite a bit of corp business. MEL-PER is possibly achievable with their 732 given the low number of pax and generally low baggage weights for business travellers (short stays, carry-on only much of the time). And if they could offer MEL-PER for under $700 return I think it was would also prove popular.

Of course the other problem with PER is that the long flight time means the aircraft are spending a lot of time flying a single long sector and hence schedule frequency decreases when you don't have a lot of aircraft in the fleet. Success to/from PER is reliant upon the correct schedule and frequency to attract the corp flyers.

Another issue is that people who regularly travel trans-continental paying the K and above fares will be the ones who are higher up the QF FF pecking order. So these people may be more difficult to tear away from their current FF program loyalty that people who frequent the SYD-MEL monorail who would struggle to achieve Gold/Plat elite status with their current flying patterns.

 

[N860CR]

I wouldn't bank on it being under $800 return. OzJet seem dirt cheap currently with the $250 return SYD-MEL, but once that offer is over and when they drop the special $250 each way fare, it'll be back to $325 each way so PER would no doubt be quite a bit more than that. That said, they'll no doubt still be cheaper than QF

 

[NM]

I wouldn't bank on it being under $800 return. OzJet seem dirt cheap currently with the $250 return SYD-MEL, but once that offer is over and when they drop the special $250 each way fare, it'll be back to $325 each way so PER would no doubt be quite a bit more than that. That said, they'll no doubt still be cheaper than QF

Agree. But if it gets up to the $1000 return then its going to priced out of the reach of many people. nStill good value compared with QF J, but I doubt they can fill enough seats at that fare level to make it work, which would be a shame.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I still don't see Perth as an option until other types of planes come into the Ozjet fleet - unless they do a ADL tech stopover for more fuel which I can't see the passengers liking.

Now would that fuel stop involve tankers or pipes with concrete in them?

 

[straitman]

I still don't see Perth as an option until other types of planes come into the Ozjet fleet - unless they do a ADL tech stopover for more fuel which I can't see the passengers liking.

Now would that fuel stop involve tankers or pipes with concrete in them?

One of the above :!:

 

[Mal]

Hehe. Ballast for the plane to help even up the weight

Ozjet are now offering a $199 (one way) special for Feb.

 

[Dave Noble]

Hehe. Ballast for the plane to help even up the weight

Ozjet are now offering a $199 (one way) special for Feb.

I saw that yesterday and contemplated buying it until verified how much they would charge me in excess baggage for my 2 pieces of luggage ( $104 )

If they brought their baggage allowance in line with QFs, it'd be a lot easier for me to use them

Dave

 

[serfty]

Mal - thanks for the detailed info. I guess BNE is the logical choice from a purely volume perspective, which is obviously what O7 needs right now. My desire to see them do PER is purely selfish!

As you've said, there is no busines class competition in Australia aside from O7 so I wish only the best for them.

Yada Yada, your wish may be coming true: Ozjet to fly to Perth!

AVIATION and motor racing identity Paul Stoddart's OzJet will start flying to and from Perth next month.
It will be the third Australian destination for the economy-priced business class airline which began flying Boeing 737 jets between Sydney and Melbourne late last year.

Mr Stoddart said OzJet was seeking regulatory approval for the new service which would fly in and out of Perth, once a day, from Sundays to Fridays.

We envisage flights arriving in Perth around 9.30 on each of those six nights, and then the eastern-bound service departing at 11.30 for an overnight flight," Mr Stoddart said.

OzJet's one-way fares between Perth and Melbourne would start at $499, with none higher than $800, he said.

Further aircraft will be added to the fleet over coming months as the airline expands to other capital cities.

Mr Stoddart also owns European Aviation.

He sold his Formula One Minardi team to energy drink company Red Bull last year.

 

[Mal]

More info here:

http://www.ozjet.com.au/media/release21.htm

Including some indicative pricing:

" OzJet's one-way fares between Perth and Melbourne will start at $499, with none higher than $800."

An interesting choice. I really though the "Golden Triangle" was next. Oh well, Brisbane can wait for the next network expansion!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Interesting O7 chose MEL-PER not SYD-PER.

Sounds like flight is almost an hour earlier than QF's service - ie much more convenient schedule.

 

[MetroAir]

What!!!! Doesn't he like BNE or something?

Seriously, I would have thought getting the eastern seaboard capitals would have been a smart thing to do. The traffic btw MEL - SYD - BNE business wise must be considerable.

Still, I guess he's done his homework.

 

[NM]

Interesting O7 chose MEL-PER not SYD-PER.

As mentioned elsewhere, the O7 737-200's don't have the legs for PER-SYD, so MEL-PER-MEL is understandable.

 

[NM]

" OzJet's one-way fares between Perth and Melbourne will start at $499, with none higher than $800."

So that's between $1000 and $1600 return. I think they may sell ok at $499, but at $800 its only going to be at times when QF are full.

 

[Mal]

<snip>
Still, I guess he's done his homework.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18025515%5E23349,00.html

"Ozjet chief executive Hans van Pelt said he believed the service would be attractive on a route with planes 90 per cent full, no competition for business-class seats and fares of $1400 one-way to Melbourne and $1800 to Sydney. "We've been running a survey among our passengers about where they want us to go next and every second one is saying Perth," Mr van Pelt said."
...
"He said the service would run at night as a "back of the clock" operation, allowing the airline to maintain its Sydney-Melbourne schedule."


I suppose it does make sense. Flying to PER means that they can use a plane that would normally be sitting on the tarmac (or in a hanger) after finishing the SYD/MEL trips for the day. If the pax onboard think PER is a good location, then maybe there is that demand for it and they will do well.

The article also says that a FF scheme is due by the end of the month. Wonder what it will entail.

 

[Yada Yada]

Well how about that! I assumed that BNE would be next but am pleased that PER is the choice. As they've indicated, there is little competition on that route. Comparitively there are stacks of regular flights on the eastern seaboard. Hopefully PER will work out well for O7.

I wonder if they will offer a decently priced SYD-MEL-PER flight for us Sydney-siders?

 

[markis10]

Smart move, less competition and good utilisation of an aircraft that would normally be sitting on a tarmac all night.

 

[oz_mark]

Smart move, less competition and good utilisation of an aircraft that would normally be sitting on a tarmac all night.

I just wonder how many business men would take a red eye. I know I do almost anything to avoid them.