New airline to launch within months

[NM]

From news.com.au:

IT may not have a name yet, but Australia will have a new domestic airline from as early as November.

Melbourne businessman Cenap Kahyaoglu confirmed his plans to the Herald Sun yesterday and pledged to launch his carrier with 88 weekly return flights between Sydney and Melbourne.

 

[moa999]

From pprune

http://www.vivajet.com.au/index.html

Teresa Ooi and Geoffrey Thomas | June 20, 2008
AUSTRALIA is to have a new domestic airline - VivaJet - to rival Qantas and Virgin Blue, both of which are slashing unprofitable regional routes to combat soaring fuel prices.

VivaJet will use 70-seat Embraer E-170s along with other aircraft.
VivaJet, based in Melbourne, is expected to start operations in November, promising a "better" service with complimentary light meals and drinks and cheap fares.

It is believed that two former Qantas executives are advising VivaJet.

The Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said the new airline planned to start passenger and cargo services later this year, using the 70-seat Embraer E-170 and 90-seat E-190 regional passenger jets (E-Jets), 72-seat ATR-72 turbo-props and a Airbus A300 Freighter aircraft.

Virgin Blue was the first to introduce E-jets on the east coast and Canberra services late last year.

VivaJet will be headed by Cenap Kathyaoglu, who has been in the tourism and aviation industry for more than 20 years and helped to develop several companies in Europe and the US in the highly competitive airline sector.

The new airline is defying soaring fuel prices, falling consumer confidence and the volatile equity market.

VivaJet has been registered as a private Australian company in Melbourne since 2006 and is backed by German investment partners.

It faces a major hurdle to break the stranglehold that Qantas and, more recently, Virgin Blue have gained on the premium business market in Australia.

VivaJet is expected to launch with four E-190s, followed by one E-170, with plans for an extensive network covering Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart and the Gold Coast.

An informed source said that at least eight Embraer aircraft may be leased by VivaJet, a Brazilian maker renowned for its cost-effective approach.

Slot allocation has been granted at all destinations, but the airline will progressively roll out its network, with an initial focus on Sydney, Gold Coast and Melbourne.

However, what has not been revealed is which airports the airline will operate from.

Some suggest it may use Sydney's Bankstown.

CAPA said the airline had plans to deliver a standard of domestic air travel "never experienced before in Australia. And all this on a low-fare basis, including complimentary meals and drinks".

The last airline to offer premium services and low prices was Ozjet.

It lasted less than six months, with many routes having more flight attendants than passengers.

In fact, the only successful major start-up in the past two decades was Virgin Blue, which flourished after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001.

Also on the radar is the Indonesian carrier Lion Air, which plans to commence operations later this year using a fleet of six extended-range B737-900ERs.

Lion will hold 49 per cent of the new company, which is to be 51 per cent owned by Brisbane-based Australian charter operator, SkyAirWorld.

Initially, the airline is looking at international routes to Indonesia and Southeast Asia, but is also considering operating some domestic destinations.

 

[Standby]

I thought we have discussed this fruitloop before
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/another-new-dom-carrier-legit-11385.html
Also the Proposed schedule had well over 20 flights originating at various ports before 0730..which would be very hard to cover with 4-5 aircraft
I look forward to him announcing his new airline again in Jun09 for a late 09 takeoff.
On those 20 Orig flights above 5 or so start in Sydney in the morning peak between 6-7am..... now if there were half a dozen gates avail surely Tiger would already be here...they couldnt get gates in the peaks and thats why they took NTL as an alternative... and I'm sure SYD apt would offer any avail gates to Tiger before they would to someone doesnt even have their AOC!

 

[sr81]

Interesting that The Australian seem to take him pretty seriously with his VivaAir.
VivaJet to take wing despite crisis | The Australian

The Hearld Sun (sorry no link) simply has a pic of a vacant house in the Melbourne suburbs which it calls the company address. There is a quote saying that the company address will change 'once we move to the airport'. A little odd.

A start up in this market would be very brave though an E-jet fleet might be your best shot if you could get the frequency up.

Both papers mention first departures in about 6 months. Guess we wait and see.

