Kiwijet

Kiwijet is a low-cost airline planned for New Zealand. It intends to be "New Zealand’s first all jet regional airline",cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0708/S00080.htm |title=Clarification of current status |date=2007-08-03 |year=2007 |month=August |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=Scoop ] serving seven cities with BAe Avro RJ-100s.cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00196.htm |title=Kiwijet Airline Announces Planned Changes |date=2007-09-11 |year=2007 |month=September|accessdate=2007-09-14 |format= |work=Scoop ]

History

The airline, announced in May 2007 [cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0705/S00045.htm |title=First True Low Cost Carrier in New Zealand |date=2007-05-02 |year=2007 |month=May |accessdate=2007-08-04 |format= |work=Scoop ] , currently plans to launch in November 2008.cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00474.htm |title=Kiwijet Alive And Well |date=2007-07-25 |year=2007 |month=July |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=Scoop ] [cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10455749 |title=Kiwijet aims for $85.6m in 45 days |date=2007-08-04 |year=2007 |month=August |accessdate=2007-08-04 |format= |work=New Zealand Herald]

Kiwijet's stated plans have changed considerably since its initial announcement. It initially planned to operate two or more Boeing 737 aircraft on routes from Auckland to Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill at fares as low as $150. cite web |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/05/07/1178390184272.html |title=Air NZ plans budget airline |date=2007-05-07 |year=2007 |month=May |accessdate=2007-05-20 |format= |work=Brisbane Times ] The airline has been accused of using information leaked by Air New Zealand employees to gain a business advantage. [cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411424/1097652 |title=Race to set up cut price airline |date=2007-05-04 |year=2007 |month=May |accessdate=2007-05-20 |format= |work=One News ] In June, Kiwijet issued a press release stating that it had been unsuccessful in its bid to buy JetConnect, the local subsidiary of Qantas.cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00289.htm |title=Proposal to Acquire NZ Jetconnect turned down |date=2007-06-19 |year=2007 |month=June |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=Scoop ] Kiwijet stated that it would proceed with "plan B", which would see Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft operating between nine cities, providing a feeder service to foreign airlines without a New Zealand partner.cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0706/S00289.htm |title=Proposal to Acquire NZ Jetconnect turned down |date=2007-06-19 |year=2007 |month=June |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=Scoop ] More details of this plan were released in July, when Kiwijet announced the choice of Christchurch as a hub city, confirmed its plan to use of Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, and changed one planned destination. cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0707/S00474.htm |title=Kiwijet Alive And Well |date=2007-07-25 |year=2007 |month=July |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=Scoop ] In August, Kiwijet said that it was about to begin hiring chief operational staff, and that it was aiming to have seven aircraft at time of launch.cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0708/S00080.htm |title=Clarification of current status |date=2007-08-03 |year=2007 |month=August |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=Scoop ] In September, however, a further press release announced that due to difficulties sourcing, certifying, and maintaining its desired ERJ 145 variant in New Zealand, the airline would instead aim to launch with four BAe Avro RJ-100 aircraft, serving seven cities.cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00196.htm |title=Kiwijet Airline Announces Planned Changes |date=2007-09-11 |year=2007 |month=September|accessdate=2007-09-14 |format= |work=Scoop ]

References