Now that 2012 is here and we’re thinking about the new year ahead and our possible travel plans in the near future – possibly even a summer holiday – it’s exciting to know that Australia has a new airline. At Flights Australia, we’re happy to notice and to announce that Air Australia is now in the air and taking passengers in and around the country. This is good news for all who visit our site looking for a competitive deal on airline tickets, as Air Australia offers travellers some more options.
Australia already has Qantas and Jetstar in the air, one serving the more upmarket segment and the other at the cheap end. Air Australia is another low-cost airline, but it doesn’t have the specific aim of competing with Jetstar. Instead, Air Australia is hoping to offer Australian travellers cheap options for underserviced and unserviced routes… as well as offering a few common routes.
Air Australia was originally Strategic Airlines, a Brisbane-based carrier service that used to transport troops and cargo to the Middle East for the Australian Army, with a few passenger flights to Bali now and then for the general public. Operating a small fleet of A330 and A320 aircraft, Air Australia got underway with its new name and new business on the 15th of November last year. The routes flown by Air Australia are from Melbourne to Brisbane, and from both of these cities to Bali, Phuket and Honolulu. And that’s just the start, with a Brisbane to Darwin service on the cards, which is likely to be followed by trips to and from China and the USA (the exact destinations are yet to be decided on and/or announced).
The launch of Air Australia, with its snappy green, silver and white livery and a boomerang logo, is likely to make things even better for travellers, as it offers more options and is likely to shake up the market and the competition. At the moment, your ticket price on an Air Australia flight includes baggage carriage along with the price of putting your rear end on a reasonably comfy seat, but you have to pay for refreshments, meals and in-flight entertainment, which is how Air Australia manages to keep the prices cheap enough to be attractive. Business class and Economy class are available in all flights, with 8–12 Business class seats available in the A320s and 30 Business class seats provided in the larger A330 (so you might have to be in quick!). They’re also hoping to introduce a frequent flyer rewards scheme at some stage, although the details are still in the planning stage.
Air Australia still keeps up some of its old business, with charter flights and planes being available for those who have the dollars to do it.
Keep an eye out for new developments as our new airline develops and gets underway, and for special deals on offer. If you want to read more about Air Australia, their planes and their business (or even look for a new job, as they’re looking to expand!), have a look at their website at http://www.airaustralia.com/.