dsmith2904
ONE love, blood, life
(08-22-2006) Fresh Start for OzJet -- Herald Sun*
Fresh Start for OzJet
John Masanauskas
FAILED business airline OzJet has bounced back as a charter operator.
OzJet runs regular charters to Norfolk Island and Papua New Guinea and has confirmed it will ferry Irish group U2 for its Australian tour.
Owned by former F1 racing team boss Paul Stoddart, OzJet launched business class flights between Melbourne and Sydney late last year.
But poor bookings caused the suspension of services in March. Stoddart is believed to have lost millions of dollars and about 60 jobs were lost.
OzJet director Trevor King said yesterday that the airline had transformed itself into a charter service based on its parent company, European Aviation.
"We have found our niche. We are doing what we understand," he said.
"We don't have to worry about bums on seats -- that's the charterer's problem. We get a fixed fee for the service."
Mr King said OzJet now had up to 80 employees.
The aircraft had three Boeing 737-200 jets and eventually wanted a fleet of up to eight aircraft, he said. OzJet runs three flights a week between Sydney, Brisbane and Norfolk Island, and this week it started a service between Brisbane and Port Moresby.
--Herald Sun
Fresh Start for OzJet
John Masanauskas
FAILED business airline OzJet has bounced back as a charter operator.
OzJet runs regular charters to Norfolk Island and Papua New Guinea and has confirmed it will ferry Irish group U2 for its Australian tour.
Owned by former F1 racing team boss Paul Stoddart, OzJet launched business class flights between Melbourne and Sydney late last year.
But poor bookings caused the suspension of services in March. Stoddart is believed to have lost millions of dollars and about 60 jobs were lost.
OzJet director Trevor King said yesterday that the airline had transformed itself into a charter service based on its parent company, European Aviation.
"We have found our niche. We are doing what we understand," he said.
"We don't have to worry about bums on seats -- that's the charterer's problem. We get a fixed fee for the service."
Mr King said OzJet now had up to 80 employees.
The aircraft had three Boeing 737-200 jets and eventually wanted a fleet of up to eight aircraft, he said. OzJet runs three flights a week between Sydney, Brisbane and Norfolk Island, and this week it started a service between Brisbane and Port Moresby.
--Herald Sun
