Ansett Australia used to be a well-known name. It was Australia’s second-largest airline, a sponsor of the AFL, and a proud part of the country’s aviation history. The name had vanished from the skies after its last flight in 2002 and its collapse in 2001. But in 2024, Ansett is making a big comeback, not with planes but with algorithms.
A new life for a legacy
Sir Reginald Ansett, a pioneer in aviation, began the airline in 1935. It quickly became a popular way to travel within the country, with a fleet of 69 planes and over 10 million passengers each year. For decades, it stood for great service and new ideas, even starting business class in Australia.
But in 2001, Ansett went bankrupt after having issues with funds, bad management, and a failed purchase by Air New Zealand. This left 16,000 people without jobs and shocked the airline industry.
Over 20 years later, the brand is coming back—not in airports, but online.
Who is bringing it back?
Constantine Frantzeskos, an entrepreneur from Melbourne, saw potential in Ansett’s old business. When the trademark ran out and the domain name (www.ansett.travel) became free, he registered them and started working on a new idea: Ansett Travel.
Frantzeskos has worked in both tourism and technological advances before. He has worked with prominent businesses from around the world, such as Emirates, Saudi Tourism, and Dubai Tourism. He has also been on the boards of LaunchVic and the Innovation Precinct at Swinburne University. He was the best person to turn Ansett into a travel brand that looks to the future because he has a lot of experience with digital innovation.
What is Ansett Travel?
Ansett Travel is the first travel agency in Australia that is fully run by AI. Not only is it a booking site, but it’s also meant to be your personal travel assistant.
Ansett Travel uses artificial intelligence to combine big language models, predictive pricing engines, and recommendation systems to give you:
- Itineraries made just for you
- Updates on prices in real time
- Travel ideas that take your calendar into account
- Booking tools that work without a human agent
The platform works with more than 500 airlines and three million hotels around the world, creating a global network with a local feel.
From the past of aviation to the future of travel
Some people might think this is a way to make money off of nostalgia, but Frantzeskos says that’s not the case. “We’re not trading on nostalgia; we’re simply bringing back a trusted name and giving it a new identity: smart, intuitive, and value-driven.”
They are not just adding AI to an old model; they are establishing the platform from the ground up. It’s a new way to travel that gives people a faster, smarter, and more in-tune experience with their lives.
Main features of the platform
Here’s what travellers may be looking forward to from the new Ansett Travel:
1. Prices that are almost wholesale
Members can book flights and hotels at prices that are up to 25% lower than what you would find on major booking sites. A $99 VIP membership each year gives you access to even better deals.
2. Planning ahead
The AI system learns your preferences, budget, travel history, and even what’s on your calendar. The platform will know if the kids are on vacation from school. Do you need a break? The AI might suggest a last-minute trip for the weekend.
3. Help right away
Thanks to automation, you won’t have to wait on hold for customer service. Ansett’s digital agents are always ready to help, answer questions, or suggest last-minute changes.
4. Itineraries that change
It can be hard to plan trips with a number of destination. Ansett Travel makes this easier by making smart itineraries that take into account your budget, past preferences, and the best times to travel.
Why Ansett is still important
For Australians over the age of 35, the name “Ansett” brings back memories of a time when travelling within Australia was great. It’s not just a brand; it’s part of who people are. The typeface on the website is even similar to the style of the original Ansett branding.
Frantzeskos thinks that this emotional connection, along with cutting-edge AI technology, makes their travel business become out in a crowded market.
Backed by technology and inspired by trust
Frantzeskos has teamed up with TRAVLR, a travel tech company based in Melbourne that was named Victoria’s Startup of the Year, to run the platform’s back-end. They have put together a fleet of AI agents that can handle almost every part of planning a trip.
The platform doesn’t want to get rid of human agents; it wants to change what they could be in the digital age. Frantzeskos says, “Eventually, we think people won’t have to look for or plan vacations at all.” “Your travel concierge will know what you need and when you need it.”
Keeping up with trends in the industry
The revival of Ansett couldn’t have come at a better time. The travel industry around the world is moving towards automation, and companies like Expedia and Booking.com are trying out AI. Ansett Travel wants to be Australia’s answer to this change. It’s a homegrown company that is flexible and uses AI at its core.
The Australian Government’s Digital Economy Strategy 2030 supports the use of AI to improve services that clients use. Its model fits well with this.
What sets Ansett Travel apart?
Ansett Travel doesn’t use human agents or old backend systems like most online travel agencies do. The whole booking process, from search to checkout, is set up to work as quickly as possible with AI.
Travellers gain from:
- Results come faster
- Better suggestions
- Optimisations for real-time pricing
- Automated support and confirmation of bookings
And it’s all put together under a brand that Australians already know and trust.
A flexible business model for today’s travel
One of the most interesting things about this revival is that Ansett Travel is a business started by one person. Frantzeskos has a small business with low costs, a lot of automation, and the ability to grow quickly. It’s a model that other new businesses that want to shake up old industries might want to use.
Travel deals are already available
The website is already live and has package deals to places like Tokyo, Athens, Bali, and Las Vegas. The new Ansett’s focus on speed and simplicity is shown in the clean and easy-to-use interface.
The platform is designed to meet a wide range of needs, whether you’re planning a honeymoon, a family trip, or a solo adventure. All of this is done by machine learning, not by people.
What does the future hold for Ansett Travel?
Frantzeskos sees a time when you won’t have to plan a vacation. Your AI-powered travel agent will instead plan your next trip based on your schedule, stress level, budget, and past trips.
This forward-looking vision aims to change what it means to be convenient when travelling, especially for busy Australians who want options that are easy and cheap.
Last thoughts
Ansett Travel is more than just a new travel agency; it’s a sign of how technology and tradition can work together. It’s taking what people loved about Ansett Airlines and bringing it into the digital age.
Constantine Frantzeskos has done more than just bring back a name through smart algorithms, human insight, and cultural relevance. He has made something new: a way to travel in the AI age that is simple, quick, and useful.
So even though Ansett may never fly again, its spirit lives on online, changed by new ideas and brought back to what it always stood for: people and their journeys.
