Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[downtheback]

The VAi structure using Australian based aircraft and Australian based crews is one thing, but this is a whole other animal. They may as well just award QR double the capacity and save everybody from this charade.

The VAi structure has always been dubious, given VA itself (being allowed to have more than 50% foreign ownership) could run it by proxy. There's no way this QR wet least gets approved until an agreement is put in place for the service to be run genuinely from Australia over a period of time.

Well if only the Labor government wasn't bribed by QF....

Australia doesn't owe Qatar (the country) any flight rights above O+D demand. Those rights are just one aspect of the entire trade between the two countries. QF may have advocated in their best interest, but ultimately Qatar (the country) only has itself to blame (the mistreatment of the australian woman at the airport just being the most prominent for us back home).

If they (Qatar - the government) were genuine about improving the relationship rather than just wanting to use it, maybe the Aus gov would have been more open to increasing flight rights.

 

[moa999]

Yep, the ME region generally has way over the natural O&D rights, and just because EK or EY received them in the past doesn't mean QR automatically should.

At least with EK I suspect things like the business numerous Australian companies were doing in to the Dubai construction boom helped their case.

 

[jase05]

It was briefly mentioned earlier in this thread, but I think the addition of QR lounge access for VA international flights would be a huge improvement for VA.

Barely a week goes by where somebody isn't asking about it on a certain VFF FB group (with many a complaint about it lacking on the CNS-HND route) so I believe it's definitely important enough of an issue for many frequent flyers that it should at least be considered.

It would certainly help VA compete better against both QF and JQ where applicable flyers get lounge access and if VA are serious about improving their international offering, then this really is an integral part of that.

With QR about to be part owner, I would think this would be an easy step to make...

For QR’s own flights ex ADL they refuse to pay for the Plaza Premium airside and instead send their passengers to the VA lounge before security.
QR will do what’s best for them financially

 

[simmomelb]

For QR’s own flights ex ADL they refuse to pay for the Plaza Premium airside and instead send their passengers to the VA lounge before security.
QR will do what’s best for them financially

I think that's totally acceptable in Adelaide, it has the most modern lounge VA has and it's a very short walk from there through international.
That's the beauty of Adelaide and Gold Coast airports.
Of course, all airlines will do what's best for them, financially
What would be nice, is to have lounge access for all VAi-operated flights where available, which Qatar could help with and would be more feasible for VAi once the QR deal is done.
I'd be shocked if this isn't (a small) part of the deal.

 

[RooFlyer]

Australia doesn't owe Qatar (the country) any flight rights above O+D demand.

Except maybe to look after the interests of its flying consumers by promoting competition rather than being protectionist. If other nations did that, we'd be the loser.

but ultimately Qatar (the country) only has itself to blame (the mistreatment of the australian woman at the airport just being the most prominent for us back home).

That's fair comment, but it begs the question about regarding other nations in a similar way. The UAE (nor Qatar) isn't exactly a nice place for gays and even Australia is castigated here and in overseas forums for its treatment of Aboriginal people and refugees. Twenty-two states of the USA has the death penalty for children, including Texas (who has actually done it) - a significant hub for Australians flying to and from the USA.

As awful as the incident at DOH was, the one-off incident seems to draw some disproportionate opprobrium when it comes to judging countries suitable for airlines operating into Australia. Doesn't matter if its a state airline or not.

 

[Saab34]

Still a cost to VAI if they get access to a lounge, they really seem hesitant adding this cost.

I think short haul International, they do have the ability to charge a premium for J, they could certainly raise the fare by 5%. Don’t underestimate how important that premium leisure passenger is at the moment, very valuable to the bottom line.

However, is unknown what $$ VA needs to fork out per pax using a third party lounge, even operated by a partner. $100?

 

[justinbrett]

Yep, the ME region generally has way over the natural O&D rights, and just because EK or EY received them in the past doesn't mean QR automatically should.

At least with EK I suspect things like the business numerous Australian companies were doing in to the Dubai construction boom helped their case.

The only reason the UAE has that is both QF and VA were flying there (to DXB and AUH). They would never have got it unilaterally.

 

[simmomelb]

Still a cost to VAI if they get access to a lounge, they really seem hesitant adding this cost.

So, VA will offer their "own flights" (wet-lease) to Doha with lounge access out of Australia, yet a flight to Fiji won't have access to a lounge. But they do offer lounge access on Sydney to Canberra on a wet-lease flight. That sounds even more inconsistent than how it operates now.
What a mess :/

 

[p--and--t]

even more inconsistent

A true compe4titor to QF, stealing their badge of honour

 

[simmomelb]

A true compe4titor to QF, stealing their badge of honour

This is messy and inconsistent to us, imagine the regular flying public, confused AF