 

[docjames]

I thought we have discussed this fruitloop before
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/another-new-dom-carrier-legit-11385.html
Also the Proposed schedule had well over 20 flights originating at various ports before 0730..which would be very hard to cover with 4-5 aircraft
I look forward to him announcing his new airline again in Jun09 for a late 09 takeoff.
On those 20 Orig flights above 5 or so start in Sydney in the morning peak between 6-7am..... now if there were half a dozen gates avail surely Tiger would already be here...they couldnt get gates in the peaks and thats why they took NTL as an alternative... and I'm sure SYD apt would offer any avail gates to Tiger before they would to someone doesnt even have their AOC!

Wasnt tiger's issues 1. cost plus 2. Peak time landing slots (rather than gates per se?)


Also, Viva - no relation to Viva macau? if not, wonder how that will go trademark/proprietary name wise??

 

[Standby]

Wasnt tiger's issues 1. cost plus 2. Peak time landing slots (rather than gates per se?)


Also, Viva - no relation to Viva macau? if not, wonder how that will go trademark/proprietary name wise??

Peak Slots in SYD these days mean Arrival and gate slot. Tiger just couldnt get the spread of slots across the day they needed . That would have pushed their "costs" up had they proceeded with offpeak times only

 

[stuartfaz]

Also, Viva - no relation to Viva macau? if not, wonder how that will go trademark/proprietary name wise??

VivaJet, being incorporated in 2006, may have got the business name before Viva Macau. If that's the case, if it wasn't an issue then I don't think it would be now.

Interesting to see that the airline's website is now down.

Also strange that this is just reaching mainstream media now, when a usually reliable aviation news source (here ) found it in October 2007.

 

[markis10]

And still no valid ABN for VivaJet, I wonder how current the data/news is after recent efforts on other articles. Interestingly the domain registrant has an email address linked to this company, Welcome which is quite a coincidence given the incident report I mentioned in the other thread!

 

[oz_mark]

VivaJet, being incorporated in 2006, may have got the business name before Viva Macau. If that's the case, if it wasn't an issue then I don't think it would be now.

Interesting to see that the airline's website is now down.

Also strange that this is just reaching mainstream media now, when a usually reliable aviation news source (here ) found it in October 2007.

Just the homepage has gone ATM. Other pages on the site are still there:

VivaJet Corporate Profile

 

[stuartfaz]

Of interest to the people here, I guess, would be the proposed FFP...

VivaPlus, the VivaJet Frequent Flyer Programme

VivaPlus- free flights from 7,500 Miles – simple, flexible and fair!
VivaPlus – VivaJet’s frequent flyer programme – offers you the possibility to collect Miles Australia wide whether you are on holiday or away on business. VivaPlus Miles deliver numerous status benefits and free flights!

Gather VivaPlus Miles with your VivaPlus Card on VivaJet flights or by using the services of our VivaPlus Bonus Partners like hotels and car rentals. With the VivaJet Credit Card* you even earn VivaPlus Bonus Miles when shopping.

Your VivaPlus Miles remain valid for two years after the date they were collected, expiring at the end of the quarter concerned. And you are automatically awarded complimentary annual Silver Status once you have earned at least 20,000 Miles within 12 complete months. If you collect 40,000 Miles within an entire year you receive the VivaPlus Bonus Gold Status.
As soon as you have collected the required amount of VivaPlus Miles for your free flight just call our VivaPlus service team and book your flight on any VivaJet route. You do not incur any extra costs regarding your free flight – we even cover your airport taxes and charges.


*To be released in 2008.



How to become a VivaPlus member?
VivaPlus membership is free of charge and open to individuals 18 years of age and older. You can pick up a membership application on board of VivaJet flights, at any VivaJet airport or ticket office. This form contains your temporary membership card with your permanent membership number. You can start earning points immediately while your application is being processed. Just quote the membership number shown on your temporary card whenever you make a reservation or cheсk in for a flight, so the points that you have earned can be registered accurately in your account.


Earn bonus points on all flights as always, although less on cheaper flights!

You will earn points on all VivaJet flights. You don't earn as many points on the cheaper flights – which we feel is only fair. The principle is that the more you spend, the more points you earn. For the cheapest tickets you will earn 25% of the points you earn for a normal Economy ticket.


