Air Services between Australia and Norfolk Island

Norfolk Jet Express and Alliance Airlines are to form an exciting new relationship, in which Alliance will charter its aircraft to Norfolk Jet as part of a major restructure of the market.

Effective 12 November, 2003, Alliance will provide air transport services for Norfolk Jet Express, which will continue to develop its expertise and strengthen its brand as a specialist marketer of Norfolk Island, where it is based.

Under the new arrangement there will be 20 flights per week between Australia and Norfolk Island. Although more than half will be chartered from Alliance, all will be marketed as Norfolk Jet Express services.

Sydney will continue to be the biggest market for the enlarged Norfolk Jet Express, which will now offer six weekly flights to Norfolk Island - two departures each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

On the Brisbane - Norfolk Island route there will be three weekly departures, also on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Services to Norfolk Island will be operated with both a Fokker 100 jet flown by Alliance and a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, currently chartered from Air Nauru by Norfolk Jet Express. All aircraft will be configured with Business and Economy Class cabins.

Alliance will dedicate a specific Fokker 100 to Norfolk Island services, uniquely bearing the colour schemes of both companies - Norfolk Jet Express on the right side and Alliance on the left. 

This also provides added exposure for Norfolk Island as a holiday destination when Alliance uses the aircraft to operate other services.

The combined strengths of Alliance and Norfolk Jet Express, and their commitment to the remote Norfolk Island community, will create more jobs on the island, and in Australia, as the relationship between the companies matures.

For customers currently booked to fly Alliance Airlines to or from Norfolk Island, all existing reservations for travel between 11 November, 2003, and 11 January, 2004, will be honoured by Norfolk Jet Express, at the prices which people have paid.

Alliance Airlines passengers currently booked to depart beyond 11 January will be contacted by Alliance with details of any changes.

The agreement between Norfolk Jet Express and Alliance Airlines has been borne of necessity since a change in the marketing funding policy of Norfolk Island Tourism, which now restricts the amount of direct marketing support provided to industry. This policy, which both carriers have consistently opposed, has made it more and more difficult for two carriers and the industry to promote the destination effectively in Australia. 

Both Norfolk Jet Express and Alliance Airlines have stated publicly their commitment to supporting and expanding the tourist market from Australia to Norfolk Island, and through this new agreement they will remain true to their promises.

By combining their strengths, the two companies will be able to deliver sustainable and reliable services to the Island, supported by a consistent schedule.

There is considerable seating capacity to accommodate market growth, and a strong ongoing commitment by Norfolk Jet Express to work closely with the travel industry to build visitor numbers to Norfolk Island.

Norfolk Jet Express and Alliance Airlines share the view that their combination of expertise will prove to be the most logical and beneficial course of action not only for the two companies, but for the future of the Norfolk Island tourism  industry.