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About

Ansett Australia was an Australian airline that flew passenger flights between 1936–2002. The airline was one of the major and longest-serving airlines in Australia. At the time that it stopped flying Ansett flew domestic flights within Australia, to destinations in all Australian states, as well as international flights to Fiji, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. It flew to 36 destinations overall, with 28 domestic destinations and 8 international destinations in its flight schedule.

The airline launched in 1936 under the name 'Ansett Airways' with a flight between Hamilton and Melbourne, with the goal of becoming a competitor to Australia National Airways, which was the main airline flying domestic flights within Australia at the time. Over the years, Ansett Airways grew bigger within Australia and became one of the big players in the country. It acquired lots of smaller, regional airlines in the country in and merged their routes into its own flight schedule to allow it to grow.

In 1987, Ansett launched domestic flights in New Zealand with a subsidiary airline — Ansett New Zealand. In the 1990s, the airline launched international flights, first to Bali, then to Osaka - Japan and later to Jakarta, Shanghai and many other destinations within Asia.

In 2000, Air New Zealand acquired Ansett after the airline began to struggle due to competition from Qantas and various other airlines launching in Australia. However, the airline continued to struggle and Air New Zealand put Ansett into voluntary administration. The airline briefly re-launched in the same year with reduced services. But, by mid-2002, after an unsuccessful scramble for new buyers, the airline fully ceased operations and never flew again.

Destinations

At the time that it ceased operations, Ansett Australia flew to several destinations across Australia, as well as to other parts of Oceania and Asia. This included destinations such as Sydney, Canberra, Townsville, Launceston, Perth, Auckland, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Shanghai, Seoul and more.

Here's a table of all of the destinations that Ansett flew to at the time that it stopped flying:

Domestic

International

Cabins

At the time that it stopped flyiing, Ansett Australia flew with both Economy Class and Business Class cabin on both international and domestic flights.

Economy Class

The Economy Class cabin was designed for people that wanted to travel from one destination to another and weren't bothered about the luxury facilities that Business Class offered.

Facilities

Facilities were different depending on whether passengers were flying domestically or internationally, with more being offered on international flights in terms of food and in-flight entertainment than on domestic flights.

Seats

Seats were set out in a 3 x.3 or 2 x 2 formation on domestic flights.

Seats were set out in a 2 x 3 x 2 formation on international flights on some planes. On double-decker planes, seats were set out in as 3 x 4 x 3 on the lower deck and 3 x 3 on the upper deck.

Business Class

The Business Class cabin was designed for passengers that were prepared to pay the extra cost to fly in luxury.

Facilities

Similar to Economy Class, the Business Class cabin and facilities were different depending on whether passengers were flying domestic or international. However, in all Business Class passengers were treated to complimentary food and drink, large business class seats and a more personalised service from the airline's cabin crew.

Seats

Seats were set out in a 2 x 2 formation on domestic flights.

Seats were set out in a 1 x 2 x 2 formation on international flights.

All seats were reclinable.

In-Flight Entertainment

Passengers on international flights had seats that fitted with a personal TV for in-flight entertainment, as well as a telephone. On Business Class international flights, passengers had personal touch-screen TVs and a power outlet.

WIFI

WIFI wasn't available on any flights from any airline at the time that Ansett Australia existed.

Food and Drink

Food and drink were available on all flights in all cabins. On domestic economy, passengers would have to pay for food and drink. But on domestic business and international economy and business, food and drink were included within the price of the ticket.

Passengers in Business Class were treated to a special Business Class menu, exclusive to Business Class passengers.

Frequent Flyer

Global Rewards

Global Rewards was the frequent flyer program for Ansett Australia. Like most frequent flyer programmes, it allowed passengers to earn points on each flight that they purchase and later spend those points on future flights with Ansett and its partners, as well as spend the points on flight upgrades, hotels, car rentals and more.

The airline also used to invite it's most loyal members of the Global Rewards programme to the Ansett Executive Lounge, which was the airline's exclusive airport lounge.

Fleet

At the time that it stopped flying, the airline had a very varied fleet from a range of manufacturers. The airline had both big, wide-body planes that it used for international flight and smaller, narrow-body planes that it used for domestic flights. This included planes from Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, DeHavilland, Fokker, Saab and Fairchild.

Models included:

• Airbus A320-200
• BAe 146/200/200QT/300
• Boeing 747-300
• Boeing 747-400
• Boeing 737-377
• Boeing 767-200/300
• Fokker 50
• Fokker F27 Friendship
• Fokker F28 Friendship
• Saab 340
• Bombardier CRJ-200
• DeHavilland Twin Otter
• Fairchild Metro 23

Hub Airport

Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport (MEL) is the main airport in Melbourne, Australia and was the hub airport for Ansett Australia. The airline was based in Melbourne for the entire time that it flew but also had another base at Sydney Airport (SYD). Although most of its flights departed from Melbourne and Sydney, the airline did have flights between other destinations in Australia that didn't include Melbourne or Sydney.

Today, airlines that are based at Melbourne Airport include Jetstar, Qantas, Rex Airlines and Virgin Australia.