Sharechat Logo

Trans-Tasman rivalry increases for Air NZ; fares seen falling

Thursday 14th January 2016

Text too small?

Air New Zealand faces increased competition on hotly contested trans-Tasman routes as cheap fuel costs encourage airlines to add capacity and new routes, and dust off older, less efficient planes, helping to drive down fares.

AirAsia is to start flying from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur via Australia's Gold Coast from March 22. Its introductory $99 fare between Auckland and the Gold Coast has sold out for March 22 and is selling fast on other days they're available, the AirAsia website shows.The cheapest Air New Zealand flight on that route for March 22 is currently $242, according to the Webjet website.

The trans-Tasman market is the most competitive for Air New Zealand, and rivalry is increasing, with reports its Star Alliance partner Singapore Airlines is to begin direct flights between Canberra and Wellington and indications it is unlikely to code-share with the national carrier on that leg. Air New Zealand lost market share on trans-Tasman routes in the June 2015 year, according to a First NZ Capital report. The market grew 6.9 percent in the 12 months to June, more than three times Air New Zealand's passenger number growth, trimming the airline's share by 1.7 percentage points to 35.7 percent. 

That trend shows in the 2015 accounts for Qantas Airways' Jetconnect unit, which operates the Australian carrier's trans-Tasman routes. The division's revenue climbed 21 percent to $91 million in the year ended June 30, 2015. 

"This isn't going to be a game-changer for Air New Zealand - this type of competition is ongoing," said Rob Mercer, head of private wealth research at Forsyth Barr. "We are going to see airfares come down over the next 12 months and we are going to see airlines look to put into service a fleet which can now be competitive on long-haul routes."

Government data showed international air travel prices fell 4.2 percent in the year ended June 30, 2015, and were 21 percent lower than their peak in the fourth quarter of 2008. 

The ever-decreasing price of oil - which this week fell below US$30 a barrel for the first time in 12 years - is positive for Air New Zealand. Jet fuel represents around 25 percent of the airline's pretax cost base, according to Forsyth Barr.

Cheap fuel gives greater capacity for extra flights, with airlines more likely to fly across the Tasman if the alternative is leaving the plane on the ground, Mercer said. The Wellington-Canberra flight, which would be the first between the two countries' capital cities would be an add-on to a Singapore-Canberra direct connection, the first time the Australian capital city would have been serviced by a direct long-haul international service. An official announcement is expected next week.

"The cost of fuel is a lot cheaper, so you can just put capacity between New Zealand and Australia, even though it's not a service which is necessarily profitable," said Mercer, with cheaper fuel also making older aircraft more competitive.

"All new aircraft are based on being 25 percent more fuel efficient," he said. At US$100 a barrel, "25 percent is $25 - at $30, 25 percent is only $7.50. The long-haul routes have potential capacity competition coming on, as airlines will look to put into service the 747s again, which were becoming less competitive on the leg between Asia, New Zealand and the US."

However, Mercer said Air New Zealand's alliances with Cathay Pacific, United Airlines, and Singapore Airlines on long-haul routes meant the airline was in good shape to work with key carriers and manage the pressure that might eventuate as a result of low fuel prices.

Air New Zealand's shares climbed 20 percent in 2015, a year when an oversupply of oil pushed global fuel prices lower. The stock has gained about 2 percent this year, while declining 0.5 percent to $3 today. The shares are rated an average 'hold' based on six analyst recommendations compiled by Reuters, with a median target price of $3.13.

BusinessDesk.co.nz



  General Finance Advertising    

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:
Your name:
Your email:
Not displayed to the public
Comment:
Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved.

Related News:

SML - Synlait Milk Limited - Trading Halt of Securities
AIA - Auckland Airport announces board chair changes
AIA - Auckland Airport announces board chair changes
CEN - Tauhara commissioning progress update
FPH initiates voluntary limited recall
March 28th Morning Report
KFL Celebrates 20 Years of Excellence in Investment Mgmt.
SVR - Savor FY24 Earnings Guidance & Change in Banking Partner
NZK - NZ King Salmon Investments Limited FY24 Results
March 27th Morning Report