Qantas to Norfolk Island

[henrus]

Interestingly Qantas will "temporarily" launch a new route as they operate some flights to/from Norfolk Island starting tomorrow.

As reported in the ABC, Air New Zealand has been "unable" to operate these flights because they don't have the aircraft/crew in Australia. The Norfolk Island flights used the same aircraft/crew that operated the one-way travel bubble flights however as they've been suspended so have the Norfolk Island flights. Air New Zealand claims the crew needs to spend 14 days in quarantine to operate these domestic flights although I find that hard to believe given they were operating BNE/SYD-NLK before the travel bubble started with no issues.

All this means that Qantas will now operate flights to/from Norfolk Island for the next few days:

QF183 Brisbane to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF184 Norfolk Island to Brisbane - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF179 Sydney to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan
QF180 Norfolk to Sydney - 31 Jan

Apparently, those booked on Air New Zealand flights are being offered a refund, credit, or a seat on one of the above Qantas flights. Qantas is also selling tickets albeit only flexible economy fares (no business class or award seats) starting at $528 but you can use points plus pay starting at 81,400 points. I believe Qantas may have done a route proving flight from Brisbane to Norfolk Island late last year and from what I can find online the Air New Zealand contract expires sometime this year, so perhaps we could see more Qantas flights to Norfolk Island in the near future.

Finally, I have a question that someone may be able to answer - Why the taxes differ so much between the two airlines? Ignoring Qantas' YR surcharge, they seem to be $26.48 cheaper thanks to a slightly different WY but a massively different WG tax.

 

[madrooster]

Different carriers have different charges negotiated. You will see the WY/WG charges differ for virtually all carriers and they vary between ports too.

 

[Tiki]

I never understood why QF and VA are not doing the SYD/BNE-NLK routes anyways. These should be domestic routes, why is NZ the only airline. Not to mention that award flights were pretty impossible!

 

[henrus]

I never understood why QF and VA are not doing the SYD/BNE-NLK routes anyways. These should be domestic routes, why is NZ the only airline. Not to mention that award flights were pretty impossible!

The routes to Australian external territories are expensive to operate and therefore under contract with flights underwritten by the Australian government.

Air New Zealand has had the contract for the Norfolk Island flights since 2012 and according to a document published online, as of last year has received about $10 million between 2012 and 2019. This contract was renewed in 2016 and should expire this year so hopefully Qantas or Virgin might step in given Air NZ is clearly unable to fulfill their end of the contract.

Ironically I think Qantas would do quite well with some regular non-subsidised flights over the next few months as people are limited with where they can travel to.

These should be domestic routes, why is NZ the only airline.

Yes, it is a domestic route and Air NZ is legally allowed to operate as a domestic airline in Australia (and vice versa). It's the same way Jetstar is allowed to operate domestically in New Zealand.

Not to mention that award flights were pretty impossible!

Air New Zealand is very annoying in this aspect because using their Airpoints dollars is possible but for routes like Norfolk Island (and a few others in the pacific that aren't regularly serviced) they don't release normal star alliance award seats.

 

[Tiki]

Yeah I remember a while ago trying to use SQ miles for Norfolk Island Bird Week but there was nothing. QF or VA would be much easier.

 

[Qantas747]

I was booked to go on the 28th, and come back on the 1st, for a quick trip over.

No refund or change of flight offered - they were quite firm about the fact that the only option was a flight credit, which we had no choice but to take.

 

[Mattg]

I was booked to go on the 28th, and come back on the 1st, for a quick trip over.

No refund or change of flight offered - they were quite firm about the fact that the only option was a flight credit, which we had no choice but to take.

Can Air New Zealand legally not give a refund in this situation? Norfolk Island was still open but they failed to provide the service.

If you purchased the ticket in Australia, surely Australian Consumer Law applies?

If Air New Zealand is going to act like that, it makes me very hesitant to ever buy a ticket from them again in the future.

 

[Qantas747]

I pushed them on it, and was told that it was not an Air New Zealand decision to cancel the flight, but rather an Australian Government decision, which means Air New Zealand is apparently not responsible and normal fare rules apply.

This on top of the fact that Qantas pressured me into cancelling flights myself last year totalling over $2,000 just before they cancelled their international services certainly leaves a very bad taste in my mouth! I can't even access that Qantas booking credit anymore - but that's another story...

 

[Mattg]

I pushed them on it, and was told that it was not an Air New Zealand decision to cancel the flight, but rather an Australian Government decision, which means Air New Zealand is apparently not responsible and normal fare rules apply.

That's a long bow to draw. They could perhaps reasonably argue that the Australian government required them to cancel their AKL-SYD/BNE services, but the Norfolk Island flights also? They cancelled those flights because the aircraft and crew were out of position (due to the trans-Tasman issues).

I guess I'll be avoiding Air New Zealand for future trans-Tasman travel...

 

[Qantas747]

Yes, best be careful. I might raise it with the relevant authority just to see what they say.

It really underscores the need for Australian islands to be served by Australian airlines - Qantas has now had to step up to rescue people and residents in our own country, as you mention in the article.

