Australian Airlines
 | |||||||
,_Australian_Airlines_JP316293.jpg) Boeing 767-300ER in July 2004 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Commenced operations | 27 October 2002 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 30 June 2006 | ||||||
| Hubs | Cairns | ||||||
| Secondary hubs | Sydney | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Qantas Frequent Flyer | ||||||
| Fleet size | 5 | ||||||
| Destinations | 15 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||
Australian Airlines was an Australian airline that commenced operations in October 2002 serving Australian and Asian destinations. An all-economy, full-service international leisure carrier, it was a subsidiary of Qantas. Its main hub was at Cairns Airport, with a secondary hub at Sydney Airport. It ceased in June 2006 with the brand retired.
History
[edit]
In August 2001, Qantas announced it would establish a low cost airline with a cost base 25-30% lower to operate on routes that were unprofitable.[1] The name was a revivial of the Australian Airlines brand that Qantas had acquired in September 1992 when it merged with Australian Airlines.[2][3][4]
It commenced operations on 27 October 2002 with four former Qantas Boeing 767-300ERs that were reconfigured with 271 economy seats on flights from Cairns to Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Nagoya, Singapore and Taipei.[5] In 2003, a further two 767-300ERs were added for the commencement of flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Denpasar.[6][7]
In June 2006 the Australian Airlines brand was retired.[8][9] The airline's aircraft were refitted with business class seating and repainted back into Qantas livery.[10][11]
Destinations
[edit]Australian Airlines operated scheduled services to the following destinations:
- Australia
- Cairns – Cairns Airport (Main hub)
- Darwin – Darwin International Airport
- Gold Coast – Gold Coast Airport
- Melbourne – Melbourne Airport
- Perth – Perth Airport
- Sydney – Sydney Airport (Secondary hub)
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Taiwan
Note 1 Suspended prior to ceasing operations
Fleet
[edit]When operations ceased in June 2006, Australian Airlines operated five Boeing 767-300ERs.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Qantas spreads its wings Australian Financial Review 19 November 2002
- ^ End of an airline as Qantas moves in Sydney Morning Herald 14 April 1993
- ^ Qantas announces low cost airline Australian Aviation issue 177 October 2001 page 18
- ^ Expanding Overseas...and at Home Qantas
- ^ Australian takes off Australian Aviation issue 190 December 2002 page 16
- ^ Australian Airlines Announces Expansion Qantas 25 February 2003
- ^ Australian Airlines expands Australian Aviation issue 193 April 2003 page 17
- ^ Qantas Group International Networks Qantas 11 April 2006
- ^ Goodbye Australian, Hello Jetstar Intl Australian Aviation issue 228 June 2006 page 14
- ^ Annual Report (PDF). Qantas. 30 June 2006. p. 11.
- ^ a b Australian Airlines Australian Aviation issue 229 July 2006 page 72
External links
[edit]
Media related to Australian Airlines at Wikimedia Commons