Trans-Tasman routes to become "domestic"

[opusman]

TRANS-TASMAN flights are set to be reclassified as domestic routes, removing stringent immigration procedures and cutting fares by up to 30 per cent.

Deal opens sky to cheap NZ airfares

 

[Flashback]

Interesting... it looks like it will still be some time off though.

 

[pauly7]

Finally some common sense.

Now how about a shared currency.....

 

[russ]

Wow, 30% is a very high figure! Is it really costing 30% of the cost of an airfare to fund immigration, customs and quarantine?

 

[Tooner]

At my employer travel from Oz to NZ has been considered "domestic" for sometime, and flights are booked using (be)serko online etc. Travel is Y (or usually K, so discount economy SC) instead of usual J for international travel. No need for approval from a GM either.

Some confusion as to where to classify expenses etc (as they are overseas according to finance) and the need for a passport - so when this occurs, one more confusion out of the way.

 

[oz_mark]

Wow, 30% is a very high figure! Is it really costing 30% of the cost of an airfare to fund immigration, customs and quarantine?

I wondered the same thing - while accepting that there are some additional overheads on international flights, 30% sounds like a lot!

 

[moa999]

Although the planes are moving to very much Int'l
QF new 737-8s with AVOD in Y,
NZ new planes with AVOD
EK with new planes


Then JQ and DJ....

 

[ColinP]

ISTR that when I travelled between AUS-NZ in the mid 70s there were no "border crossing'' procedures. There may have been some formalities but I'm fairly sure that I didn't need a passport.

 

[Nigelinoz]

ISTR That immigration controls were removed around that time and were reinstated after 'hoards of long haired layabouts' descended on Australia and started claiming unemployment benefits etc and I think that's why they were reinstated,but as usual with me,there's a good chance I dreamt it all.

 

[MelUser]

Time for the OU - the Oceania Union!

 

[Nigelinoz]

Finally some common sense.

Now how about a shared currency.....

Found this little gem in a 2002 Austrade report.
The Closer Economic Relationship (CER): the Bledisloe Cup of trade agreements - Austrade

Quote
"Occasionally, especially in New Zealand circles, there’s talk of a common currency (the ‘zac’) " :!::shock:

 

[Mwenenzi]

The 30% in part comes from some airlines hope to fly into the likes Avalon & Newcastle domestic terminals and maybe grass air stirps to avoid paying high airport fees to SYD airport (controlled by the Macbank millionaires factory) & MEL airport.

Still it costs $$$ for customs & immigration and those airport/security/departure gouging fees. Each government will not let the cash cow go down. Even with pre immigration clearance at one end customs & quarantine will still happen at destination, unless they X ray at departure like they do now at destination.

Have read on FT that USA has preclearance at Dublin

 

[opusman]

Time for the OU - the Oceania Union!

Well really it would make more sense for NZ to take up the option granted to them in the Australian Constitution and become a state

 

[comint]

This proposal may have a significant detrimental effect on Trans Tasman competition!

For example; LAN and Emirates do not operate domestic terminals in Australia or New Zealand. (And both fly large intercontinental aircraft, which would be difficult to accommodate at most domestic gates, anyway.)

Australia is a strong proponent of barrier-free international trade. This proposal, in its raw format, would seem to challenge that position.

The whole thing stenches of Qantas lobbying. (And the only thing that ever leads to, is higher fares for us.)

 

[Flashback]

This proposal may have a significant detrimental effect on Trans Tasman competition!

For example; LAN and Emirates do not operate domestic terminals in Australia or New Zealand. (And both fly large intercontinental aircraft, which would be difficult to accommodate at most domestic gates, anyway.)

Australia is a strong proponent of barrier-free international trade. This proposal, in its raw format, would seem to challenge that position.

The whole thing stenches of Qantas lobbying. (And the only thing that ever leads to, is higher fares for us.)

I would imagine it would still leave from the international terminal, as they still need to do some sort of screening etc.

 

[ric_melb]

I also anticipate the departure would be from an International Terminal, and arrival also. Pre screening would take place on departure, with arriving passengers passing through special channels.
Complications such as duty free, and airplane types, would probably preclude domestic terminals.

I therefore doubt that overseas airlines would be put at a disadvantage.

 

[comint]

I would imagine it would still leave from the international terminal, as they still need to do some sort of screening etc.

Hmmmm… Clearly from former posts the discussion is about domestic arrivals (with International departures) i.e. like the US pre-clearance system.

Thus Australian arrivals for non-Aussie airlines -

In Sydney (perhaps) that means being bussed over to T2 domestic terminal for arrival?

In Brisbane, having to walk across the tarmac into the Jetstar/C.U. terminal pier.

In Melbourne, possibly similar to Brisbane, having to do a tarmac walk to the Rex pier.

Now for Qantas there is a cost advantage of the aircraft arriving into its own terminals (instead of common user international terminal$). It also enables them to offer easier domestic connections (particularly thru Sydney & Brisbane). And it would certainly offer Qantas customers a quicker experience from plane door to taxi door.

 

[moa999]

The common currency is falling from favour - just look at the issues Greece and Spain are now having due to being part of the European Union and Currency, subject to the much bigger going ons in Germany and France, and not having the ability to control their own monetary policy.

 

[Mwenenzi]

....The whole thing stenches of Qantas lobbying. (And the only thing that ever leads to, is higher fares for us.)

Over Xmas New Year this was in NZ newspapers with comments by Air NZ. Would also suit DJ as the could dump the requirement to use the international terminals. Is against EK as they would be the looser. LAN traffic is so small not to bother the others, and they leave AKL at a very unsociable time (if they happen to be on time !) For onward QF/DJ pax connections in NZ and Aust operating from domestic terminals would be an good advantage in SYD & BNE. Would also allow Air NZ to easily operate domestic in Aust (thay can do thay now it they wanted to)

 

[NM]

Hmmmm… Clearly from former posts the discussion is about domestic arrivals (with International departures) i.e. like the US pre-clearance system.

Thus Australian arrivals for non-Aussie airlines -

In Sydney (perhaps) that means being bussed over to T2 domestic terminal for arrival?

In Brisbane, having to walk across the tarmac into the Jetstar/C.U. terminal pier.

In Melbourne, possibly similar to Brisbane, having to do a tarmac walk to the Rex pier.

There are already a large number of domestic passenger arrivals at international terminals in Australia. I don't see it being any different to the current use of the orange D sticker on the boarding pass for expedited processing through immigration and customs. There is no need to use the domestic terminal when there is already a well defined process for domestic arrivals at the international terminals. I don;t see that such a change will provide any significant advantage to QF/JQ/DJ over airline like NZ, EK, LA etc.