 

[justinbrett]

That's a long bow to draw. They could perhaps reasonably argue that the Australian government required them to cancel their AKL-SYD/BNE services, but the Norfolk Island flights also? They cancelled those flights because the aircraft and crew were out of position (due to the trans-Tasman issues).

I guess I'll be avoiding Air New Zealand for future trans-Tasman travel...

It wasn’t so much that - they need crew who have been in Australia for the last 14 days, and they have no Australian based crew. Even if they flew a jet and crew empty from AKL they wouldn’t be allowed to operate the service.

 

[henrus]

It wasn’t so much that - they need crew who have been in Australia for the last 14 days, and they have no Australian based crew. Even if they flew a jet and crew empty from AKL they wouldn’t be allowed to operate the service.

Do they though? I get the impression Air NZ just couldn't be bothered flying an empty aircraft from NZ-AU just for the Norfolk flights.

Rember the crew were able to operate quarantine flights into Australia and then Norfolk flights before the travel bubble so I've got no idea why the sudden change but then again at the same time they only had 1-2 flights to Norfolk Island as opposed to 3 weekly ex BNE and SYD like they do now.

 

[CMA222]

I never understood why QF and VA are not doing the SYD/BNE-NLK routes anyways. These should be domestic routes, why is NZ the only airline. Not to mention that award flights were pretty impossible!

No response to the original tender for the operation of the domestic service to and from NLK were received from either Virgin (Mk1) or Qantas. They simply were not interested in operating the service. AirNZ was the successful tenderer with the Australian Govt subsidy (offered to all tenderers) included as the inducement.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Norfolk Island really need to be serviced by Qantas, Virgin or even Alliance, it was dumb that they had to contract out to Air NZ to do the work.

The place could be twice as popular if they put some effort in.

 

[justinbrett]

Do they though? I get the impression Air NZ just couldn't be bothered flying an empty aircraft from NZ-AU just for the Norfolk flights.

Rember the crew were able to operate quarantine flights into Australia and then Norfolk flights before the travel bubble so I've got no idea why the sudden change but then again at the same time they only had 1-2 flights to Norfolk Island as opposed to 3 weekly ex BNE and SYD like they do now.

It was a recent rule change that happened after the last Sydney outbreak. Airline crew arriving on non-green zone flights cannot travel or reposition on domestic services without completing 14 days quarantine.

Back then, they could.

 

[NZflygirl]

This on top of the fact that Qantas pressured me into cancelling flights myself last year totalling over $2,000 just before they cancelled their international services certainly leaves a very bad taste in my mouth! I can't even access that Qantas booking credit anymore - but that's another story...

Hang up and call again. I cancelled my Tasman flight yesterday with them and booked Qantas instead because Qantas aren’t flying international transit pax as Air NZ are on the Syd-Akl flight. I did secure MIQ and book Qantas prior to cancelling. Refund expected in 5-10 working days.

 

[Major]

Air Chathams were flying AKL-NLK at one stage but I think they have since cancelled this service

Norfolk Island | Air Chathams

Norfolk Island is a stunning South Pacific paradise full of stories, activity, and character. Air Chathams flies the only direct flight from New Zealand, book your adventure online now.

www.airchathams.co.nz

 

[CMA222]

"Air Chathams were flying AKL-NLK at one stage but I think they have since cancelled this service"

They ceased flights between those ports some time ago.

 

[williamsf1]

Interestingly Qantas will "temporarily" launch a new route as they operate some flights to/from Norfolk Island starting tomorrow.

As reported in the ABC, Air New Zealand has been "unable" to operate these flights because they don't have the aircraft/crew in Australia. The Norfolk Island flights used the same aircraft/crew that operated the one-way travel bubble flights however as they've been suspended so have the Norfolk Island flights. Air New Zealand claims the crew needs to spend 14 days in quarantine to operate these domestic flights although I find that hard to believe given they were operating BNE/SYD-NLK before the travel bubble started with no issues.

All this means that Qantas will now operate flights to/from Norfolk Island for the next few days:

QF183 Brisbane to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF184 Norfolk Island to Brisbane - 31 Jan, 1 Feb, 2 Feb and 3 Feb
QF179 Sydney to Norfolk Island - 31 Jan
QF180 Norfolk to Sydney - 31 Jan

Apparently, those booked on Air New Zealand flights are being offered a refund, credit, or a seat on one of the above Qantas flights. Qantas is also selling tickets albeit only flexible economy fares (no business class or award seats) starting at $528 but you can use points plus pay starting at 81,400 points. I believe Qantas may have done a route proving flight from Brisbane to Norfolk Island late last year and from what I can find online the Air New Zealand contract expires sometime this year, so perhaps we could see more Qantas flights to Norfolk Island in the near future.

Finally, I have a question that someone may be able to answer - Why the taxes differ so much between the two airlines? Ignoring Qantas' YR surcharge, they seem to be $26.48 cheaper thanks to a slightly different WY but a massively different WG tax.

View attachment 239534 View attachment 239535

QF WG for BNE increased significantly to similar amounts to NZ on the 1st Feb ... less passengers = higher cost

 

[henrus]

Given the bubble popped last night, I wonder how long it is until Qantas has to come in again and rescue the Norfolk Island flights again.

Flights for the next 3-4 days have already been canceled and it remains to be seen if any last-minute QF services are introduced.