Townsville becomes International Airport! (again!)

[anat0l]

CNS has international flights but that's still about four hours from TSV. Where do they fly to from CNS apart from Japan?

HKG with CX.

I thought one of the Chinese mainland carriers had a service there as well, if at the least seasonal anyway.

JQ and NZ, at least the latter, fly to AKL.

JQ fly to SIN via DRW - not sure if this is a domestic/international separate flight connection, or single flight number.

Not sure if United (former Continental) still have their flight to GUM.

I think that's it!

 

[dajop]

Also SilkAir starting (started?) services to SIN alternating between nonstop and via DRW. (Ie triangle services with direction of triangle alternating).

 

[Awesom Andy]

From CNS, PX has runs to POM, and PR will start services to MNL and AKL later this year. The Chinese have seasonal flights to PVG and CAN, and the MI service is starting at the end of the month.

 

[eastwest101]

Blah Blah, Swing Gate, Other Airline Stuff, Blah... Hello

A Lounge in TSV for VA would be very welcomed indeed!! ETA on the renovations? Source?

Sorry about the quality of the photo (and I would have grabbed it off the web if it was available online) but I noticed we finally have an indicative floor plan for the approx $40m redevelopment for Townsville. We will have to guess some of the colour coding in the images but possible to get the gist of it for people familliar with the current airport.

On the top you can see the proposed 1st floorplan - of note is two 900m2 proposed airline lounges on the upper level (which presuambly kills off the current lower level QF lounge) so good news for VA passengers.

On the bottom is the proposed plan for the ground floor, areas of the current QF lounge and all airline back offices ripped out and this area expanded for more public areas (and shops!) airside - dashed line seems to indicate may be able to cordon off airside international departures and arrivals from airside domestic areas (possibly with big glass sliding doors like Adelaide?). Note domestic baggage reclaim remains where it currently is. Looks like customs and immigration should be possible if needed. And again - sorry for the image (taken from display at TSV airport a few days ago).



So apparently thats what approx $40m gets you as far as a refurb. airport budget goes....

 

[Wezza]

Today is the big day for TSV! Bali services begin tonight. More than 10,000 seats sold since they went on sale in April. Not a bad start!

 

[Radio8tiv]

Let's hope the uptake is good and more flights will come from it, I for one will support the international flights from TSV, as mentioned earlier it's very frustrating to fly south only to have to go north again on international flights. I'm currently in Japan which I had to fly to CNS for to leave the country, would be great if we get some direct flights to Asia.

 

[Albert Hoffman]

The barometer for success is maintaining bookings in off peak seasons. The last attempt at flights to bali by Strategic Airlines was full during holidays but 30 percent load factor off peak. It's a pity there are not transit facilities in Bali Airport but hopefully with the waiving of the 30 Dollar Visa fee it might be become feasible to connect to other flights to Asia.

Jetstar chief executive David Hall said take-up had been positive but the test would be whether the service continued to sell well.“We believe as one of the largest cities in Northern Australia, Townsville deserves international travel,” he said.“Over 10,000 seats have been booked and low fares will stimulate travel. But we need to make sure all-year-round these services are filled. *Beyond which we will look at other possibilities.”

More flights will come on back of Townsville-Bali success | Townsville Bulletin

 

[eastwest101]

Only indirectly related to International services but it seems from this Townsville Bulletin article that Qantas may be playing "hardball: with the owners of Townsille Airport. Some intresting comments from a Qantas spokesperson whom has either been misquoted or quoted out of context or has gone a bit "off the reservation" with some of these comments:

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/no-go-on-passenger-charge-for-qantas/news-story/2bbfab348168848d168b475268ee494c

Category: | Townsville Bulletin

Selected important bits are:

TOWNSVILLE’S proposed $40 million airport redevelopment has stalled as a passenger charge proves a sticking point in getting the project off the ground. The project was tipped for a mid-year start but deals are yet to be struck with airlines regarding a proposed passenger charge increase of $3 a person to fund the upgrade. Under the plan, Queensland Airports Limited would cover the cost of the project up front, but recoup that through the increased passenger charges after the revamp was completed.

QANTAS remains firm on its refusal to agree to a passenger charge increase in Townsville, leaving the proposed $40 million airport redevelopment at a standstill. A Qantas spokeswoman said Jetstar returning international flights to Townsville last year showed their commitment to growing air services.

