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Gold Coast - SkyBus

Started by ozbob, December 08, 2017, 07:43:12 AM

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ozbob

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ozbob

Gold Coast Bulletin --> 'Kids free' SkyBus comes out swinging as Gold Coast Airport competition heats up

QuoteA MELBOURNE-based airport transfer service is planning to rapidly grow its market share of Gold Coast passenger numbers via a child-friendly offer.

SkyBus, which has bought the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle, is offering $21 tickets to Surfers Paradise where one adult can travel with up to four children.

However, Stuart Stratton, boss of local airport transport service Con-X-ion said he wasn't fazed by the new competition due to his company's door-to-door service offering.

SkyBus co-chief executive Adam Begg, whose company transports four million passengers in Melbourne and one million in Auckland each year, said he is aiming to quickly build on trip numbers from the shuttle's 150,000 a year.

"Our hope is to grow market share rapidly. Our market share in Melbourne is 11 per cent, in Auckland 5 per cent, so we'd like to see the Gold Coast somewhere in that range," he said.

SkyBus operates 28-seat 10m low-floor buses with free Wi-Fi and is rolling out a fleet of 13 on the Gold Coast.

Mr Begg said the Coast was a "highly competitive" market but one where SkyBus could make inroads.

The service has a prime spot outside of the entrance to the baggage carousel at Gold Coast Airport's domestic terminal.

"We're an airport transfer specialist, that's all we do. It is a niche business and we think we do it better than anyone else," Mr Begg said.

"It is a much smaller market (than Auckland or Melbourne), we are eager to grow our market share by delivering reliability and brand equity. People trust in our brand."

Mr Begg said because SkyBus operated in Melbourne and Auckland, the company could offer end-to-end services for people travelling between those markets.

However, Mr Stratton said he "struggled" to see how SkyBus would compete in the Coast market.

"One of the things I struggle to understand is how they will compete with the 777 public bus service that connects to the tram in Broadbeach," he said.

"That is a low-cost model. In Melbourne they do not compete with public transport services.

"There is no train to the airport."

Mr Stratton said Con-X-ion's personalised service was a key point of difference from the competition.

Con-X-ion recently expanded its service to Melbourne through a joint venture with Bluebird Airport Shuttle.
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#Metro

^^ I don't think it is a wise investment for the bus company

- Competitive and frequent public option

- train will reach the airport at some time in the future

- light rail will reach the airport at some time in the future

I can only see door-to-door being something of interest.
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dancingmongoose

Quote from: #Metro on December 08, 2017, 08:29:28 AM
- train will reach the airport at some time in the future

- light rail will reach the airport at some time in the future
It'll be at least close to 10 years before either of those are achieved, plenty of time to earn some money

tazzer9

The 777 already goes to the airport on a fairly frequent timetable.   I get that one bus is more convenient over a bus and light rail(which will eventually get to the airport).
Skybus works in melbourne because it has the monopoly and will dissolve overnight once the melbourne airport rail line opens.

$21 per person over ~$5 per person on translink.  I know which one i would choose.   I also know which option translink would choose if skybus asked them if they could run the route. 

SurfRail

I think people are forgetting that Surfside runs Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle already, and that it was already making money for them DESPITE competing with the 777 and other services in the vicinity, and the other airport transfer operators.

I suspect they will now focus their charter operations on the theme parks now the existing TX routes are going to be decommissioned.  I suspect people will be prepared to pay a premium for a single-seat trip from door-to-door notwithstanding the availability of the light rail and bus combo. Again worth pointing out that the TX services are either profitable or near profitable, and yet GCTS still competes with them and makes money.
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ozbob

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BrizCommuter

Quote from: dancingmongoose on December 08, 2017, 09:08:12 AM
Quote from: #Metro on December 08, 2017, 08:29:28 AM
- train will reach the airport at some time in the future

- light rail will reach the airport at some time in the future
It'll be at least close to 10 years before either of those are achieved, plenty of time to earn some money
I think that's being optimistic!

SurfRail

Quote from: SurfRail on December 08, 2017, 17:46:53 PM
I think people are forgetting that Surfside runs Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle already, and that it was already making money for them DESPITE competing with the 777 and other services in the vicinity, and the other airport transfer operators.

I suspect they will now focus their charter operations on the theme parks now the existing TX routes are going to be decommissioned.  I suspect people will be prepared to pay a premium for a single-seat trip from door-to-door notwithstanding the availability of the light rail and bus combo. Again worth pointing out that the TX services are either profitable or near profitable, and yet GCTS still competes with them and makes money.

On this, it seems Skybus has acquired the operations of GCTS in full - their website indicates that includes the theme park transfers.

The Freedom Passes (airport/theme park transfers + unlimited use of Surfside services) appears to have been maintained.
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SurfRail

I've seen them doing a reasonably brisk trade this weekend.
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ozbob

Gold Coast Bulletin --> SkyBus expands seven-day Gold Coast Airport transfer service to Byron Bay

QuoteGOLD Coast Airport could nab more passengers to and from northern New South Wales after transfer company SkyBus announced a service to Byron Bay.

The "Byron Bay Express" will transfer passengers in the distinctive red buses from September 16, stopping in Jonson St in the town centre.

A fleet of four coaches will operate the service 19 times a day, seven days a week, with one-way adult tickets from $28, and deals available for return trips, seniors and families.

The Melbourne-based company bought up the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle in November last year, rebranding and expanding it under an aggressive expansion plan.

SkyBus Director Adam Begg said there was strong demand for the Byron service.

"Byron Bay has been on the lips of many of our Gold Coast customers, and it was clear there was demand for a quality, fast and reliable airport transfer service that catered just for Byron Bay," he said.

"We suspected that the demand for SkyBus was there, and our subsequent research of Gold Coast Airport visitors backed that up hard.

"With major events like Bluesfest and the Falls Music and Arts Festival bringing over 100,000 people to town each time they're held, Byron Bay has desperately needed a comfortable, reliable and cost-effective service that can scale-up and handle big volumes of people."

Tickets will be available for pre-sales next Friday, with the buses rolling from the depot in time for the school holiday season.
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verbatim9

Cheaper way to get to Byron too via Gold coast Airport. Train to Varsity then bus to OOL transfer to Skybus to Byron. :)

ozbob

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