Two decades after its collapse, Ansett Australia, once the country’s second-largest airline, is set to return in a new avatar. The brand is being revived as Ansett Travel, an AI-powered holiday booking platform.
Ansett Australia collapsed into administration in 2001, resulting in over 16,000 job losses. Now, Melbourne-based entrepreneur Constantine Frantzeskos is resurrecting the brand with a modern twist.
Ansett Travel is designed to be a “hyper-personalized” travel agent, suggesting trips and itineraries based on user preferences, calendar events, and budgets.
Frantzeskos has partnered with Victorian travel start-up Travlr to develop the platform, which will offer travel deals and a VIP membership for exclusive access to near-wholesale prices.
Ansett VIP membership will cost $99 a year, with plans to introduce features like auto-generated itineraries, pre-trip alerts, and personalized loyalty experiences.
The website is already live, offering travel deals for destinations including Las Vegas, Bali, Tokyo, and Athens.
Frantzeskos aims to flip the traditional travel platform model, using AI to anticipate users’ needs and offer options before they even think to ask.