IASC draws more early-renewal applications, expansion of Nauru allocation
- Latest News
- Thursday, 25 May 2017
Brisbane-based all-cargo operator Pacific Air Express has applied to Australia’s International Air Services Commission not only to renew its determination allocating one all-cargo service weekly on the Nauru route but also to open its opportunities more widely.
The application was triggered through IASC’s ongoing strategy of encouraging carriers to renew capacity determinations well in advance.
Gary Clifford, long-serving managing director of Pacific Air Express www.pacificairexpress.com.au said that “as recent changes to the air service arrangements between Australia and Nauru included changing the available freight capacity to 'unlimited', we respectfully request a corresponding amendment of the determination to an allocation of 'unlimited freight capacity' on the Nauru route”.
Pacific Air Express uses B737 freighters on the Nauru route and other Pacific Island services.
The carrier has asked for the renewal to run for 10 years.
The current allocation was made originally in 2013 following a competitive bid, as we reported at the time. Three return flights were allowed. In 2015 Pacific Air Express asked IASC to reduce capacity to one flight weekly.
Qantas has also responded again to the IASC early renewal offer, this time for unlimited passenger and cargo capacity on the USA route. The allocation dates back to 2008 and Qantas is seeking a further 10 years, subject to the inclusion of certain conditions.
These are that capacity can be used by Qantas with or by any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group and by Qantas jointly with American Airlines.
IASC has invited other applications for both the Nauru and US routes but this is largely a formality because of the unrestricted capacity available.
