Expansion of VA international services

[Isochronous]

Where do people see new VA metal international services going to and why? I'm mostly QF focused but I'd like to engage more with the VA community and discuss this airline more, given the important role it plays in providing choice and competition in the market. I also prefer the new VA uniforms and like some of the innovations, such as Premium Boarding at SYD

 

[erkpod]

I'd love to see direct VA flights Australia - SFO but I don't see it happening.

I'd also like to see at the very least a codeshare but preferably their own metal to Japan to give QF/JQ a run for their money. In February, I'm flying NRT - SYD via SIN on SQ's A380 so that will be interesting.

Apart from that, you won't see them fly Australia - UK via Asia because VS do that. And they are flying to the UK via the Middle East with EY.

 

[pythonisman]

I'd love to see direct VA flights Australia - SFO but I don't see it happening.
I'd also like to see at the very least a codeshare but preferably their own metal to Japan to give QF/JQ a run for their money. In February, I'm flying NRT - SYD via SIN on SQ's A380 so that will be interesting.

I did SYD-SIN-NRT and return in Jan/Feb this year. It's a mighty dog leg! On the return I broke it up so I had a couple of days in Singapore, made it much more bearable, but the flights over were a bit of a mission!
I also would love to see some VA love into Japan (let's throw codeshare with NH in if I'm wishing for things!) but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[lukenet]

I want a good old fashioned VA kangaroo route or at the very least one where we get full VFF benefits on code share flights..

 

[Intra]

Japan would be a nice start With all these partnerships, there isn't too much left to cover... South America? South Africa maybe 2 time around...?!

 

[erkpod]

I did SYD-SIN-NRT and return in Jan/Feb this year. It's a mighty dog leg! On the return I broke it up so I had a couple of days in Singapore, made it much more bearable, but the flights over were a bit of a mission!

I'm doing a Circle Pacific fare (VA/SQ). I'm doing VA1 SYD - LAX. Then I'm flying domestically VX/DL (need to book flights).

Then I'm flying LAX - NRT - SIN - SYD with a week in Japan & a week in Singapore.

The last time I went to Japan in 2011, I flew QF to NRT & then NRT - AMS on KLM.

Direct to Japan on VA or codeshare? I wish!

 

[goingboeing]

VA need to stick a 777 on the SYD or MEL direct to YVR route. There is no competition on this route aside from AC, so they need to either partner with them or compete - the loads are very good consistently through the year, especially over the peak winter season.

Or at a minimum, get their partnering sorted with NZ so you can codeshare from BNE/SYD/CBR/MEL via AKL and on to YVR with Air NZ. Not everyone wants to screw around going East Coast -> LAX -> Canada, so much easier to just bypass the US completely.

There were rumours a few years back, but when the brakes were put on the 77W expansion - nothing more happened. Competing or partnering with AC on this cash cow route would be a good idea I think - please VA

 

[RooFlyer]

VA need to stick a 777 on the SYD or MEL direct to YVR route. There is no competition on this route aside from AC, so they need to either partner with them or compete - the loads are very good consistently through the year, especially over the peak winter season.

Or at a minimum, get their partnering sorted with NZ so you can codeshare from BNE/SYD/CBR/MEL via AKL and on to YVR with Air NZ. Not everyone wants to screw around going East Coast -> LAX -> Canada, so much easier to just bypass the US completely.

There were rumours a few years back, but when the brakes were put on the 77W expansion - nothing more happened. Competing or partnering with AC on this cash cow route would be a good idea I think - please VA

As a regular flyer to YYC, either via LAX (QF/AC) or via YVR (AC) I say absolutely. Except YA should go it alone, not with AC. That said, this thread gives some pause for thought on VA's ability to handle its existing o'seas services.

AC at least last Australian summer, and I think for a while previously, doubled their services between SYD and YVR to twice daily - Aussies heading to the ski fields, Canuks to get away from the winter.

An at least seasonal YVR-BNE service would be attractive to Australian VA flyers and certainly would appeal to the Canadians.

 

[gwilli1]

I agree with all the routes mentioned here and have voiced my opinion in other threads .

