Virgin Drops PQQ-BNE Service-Replaced by Alliance

[RB]

I guess this has been coming for a while

Alliance Airlines replaces Virgin Australia on Port Macquarie to Brisbane route | Port Macquarie News

 

[Bundy Bear]

I guess this has been coming for a while

Alliance Airlines replaces Virgin Australia on Port Macquarie to Brisbane route | Port Macquarie News

I am surprised that PQQ didn't get the chop completely, must be doing something right

 

[grubbidok]

"Also gone are routes from Brisbane to Bundaberg, Gladstone and Moranbah"... so if they are entering a codeshare arrangement like they say, I assume VA SCs and points will be maintained as they are? In fact, it says that bookings and lounge access will still be through VA network, so I wonder if 'branding' of aircraft will be Alliance or VA? It looks very similar to the arrangement DL has with its independent DL Connection partners. Or is it a return to the old SkyWest days?

Edit: if it's the former, I wonder if punters will even notice the difference?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Alliance simply takes over the Virgin flights to Bundaberg, Gladstone, Moranbah & Port Mac in the interim. Once they get their heads around patronage then perhaps they adjust schedules? Both Gladstone & Moranbah have been cut back severely in the past 12-18 months as the mining boom has dropped off.

According to this: Alliance Airlines adds new routes in Queensland as Virgin prepares to close Brisbane ATR base | Australian Aviation

Alliance will be using 3 additional aircraft to operate the schedule.

FWIW I did BNE-BDB on Wednesday and it was 60% full, however keep in mind that when this service was first introduced (12:50 ex BNE, 14:20 ex BDB) VA said it was simply a period of time that one of the ATR's was sitting around at BNE, so it really only needed to cover its' own costs (as opposed to needing an additional frame). Generally when I've flown BDB there have been decent loads, so there's some $$ to be made. There's a sense that if VA had simply pulled out that QF would have upped their fares back to pre-2013 levels (generally $220 each way rather than the current $110-130)

The question is whether using the jets (over the props) will be affordable or not long-term on these routes.

 

[Justchecking]

Perhaps they should have sold their ATR fleet to Alliance?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Perhaps they should have sold their ATR fleet to Alliance?

I don't think they would've been interested - considering their fleet is all Fokker (including the F50). Perhaps we may see an F50 or two come to Brisbane in the future if the F70's don't prove to be successful.