Green and gold will replace red, white and blue as the Brisbane based Strategic Airways re-fashions itself as a budget carrier serving popular leisure routes.
Air Australia, as the carrier will be known, will initially serve select domestic routes and tourist hot-spots including Hawaii, Bali and Phuket, Thailand. The airline says it has also been granted rights to operate flights to China and the US and is in the process of doubling its number of pilots.
“We understand the challenges of the industry and we understand the market,” company CEO Michael James said in a statement. “We also believe that there is mounting nostalgia in the consumer market and in the industry for an airline which offers genuine value and makes it readily possible for families and Australians of all ages to have the chance to fly.”
The company’s first green and gold plane, A320 VH-YQC, will enter service on Friday and the red, white and blue Strategic Airlines brand will be retired by November 15.
Strategic was founded in 1991 as a broker providing wet leased aircraft to other operators in Europe and Asia. One arm of the company, Strategic Airways, held a major Defence contract to ferry Australian troops and equipment to the Middle East between 2005 and last year, when it lost the $90 million deal to rival Adagold.
Strategic Airlines launched in 2009 as a full service carrier. It was reported to have lost $2.1m in fiscal year 2008-2009 and $9.3m in 2009-2010, but executives played down those losses, saying they were due to start-up costs associated with the expansion of its fleet of Airbus A320s and A330s.
JACKIE
says:I think its great,im an Qantas frequent flyer,I suppose its for the improvement of air Travel within Austrlia
Dan
says:Good to see, I will give the guys a go.
Greg Soper..
says:They have friendly staff,good to see for this day & age…
Dj
says:I’ve flown with Strategic to the Middle East, long flight. Fair amount of comfort. Just hope the crew are Australian.
Kurt Schneider
says:Hope you tell prospective clients that they have higher risks due to your military contracts background!
Trish
says:Great ! just about to book air tickets to phuket ! would love to give them a go ! when is the website up and running ????
Sceptic
says:Not another dreamer!!
Heard administrator have been there or are still?
Hmmm, don’t think they’ll be around for long
Stuart Cole
says:Go for it, best of luck, give Qantas a flogging, but never forget your customer base and PLEASE, don’t do what the other airlines do,,,,,at Christmas double to tripple your airfares, look after your customers and they will look after you.
Margaret
says:Great to see name and colour change we have booked for next year . Looking forward to something new
Chris
says:I’m surprised they could afford the pain…I hope they last that long Margaret, it’s a big gamble minimum aircraft on competitivie leisure routes….
Dane
says:another LCC, just what Australia (and Qantas) needs… providing it’s better managaed than Tiger, it should do well.
Chris
says:they might need a cash injection soon too
Paul
says:This is Great News. Love the Livery and the name. Air Australia. I’ll definitely give them a go. Best of luck with the business plan. I’ve finished with Qantas. (excluding QantasLink) cheers Paul.
Chris
says:Finished with Qantas? Lots of people SAYING this but in practice if they are offering the cheapest fare of the day or are the sole carrier on the route you are going to fly them arent you?
Peter Hill
says:http://www.facebook.com/groups/135641419853519
I’ve read All of these Comments, and I Applaud the Australian way, of “Giv em a Go Mate ! And those who are showing their Ignorance by making silly statements that just go to show that their comments are truly baseless as they only have to read what has been printed and written about Strategic Air and now Air Australia to realize how Silly they look. I say Own Up ! Admit you were too quick to come forth with lies and go and read the Facts. Then come back and say you were wrong ! You Can Still hide your name !!! I’ve written my Facebook page here to let folk know that I have been waiting for this young Airline to come of Age. I can Especially See BIG THINGS HAPPENING for their Flights to Hawaii. Especially between Brisbane to Hawaii and later on Melbourne. There is a New Industry just beginning to take shape that requires Affordable Travel and let me tell you This Company DELIVERS !!!
Michael
says:Trish for now you can book under their old name/website:
http://www.flystrategic.com.au
david
says:Just flew with them bne-phuket could not fault them, the service was excellents the staff were very friendly. we would def travel with them again