Change in the air as players reposition themselves

By PAULA OLIVER

Look skywards - there is change in the air.

The country's airlines have kicked off the new year with a host of changes, including new routes, new schedules and the maiden flight of a new airline.

Not all of them are voluntary.

Nelson-based independent Origin Pacific, responding to Qantas' decision to put an end to their code-share arrangement, yesterday said that it was working on new flight schedules.

Managing director Robert Inglis said he was disappointed Qantas had elected to pull out of the aircraft lease and code share arrangement.

He had hoped it would be long term.

The most pressing issue arising from the divorce was what Origin Pacific would do with the two ATR aircraft it had used on tourist routes for Qantas.

From April, Qantas will fly its own jets on those routes between Christchurch and Rotorua and Christchurch and Wellington.

Inglis said the ATRs would be redeployed within Origin's new network and details would be revealed within two weeks.

"The bulk of our regional flying shouldn't alter, because by far the largest percentage of traffic on our regional services is booked directly with Origin and hasn't come via Qantas," said Inglis.

The day after Qantas announced the split from Origin Pacific, effective in March, the independent airline unveiled details of an agreement with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

The alliance will see Origin Pacific become an alternative domestic carrier for international passengers travelling to and from New Zealand on KLM.

Amid rumours that it may also be close to an agreement to provide on-carriage services for new Virgin offshoot Pacific Blue, Inglis said the two parties were in "constant dialogue".

There were other international carriers who could be seen to be competitors of Qantas and Air New Zealand, also keen to work with Origin.

"We are working hard to pull together a new business plan to encompass all of these opportunities. We hope to make an announcement shortly."

Meanwhile, Pacific Blue will make its maiden flight from Christchurch to Brisbane tomorrow.

The low-cost carrier has a jet load of VIPs, paying customers, media and competition winners ready to fly, after securing its air operator certificate last Friday. It will start flying out of Wellington in March but has yet to reveal its plans for Auckland or domestic routes.

It has been talking with Auckland International Airport over access to domestic terminal facilities.

Chief executive Tony Marks has said that a domestic service could be operating by the middle of this year, but did not want to elaborate when asked yesterday for an update.

"Partly for commercial reasons, in terms of not wishing to alert our competition - who have a nasty habit of changing their schedules when they see what we're up to - we're going to keep our powder dry until we're ready to roll," Marks said.

One of those competitors, Air New Zealand, yesterday confirmed a new non-stop flight route between Auckland and San Francisco from June 30.

Using a Boeing 747-400, the 12-hour service will operate three times a week under a code-share arrangement with United Airlines.