More 777s heading down under?

[gwilli1]

Is there still any truth to the rumour of dropping the MEL-LAX route in favour of daily BNE-LAX flights?
If not, perhaps a couple of extra 777 could fill up both routes?

It's doubtful they would purchase any as spare though (as much as that would be great for peace of mind).
They tend to keep them in the air as constantly as possible as it costs too much to have any on the ground. (As can be seen by the deal with EY)

Yeah i have heard that rumour also, VA to dump MEL-LAX with Delta stepping in to pick up the route . This would free a/c up and allow VA to move BNE-LAX to daily. The loads on MEL-LAX apparently haven't been setting the world on fire for VA , although that may change with QF ceasing QF25/26 in May.

 

[maninblack]

Yeah i have heard that rumour also, VA to dump MEL-LAX with Delta stepping in to pick up the route . This would free a/c up and allow VA to move BNE-LAX to daily. The loads on MEL-LAX apparently haven't been setting the world on fire for VA , although that may change with QF ceasing QF25/26 in May.

They can't run a 3 times a week service and expect to be in the game against a daily A380 service. Best they go daily or go.

 

[pauly7]

They can't run a 3 times a week service and expect to be in the game against a daily A380 service. Best they go daily or go.

Agreed best for them to pitch the 777 against the 747 in Brisbane and hope for better numbers. I can't remember if QF are running the refurbished 747 there though...?

Forget trying to take the A380 on.

 

[markis10]

Agreed best for them to pitch the 777 against the 747 in Brisbane and hope for better numbers. I can't remember if QF are running the refurbished 747 there though...?

Forget trying to take the A380 on.

It was the first route the refurbs went on.

 

[Justchecking]

I always enjoy reading these speculation threads. I can't say I see a business case for any of the speculation offered and I'm still of the opinion that any international expansion is likely to be close to home on A330s that can be utilised both domestically and short haul internationally. More flexibility in a fleet you can redeploy on a domestic network during the low season. A lot of airlines are paring back their networks to short haul international and domestic because it's so easy to lose a lot of money on ultra long haul routes. I personally think it's the way of the future for aviation, alliances and hub to hub networks. If your flight times are limited to 10hrs you can offer a two class aircraft configured for high density seating. Smaller aircraft give the flexibility of higher frequencies on routes which tends to work better for ticket sales.

 

[juddles]

...speculation threads. ....

I think the single biggest speculative point here is that the mystery 777 orders are for DJ. I thought Pakistan had ordered 5 777´s earlier in the year, and they do not figure in the list. Plus there is a ¨-2¨ adjustment for the mystery order list. Perhaps Pakistan dropped two of their orders?

 

[markis10]

I think the single biggest speculative point here is that the mystery 777 orders are for DJ. I thought Pakistan had ordered 5 777´s earlier in the year, and they do not figure in the list. Plus there is a ¨-2¨ adjustment for the mystery order list. Perhaps Pakistan dropped two of their orders?

That's a good point, they certainly are not showing the order anywhere but since it's already announced I am not sure why the mystery is needed?

 

[juddles]

Perhaps after the fanfare of the original 5+5 order, a subsubsequent reduction is embarrassing and they requested an anonymous listing? Now I am speculating

 

[lovestotravel]

Yeah i have heard that rumour also, VA to dump MEL-LAX with Delta stepping in to pick up the route . This would free a/c up and allow VA to move BNE-LAX to daily. The loads on MEL-LAX apparently haven't been setting the world on fire for VA , although that may change with QF ceasing QF25/26 in May.

The moment you pull out of a route it sends a signal, although the Delta/VA tie up hasn't changed anything yet, so this would almost make sense

Also the 77W is alot of plane to fill, 363 seats for VA vs 272 for DL

 

[rtyuiop]

Aren't there normally some conditions on tie-ups like the DL-VA one, where they have to agree to not drop routes? I guess they could say that it's just being operated by DL instead, but losing a bunch of seats might count against them.

 

[Jousams]

to restart this thread guys.
Aircastle (the company virgin leased (at least 1?) of its new a330's from) posted their 1st quarter profits today.

and i read this

"Aviation Assets
Thus far in 2012, we acquired three aircraft including the last aircraft from our A330 program which we purchased in early April and placed on lease with Virgin Australia. In addition, we recently entered into commitments to acquire five additional aircraft, which we expect to close during the second and third quarters of 2012."
'http://www.marketwatch.com/story/aircastle-announces-first-quarter-2012-results-2012-05-03'

Is it a possibility that some of those 5 aircraft could be heading to virgin?, because I cant see virgin acquiring any more 777's in the short term.

 

[markis10]

Aircastle don't have any new aircraft on order so I doubt DJ will take secondhand again.

 

[markis10]

Eva Air has announced an order for 3 777 from Boeing and 4 leased from Gecas as they transition from the A330s, could be the undisclosed 3 mentioned??

 

[lovestotravel]

As i said they won't be for Virgin that's for sure

 

[markis10]

Well the three aircraft have been identified as now going to Air Canada:

413		4	7	-6	418
		4		3
			3
				2
45
			3
				10
17
230
122
			3
				4
			0
1
415		4	9	19	447
-2			-2	-25	-29
413		4	7	-6	418
	737	747	767	777	787	Total

[TH="align: left"]Orders through May 8, 2012[/TH]
[TH="width: 52"]737[/TH]
[TH="width: 52"]747[/TH]
[TH="width: 52"]767[/TH]
[TH="width: 52"]777[/TH]
[TH="width: 36"]787[/TH]
[TH="width: 90"]Total[/TH]

[TH="align: right"]2012 Net Orders[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Air Astana[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]7[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Air Canada[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]3[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Air New Zealand[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]2[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]China Eastern Airlines[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]45[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]EVA Air[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]3[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Japan Airlines[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]10[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Jet Airways[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]17[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Lion Air[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]230[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Norwegian[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]122[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]TAAG (Angola Airlines)[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]3[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Transaero Airlines[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]4[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Unidentified Customer(s)[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]0[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray, align: left"]Virgin Australia[/TH]

[TH="class: bgltgray"]1[/TH]

[TH="align: right"]2012 Gross Orders[/TH]

[TH="align: right"]Changes[/TH]

[TH="align: right"]2012 Net Orders[/TH]

 

[lovestotravel]

Wow - Didn't think AC would be ordering anything....
But then again their 787's are delayed.....

As I kept saying, zero chance Virgin was ordering them, for now