Here's an example
Route = Adelaide – Brisbane
Full fare = 2400 Basic points
VivaSaver Fare= 1200 Basic points
VivaPromo Fare ($49 tickets) = 300 Basic points


More points for VivaPlus Bonus Silver and Gold members
Fly more – get more. That is the principle we live by. It's only fair that those of you who travel the most should get more. As a Gold or Silver member you will earn more Basic points on every flight, regardless of ticket.


Give a bonus trip to your family and friends
You can give your trip to all the friends you want. Why not take a couple of friends with you over the weekend? Or give mum a well-deserved trip to the Gold Coast or Tasmania on Mother's day? Now it's easier than ever to be more generous.


Less points needed to become a Silver or Gold member
Here's good news for those of you who travel a lot with us. You only need 20000 points to become a Silver member and 40000 to get Gold membership. And the Silver and Gold memberships give you more points on every trip and more benefits as you travel.

Hmm...still not buying it.

 

[oz_mark]

Not sure all the journos buy it either...


From the HeraldSun
VivaJet Airlines check in at Wavell St, Bentleigh | Herald Sun

THE scene in leafy Wavell Street, Bentleigh, yesterday afternoon was a far cry from a busy airport.

Nothing stirred, not even a bird, and noticeably missing was the roar of jet engines and the smell of aviation kerosene.

Yet, according to official company records, the brick house at number 16 is the registered office of VivaJet Airlines Pty Ltd.

VivaJet has yet to put an aircraft into the sky or sell tickets to would-be travellers but it publishes a website outlining flight schedules.

 

[docjames]

Interesting how they are "starting" with about 5 aircraft yet have 5 departures in the first hour of the day from EVERY capital airport.......

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting how they are "starting" with about 5 aircraft yet have 5 departures in the first hour of the day from EVERY capital airport.......

A significant advantage of imigining your dream airline is that you don't need to worry about minor things like logistics and scheduling :!

 

[oz_mark]

CASA says VivaJet won't operate this year | Herald Sun

A PLAN to launch a new airline business from a house in suburban Bentleigh appears to have crashed before take-off.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority made it clear yesterday that would-be carrier VivaJet, which hopes to begin flying before Christmas, would not get approval to fly this year.

VivaJet Airlines Pty Ltd, a start-up company owned and now being promoted by Cenap Hasmet Kahyaoglu, wants to begin passenger and cargo flights before the end of 2008.

 

[ric_melb]

I just find it so surprising that News Corp papers, especially The Australian, could be so taken in by the purported plans of this yet to be airline.

In this climate there is no way that they will ever take off.

 

[pauly7]

A couple of you have mentioned this guy is 'known'...
Is he mentally ill or just overwhelmingly full of optimism!!?

 

[oz_mark]

I just find it so surprising that News Corp papers, especially The Australian, could be so taken in by the purported plans of this yet to be airline.

In this climate there is no way that they will ever take off.

The thing that intrigued me was that the website itself has been in existence for some time and had previously been discussed on this board.

I think the reason that the newspapers took it seriously is that the origin seems to have been from CAPA:

The Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said the new airline planned to start passenger and cargo services later this year, using the 70-seat Embraer E-170 and 90-seat E-190 regional passenger jets (E-Jets), 72-seat ATR-72 turbo-props and a Airbus A300 Freighter aircraft.

CAPA seems to be a well regarded source of information, and I would suggest that maybe it is CAPA that have been taken in by this.

 

[codash1099]

The thing that intrigued me was that the website itself has been in existence for some time and had previously been discussed on this board.

I think the reason that the newspapers took it seriously is that the origin seems to have been from CAPA:



CAPA seems to be a well regarded source of information, and I would suggest that maybe it is CAPA that have been taken in by this.

The article in "The Australian" was not written by their usual aviation writer. It was by Geoffrey Thomas, well known industry guru.

 

[NM]

Interesting how they are "starting" with about 5 aircraft yet have 5 departures in the first hour of the day from EVERY capital airport.......

Perhaps they intend codesharing on their own flights. And by staggering the departure times of the various codeshare flight numbers they can fudge the on-time departure figures (at least one of them should be on-time.

 

[coco50]

CASA says VivaJet won't operate this year | Herald Sun

There was a similar report in yesterday's Sydney Sun Herald. The airline will not fly this year if at all.