Prospective airlines circle for capital investment

By NZPA

Wednesday 19th February 2003

Competition on trans-Tasman and domestic flight routes is in good hands if the host of prospective airline operators is anything to go by.

No less than four budding entrepreneurs are looking for the elusive millions needed to get their airlines off the ground and tackle incumbents Air New Zealand, Qantas and Origin Pacific.

Promoters of the paper airlines all have past industry experience -- ranging from running a commuter airline to a baggage handler.

Jump Airlines, fronted by former owner of failed Cityjet Steve Mosen, came to light in May last year. The airline plans to fly two Boeing 737-800 jets on the main trunk routes and to Palmerston North.

It had hoped to start flying in April, but uncertainty created by the alliance proposal between Air New Zealand and Qantas has put the venture on hold.

Next up is Zoom Airways, whose founder, Christchurch helicopter pilot Robin McCarthy, wants to fly six 50-seater jets on the hour between the main centres.

He even placed advertisements for former Air New Zealand chief executive Gary Toomey to make contact in order to offer him a job running Zoom.

Previously, he planned to fly Russian-American Ilyushin jets between New Zealand and Western Europe, via Australia and Asia, as Virgin Pacific Airways. That name also bought him a fight with Virgin Enterprises owner Sir Richard Branson, who sued for breach of trademark. The case was settled out of court.

Submissions to the Commerce Commission on the Air New Zealand-Qantas alliance have thrown up two other would-be trans-Tasman carriers.

Jumpjet Airlines (not to be confused with Jump Airlines) plans to target the "cost-conscious leisure and business market" using a Boeing 737-700 jet, with operations to start when "suitable funding has been achieved". The company was founded by its managing director Nick Kile of Lower Hutt.

Finally, former Air New Zealand baggage handler Simon Gunson is "actively preparing to create a trans-Tasman airline to resolve the desperate need by South Island and Wellington exporters for more airfreight capacity".

Mr Gunson has not made the name of his airline public yet and concedes that the prospect of taking on the might of Air New Zealand has made it difficult to raise money for his venture.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet