Virgin strategy?!

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Some chatter from the CEO on Virgin’s strategic goals

Virgin Australia says its mid-market strategy will flourish once it can resume normal operations

Virgin Australia hopes to be at 80 per cent capacity domestically by July, allowing it to secure more than one-third of the airline market and make a bold attempt to resume international travel.

www.news.com.au

 

[Mattg]

As far as I can see, the only real "new" news from that article is that Virgin is committing to reinstating wifi.

We already know they plan to restart international short-haul flights to NZ, Fiji and Bali when borders open up.

Have I missed anything?

 

[AIRwin]

Have I missed anything?

Yes it's not quite the VA livery on the aircrafts in the picture?

 

[Mattg]

Yes it's not quite the VA livery on the aircrafts in the picture?

That too, although getting the right airline/plane type in the picture has never been news.com.au 's strong point

 

[cove]

I did a transaction to keep my Velocity points from expiring. When Qantas has dust i will go Virgin.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Agree with Cove, am putting all my FB (Flybuys) points into VFF for now.
Just to keep my VFF points alive, will wait and see what pans out, in the next few months/year/years with VFF.
OT: my QFF tie in with WWR/EDR is not too flash at the moment, my 2000 WWR/EDR points haven't transferred to QFF.

 

[HS-TQE]

Considering VA has a sub-fleet of 737s (split scimitar winglets) intended primarily for short-haul international, it'll be interesting what they'll going to do with them for the short-medium term when short haul international (NZ and Pacific Islands) is able to resume 'both' ways, as opposed to the one way bubble arrangement to NZ currently.

 

[ozstamps]

Virgin STRATEGY???

Simple - just more totally hollow and lacking in any detail American Barnum and Bailey hype, from Ms Hardlicka, inline with her last half dozen equally hollow PR emissions.

No WiFi for 6 months is inexcusable. And still no date WHEN it is expected. It is a simple thing - you pay the vendor money, and it works. Planes are all set up for it - it just needs to be turned on.

''EXPANDING VFF'' is vital to survive ... what planet is she living on???

Being on wait for over an hour on the phone last week on THREE separate times after inputting a Platinum VFF number is 4th World.

 

[aamslfc]

We all know the general ideas behind Virgin 2.0, but obviously we're not going to know/see anything concrete for many months yet, so until then it's only ever going to be speculation and PR/media management.

No WiFi for 6 months is inexcusable...

Being on wait for over an hour on the phone last week on THREE separate times after inputting a Platinum VFF number is 4th World.

Yes, one can hardly fathom the truly incredible suffering being caused by such terrible hardships...

 

[jase05]

VA has partnered with the AFL for another 5 years

Virgin Australia kicks goals with new AFL partnership

The AFL's partnership with Virgin Australia has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years. It has been testament to our shared commitment to the footy community. Mr McLachlan said.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[AIRwin]

VA has partnered with the AFL for another 5 years

That may explain this morning's tweet:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1371206250172608513

 

[aamslfc]

Yep, the announcement and presser were held in Melbourne this morning right next to check-in.

No idea who the AFL players talking to the media were, but there was a nice buzz around the place for a while which was good to see.

Post automatically merged: Mar 15, 2021

Yep, the announcement and presser were held in Melbourne this morning right next to check-in.

No idea who the AFL players talking to the media were, but there was a nice buzz around the place for a while which was good to see.

 

[HS-TQE]

VA has partnered with the AFL for another 5 years

Virgin Australia kicks goals with new AFL partnership

The AFL's partnership with Virgin Australia has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years. It has been testament to our shared commitment to the footy community. Mr McLachlan said.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

Not overly that surprising, IMO. Would be one of the few (if not only) sponsorships that VA 3.0 would be keeping.

I'd also think that Bain would ultimately see a 'return on investment' (as per their main aim) to keep the AFL sponsorship.

 

[jase05]

No idea who the AFL players talking to the media were, but there was a nice buzz around the place for a while which was good to see.

Trent Cotchin the Richmond captain and Sam Docherty the Carlton captain.
VA also continuing their sponsorship of Carlton and the Gold Coast Suns

 

[jakeseven7]

I'd also think that Bain would ultimately see a 'return on investment' (as per their main aim) to keep the AFL sponsorship.

Agree, in the long run thats for sure.

Its a Marketing cost for now, they must have decided its worth the $$ for the publicity and trying to maintain confidence in their brand which has taken a wallop over last 13 months or so.

 

[Melburnian1]

Agree, in the long run thats for sure.

Its a Marketing cost for now, they must have decided its worth the $$ for the publicity and trying to maintain confidence in their brand which has taken a wallop over last 13 months or so.

VA has a major disadvantage. Unlike QF (35 or more per cent foreign owned) and ZL (majority Singaporean owned IIRC) that both resort to patriotism, VA (owned by USA's Bain) will find that impossible or more difficult.

'Qantas the Australian airline' and 'Rex: our heart is in the country' are sort of memorable. What does VA stand for? It may be mostly cheaper than QF to fly, but on the small number of routes where ZL has appeared or is to do so, VA may have higher costs than ZL so matching its fares in large numbers will be costly.

 

[Saab34]

'Qantas the Australian airline' and 'Rex: our heart is in the country' are sort of memorable. What does VA stand for?

Customers don’t give two ****. Trust me they really do not.

 

[aamslfc]

AFL sponsorship is essential to maintaining the look/feel that the old, familiar Virgin is still around, and that Bain hasn't changed much. Not to mention, it's probably worth keeping for the advertising benefits and brand association with Australia's number one sport.

Customers don’t give two ****. Trust me they really do not.

Precisely this.

People don't book Qantas whilst belting out "I Still Call Australia Home", and the plane doesn't take off with everyone on board chanting "The Australian Airline". Perhaps the experience on Rex is different, but I'm not sure what their slogan would be (although for some reason "taxpayer rorts" and "shameless hypocrites" come to mind).

Nobody gives a s**t whether VA stands for anything. Nobody cares about the marketing spiel/advertising slogans of an airline. Most passengers just want the cheapest seat from A to B, and with any luck there'll be some dodgy snacks thrown in.

 

[AIRwin]

Today's media release:

Virgin Australia at your service with new menus and even more affordable flights

Virgin Australia Group CEO and Managing Director Jayne Hrdlicka said that many months had been spent developing the new onboard experience following extensive customer research.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

Following a reduction in the price of Business Class fares of up to 20 percent last November in comparison with pre-COVID-19 prices, Virgin Australia also announced today that the airline will undertake a further review of its Business and Economy Class fare brands.

 

[jakeseven7]

Today's media release:

Virgin Australia at your service with new menus and even more affordable flights

Virgin Australia Group CEO and Managing Director Jayne Hrdlicka said that many months had been spent developing the new onboard experience following extensive customer research.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

Following a reduction in the price of Business Class fares of up to 20 percent last November in comparison with pre-COVID-19 prices, Virgin Australia also announced today that the airline will undertake a further review of its Business and Economy Class fare brands.

Yup thats what they are researching right now in addition to making things like priority boarding etc able to be purchased, so no longer the realm of just status VFF flyers...