OZtralia.tv Blog

Airlines: The New and the Old

By: Phoenix Arrien

Airlines: The New and the Old

Currently there are some major restructuring involving domestic flights around Australia. Rising fuel prices are either the reason or the excuse for some airlines to cut services on some non-profitable routes.

Not that cut routes will matter too much, as other airlines eye the cut routes and often pick them up using different times or days of the week to see if they can make them work. It’s a little tweaking of this and nudging of that as the airways landscape ripples then settles into the next phase.

And while we are on the subject of flying, Australia is about to welcome several newlines:

Indonesian airline, Lion Air which will begin Australian operations later this year.  The airline is expected to operate international routes, however have not ruled out the possibility of “some” domestic routes.

The newest international airline to emerge is managed by the formidable Virgin Blue group. ‘V Australia’ is a new premium, three class airline based in Sydney and flying the trans-Pacific route.

A budget airline on the Australia - USA route will mean more than a just ripple for the current airlines servicing this meaty flight path. Prices are set to start at $1899 which at current prices is competitive, though not hugely so.

However competition is welcome. Bring it on!

Richard Branson’s Australian Retreat

By: Phoenix Arrien

On a visit to Noosa on the east coast of Australia, I took a cruise through that region’s waterways and we passed a lovely-looking island with house on it. ‘Richard Branson’s island,’ said the guide.

The billionaire Virgin chief is building a luxury retreat for his staff on this island - called Makepeace Island - it is going be a two million pound, nine-hectare estate. Plans for a country club and helipad have been scrapped after environmental concerns.

The locals are still grumbling about the removal of trees and the 85-year-old timber house built in the classic ‘Queenslander’ style including wraparound porches.

Richard brought it for one million pounds in 2003. Nice to know those cheerful Virgin employees will have a swanky holiday hideout. Mind you, Noosa has plenty of swankiness.

More on that hip little town soon.