ATR72's introduced By Virgin Blue to boost Regional Strategy

[Virgin Australia]

We also announced today that we will introduce up to 18 fuel efficient ATR72 turboprop aircraft as part of the recently announced strategic alliance with Sky
West airlines.
Virgin Blue Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director John Borghetti said the first four of the ATR Turboprop 68 seater aircraft would be introduced from the middle of 2011, with a further four to arrive next year.
“The ATR is the best aircraft to operate on regional routes throughout Australia. It provides the greatest fuel efficiency and passenger comfort for this category of aircraft.
“The ATR will form the foundation of our regional network plans, with the first six ATRs replacing our current Embraer E170 fleet and the additional aircraft flying to new regional destinations.”
The alliance will see both airlines codeshare on a number of sectors and allow Velocity members to earn and redeem points.

 

[Undercover Brother]

Interesting..

Having flown sectors in these overseas I must say they are a good choice.
The enjoy the little bit more space and usually extra service as opposed to a jet for small legs.

Goodbye E170's!

 

[antycbr]

When you look at slide 16 of the ASX slide deck, the economics are pretty clear - can deliver the passenger from A to B at about half the fuel cost, in an aircraft thats 1/3 cheaper to purchase. And no doubt ATR gave Skywest/Virgin a sweet deal off list price.

I'll be really interested to see what they do with CBR-SYD though, as Virgin have got a fair deal of business by differentiating between Jet and prop services offered by QF (the majority of flights being on Qantaslink Q400s). Might see a similar approach to QF with props for frequency and a couple of E190 rotations in and out at the peak.

 

[Ewing]

I'll be really interested to see what they do with CBR-SYD though, as Virgin have got a fair deal of business by differentiating between Jet and prop services offered by QF (the majority of flights being on Qantaslink Q400s). Might see a similar approach to QF with props for frequency and a couple of E190 rotations in and out at the peak.

A big point of contention between QF and DJ from CBR is that the airport fees for the jets are apparently significantly more than those for the turboprops.

I will be sorry to see the E170s go. I had the pleasure of flying on one for the first time a few weeks ago and really liked it.

But the arrival of props does not come as a surprise to me. I won't dismiss them until I give them a try (but I am not fond of the Dash 8s).

 

[anat0l]

ATR72s are a fine product. They are unusual in that they are rear loaded (so priority boarding means sitting at the back). At least, that's how it works for NZ who also have ATR72s on select domestic flights.

I wonder if these will be configured as 1 or 2 classes. I suppose that if PE wasn't a hot seller on some of these routes, having them as 1 class will not be a bad thing.

I haven't flown in an ATR72 before but I'd like to hear (no pun intended at all) about the in-cabin experience compared to the QF 'prop of choice Dash 8 Q400 (which I don't mind at all - still much better than flying a ZL Saab or a Fairchild Metroliner!).

 

[oz_mark]

I wonder if these will be configured as 1 or 2 classes. I suppose that if PE wasn't a hot seller on some of these routes, having them as 1 class will not be a bad thing.

The 68 seats that is mentioned is a pretty standard all economy configuration - so don't expect to see business class on it.

 

[UP4014]

All economy in these babies.

Seeing it is a "boost" to regional strategy I thought I would check their route map, the page works but the map doesn't load. Hopefully they spend some bucks on the IT as well which seems to be a niggling problem at DJ.

Matt

 

[UP4014]

ATR72s are a fine product. They are unusual in that they are rear loaded (so priority boarding means sitting at the back). At least, that's how it works for NZ who also have ATR72s on select domestic flights.

I'm not across my aircraft, but are these the planes that had the ice problems about 7 to 10 years ago?

 

[dajop]

ATR72s are a fine product. They are unusual in that they are rear loaded (so priority boarding means sitting at the back). At least, that's how it works for NZ who also have ATR72s on select domestic flights.

As they are (rear loading) on AA and 9W as well.

 

[markis10]

The 68 seats that is mentioned is a pretty standard all economy configuration - so don't expect to see business class on it.

Unless J is Row 1 only .

 

[NM]

Unless J is Row 1 only .

Or row 17 only

 

[eastwest101]

I haven't flown in an ATR72 before but I'd like to hear (no pun intended at all) about the in-cabin experience compared to the QF 'prop of choice Dash 8 Q400 (which I don't mind at all - still much better than flying a ZL Saab or a Fairchild Metroliner!).

Having flown on a fairly recent build ATR42 I would say they are about the same as the same as a Dash 8 400srs, and as you say anat0l - way ahead of of the SF340 (which are no faster than a Metro).

I find it very difficult to believe the ATR72 has the same cruise speed as a E170 though, if hats what was implied....

 

[markis10]

.

I find it very difficult to believe the ATR72 has the same cruise speed as a E170 though, if hats what was implied....

Cruise Speed is not what is being implied, what matters is gate to gate time which includes climb and descent rates as well as cruising levels themselves, having less altitude to climb over helps, especially on shorter legs AKA CBR_SYD.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I'm not across my aircraft, but are these the planes that had the ice problems about 7 to 10 years ago?

Yeah they are but I think they redesigned the de-ice boots since then,and anyway I can't see airframe icing being a significant issue in the Australian climate?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[eastwest101]

Cruise Speed is not what is being implied, what matters is gate to gate time which includes climb and descent rates as well as cruising levels themselves, having less altitude to climb over helps, especially on shorter legs AKA CBR_SYD.

Yep - I agree with your comments about "gate to gate" time for something like SYD-CBR, definately, but as the ATR72's are mostly proposed for WA's long and skinny routes then I would be guessing that any distance > 500km then the E170 advantages start to outshine the ATR72, definately better once your travel distances go > 800km.

I would be guessing that economical cruise for E170 would be about 780km/hr compared to about 460km/hr for the ATR72

 

[markis10]

Yep - I agree with your comments about "gate to gate" time for something like SYD-CBR, definately, but as the ATR72's are mostly proposed for WA's long and skinny routes then I would be guessing that any distance > 500km then the E170 advantages start to outshine the ATR72, definately better once your travel distances go > 800km.

I would be guessing that economical cruise for E170 would be about 780km/hr compared to about 460km/hr for the ATR72

I think you will find the ATRs wont be on the long WA routes, the extra E190s are for that, in fact if you have a close look when the announcement was made, only 4 were going to be in WA, the rest of the fleet for the east coast from memory. PMQ and FNQ routes would be naturals for this as well as CBR.

 

[eastwest101]

I think you will find the ATRs wont be on the long WA routes, the extra E190s are for that, in fact if you have a close look when the announcement was made, only 4 were going to be in WA, the rest of the fleet for the east coast from memory. PMQ and FNQ routes would be naturals for this as well as CBR.

Ah sorry about that - my bad - didn't pay close attention to the announcement, in that case the ATR72's could give Qantas & Rex a bit of a scare and be a pretty good idea for Virgin.

 

[Dee Thom]

Hi Virgin Blue, is it true that the A330's are going 2+2+2 in J, plus seat-back IFE and up market meals on the East/West Coast routes ?
Was just reading in A.A. Express that QF are going 2+3+2 on their new A330's. I know a few J flyers who will change to DJ to escape the dredded Middle Seat on the long haul.

Cheers Dee.