“We understand the airport needs some investment, but we can’t see why the Townsville community and visitors should be expected to foot the bill with this terminal levy,” she said. “We don’t expect our customers to pay for a new aircraft through higher fares, instead it’s funded via our profits.” Virgin refused to comment while negotiations were continuing.

Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said the airport remained focused on the redevelopment. “Townsville Airport strives to ensure its charges are competitive,” he said. “Adjusting charges periodically is normal practice when airports make significant investments.” Acting mayor Les Walker understood other airports successfully increased passenger charges to fund development. “Three dollars is not a big price increase,” he said. He added the region needed the project more than ever.


Its not immediately apparent from the newspaper article but the proposal is/was for QAL to pay for the refurbishment up front, but to then increase fees by $3 per passenger in the future. So really this could be a bit of overblown posturing about a possibly routine pax movement charge increase or increase in areonautical fees that would have happened anyway.

 

[Wezza]

It's not like TSV has too many other ways to recoup costs. I'm more than happy to pay an extra $3 per movement to have better facilities.

 

[Wezza]

Air Asia X are interested in flying KUL-TSV!! Would be a massive boost for TSV if so.

Non-stop flights to KL from regional centres such as Townsville are also being considered, revealed AirAsia X’s Head of Commercial Arik De during an interview with Australian Business Traveller at the CAPA Australia Pacific Summit 2016.

“Imagine a service from Townsville to Kuala Lumpur and the benefit that would bring to the people there,” De visualises.

AirAsia X plans direct Brisbane-Kuala Lumpur flights - Australian Business Traveller

And on another note, the TSV-DPS flights are performing quite well. I've done the trip twice this year and all flights have been almost full with lots of foreign passport holders on them. Looking at the latest BITRE stats, May saw pax loads of around 80%.

 

[eastwest101]

Air Asia X are interested in flying KUL-TSV!! Would be a massive boost for TSV if so.


AirAsia X plans direct Brisbane-Kuala Lumpur flights - Australian Business Traveller

And on another note, the TSV-DPS flights are performing quite well. I've done the trip twice this year and all flights have been almost full with lots of foreign passport holders on them. Looking at the latest BITRE stats, May saw pax loads of around 80%.

Interesting news about Air Asia X looking at TSV-KUL in the future, the problem with this would be that the flight would arrive at KLIA2, and without a landside connection to the rest of KLIA it is a bit of a PITA for people flying further afield than KUL (or at least has the effect of making Air Asia X transit pax captive to Air Asia X.) If I was going to do the TSV-KUL on Air Asia X I would be looking at getting a connection onto a "real" airline to get good value for money ex-KUL long haul fares elsewhere, the catch might be a long transit in KUL which may or may not defeat the economics of that option.

Looks like JQ are seeing decent load factors to Bali at the moment which is surprising - I would have thought a lot od people in TSV would be too broke/unemployed or under mortgage stress/negative equity to be taking holidays in DPS. Or is it all people like you Wezza doing transits in DPS and flying long haul elsewhere?

 

[dajop]

Interesting news about Air Asia X looking at TSV-KUL in the future, the problem with this would be that the flight would arrive at KLIA2, and without a landside connection to the rest of KLIA it is a bit of a PITA for people flying further afield than KUL (or at least has the effect of making Air Asia X transit pax captive to Air Asia X.) If I was going to do the TSV-KUL on Air Asia X I would be looking at getting a connection onto a "real" airline to get good value for money ex-KUL long haul fares elsewhere, the catch might be a long transit in KUL which may or may not defeat the economics of that option.

'

OK, KLIA2-KLIA may be a bit of a PITA, but surely it's easier than having backtrack through SYD or BNE? (plane->bus/train->plane, instead of plane->bus/train->plane->plane) Isn't there saying about beggars can't be choosers or something like that ...

 

[Awesom Andy]

Interesting news about Air Asia X looking at TSV-KUL in the future, the problem with this would be that the flight would arrive at KLIA2, and without a landside connection to the rest of KLIA it is a bit of a PITA for people flying further afield than KUL (or at least has the effect of making Air Asia X transit pax captive to Air Asia X.) If I was going to do the TSV-KUL on Air Asia X I would be looking at getting a connection onto a "real" airline to get good value for money ex-KUL long haul fares elsewhere, the catch might be a long transit in KUL which may or may not defeat the economics of that option.

