A SECOND airline service in Orange would fold after only a few months, according to former aviator Max Hazelton.
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Mr Hazelton, now retired, founded Hazelton Airlines which became Regional Express airline (Rex) about 10 years ago.
Brindabella Airlines announced on Friday it would begin a Sydney to Orange return service from February 18. The airline will challenge Rex’s monopoly in the area.
Mr Hazelton said passenger numbers in Orange would never increase to a point where it would be viable to have two carriers, despite pleas from mayor John Davis to the community to “use it or lose it”.
Mr Hazelton said the only flight that would have any impact on passenger numbers was a proposed early morning flight from Sydney.
“That would be the only one that would have greater numbers for all the medical people who come from Sydney to practise here in Orange,” he said. “I’d give them [Brindabella] a few months and they’d pull out.”
The competition would not affect Rex’s viability, Mr Hazelton said.
Mr Hazelton believes Rex has a superior reputation and higher quality of service than Brindabella.
“The prices are not that much cheaper and Rex put on additional flights a few months ago ... it won’t make a difference to Rex, Rex won’t fold,” he said.
“People will stick with Rex, it has one of the best aeroplanes ever built and the service is excellent.”
Mr Hazelton said given the current economic climate passenger numbers in Orange were unlikely to increase.
He said unless Orange City Council reduced the fees charged to airlines to land planes at the Orange airport, prices would remain high.
“The council landing charges are almost a million dollars a year and that’s keeping the fares higher,” he said.
“People just won’t fly.
“That’s the cost of just walking through the terminal and for the average person the fares are just too dear.”
Mr Hazelton said council should not have pushed hard for a second airline because it would be doomed to fail.
“Council had the idea they would have jet services to Sydney if they got a second airline and that’s just not the case,” he said.
“The passenger numbers are simply not there.”
Initially, Brindabella will offer two daily return services from Orange to Sydney with 30 and 19-seat planes until March when a mid-morning service will start.
Brindabella Airlines would only comment to say the second airline was good news for the people of Orange.
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au