Pacific Blue Airlines
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| Pacific Blue Airlines | ||
|---|---|---|
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| IATA DJ |
ICAO PBN |
Callsign BLUEBIRD |
| Founded | 2003 | |
| Hubs | Brisbane International Airport Christchurch International Airport |
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| Secondary hubs | Auckland Airport Wellington International Airport |
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| Frequent flyer program | Velocity Rewards | |
| Fleet size | 9 | |
| Destinations | {{{destinations}}} | |
| Parent company | Virgin Blue Holdings Limited | |
| Company slogan | Pay a Visit, Not a Fortune | |
| Headquarters | Christchurch, New Zealand | |
| Key people | Adrian Hamilton-Manns | |
| Website: http://www.flypacificblue.com | ||
Pacific Blue is the New Zealand based 'Flag of Convenience' subsidiary of Australian airline Virgin Blue. Based in Christchurch, it currently operates low-fare air services within New Zealand, between New Zealand and Australia, and Australia to south Asia. It also operates services on behalf of Polynesian Blue. Pacific Blue's Australian hub is at Brisbane Airport and its New Zealand bases are Christchurch Airport and Auckland Airport.[1]
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[edit] History
The airline was established in 2003 and started operations in January 2004 with a service between Christchurch and Brisbane, Australia. Pacific Blue also operated Wellington to Sydney for three months, but this service was cancelled in favour of services to Brisbane.
As of the first flight of 1 August 2007 (local date), the ICAO was changed from PBI to PBN. This was done in consultation with air traffic controllers to prevent confusion between the letter I and the number 1 in flight plans.
On 21 August 2007, Pacific Blue announced its intention to begin domestic services in New Zealand[2] with the first flights scheduled to operate early November. The initial routes were Auckland–Wellington, Christchurch–Wellington and Auckland–Christchurch. Upon this announcement competitors dropped their lead-in fares by up to 30%[citation needed]. Launch fares were made available for NZ$9 (AU$7.70) on all routes. Services began on November 12. The entry of Pacific Blue into the domestic market saw huge growth in passenger numbers at all three airports.[citation needed]
In April 2008 Pacific Blue announced a new domestic route to Dunedin, the first significant challenge to mainly Air New Zealand monopoly routes into regional areas. The first flight was on 1 July. Pacific Blue also announced a range of service increases to existing international routes to meet demand[citation needed].
[edit] Destinations
As of May 2009, Pacific Blue operates scheduled passenger flights to the following destinations:[3]
[edit] Asia
[edit] Oceania
- Australia
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Western Samoa
- New Zealand
- Auckland (Auckland Airport)
- Christchurch (Christchurch Airport)
- Wellington (Wellington Airport)
- Dunedin (Dunedin Airport)
- Hamilton (Hamilton International Airport) (starts September 2009)
- Queenstown (Queenstown Airport) (starts September 2009)
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Vanuatu
[edit] Future Services
The airline is currently investigating operating international services into and out of New Zealand tourist hubs, Rotorua and Queenstown, with the latter town being announced as an international destination from September 2009, [4] with air services operating to Sydney and Brisbane.
In June 2009 the airline announced the beginning of trans-Tasman services from Dunedin and reintroducing international services to Hamilton, New Zealand, beginning September. Filling in the void left by the end of Air New Zealand services to Hamilton in April of that year. Pacific Blue will enter the Sydney-Wellington, Sydney-Queenstown and Brisbane-Dunedin routes all operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Pacific Blue is continuing to expand its presence on the trans-Tasman market with Palmerston North and Adelaide being considered for services. Pacific Blue began twice weekly direct return from Adelaide to Nadi, Fiji beginning June 5 2009. Pacific Blue has been granted rights by the Australian Government to fly 3 times a week from Denpasar to Phuket, but is yet to formally announce or start this route.
[edit] Fleet
Pacific Blue's fleet consists of the following aircraft as of July 2009:
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Premium Economy) (Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | 9 |
12/180 | International, Domestic New Zealand and Australia | ZK-PBF in Polynesian Blue livery |
[edit] New Zealand Domestic Services
Pacific Blue launched domestic services in New Zealand on November 12, 2007. The services are operated by the same Boeing 737-800 aircraft used on all other Pacific Blue services. On top of these aircraft, there are several aircraft in Pacific Blue colours operating under Australian registrations with Virgin Blue.
The original schedule served flights between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, however in early 2008 Dunedin was launched with a flight from Christchurch with connections to other domestic destinations.
The proposed expansion of domestic services in New Zealand have taken a back seat as Virgin Blue began an all out assault on the low cost Trans Tasman market announcing three new New Zealand destinations in mid 2009. This was due to the arrival of fellow low cost competitor Jetstar Airways part of the Qantas Group, onto the New Zealand main trunk domestic market.
[edit] Wetlease Operations
Due to the World Economic Crisis, VirginBlue found itself with an number of surplus aircraft, and in turn extra Flight and Cabin Crew. Instead of making any staff redundant, VirginBlue took over a number of PacificBlue's international routes (DPS, HIR, WLG and POM, as well as ADL and MEL to NAN) to operate themselves under a wetlease arrangement. Thus leaving PacificBlue with excess crew instead.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: p. 60. 2007-04-10.
- ^ Pacific Blue Begins New Domestic Services In New Zealand
- ^ Pacific Blue Route Map
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10438843
- ^ http://www.flypacificblue.com/Personal/Services/Seating/index.htm retrieved:8/7/09.
[edit] External links
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