OzJet attains a perfect score

OzJet, the new airline that has upgraded travel between Australia’s two biggest cities, has achieved a perfect on-time record for its flights over the past month.

Setting new industry-leading standards, OzJet said today all its 173 flights on the Sydney-Melbourne route between December 16 and January 15 had departed on time.

OzJet only began operations late last year and in its first full month of operation, December, had a 92 per cent on-time departure performance record.

Flights that leave within 15 minutes of scheduled departure times are classified as on-time by the industry and Australian carriers traditionally achieve percentages in the high 80s.

“We’re very pleased and proud to have achieved a 100 per cent on-time record in the past month,” OzJet chief executive Hans van Pelt said.

“As the newcomer to the market, travellers are just getting to know us – but the great thing is that they are getting to know that OzJet is the most on-time airline, while also offering comfort and service not previously available to them at affordable prices.

“We only started flying on November 29 and, after the inevitable few teething troubles in the first few days, it is immensely satisfying that we have established ourselves as a very reliable carrier on one of the world’s busiest air routes.

“Combined with the ease of boarding and disembarking a jet that has a maximum of only 60 passengers, OzJet is the airline that gets you there on time.

“The last delay we had of more than 15 minutes was on December 15 – and that flight was 19 minutes late because of air traffic control delays beyond our control.”

OzJet is enjoying much higher passenger loads since the introduction of its two-for-one special last Monday.

The two-for-one allows travellers buying any OzJet ticket until January 31 to get another equivalent journey – for themselves, a friend, relative or colleague – for free, to be used by February 28.

The offer makes travel between Australia’s two major cities, in luxury and with superior service, as cheap as $249 return for the next few weeks.

“Australians are now getting to see and experience that OzJet truly is the airline that upgrades everyone,” Mr van Pelt said.

“Apart from our quick check-in – including over the internet – and easy boarding, passengers enjoy space and comfort in our large seats (47cm wide between the armrests), can take three pieces of hand luggage in the cabin, enjoy proper meals on fine china and complementary beverages and service levels not normally associated with domestic air travel.

“It is only once people have flown with us that they fully appreciate what we have brought to the Australian market – a guaranteed upgrade – and the feedback we are getting is enormously positive.”

OzJet is stepping up its services on the country’s busiest route as Australians return from summer holidays and will operate six flights in each direction on business days this week.

It will return to eight flights in each direction every business day soon after Australia Day.

The arrival soon of a fourth Boeing 737 from chairman Paul Stoddart’s European Aviation fleet will allow the airline to add extra services in February to cater for peak-hour demand. These additional services will be available from February 23 and are being published in all travel agent global distribution systems.

OzJet has been considering the introduction of a frequent flyer program with an announcement imminent of a program that will enable companies and individuals to register as members and enjoy the benefits of the program across their domestic travel requirements.

OzJet’s Customer Service Centre in Melbourne, just metres from the Business Carpark at Terminal 3 and almost directly below Gate 12 from which it operates, has been upgraded to become the airline’s first lounge.

Named OzLounge, it offers full check-in for passengers and baggage, a large plasma television screen, and complementary hot and cold drinks, snacks and reading material.

OzJet has installed another large plasma TV screen at Gate 12, while eight of its luxurious leather seats are on display in the Terminal 3 concourse – in the 2×2 configuration of the cabin and which can be sampled for size and comfort by everyone passing through the terminal.

A similar display will be installed in Terminal 2 at Sydney Airport next week to enable the Sydney market to see and feel the difference OzJet provides for economy travellers between Australia’s two largest cities.