Aviation News International – This year has seen several changes in the aviation market down under, with ultra-low-cost-carrier Bonza breaking into the Australian aviation scene, alongside once regional carrier Rex, growing in popularity as a commuter airline between some of Australia’s biggest cities. Across the ditch, Air New Zealand continues to be the major player in the New Zealand aviation market, and September 2023 marked the carrier’s first 12 months of direct services to the Big Apple.
The significant players in Oceania remain Qantas and Air New Zealand. However, Bonza, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Rex continue to grow in popularity across the region. While the New Zealand market is small compared to the United States, Europe, and Asia, you can learn more about the regional airlines connecting some unfamiliar destinations throughout New Zealand here.
Are you looking to travel internationally? Well, Melbourne Airport has become the first Aussie airport to exceed pre-pandemic international capacity; over 1.31 million seats will be on offer this December from the Victorian airport, and international carriers are returning in droves, such as Aircalin’s direct service to Noumea, New Caledonia, or Air India’s new Mumbai service.
Discover more aviation news for Australia and Oceania here
G’Day Bonza
One of the biggest headlines this year was newcomer Bonza, the ultra-low-cost carrier poised to be the ‘Ryanair’ of the outback. The airline, initially basing itself on the Sunshine Coast, and later Melbourne, and the Gold Coast, launched with much fanfare, and since its introduction, the ‘Ryanair effect’ has seen legacy carriers drop fares to compete with Shazza and Bazza (some of the airline’s unique aircraft names). Simple Flying was in the middle of the action for the airline’s inaugural flight. Check it out here.
Air New Zealand remains the most significant player in destinations between Australia and New Zealand. However, a major player remains absent at many New Zealand airports. Virgin Australia remains coy on whether it plans to return to Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, or Christchurch, now only operating into Queenstown from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Flight Review: Air New Zealand Airbus A320neo Trans-Tasman Economy Class From Gold Coast To Christchurch
Testing out the airlines ‘Works’ product across the Tasman.
Two players to New York
Qantas was quick to steal Air New Zealand’s thunder this year by introducing its new Sydney – Auckland – New York service. At the time of the launch, the then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce noted the airline’s aspirations for a direct Sydney to New York service under its ‘Project Sunrise,’ which will take off with the Airbus A350-1000; however, while the airline waits patiently for new aircraft, Qantas is looking for its slice of the big apple from Auckland.
Rex, Australia’s largest independent domestic and regional carrier, has added several aircraft and routes throughout the highly competitive market. This month, Rex welcomed its tenth 737 and retained its title as Australia’s most reliable airline. In October, the carrier added another inter-state service, joining Brisbane to Adelaide and adding more flights between Brisbane and Melbourne.
Soruce: https://simpleflying.com/top-aviation-news-australia-new-zealand-2023/
