Airlines Remembered

OzJet


Photos © R.Leeuw

Ceased operations: 20May09
Homebase: Melbourne-Tullamarine, Vic, Australia
Founded: 2005
ICAO callsign:AusJet
IATA / ICAO prefix: O7 / OZJ
Operations: Passengers

The JP Airline Fleet 2008 showes the following aircraft
Fleetlist by JP Airline Fleets 2008

OzJet was formed by the owner of European Aircharter (Paul Stoddart, who also owned the Minardi Racing Team) in 2004. Its AOC was issued 28Oct08, but operations were actually started on 29Nov05.

OzJet passengers were offered a chance in the first three months to win rides in Formula One 2-Seater racing cars, built by the Minardi team which Mr Stoddart owned.

It started out as an all-business airline (the 737s outfitted with 60 business-class seats), but this formula (pun intended!) was abandoned for charter operations in March 2006.
Destinations were to include Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.



VH-OZQ at Melbourne
While driving around in search of a Douglas DC-3, I noticed Ozjet's VH-OZQ parked outside a hangar. (19Nov05)
At the time OzJet was still awaiting its permit to start operations.

OzJet Tuesday, 6 May 2008 - quote\ OzJet has confirmed that it has been sold off to a Sydney-based cargo company in a new multi-million dollar deal.
After OzJet announced its abrupt pull-out of the trans-Tasman market late March, the carrier had been rumoured to be in talks with quite a few carriers.Monday saw confirmation that owner Paul Stoddart had sold his interest in the charter airline to HeavyLift Cargo Airlines in a multi-million dollar deal. "I am pleased that OzJet will maintain its progress into a successful schedule and specialist charter airline. I wish them every success," said Mr Stoddart.
The deal sees HeavyLift Cargo Airlines acquire OzJet’s entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. In response, Nick Leach -HeavyLift Cargo Airlines Chairman-, and newly appointed OzJet Chairman, said, "I am delighted with the acquisition of OzJet and look forward to the synergies that can be achieved with our existing fleet of Boeing 727 Cargo aircraft." "These are challenging times in the aviation sector, but this development will strengthen both companies," Mr Leach adds.
OzJet was scheduled to start Palmerstone North services ex-Melbourne and Brisbane from the 1st of April, 2008, with Sydney to come online from the 2nd of May. The carrier had sold some 2,000 tickets which it refunded to travellers. /end quote

Fleetlist by ATDB.org

Ozjet Airlines ceased all operations on 20May09 after parent HeavyLift Cargo Airlines declared it would no longer provide financial support to the subsidiary. The shut down came after Perth Airport refused to handle the carrier until unpaid bills were settles. OzJet had 3 737-200s based in Perth operating flights to Derby and subservice flights for travel company IndoJet Asia (Bali).

OzJet's assets were sold in June 2009 to Strategic Airlines.

Sources:
Aerotransport Data Base (ATDB)


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Created 01.aug.2009