East-West Airlines (Australia)

East-West Airlines was an Australian regional airline founded in Tamworth, New South Wales in 1947. It operated to major regional city-centres and connected these centres to various provincial capitols. It was purchased from its original founders in a share buy-out by Bryan Grey and Duke Minks. For a period in the 1980s it competed vigorously with major airlines Ansett and Australian Airlines on inter-capitol routes. The Australian aviation industry was highly regulated at the time and East-West was not able to fly directly between major capital cities. This was due, in part, to the 'Two Airline policy' which enabled these two major airlines to operate more efficiently resulting in a duopoly. East-West did offer services between major cities via regional centres however. Routes included Melbourne to Sydney via Albury or Sydney to Brisbane via Newcastle. Because of its operating structure, East-West was able to significantly undercut other airlines. East West Airlines aggressive "Third Airline" campaign forced the Australian Government to eventually scrap the "Two Airline" policy. The Hawke-lead Labour Government worked to protect the anti-competitive agreement which had kept Australian air fares seemingly inflated for many years. Managing Director Bryan Grey along with marketing consultant John Williams created a massive nationwide media campaign and thus attracted many first time flyers with what could be described as Australia's first truly discounted fares in a now deregulated arena. East West set the scene for other airlines to enter the Australian domestic market years later.Fact|date=January 2008 Grey had been in the management team at Ansett for many years and Williams had previously worked with both TAA and Ansett. In an obvious gesture to East-West's success, daily newspaper cartoonists poked fun at the two dynsasty carriers (Ansett and TAA / Australian) as East West fares and service grew in popularity. In the early 1980's Bryan Grey sold the Airline to Western Australian business man Ric Stowe.East-West primarily flew Fokker F27 prop-jets and F28 jets but would eventually operate larger 737-300 equipment for passenger operations and Boeing 727-200s for cargo interests. Ironically, it would be acquired by Ansett from Ric Stowe in 1987. It continued to operate as a separate entity until 1993 when its operations were merged into those already established by Ansett.

Bryan Grey then created one further airline company,named Compass. This endeavour, however, was shortlived and folded at Christmas 1990.
*IATA Code: EWA
*ICAO Code: EW
*Callsign: EastWest [ [http://rzjets.net/operators/operator.php?opid=486 rzjets.net ] ]

Historical Fleet

*Douglas DC-3
*20 - Fokker F27 Friendship
*9 - Fokker F28 Fellowship
*2 - Boeing 727-277(F)
*3 - Boeing 737-200
*1 - de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
*8 - BAe 146-300 [Airlines Remembered by BI Hengi, Publisher Midland Publishing]

External links

* [http://www.eastwestva.org/ EastWest Australia virtual airline]

Referentes