The KLIA-KLIA2 transit can be done on the train. Costs the equivalent of 0.70 AUD. It feels easier than the bus/train at BNE/SYD/PER, although there may be long queues at customs.

 

[Wezza]

Interesting news about Air Asia X looking at TSV-KUL in the future, the problem with this would be that the flight would arrive at KLIA2, and without a landside connection to the rest of KLIA it is a bit of a PITA for people flying further afield than KUL (or at least has the effect of making Air Asia X transit pax captive to Air Asia X.) If I was going to do the TSV-KUL on Air Asia X I would be looking at getting a connection onto a "real" airline to get good value for money ex-KUL long haul fares elsewhere, the catch might be a long transit in KUL which may or may not defeat the economics of that option.

Looks like JQ are seeing decent load factors to Bali at the moment which is surprising - I would have thought a lot od people in TSV would be too broke/unemployed or under mortgage stress/negative equity to be taking holidays in DPS. Or is it all people like you Wezza doing transits in DPS and flying long haul elsewhere?

Actually both trips this year were for holidays in Bali. Admittedly, our trip in January was to see my wife's parents off back to Russia. They don't speak any English so it was a good excuse for a holiday. We just got back from our last trip last weekend. Though like I said in my previous post, it is very surprising to see the number of foreign passport holders using this route.

'

OK, KLIA2-KLIA may be a bit of a PITA, but surely it's easier than having backtrack through SYD or BNE? (plane->bus/train->plane, instead of plane->bus/train->plane->plane) Isn't there saying about beggars can't be choosers or something like that ...

Pretty much this.

 

[Simo]

TSV has been a international airport on and off a few times.

 

[eastwest101]

Update - from todays Townsville Bulletin:

No Cookies | Townsville Bulletin

Airport redevelopment grounded

VICTORIA NUGENT, Townsville Bulletin
August 12, 2016 12:00am

THE $42 million redevelopment of Townsville Airport is unlikely to meet its deadline with stalled airline negotiations putting the project months behind schedule. According to the project’s major development plan approved in January, construction was due to start in the first half of 2016 and would have been completed by the end of 2017, but the tendering process has not even begun.


Townsville Airport planned to pass on a $3 per passenger levy to airlines to pay for the upgrade but negotiations have stalled as Qantas and Jetstar baulked at the charge, saying the upgrade should be funded by the airport’s profits. The Townsville Bulletin understands construction will not start until these airline agreements are in place.



The cliff-notes version is that QF and JQ seem to be resorting to sophistry by attempting to make the argument that the airport upgrade should be paid for by AAL's profits, but are also refusing to allow AAL to make profits by introducing/increasing a passenger levy. Not sure what they are trying to argue but I am guessing that they want AALs profits to come from someone else and not the Qantas Group? (Presumably car parking, retail fees and other airline passengers?). Maybe a bit or posturing by AAL as well so they can preserve capital?

Will make for an interesting contest. Watch this space.

 

[Radio8tiv]

I would be happy to pay the three dollars, it's going to be far cheaper then paying for another flight to CNS, BNE, or SYD to get a connection out of the country. Also when the upgrade was first announced there was talk of a Virgin lounge going in but I have been unable to find any evidence on this, do you know if that's still the case or was it wishful thinking?

 

[eastwest101]

I would be happy to pay the three dollars, it's going to be far cheaper then paying for another flight to CNS, BNE, or SYD to get a connection out of the country. Also when the upgrade was first announced there was talk of a Virgin lounge going in but I have been unable to find any evidence on this, do you know if that's still the case or was it wishful thinking?

It was in the plans (see image in post #24 on this thread) - but as we know - the plans could be delayed a bit now.

 

[Simo]

VA lounge would be good... VA has regional lounges in smaller ports than TSV

 

[Wezza]

Air Nuigini are considering serving Townsville

“The new routes under consideration include Shanghai (China), Jayapura (Indonesia), Townsville (North Queensland), Tarawa (Kiribati) and Majuro (Marshall Islands),” he said.

Air Niugini | Papua New Guinea's National Airline | A major advance in Port Moresby’s regional ‘hub’ role

On another note, the TSV-DPS route recently turned 1 year old. 40,000 passengers were carried on the route over that period out of a total of 52,000 available seats.