06-02-2018, 10:01 AM
(06-01-2018, 05:48 PM)Gobbledock Wrote: JetGo enters voluntary administration, cancels all regional flights amid legal battle
R.I.P JetGo. Another airline folds amid a tough operating environment.
Link below; (P2 might be able to tidy up)
https://www.google.com.au/amp/amp.abc.ne...le/9825166
Quote:JetGo enters voluntary administration, cancels all regional flights amid legal battle
ABC Illawarra
By Gavin Coote and Nick McLaren
Updated yesterday at 4:32pm
PHOTO: JetGo has gone into voluntary administration. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
RELATED STORY: JETGO Albury-Brisbane flights to take off
RELATED STORY: Dubbo set to get direct flights to Melbourne
RELATED STORY: Airline may consider Rockhampton-Sydney direct flights
Regional commercial airliner JetGo has gone into voluntary administration, prompting it to cancel flights across the country.
The company appointed administrators on Friday and said all regular passenger transport services had been suspended.
JetGo services many cities across regional Australia including Wollongong, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Rockhampton, Townsville and Karratha.
In a statement, the company said the administrators were "assessing the viability of the future operations" and it would continue limited charter operations.
It comes after the Dubbo Regional Council in western New South Wales lodged a claim in the Supreme Court, requesting the company be wound up over unpaid debts.
At the time, JetGo said the newly-merged council in Dubbo had reneged on a previous agreement to waive taxes as part of an incentive agreement.
More councils owed money
The news has shocked the Illawarra region, which did not have a commercial air service until JetGo began running local flights to Brisbane and Melbourne last year.
The Shellharbour City Council, which owns the Illawarra Regional Airport, said it had immediately ended its "service level agreement" with the company.
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said she felt for those who had booked flights, but urged them to contact their bank or credit card company.
Quote:"I'd say that your credit card company would be where I would start to find out reimbursement for the costs," Cr Saliba said.
"I think it's really sad that people are in this position and it's very disappointing, but it's completely out of Council's hands in that this was a business decision made by a private business."
Cr Saliba said the Illawarra to Essendon route was JetGo's busiest and highlighted the need to maintain the service.
She added the Council is also owed money by the company and it would work to recoup the debt.
"What we would like to do is try and ensure those services continue," she said.
Quote:"We'll continue to work with JetGo and other airlines to find a suitable service provider."
In a statement, Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said he was disappointed with the news.
"We worked with JetGo in recent months in an effort to assist the service to continue," the statement read.
"JetGo has been a valued partner of Townsville Airport since commencing services to and from Townsville in September 2015."
A hearing will be held in the Supreme Court on June 18 as part of Dubbo Regional Council's legal action against Jetgo.
In a statement, the council said it was owed more than $270,000 and that it had "acted responsibly" to recover ratepayers' money.
Dubbo Regional Council's statement said,
Quote:Council's legal actions seeking to recover that debt on behalf of the Dubbo regional community followed months of ongoing direct negotiations with Jetgo.
Hotline set up for affected passengers
One of the appointed administrators, Jonathan Mcleod, has written to affected customers echoing suggestions that they contact their credit card provider.
Mr Mcleod told the ABC only two of the fleet of six jets were flying prior to his appointment, and that 4,045 passengers would be affected over the month of June.
Qantas has set up a hotline number — 1300 659 116 — for affected passengers to assist with cancelled flights and other flight options.
P2 edit - Since we're on a bit of a Queen's greatest lately :
Perhaps this should be Wingnut Carmody's new mantra... RIP JetGo
Quoting from this Airports thread post: Airports & A4ANZ wars continue
Quote:"...Last year, ICAO, the United Nations’ global civil aviation organisation, made recommendations to governments around the world, urging them to maximise the benefits of aviation for all stakeholders.
Australia has been a global role model in heeding this call, with a regulatory framework that encourages airport investment..."
&..
"...Our CEO, Dr Alison Roberts, will participate in a panel discussion on airport privatisation, sharing insights into how the current regulatory environment is holding our region back..."
As a matter of interest, I am in the process of reviewing the latest BOLLOCKS, Dr Hoodoo Voodoo Aleck, notified differences to ICAO: https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip...18-h44.pdf
If you want to get a sense of how our uniquely Australian regulatory framework/environment/red tape can impact on smaller Aussie operators by greatly increasing costs through unnecessary red tape imposts, that make it harder to compete against bigger operators and regional/international airlines, then go no further than reviewing the 46 pages of Annex 6 Part I, Part II & Part III
Now compare that to one of our regional neighbours Singapore with their less than 1 page of NDs listed in the Singaporean CAAS A5 AIP GEN 1.7: https://www.caas.gov.sg/docs/default-sou...1feb18.pdf
Quote:ANNEX 6 Operation of Aircraft
Part I (International Commercial Air Transport - Aeroplanes) - 9th edition
Chapter 6 (Amendment 34)
All aeroplanes of a MTWA of over 5700kg, regardless of the date that their
individual certificate of airworthiness is first issued, shall be equipped with a
Type I FDR.
6.3.1.2.3
6.3.1.2.4 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part I paragraph 6.3.1.2.3.
6.3.1.2.6 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part I paragraph 6.3.1.2.3.
6.3.1.2.9 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part I paragraph 6.3.1.2.3.
6.3.1.3.3 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part I paragraph 6.3.1.2.3.
6.3.2.1.3 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part I paragraph 6.3.1.2.3.
6.3.2.1.4 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part I paragraph 6.3.1.2.3.
Chapter 12 (Amendment 34)
Singapore regulations do not require all cabin crew to be trained on the use of
automated external defibrillator (AED). However, the regulations require that at
least one senior cabin crew on board every aircraft carrying AED to be trained
on the use of AED.
12.4(b)
Part II (International General Aviation - Aeroplanes) - 8th edition
Chapter 3 (Amendment 29)
All aeroplanes of a MTWA of over 5700kg, regardless of the date that their
individual certificate of airworthiness is first issued, shall be equipped with a
Type I FDR.
3.6.3.1.2.2
3.6.3.1.3.3 Currently, the use of analogue FDRs using FM is not permitted.
All aeroplanes of a MTWA of over 5700kg, regardless of the date that their
individual certificate of airworthiness is first issued, shall be equipped with a
CVR.
3.6.3.2.1.3
Chapter 6 (Amendment 29)
General aviation aircraft in Singapore are required to be registered in the Public
Transport Category.
6.1.1
Part III (International Operations - Helicopters) - 7th edition
Chapter 4 (Amendment 15)
All helicopters of a MTWA of over 3180kg (adopting ICAO recommendation of
ANNEX 6 Part III paragraph 4.3.2.1.2), instead of 7000kg, are required to be
equipped with a CVR.
4.3.2.1.1
4.3.2.1.3 As above for ICAO ANNEX 6 Part III paragraph 4.3.2.1.1.
- Just saying
MTF...P2