RAIL - Back On Track Forum

https://x.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1786218738427294105

Quote from: ozbob on May 03, 2024, 12:38:34 PMNew Bus Services to Western Sydney Airport Precinct May 2024

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2024/New-Bus-Services-for-Western-Sydney-Airport-Precinct_May-2024.pdf

Well organised unlike PT to and from Wellcamp here in Toowoomba. They should extend a bus service to Wellcamp Airport or create a new one.

Why?

Because they don't have a cruise terminal.

https://www.wellcamp.com.au/passengers/fly/flight-status/

Although looking at todays arrival and departures they need a high frequency maglev to the cbd.

Quote from: verbatim9 on May 03, 2024, 16:46:14 PM

Quote from: ozbob on May 03, 2024, 12:38:34 PMNew Bus Services to Western Sydney Airport Precinct May 2024

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2024/New-Bus-Services-for-Western-Sydney-Airport-Precinct_May-2024.pdf

Well organised unlike PT to and from Wellcamp here in Toowoomba. They should extend a bus service to Wellcamp Airport or create a new one.

Yeah, because demand at WTB is likely to be the same as WSI. 🙄🙄🙄

WSI is forecast to serve 10 mil passengers in its first year. How long do you think it will take WTB to reach that mark?

Couriermail --> Flights subsidy furore at Brisbane Airport as aircraft noise takes off $

QuoteThe state government is under fire after revelations it is subsidising dozens of late night and early morning flights into and out of Brisbane Airport, contributing to aircraft noise.

New data to a senate inquiry has revealed the government is helping bankroll up to 50 flights a week between 10am and 6pm via its $200m Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.

The subsidised flights include a daily 1.55am service to Dubai by Emirates, the United Arab Emirates-owned airline which posted a record $A4.1bn half-year profit last November.

The government set up the aviation war chest in partnership with Queensland's major airports in 2022 to help the state recover from Covid, providing kickbacks to airlines to encourage extra flights.

Almost 30 services have been added with the help of the fund, which is claimed to have delivered an extra two million inbound seats and $1.82bn in overnight visitor spending. ...

Quote from: Courier-MailNew data to a senate inquiry has revealed the government is helping bankroll up to 50 flights a week between 10am and 6pm via its $200m Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.

So the QLD govt can subsidise a commercial flight to Qatar for people's holidays but not a coach between Brisbane and Toowoomba to bring it into the TL system or add top-up services to Airtrain.

I have no issue with providing incentives for airlines to fly into Brisbane rather a Melbourne or Sydney. The late night departure slots just make sense travelling to Europe as most people prefer those flights. In addition those slots are traditionally more commercially viable as they are cheaper and provide the best connections in Asia and the Middle East for onward journeys.

The aircraft noise issue is just virtue signalling from the Greens as well as from very small cohort of residents that bought or currently rent near the airport.

The Greens just want to ruin tourism opportunities, increase freight costs (supply chains) as we as make it more expensive to travel.

They have ruined Brisbane's reputation as an Olympic city with the Gabba rhetoric, now they want to ruin supply chains as well as tourism opportunities for the state as well as Australia.

Their inquires are both hypocritical and counter productive both into aircraft noise and supermarket pricing and general supply chains.

Around 75% of air traffic at Brisbane airport is for domestic air traffic. We have some of the busiest passenger flight routes in the world (Brisbane-Sydney is ranked #25 and Sydney-Melbourne #5). Obviously many inter-city travellers will always fly, no matter the options, but since this is Rail BoT, lack of good rail between Brisbane and Sydney is a pretty major issue.

Lack of WiFi and reliable internet (4G/5G pretty spotty out there from what I hear), lack of sleeper options, and a coach that runs a good part of the way come to the top of my head of "easier" issues to fix. HSR would be the real airline killer but that, even optimistically, would be a few decades away.

Quote from: verbatim9 on May 12, 2024, 11:21:09 AMThe Greens just want to ruin tourism opportunities, increase freight costs (supply chains) as we as make it more expensive to travel.

They have ruined Brisbane's reputation as an Olympic city with the Gabba rhetoric, now they want to ruin supply chains as well as tourism opportunities for the state as well as Australia.

My sympathies to people who have issues with airline noises, as where I am, >10km to the airport, they can be loud enough to briefly wake me up at 10:30pm. The Green-bashing is a bit unwarranted, I don't think "they" want to ruin Brisbane's reputation as an Olympic city and tourism opportunities yada yada. They are prone to populism, which is deserving of cynicism, but the other parties are just as prone to it (if not more...).

Quote from: #Metro on May 12, 2024, 09:00:09 AM

Quote from: Courier-MailNew data to a senate inquiry has revealed the government is helping bankroll up to 50 flights a week between 10am and 6pm via its $200m Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.

So the QLD govt can subsidise a commercial flight to Qatar for people's holidays but not a coach between Brisbane and Toowoomba to bring it into the TL system or add top-up services to Airtrain.

The aim of the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund from memory is to "attract Inbound Tourism" from developing routes/airlines into Queensland "in the name of Tourism and Jobs for Queensland".

Of course, it's not always a raging success (mixed outcomes thus far) and of course there are outside factors such as the AUD$ against those markets, especially when its AUD vs USD.

Similar to QTTC/QT/State Government interactions at the time for the AirTrain deed getting tourists to Brisbane and the Gold Coast. God knows how many random events Lucas and Beattie opened over those years at the Holiday Inn and Sofitel. You don't get to see many special charter trains now that you used to see back then.

Why Did Bonza Fail? ABC

Courier Mail---> Bizarre twist in Bonza administration as 777 Partners re-enter the picture

Administrators for collapsed budget carrier Bonza have revealed the airline's US owners 777 Partners have expressed interest in restructuring the company.

The surprising development was outlined in documents lodged with the Federal Court by Hall Chadwick, which is seeking a two-month extension to its appointment in the hope of achieving a sale (Ironside, 2024).

https://x.com/GuardianAus/status/1818378354615083483?t=LMzqRXg89HeU1PG0DbOg0Q&s=19

InQueensland --> Virgin steps up to fill breach, but thousands stranded as Rex hits financial turbulence

QuoteThousands of Regional Express customers are scrambling to find new flights after the airline went into voluntary administration and cancelled trips between major city airports. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1824112300481224833

New Airline announced... Koala

I wonder whether a different strategy will lead to a different result. Would you fly Koala?

Koala Airlines tight-lipped on how it will take on the Qantas, Virgin duopoly
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-29/koala-airlines-to-enter-qantas-virgin-duopoly-four-corners/104405640

QuoteBill Astling says he knows what it takes to start a new airline in Australia.

"You have to be insane," he says. "You have to have a degree of insanity."

Astling is the chief executive of Koala Airlines, a company hoping to avoid the fate of others that have tried to take on Qantas and Virgin.

"I've had a few people who've said: 'Have you appointed the liquidator yet?'" he jokes.

Australia's airline graveyard is littered with carriers who have tried and failed to beat the "big two".

Yeah, it's been in the news for the last couple of weeks. They have been around for a while and used to be called Desert Air. They are awaiting on new 737 Maxs' as well as approval to fly them in Australia from the relevant authorities.

They will be based in Melbourne and no doubt fly to Brisbane I suspect.

No doubt they will only last 12 months like the rest.