Numbers plummet at Wellington airport

[oz_mark]

Something from the NZ Herald.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=3&ObjectID=10365231

Lack of competition among airlines saw passenger numbers plummet at Wellington Airport last month and there were no signs of it picking up, listed infrastructure investor Infratil said yesterday.

Infratil, which owns 66 per cent of the airport, said international passenger traffic in December was down 12.4 per cent on the year before. Airline capacity dropped 8.8 per cent as Pacific Blue stopped flying to Sydney and Qantas and Air New Zealand cut seat numbers.

Although domestic traffic fared better, it, too, was down 5.3 per cent on the year before.

 

[JohnK]

Anyone have any recent statistics on passenger movement through Wellington airport. I remember Kiwi Flyer mentioning that Wellington airport is one of the higher taxed airports in NZ. Could this have something to do with it?

Would be interesting to see any changes if/when Air NZ and QF start codeshare flights.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I imagine numbers fairly stable since no significant route or schedule changes that I'm aware of - last year had loss of Pacific Blue.

Maybe Infratil (WLG owner) website has some stats?

 

[QF WP]

Indeed they do have May statistics on their website

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Indeed they do have May statistics on their website

Thanks for the link Lindsay Wilson. I got caught up in some moderator stuff on the other board that took a few hours and didn't get back to add the link.

PS the stats are for April, but posted in May

 

[JohnK]

PS the stats are for April, but posted in May

Figures suggest further drop in numbers, albeit only a small one, in April.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Figures suggest further drop in numbers, albeit only a small one, in April.

Surprising it isnt a bigger drop really. Last year easter was in March and this year its April. WLG is mainly a business destination.

 

[jakeseven7]

Hmm, I fly to Welly often, and the flights are almost always full or close to (QF). Infact I'm flying this afternoon and was unable to get on the direct QF from Syd, so forced to chance it with NZ!

 

[Yada Yada]

Hmm, I fly to Welly often, and the flights are almost always full or close to (QF). Infact I'm flying this afternoon and was unable to get on the direct QF from Syd, so forced to chance it with NZ!

So I wonder why all the ballyhoo from QF and NZ about excess capacity and the losses they are racking up? Is everyone only flying to Auckland?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

So I wonder why all the ballyhoo from QF and NZ about excess capacity and the losses they are racking up? Is everyone only flying to Auckland?

Some flights are much fuller than others - ie Monday and Friday, business timed flights vs middle of day.

Overall load factors are lower than they'd like.

 

[jakeseven7]

Some flights are much fuller than others - ie Monday and Friday, business timed flights vs middle of day.

Overall load factors are lower than they'd like.

And it could well be that NZ are suffering the most on this route (Syd-Welly) 99% of the time I fly QF so view is biased.

Little bit off topic, but did have to fly NZ on Sunday to Welly as QF was overbooked. Made my top 10 of worst flights ever, sometimes I think I take QF for granted! Not again in a hurry thanks very much! Thankfully got on a Jetconnect flight out this afternoon... phew.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Numbers up in May - NZ Herald

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Made my top 10 of worst flights ever

What happened?

 

[jakeseven7]

What happened?

1) Not the fault of NZ but Wild Wellington weather almost turned the plane over when we landed, a few screams then thunderous round of applause for the pilot afterwards
2) Service was lacking, food(?) was handed out quite soon after departure then left to sit until 30mins before we landed. Crew went AWOL for 2 hours.
3) Aircraft was a NZA320 operated by Freedom. Never flown a NZ A320 and never will again, more cramped than DJ and JQ!
4) Food was the worst Id ever had, a small fatty piece of chicken, a piece of lettuce 2cm by 3cm (Im not kidding) and 1 small potoato. That was it, no bread or salad.
5) Crew seemed inexperienced, fluffed around with the IFE, couldn't work it for a bit.
6) Cabin lights left on full blast the whole trip despite being a night flight and despite pax requests to turn down so people could sleep. Reason: safety.... hmmm I don't think so....

Just a nasty flight all in all. But at least I got here in one piece, for a second there I didn't think that was going to happen!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Seat pitch in Y on the A320 is 32" - not worse than DJ or JQ.

WLG arrivals can be fun in windy conditions (which it was in the weekend). Even better in small a/c when you look through the coughpit to see sky, water, hills in quick succession!

 

[Nightwatchman]

I fly QF to NZ fairly regularly with regional connections, and used to fly to Wgt without really thinking about it.

However, I am over the small 737s they send into Wgt, as they are invariably full and very cramped - and now fly to Auk or ChCh where the 767s have a greater chance of empty seats and room to spread out.

 

[jakeseven7]

Seat pitch in Y on the A320 is 32" - not worse than DJ or JQ.

WLG arrivals can be fun in windy conditions (which it was in the weekend). Even better in small a/c when you look through the coughpit to see sky, water, hills in quick succession!

Trust me I know the seat pitch, the second I got to my hotel I went and looked it up and could not believe it was 32" felt more like 15"! I felt like a sardine. I can only put it down to maybe because of the leather seats which are a bit bulkier - this led to me feeling more cramped.... but then JQ and DJ have leather seats too... Can't explain. But won't be flying them again in a hurry.

I normally enjoy the WLG approach - but this was near death