SFO - credible alternative to LAX & home of VX connections to intra USA, plus United has a monopoly on this direct route from Australia & lets face it who really wants to fly United.

YVR - agree with goingboeing, the numbers are there just about year around with Aussies going to Canada. Again another route that has a monopoly carrier in AC that has a daily direct ex Australia and during periods peak can increase to double daily.

Japan - IMO, a clear hole in VA international direct/codeshare agreements . Yes you can get there as discussed via SIN , but there should be the ability to fly direct into Japan from Australia on preferably VA metal or a codeshare agreement . Going via SIN just doesn't cut it. ( I know this flys in opposition to this groups "why fly direct when you can connect" ) Richard Branson (prior to JB coming on board) a few years ago mentioned that VA had HND in its sights for a direct service ex Aust. I could potentially see a tie up with someone like ANA working. Maybe this might happen if they ever joined *A

In the early days of V Australia they had sort and granted permission from the US to fly to SEA , SFO, JFK & LAS , obviously none of these have eventuated

Realistically , I don't see VA Long haul international expanding greatly until such time as the decide on a replacement for the 77W ( 787 vs A350) , at which time i would hopefully see them look at expanding . VA international longhaul is a great product & needs to be expanded at some point .

 

[yeahbut]

Japan would be a nice start With all these partnerships, there isn't too much left to cover... South America? South Africa maybe 2 time around...?!

South America, oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please......

 

[mannej]

South America, oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please......

On 2 engines? Would that not have the same issues as the JNB routes that VA toyed with?

 

[gwilli1]

On 2 engines? Would that not have the same issues as the JNB routes that VA toyed with?

Yes it could do South America with VA 777-300ER . Santiago (Chile) & Buenos Aires (Argentina) are within the range for the 777-300ER . Rio & Sao Paulo would be a stretch maybe with a reduced payload.

 

[mannej]

Yes it could do South America with VA 777-300ER . Santiago (Chile) & Buenos Aires (Argentina) are within the range for the 777-300ER . Rio & Sao Paulo would be a stretch maybe with a reduced payload.

The distance isn't an issue, I am more thinking ETOPS (or whatever acronym it is now)

 

[madrooster]

Yes it could do South America with VA 777-300ER . Santiago (Chile) & Buenos Aires (Argentina) are within the range for the 777-300ER . Rio & Sao Paulo would be a stretch maybe with a reduced payload.

ETOPS 330 is required to do JNB and SCL/GRU/EZE viably. CASA however won't permit anything > ETOPS 180.

 

[gwilli1]

ETOPS 330 is required to do JNB and SCL/GRU/EZE viably. CASA however won't permit anything > ETOPS 180.

Thanks madrooster. I was aware that the 777-300ER was ETOPS 330 , but wasn't across the CASA ruling .

 

[madrooster]

Thanks madrooster. I was aware that the 777-300ER was ETOPS 330 , but wasn't across the CASA ruling .

ETOPS ratings are operator vs. type, not just type alone. If ETOPS ratings were type only then it wouldn't take into account carriers with less stellar maintenance regimes.

 

[jozdemir]

I know that part of this is covered with VAs partnership with SQ but I'd love to have a bit more choice Ex-PER. Now that QF are down to a single international flight per day I have very little choice for places like HKG direct when I don't want to pay CXs usually premium prices...apart from the fact that OW isn't my primary alliance, I tend to stick with *A and VA as a rule

That's just one example but I think it's a gap that could be filled by VA for places like HKG, BKK, NRT even KUL if they felt like it

 

[Intra]

While I wouldn't necessarily use it, maybe more direct VA Metal out of ADL (PER first though) - Truly then allow a real Ausralian airline fly ITL out of one the nations main airports....

 

[Jousams]

I think VA would have a better chance with services out of ADL,PER & BNE -asia & AUH rather than SYD&MEL which are fairly saturated. (With the exception of MEL - Japan)

 

[Jamesl]

The main one that will come out in the near future is SIN. JB mentioned that the airlines mentality is to fly to the hubs of its partners and then punt pax on to them.