Qantas drops Origin Pacific

By CHRIS DANIELS aviation writer

Origin Pacific and Qantas are going their separate ways.

Under their code-share arrangement, which will end in March, Qantas passengers had flown some New Zealand domestic routes on Origin Pacific aircraft.

Origin sales and marketing general manager Ewan Wilson said Qantas had asked to end the relationship.

"Origin Pacific Airways entered into a relationship with Qantas under a long-term relationship basis," he said.

"After a few months, unfortunately, Qantas fell in lust with the girl next door in the form of Air NZ, and that has made things a little bit difficult."

Air NZ and Qantas were now "determined to get together", which Origin found disappointing.

Wilson said Origin had understood it would be given 12 months' notice of any intention by Qantas to end the relationship, but this had not occurred.

Origin's new focus would be on feeding international airlines that already came to New Zealand, many of which were keen to develop relationships.

A new schedule would soon be announced, but Wilson said he was not expecting any reduction in Origin Pacific's fleet.


A new relationship between Origin Pacific and an international airline would be announced today.

This sort of deal would mean passengers flying here from, say, Europe, would be carried around this country by Origin Pacific.

For New Zealanders using these airlines, the domestic leg of their overseas trip would be on Origin Pacific.

Market speculation has centred on a deal with KLM, which flies to New Zealand under a code-share arrangement with Malaysia Airlines.

Origin has also been talking to Pacific Blue, the local wing of Australian budget carrier Virgin Blue, which will begin transtasman flights from Christchurch next month.