OzJet's First Plane on Australian Aircraft Register

OzJet, Australia’s new business-class airline, has had its first plane entered on the Register of Australian Aircraft.

The Boeing 737 – from OzJet chairman Paul Stoddart’s European Aviation fleet – has been registered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) this week as VH-OZQ.

OzJet chief executive Hans van Pelt said the registration was a significant step towards the airline gaining its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) – the licence to fly scheduled services in Australia.

“This is a tick in one of the major boxes of our application to operate as an airline,” Mr van Pelt said

Dependent on the granting of the AOC by CASA, OzJet is hoping to start services between Melbourne and Sydney by mid-November, with eight flights a day in each direction.

Its fleet of 737s will be configured with 60 business-class seats, while ticket prices will be based on traditional fully-flexible economy fares.

OzJet intends to start with three aircraft but will have 12 737s in Australia by the middle of next year.

With only 60 passengers instead of the 130 capacity if the planes were in economy configuration, OzJet travellers will each be allowed to take up to three pieces of hand luggage on board.

OzJet tickets will be sold (once the AOC has been approved) via travel agents, a call centre and the airline’s website - www.ozjet.com.au