OzJet

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OzJet Airlines
IATA O7	ICAO OZJ	Callsign AUSJET
Founded		2005
Fleet size		4 Boeing 737
Destinations		Brisbane, Sydney, Norfolk Island, Perth, Derby and Port Moresby
Headquarters		Melbourne Airport
Key people		Paul Stoddart (Chairman) Hans van Pelt (CEO)
Website: http://www.ozjet.com.au/

Ozjet Airlines was an Australian business class airline, owned by Paul Stoddart, now operating as a charter airline. It offered business class seats at fares similar to fully flexible economy class seats. As of November 2005 it operated three Boeing 737 jets in all-business-class configurations between Sydney and Melbourne. The airline commenced operations 29 November 2005 and ceased scheduled flights on 12 March 2006. Its current fleet of 737s have been transferred from Paul Stoddart's European Aviation since September 2005. OzJet intended to expand its fleet with a further three Boeing 737-200s and four BAe 146s and to expand its network to include the cities of Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth.

Ozjet's motto was "You're in Business". OzJet wanted to eventually take 10% of the business market from competitors Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar.

The airline operated between Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine and Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney. In Melbourne it operated from Terminal 3, the former Ansett terminal (now used by Virgin Blue and Regional Express), and in Sydney used the common user terminal, Terminal 2. OzJet has announced the recommencement of scheduled flights, this time between Perth and Derby, starting in February 2007.

Contents 1 Former Competitors 2 History 3 Aging Aircraft 4 Final Call 5 Norfolk Island Charter 6 Airlines PNG 7 Fleet 8 External links 9 References

[edit] Former Competitors

Ozjet once "competed" in the business traveller market against the all-economy low-cost carrier Virgin Blue, and the full-service two-class Qantas CityFlyer services. However, many analysts believed there was never any real competition, that Ozjet never really had a sustainable competitive advantage in the first place.

[edit] History

Following its pre-application meeting on 10 June 2005, Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd gained a Certificate of Airworthiness for its first jet on 28 October 2005. It was granted an Air Operator's Certificate by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 11 November 2005. On 29 November 2005 OzJet commenced flying eight scheduled services per day each way between Melbourne and Sydney using Boeing 737-200 aircraft in a single class configuration of 60 seats. In December 2005 the airline commenced offering charter flights.

The name Ozjet was the brain child of Peter Schott, a Metroliner pilot from New South Wales studying for his Masters of Business Administration at Swinburne University in Victoria. The trademark "Ozjet" was registered to him in 2002 as was the original company. When the then F1 Minardi owner (born in Coburg, Victoria), Paul Stoddart announced the idea of a low cost domestic regional airline, Ausjet, a new company Ausjet Airlines Pty Ltd was created. It was only a matter of time that Peter Schott and Paul Stoddart realised the potential of adopting the Ozjet name and the deal was done. In 2004 the original Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd was deregistered and Ausjet Airlines Pty Ltd became Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd. Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd is now wholly owned by Paul Stoddart. Peter Schott was initially the Chief operating officer, now replaced by David Blake.

[edit] Aging Aircraft

OzJet is unusual among Australian airlines due to the age of its aircraft. Most airlines operating jet aircraft domestically in Australia tend to have young fleets. However, OzJet's 200-series Boeing 737 aircraft are over 30 years old (manufactured in 1975).

These older series 737s are distinguishable from modern 737s by the longer, narrower jet engines mounted under each wing.

As a requirement of OzJet's certification, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) ordered OzJet to carry out more stringent safety checks and maintenance on its aircraft as part of CASA's aging airline certification program.

[edit] Final Call

On Sunday 12 March 2006 Chairman of OzJet Paul Stoddart announced that OzJet would cease all scheduled operations. All stranded passengers were given flights with Qantas (economy) and all other booked fares will be given full refunds, and an opportunity to book a matching flight with Qantas at the same price. OzJet will now try to operate as a private charter company working with a heavily reduced staff and a reduced aircraft number. Analysts believe that there is not enough charter business to fill the planes and caution that this market is even more ruthless than regular public transport.

[edit] Norfolk Island Charter

On 16 May 2006, OzJet was announced as taking over operating the regular service from Australia to Norfolk Island, replacing Air Nauru from 24 May 2006. The aircraft will be configured in a single class of 108 seats, ticketed by Qantas.^[1] OzJet's 737-200s now operate flights from Norfolk Island to Sydney and Brisbane for Norfolk Air.

[edit] Airlines PNG

On August 21, 2006, began charter operations for Airlines PNG between Brisbane and Port Moresby configured with 60 business class seats.

[edit] Fleet

As of August 2006 the OzJet fleet includes ^[2] :

• 4 Boeing 737-200
  • VH-OZU
  • VH-OZX
  • VH-OZD
  • VH-OBN

[edit] External links

• OzJet website - carried announcement of focus on charter flights from 12 March 2006
• Airliners.Net Photographs of OzJet aircraft

[edit] References

1. ^ "OzJet to take over Norfolk Island services", e-Travel Blackboard, 2006-05-16. Retrieved on May 16, 2006.
2. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006

• 11 November 2005 media release
• 12 March 2006 media release
• News article on the commencement of flights
• News article on the commencement of charter flights