Newcatle to Auckland - New 3 Year Deal

[Bagpuss]

All the info :

Auckland flights to return to Williamtown airport

Direct flights between Williamtown and Auckland are back, with a new three-year partnership between Newcastle Airport and Virgin...

www.portstephensexaminer.com.au

 

[Mattg]

I must admit that I'm very surprised to see this returning after the NTL-AKL route's performance last summer. Many of those flights were less than half full.

Either yields must be good, the flight has a lot of valuable freight, or VA is getting a great subsidy from Newcastle Airport or another party.

 

[Pleb Status]

I must admit that I'm very surprised to see this returning after the NTL-AKL route's performance last summer. Many of those flights were less than half full.

Either yields must be good, the flight has a lot of valuable freight, or VA is getting a great subsidy from Newcastle Airport or another party.

With the recent comments from the new VA CEO about cutting costs, increasing profit etc, I doubt VA would continue this route if they were making a loss. I would assume some taxpayer money would be underwriting any losses that may be incurred by VA over the next three years.

Off topic, but sort of related, I note that the other 'oddball' route of 2018, PER-HBA, is still operating and will celebrate its first birthday in September...

 

[Bagpuss]

Off topic, but sort of related, I note that the other 'oddball' route of 2018, PER-HBA, is still operating and will celebrate its first birthday in September...

Whenever I have seen people boarding at Perth for HBA service, it seems very busy/popular.

 

[Pleb Status]

Whenever I have seen people boarding at Perth for HBA service, it seems very busy/popular.

Hopefully VA will go daily in the future. The current schedule is a little awkward for me to utilise at the moment.

 

[Bagpuss]

Either yields must be good, the flight has a lot of valuable freight, or VA is getting a great subsidy from Newcastle Airport or another party.

(Last year) ... "There were 36 inbound flights which carried 3,493 passengers, while the 35 outbound flights had 3,194 passengers on board.


The figures indicated an average load factor of 55 per cent on inbound services and 52 per cent on outbound flights, given Virgin Australia’s 737-800s have 176 seats."

Virgin Australia renews seasonal flights between Newcastle and Auckland

Newcastle Airport will have an international flight for at least the next three years, with Virgin Australia to maintain its seasonal flight to Auckland.

australianaviation.com.au

Pretty sure given the capacity cuts there is an agreement between Newcastle Airport / Local Tourism / Council to subsidize the service. The airport wants to become more international and the local community wants the tourism dollar.

 

[aamslfc]

No complaints here; we did NTL-AKL return on a ridiculously cheap Any Seat J Reward fare at the end of last year in peak season, and booked a month out from departure.

Those flights offer great value provided you can make the dates work and position into Newcastle.

If NTL had a lounge of some description it would be even better.

 

[clipped_wings]

I am originally from Shoal Bay, which is on the Port Stephens peninsula, near the airport at Williamtown. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt - tourist dollars are imperative to the local economy. But it is a sleepy little hollow with no real vision. The Port Stephens Council drags its feet with progressive thinking. We only got traffic lights in the last decade. If I was a Councillor, I'd push a light rail to Newcastle and the Bay to be the first item on the agenda for infrastructure. Flights may abound - but the poor tourists will be walking 20-30km to their hotels.

 

[Mattg]

NTL-AKL is available for $292 return in tonight's Happy Hour sale.

 

[Mattg]

And in tonight's happy hour, NTL-AKL flights are only $271.99 return. Great deal for a full service airline.