Ansett in plan to buy used aircraft
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Ansett in plan to buy used aircraft
Why does Tesna seem more and more dodgy every passing minute?
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Ansett in plan to buy used aircraft
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
01feb02
THE Fox-Lew Tesna syndicate is considering expanding its Ansett fleet with used aircraft rather than the new planes it had planned to lease from United Airlines.
Industry sources believe the United planes are no longer coming and that Tesna is trying to obtain older aircraft from US investor Bill Franke's former airline America West and failed Belgian carrier Sabena.
Tesna confirmed yesterday it had looked at other aircraft but denied this meant the negotiations with United had failed.
The news came as the Government's guarantee for Ansett tickets ended last night. From today, Ansett passengers are not guaranteed any refund if the airline fails to operate flights.
Ansett also faces paying refunds on business-class tickets already sold, because the new full-service airline has failed to meet its launch date, set for today.
Aircraft leasing was one of several third-party issues that delayed the relaunch and prompted warnings from the administrators that the Tesna deal might fall through.
Others included the transfer to Tesna of airport terminal leases, which produced a tense exchange with the Sydney Airports Corporation, and moves by information technology providers to charge hefty sign-up fees on new contracts issued to Tesna.
The Brisbane Airport Corporation also revealed yesterday it is yet to sign a deal with Tesna.
And Tesna still has to sign a deal with lessors of 16 existing Ansett A320s and additional aircraft it will use to expand its fleet to 29 planes.
The syndicate confirmed yesterday it was looking beyond United for aircraft but said this was simply testing the market to ensure it was getting the best deal.
"All we've done is explore the international market to test the commercial parameters," a spokesman said. "The idea that we've gone somewhere else and the United thing is gone isn't true."
The spokesman would not comment on a leaked document that purported to outline the Fox-Lew Ansett frequent flyer program.
It is understood the draft document outlines one of several proposals under consideration and may not reflect the final program when it is launched next week.
Under the draft, Ansett frequent flyers would lose 67 billion old points but retain their status and receive bonus points for travelling.
Meanwhile, a Sydney Airport Corporation spokesman said no substantive progress had been made in resolving the standoff over the transfer to Tesna of the Ansett domestic terminal leases.
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Ansett in plan to buy used aircraft
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
01feb02
THE Fox-Lew Tesna syndicate is considering expanding its Ansett fleet with used aircraft rather than the new planes it had planned to lease from United Airlines.
Industry sources believe the United planes are no longer coming and that Tesna is trying to obtain older aircraft from US investor Bill Franke's former airline America West and failed Belgian carrier Sabena.
Tesna confirmed yesterday it had looked at other aircraft but denied this meant the negotiations with United had failed.
The news came as the Government's guarantee for Ansett tickets ended last night. From today, Ansett passengers are not guaranteed any refund if the airline fails to operate flights.
Ansett also faces paying refunds on business-class tickets already sold, because the new full-service airline has failed to meet its launch date, set for today.
Aircraft leasing was one of several third-party issues that delayed the relaunch and prompted warnings from the administrators that the Tesna deal might fall through.
Others included the transfer to Tesna of airport terminal leases, which produced a tense exchange with the Sydney Airports Corporation, and moves by information technology providers to charge hefty sign-up fees on new contracts issued to Tesna.
The Brisbane Airport Corporation also revealed yesterday it is yet to sign a deal with Tesna.
And Tesna still has to sign a deal with lessors of 16 existing Ansett A320s and additional aircraft it will use to expand its fleet to 29 planes.
The syndicate confirmed yesterday it was looking beyond United for aircraft but said this was simply testing the market to ensure it was getting the best deal.
"All we've done is explore the international market to test the commercial parameters," a spokesman said. "The idea that we've gone somewhere else and the United thing is gone isn't true."
The spokesman would not comment on a leaked document that purported to outline the Fox-Lew Ansett frequent flyer program.
It is understood the draft document outlines one of several proposals under consideration and may not reflect the final program when it is launched next week.
Under the draft, Ansett frequent flyers would lose 67 billion old points but retain their status and receive bonus points for travelling.
Meanwhile, a Sydney Airport Corporation spokesman said no substantive progress had been made in resolving the standoff over the transfer to Tesna of the Ansett domestic terminal leases.