Budget Airline Guide

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AirAsia cancels Darwin-Bali route

By Budget Airline News

Budget airline AirAsia will be terminating its direct route between Denpasar (Bali), Indonesia, and Darwin, Australia. The final flight is currently scheduled for April 29, 2012.

The Darwin Airport has confirmed that AirAsia will be pulling out of Darwin. AirAsia began flying Darwin-Bali in 2010, but reduced flight frequency in 2011.

For passengers who already have bookings for Darwin – Bali flights in May 2012 or later, AirAsia will offer refunds, credit, or tickets on a different airline.

The AirAsia Australia office can be contacted by calling 1300 760 330

Air Australia grounded, thousands of travelers stranded

By Budget Airline News

Friday, February 17, 2012 – Air Australia has grounded all flights indefinitely. The airline is facing bankrupcy and has reportedly run out of money to even refuel its planes.

All Air Australia flights have been cancelled, stranding more than 4,000 people in overseas destinations like Thailand and Indonesia. Travelers are advised to seek alternative transportation and should not rely on Air Australia to rebook their flight. Jetstar and Qantas may add extra flights to accommodate travelers affected by the collapse of Air Australia.

If you have a booking with Air Australia you may be entitled to a refund if you have paid by credit card or hold valid travel insurance. Flights paid for in cash are unlikely to be refunded.

The Air Australia call center can be contacted by calling 135 320 in Australia. The airline’s official website has been updated with information about cancelled flights and refunds.

Scoot to start flights to Gold Coast in mid-2012

By Budget Airline News

Scoot, the new low-cost wing of Singapore Airlines, has revealed its second destination: Gold Coast, Australia. The airline will offer 5 direct flights per week from Singapore to the Gold Coast starting in mid 2012. Tickets will go on sale sometime during the first quarter of 2012.

“This has been a fantastic partnership between Scoot, Tourism Queensland and the Gold Coast tourism industry and we can’t wait to welcome our first visitors,” Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said. “The Gold Coast has always been famous for fun, so it is the perfect holiday destination for Scoot’s customers.”

“Scoot’s all about offering great value, fun and a unique attitude, “Scootitude”. Where else in Australia offers more value and fun than the Gold Coast? And Singapore, with so many new developments in recent years, has reinvented itself to become one of Asia’s hottest leisure destinations. Scoot’s connecting these two great locations is therefore a perfect fit. Choice. Empowerment. Great value airfares. Direct access to one of the world’s premier air hubs for Queensland and North New South Wales, and to one of the world’s best holiday destinations for Singapore. This should be as exciting for the two locations as it is for us,” said Campbell Wilson, Scoot’s CEO.

Tiger Airways returns to Cairns

By Budget Airline News

Tiger Airways has announced it will be returning to Cairns, resuming its Melbourne – Cairns route starting April 25, 2012. This route has been suspended since July 2011 when Tiger Airways Australia was grounded due to safety breaches.

The initial schedule for Melbourne – Cairns flights will be once per day. The flight will depart Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport at 8:50am. The flight from Cairns to Melbourne will depart at 12:45pm

Bookings for Melbourne – Cairns flights are already available with one-way fares from $99.95 AUD.

AirAsia X announces daily Sydney flights

By Budget Airline News

Asian budget airline AirAsia X has officially announced it will start offering daily flights between Sydney, Austraia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Service will start from April 1, 2012, making this the airline’s fourth fourth Australian destination after Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth.

To celebrate this new route, fares are on sale and start from just USD $65 one-way including taxes and surcharges.

“Australia is a key market for AirAsia X and the Sydney route has long been a priority due to strong demand from travellers across the globe especially Asia,” said chief executive Azran Osman-Rani.

AirAsia X, the long-haul offshoot of Asia’s largest budget airline, has been pushing to fly into Sydney for four years.
The announcement came a week after it cited global economic uncertainty, soaring taxes and higher jet fuel prices for a decision to cut Europe flights and routes to India.

New South Wales Tourism Minister George Souris said the new service would bring around 55,000 more international visitors to the state each year.

“This daily service will inject nearly Aus$138 million (US$143 million) into NSW every year and is another great step towards the NSW government’s goal of doubling overnight tourism expenditure by 2020,” Souris said.

Jetstar revises routes between Darwin and Asia

By Budget Airline News

Budget airline Jetstar has announced revisions to its flights from Darwin to Asia.

The airline will terminate its four-times weekly services from Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. However, Jetstar will add new services to Tokyo, Manila, and Singapore. From March 25, 2012, a new four-times weekly service will fly from Darwin into Manila and onto Tokyo. The current Darwin-to-Singapore route will grow from seven to 10 flights each week.

Jetstar chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, David Hall, said the flight changes would further cement the Northern Territory as the gateway into Singapore.

Mr Hall said the new services into Japan would also provide huge economic benefits to the territory. “We are always looking at opportunities to expand services through Darwin Airport,” Mr Hall said.

Introductory fares start from AUD $199 one-way from Darwin to Japan and are available via the Jetstar website.

Air New Zealand tries “Low Cost” domestic routes

By Budget Airline News

Has Air New Zealand become a low-cost airline?  The flag carrier of New Zealand has dropped prices and complimentary luggage allowance for domestic flights. From November 29, 2011, the new “seats to suit” fares include 7 kg of carry-on luggage, but an additional fee of $10 NZD will apply to check a bag.

“Seats to suit is the flexible fare structure Air New Zealand introduced 14 months ago on Tasman and Pacific Island flights and its outstanding success means we are extending it to include our domestic services as well,” explained Bruce Parton, the Air New Zealand group general manager.

Air New Zealand also announced the launch of stand-by domestic fares starting from just $59 NZD for one-way travel.  Stand-by fares will be available on most of the airline’s 27 domestic routes during off-peak times (10am – 3:30pm).  Fares for the longer Auckland – Dunedin and Auckland – Queenstown routes start from $79 NZD.  Of course, stand-by fares mean that a seat is not guaranteed.

Air New Zealand’s international routes will continue to include complimentary checked luggage and other services typical of a full-fare airline.