MERIMBULA’S new airline, Free Spirit Airlines, has had a major setback causing it to delay the start of the Merimbula service, which was supposed to begin on Monday, June 1.
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Free Spirit Airlines founder and managing director Roman Badov said the delay in the Merimbula service was because of an unexpected crew shortage caused by another airline poaching its staff.
Mr Badov chose not to name the other airline.
“Unfortunately, unscrupulous acts are commonplace in the aviation industry,” Mr Badov said.
“In recent days our operating crew have been poached by another operator, we suspect in retaliation of their reduced passenger numbers as a result of Free Spirit Airlines commencing operations.”
Mr Badov said Free Spirit Airlines was left with no option but to suspend operations until it is able to train their new crew.
“Unfortunately, this has delayed the commencement of services between Merimbula and Melbourne.
“We will recommence operations as soon as we once again have sufficient crew numbers to do so, expected to be within the month.”
Free Spirit Airlines has been operating between Melbourne and Burnie, Tasmania, since the start of May – a service that has also now been suspended.
Regional Express (Rex) is well established on the Burnie-Melbourne route and is Free Spirit's only direct competition on the route.
Rex said: "The Rex Group was originally not going to comment on FSA operations, but, as a publicly listed company, it is our policy to set the record straight on all scurrilous public comments that tarnish our reputation."
It said Rex had not employed any pilot who had flown for FSA.
"One of our subsidiaries, Air Link, has offered employment to a pilot who originally applied to fly for FSA, but who changed his mind before commencing with FSA and approached Air Link more than three weeks ago of his own accord.
"It is absurd to imagine FSA operations posing any competitive threat to Rex
"FSA in May 2015 [its first month of operations] had 56 flights scheduled which carried about 126 passengers, making an average of 2.25 passengers per scheduled flight.
"Of these 56 scheduled flights, it cancelled about 28 of them.
"We advise all FSA stakeholders to draw their own conclusions from these statistics and from the irresponsible comments made by FSA."
Mr Badov said he is confident Free Spirit Airlines will be well received in the South Coast region when services start in July.
“We look forward to establishing public confidence and acceptance of our services.
"We have been operational for one month and have been delighted with the local reception and our business growth on our Melbourne to Burnie/Wynyard Tasmania routes.
“Our most recent passenger loads support that our business model works and there is much demand for an alternative service such as offered by our airline.”
Free Spirit Airlines will be offering three flights per week from Merimbula airport to Melbourne’s Essendon airport.
They will also be providing free drinks, alcoholic and no alcohol and free snacks to their passengers in their licensed passenger lounges.
