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Issue 7: Hope for the Eighties
If the 1970s proved to be fairly uneventful in terms of Australia’s civil carriers attitudes to tare innovation, competition and a spirit of deregulation, then the 80s will Indeed usher in the real challenge of airline competition.
In the past year the entire commercial aviation scene in Australia has turned a full circle. Sir Reginald has faded into retirement, replaced by two vibrant and highly competent leaders in the form of Rupert Murdoch and Sir Peter Abeles. East West Airlines, long chafing at the bit, is now on the way to becoming to future major domestic carrier with the formation of Northern Airlines and the subsequent introduction of jet services into that airline’s inventory. Ansett Airlines of New South Wales’ interest in the Dash 7 STOL airliner has been somewhat dampened by the Masling purchase of a major shareholding in Aero Pelican and the East West proposals for F-28 operations to Norfolk Island. Add to this the fact that our two major domestics will be operating different fleets within three years and you have a decade of change that is moving at a supersonic rate in comparison to the almost boring 70s.
Ansett Airlines certainly must be given the cake for “going the whole hog” with their massive all-Boeing order in March. TAA quickly fired back with a salvo against the 737 as being an “old technology new aeroplane”. While Ansett have ordered the 767, a plane that has yet to fly, and coupled this with additional longer range 727 and new 737 twin-jets, TAA have opted for the proven Airbus A300 and have decided to retain their reliable DC-9-30 fleet into the mid-80s. Who will be right? Only time will really tell but I certainly know on which neddy my money will be riding!
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