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Australian aviation will have a new operator with a twist as a local entrepreneur launches the country’s first “groundline”.
Wombat Groundways, the brainchild of maverick businessman Mark Supial, has announced it will launch services using leased jets on the “Golden Triangle” from 2026. Uniquely, rather than flying, the carrier will drive its aircraft entirely on the ground using existing roadway infrastructure.
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The initial route plan will see Wombat drive between Sydney and Melbourne, a trip it says it can make in less than nine hours thanks to its modern fleet, with Sydney-Brisbane and Melbourne-Brisbane to follow “depending on how those Pacific Highway upgrades are going”.
“Australia has never seen anything like the Wombat Groundways product before,” Supial told reporters at Wombat’s launch event in Sydney.
“With Sydney Airport so congested, it’s difficult for a new entrant to get any take-off slots – so we figured, who needs to take off in the first place?
“We’ll also be able to save our customers money and reduce carbon emissions by using significantly less jet fuel.
“Actually, do you think these things will take regular unleaded?”
Wombat’s plans have been greeted with skepticism in some corners. According to consumer advocate and aviation expert Dr April Fuller of the University of Bullamakanka, passengers should buy tickets with caution.
“There is a reason so many have tried and failed to challenge the duopoly on the Golden Triangle, and we’ve seen plenty of upstarts with ‘revolutionary’ new business models fold within the first couple of years. It’s a tough market to break into,” she said.
“Plus, there are likely to be significant delays to many of Wombat’s drives – the traffic on the Hume is iffy at the best of times, and once you get into Melbourne, you’d better hope you don’t need to do a hook turn in a 737.”
Wombat has secured an initial lease for four planes from global aircraft lessor Laffey and Chuckel, with Supial saying the carrier expects to obtain its Ground Operator’s Certificate “as soon as CASA figures out what one of those is”.
“We’ve worked out great terms with the lessor, especially given the historical trend of Australian start-up carriers,” he added.
“And let’s face it – they can’t ground our planes if they never leave the ground to start with, can they?”
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Victor Yongkang
says:A nice April fool’s article. Enjoyed reading it. Would they trim the wings down to ensure that the aircraft fit on the highways?