New Zealand Airline History: Mount Cook Airline

Showing posts with label Mount Cook Airline. Show all posts

Friday, 3 November 2023

50 years since NAC - last flight of the HS748 - first 777 to NZ

The National Airways Corporation (NAC) was formed in 1947 by the first Labour Government by nationalising a number of smaller private airlines and using transport aircraft of the RNZAF. It was set up to be the statutory monopoly domestic airline, but also short-haul international services in the South Pacific until 1955. The article from 1997 commemorates 50 years since it was set up, but of course it was merged with the, up till then, international only, Air New Zealand, in 1978.

NAC reflected a philosophy of central planning of the expansion of domestic airline services across New Zealand, by a state-owned monopoly carrier, which was expected to operate at a modest profit, and accompanied development of airports across the country. It culminated in 1966 when Taupo and Oamaru were added to the network.

The article paralleled launch of a book by NAC's last general manager, Doug Patterson, who passed away in 1993. It summarises the history of NAC.

26 May 1997 - Evening Post - 50 years since NAC formed

On 13 February 1996, the Dominion noted the last flight of Mount Cook Airline's Hawker Siddeley HS748 into Wellington, as it was replaced by the ATR72. It also noted the first arrival of a Boeing 777-200ER (of Cathay Pacific) being flown for certification purposes. Boeing 777-200ER would become a frequent visitor to NZ in subsequent years, and Air NZ would acquire a fleet of them and operate them from 2005 to 2021.

Friday, 27 October 2023

1990s: Possible replacement of Mount Cook Airline HS748 with Saab 2000

In 1992 Martyn Gosling wrote in the Dominion about the possibility of Mount Cook Airline replacing the Hawker Siddeley HS748 with the Saab 2000, with the article very much indicating that an order was imminent. This did not happen.

Mount Cook Airline/Air NZ ordered the Aerospatiale ATR-72 to replace the HS748, but this did not occur for another three years. By that time, Air NZ was branding all Mount Cook Airline aircraft as Air NZ.

The Saab 2000 had capacity of up to 58 seats but was not a success, with only 63 built between 1992 and 1999. However, the Saab 340 had been a success in NZ, as Air Nelson had ordered the type and operated it from 1990 until 2007 (of course from 1995 onwards Air Nelson was a 100% subsidiary of Air NZ, and Mount Cook Airline had become a 100% subsidiary of Air NZ in 1991).

Monday, 16 October 2023

Air New Zealand domestic timetable 1988

Following nearly a year of direct competition with Ansett New Zealand, Air New Zealand refined its schedule and its domestic product to be more competitive. This is the full timetable for the period from 28 March 1988 until October 1988.

From a product point of view, Air New Zealand's key innovation was to split its Boeing 737 fleet into two, with different products. Standard two class (with full service economy and Pacific (business) class), and Citysaver (which was an all-economy class no-frills). Flights were split into City Saver and standard flights, operated by the respective aircraft in the two configurations. Super City Saver were fares off-peak, but there were also off-peak fares with standard aircraft (Thrifty and Super Thrifty fares),

The difference in product was in on-board service, described on pg 77:

Pacific Class: Hot meals provided at breakfast, lunch and dinner periods, with snacks at other times (except between Dunedin and Invercargill). Standard 737 services, and 767 and 747 services. Depicted in more detail on pg. 97 (with middle seat blocked, sheepskin seat covers and Koru Club access).
Economy Class 737, 767 and 747 services: Cold meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner periods, with snack at other times (except between Dunedin and Invercargill).
City Saver/Super City Saver services: Fruit juice only
Fokker F27 services between Auckland and Gisborne, Napier, Nelson and Palmerston North. Between Wellington and Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga and Timaru. Between Christchurch and Napier and Palmerston North. Light refreshments, of cheese, biscuits and beverages.

The two-tier 737 service was ultimately not a success. It was intended to provide a no-frills option for business travellers, with cheaper fares for last-minute travel at peak times, at a lower cost. The idea being that many travellers cared little about on-board service, but were more price sensitive, so having regular services that were no-frills provided flexibility for travellers.

However, it did mean there was complexity in levels of service. For casual travellers, they could often get cheaper Thrifty and Super Thrifty fares on full service aircraft, and get refreshments. The complexity of different levels of service added cost, and Ansett NZ by contrast just had a single full-service operation. The benefits of a no-frills airline in terms of cost were diluted by the costs of providing the full-service operation as well, without the flexibility of aircraft being able to substitute for each other.

This timetable also fully integrates Mount Cook Airline services into the timetable. It also has timetables for Safe Air, Bell Air, Eagle Airways and Southern Air, as well as information about air cargo and ground transport transfers from airports served by Air NZ.

Airfares at the time are also included. For example, Wellington-Auckland varied from $184.80 in Pacific Class ($451 in 2023 prices) one way, to $73 for super thrifty fares ($178 in 2023 prices).