Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[tmdl]

They tried 777s to Thailand didn’t last long.

They just need more 737s flights to Bali in volume.

PER twice a day, MEL 3 Daily, SYD/BNE 10-14 weekly.

I would like a flat lie option but maybe in the years to come or with QR's help?

 

[Saab34]

QF A330s MEL-DPS would be the only real thing that would happen in that space.

 

[tmdl]

QF A330s MEL-DPS would be the only real thing that would happen in that space.

or GA, It seams that this route is dominated by LCC which make me think, have airlines and in particular VA not thought why don't we put a bigger plane onto this route, I thought they would always have people wanting to go to Bali?

According to ABS - Indonesia is our top destination in 2023

Indonesia overtakes New Zealand as top destination for Australian travellers

www.abs.gov.au

 

[p--and--t]

or GA, It seams that this route is dominated by LCC which make me think, have airlines and in particular VA not thought why don't we put a bigger plane onto this route, I thought they would always have people wanting to go to Bali?

According to ABS - Indonesia is our top destination in 2023

Indonesia overtakes New Zealand as top destination for Australian travellers

www.abs.gov.au

Maybe they have market research on the demographic and worked out LCC was the solution for the target customer base.

 

[HS-TQE]

The Short Lived AirAsiaX Indonesia tried widebodies on SYD/MEL-DPS thinking both routes are people movers. It didn't last long as they struggled on the Australian POS.

 

[jase05]

Maybe they have market research on the demographic and worked out LCC was the solution for the target customer base.

The majority of people that we know in Adelaide that travel to Bali go via SIN or KUL with SQ and MH. VA was the best direct option but since they stopped the best options involve a transit.
Our most recent trip we went via KUL with MH whilst some friends that met us there went to MEL and flew GA. We have done GA many times in J and I don’t mind the product

 

[p--and--t]

The majority of people that we know in Adelaide that travel to Bali go via SIN or KUL with SQ and MH. VA was the best direct option but since they stopped the best options involve a transit.
Our most recent trip we went via KUL with MH whilst some friends that met us there went to MEL and flew GA. We have done GA many times in J and I don’t mind the product

Yes but as with many things AFFers and their circle are atypical of the majority, and it seems the market success of the current offering shows that

 

[simmomelb]

So, how about that 25% acquisition from Qatar Airways?

 

[HS-TQE]

Getting back on topic, AFAP and its group of pilots does provisionally support the 25% Qatar stake on the proviso that the wet lease agreement last no more than 5 years.

A VA spokesperson has replied the intended wet lease agreement will be 5 years.

Virgin Australia says five years is the intended initial time frame for the wet-lease agreement, giving it a chance to see how well a return to international wide-body operations will serve it in the long term. In a statement, a spokesperson welcomed the union’s support.

Virgin pilots back Qatar deal despite wet-lease concerns

In its submission to the ACCC, the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) said that the proposal – which would see Qatar take a 25 per cent stake in Virgin, as well as wet-lease its planes to the smaller carrier for flights to Doha – would create job opportunities for Australian pilots.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

Getting back on topic, AFAP and its group of pilots does provisionally support the 25% Qatar stake on the proviso that the wet lease agreement last no more than 5 years.

A VA spokesperson has replied the intended wet lease agreement will be 5 years.

Virgin pilots back Qatar deal despite wet-lease concerns

In its submission to the ACCC, the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) said that the proposal – which would see Qatar take a 25 per cent stake in Virgin, as well as wet-lease its planes to the smaller carrier for flights to Doha – would create job opportunities for Australian pilots.

australianaviation.com.au

This is old news. JH has refused to put a time limit on the wet lease because it lasts for five years and they have no intention of ending it before that. Committing to a dry lease beyond the agreement is irrelevant to this agreement.

The way the union wrote their submission is smart, in that VA should terminate the wet lease at 3 years unless a dry lease is signed and started at the end of the 5 years. But I doubt VA will go for that.

 

[simmomelb]

This is quite an interesting read, regarding Singapore Air should the Qatar Airways deal with Virgin Australia be approved.
There has been a lot of negativity around this and it seemingly needed some clarification.

Virgin says Singapore Airlines Velocity perk will stay in Qatar tie-up

The ACCC review process got heated as Virgin faces a Christmas deadline to start selling seats for June 2025 travel.

www.afr.com

Is anyone else confused by this?

"Virgin Australia assured members of its Velocity rewards program they will still be able to book Singapore Airlines flights to Europe if the homegrown carrier succeeds in getting its partial sale to Qatar Airways approved.

Sydney Airport and the Australian Airports Association had raised concerns about narrowing consumer choice as part of the public consultation process run by the competition regulator. In response, Virgin clarified that its loyalty members would still be able to book Singapore Airlines flights.

Virgin will not sell seats beyond Asia on Singapore Airlines under a long-standing code share agreement."

 

[jase05]

This is quite an interesting read, regarding Singapore Air should the Qatar Airways deal with Virgin Australia be approved.
There has been a lot of negativity around this and it seemingly needed some clarification.

Virgin says Singapore Airlines Velocity perk will stay in Qatar tie-up

The ACCC review process got heated as Virgin faces a Christmas deadline to start selling seats for June 2025 travel.

www.afr.com

I did see it mentioned recently that Jayne said the SQ, UA and NH partnerships would remain in place and that basically it’s only the ability to book SQ codeshares to Europe that would be ended.
I don’t think it’s anywhere near as scary as people are pretending

 

[jrfsp]

I did see it mentioned recently that Jayne said the SQ, UA and NH partnerships would remain in place and that basically it’s only the ability to book SQ codeshares to Europe that would be ended.
I don’t think it’s anywhere near as scary as people are pretending

SAA and VS remain in place too. The main changes are EY partnership ending and removal of codeshare on SQ EMEA flights.

 

[aaa99]

No mention of Velocity to Krisflyer miles transfer, but I assume that will stay too?

 

[HS-TQE]

You still be able to book SQ to Europe via VA minus the VA codes (basically a glorified interline) I'm assuming. This seems barely a step above the unilateral EY partnership (where you can only book through either on EY's website or via Velocity FF redemptions)

 

[simmomelb]

No mention of Velocity to Krisflyer miles transfer, but I assume that will stay too?

I don't think there is any risk of that going, for now.

 

[HS-TQE]

No mention of Velocity to Krisflyer miles transfer, but I assume that will stay too?

It is assumed that would stay for now, although don't be surprised if this is replaced with the Velocity to Avios transfer in the future.

 

[justinbrett]

SAA and VS remain in place too. The main changes are EY partnership ending and removal of codeshare on SQ EMEA flights.

Not what the ACCC application says.

 

[jrfsp]

Not what the ACCC application says.

B

Thread 'Confirmed : Etihad Airways Gone by Late 2025 (Regardless of Qatar tie-up)'

Today at 1:43 PM

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/public-registers/documents/Virgin%20Australia%20and%20Qatar%20Airways%20-%20Response%20to%20interested%20party%20submissions%20-%2013.11.24%20-%20PR%20VERSION%20-%20AA1000679%20Virgin%20Qatar.pdf?ref=0&download=y

"Etihad Airways will cease to be a Velocity partner and, with or without the Proposed Conduct, Virgin Australia does not codeshare on Etihad Airways’
services. Further clarifications on the changes that will be made are provided below."

"Virgin Australia will in late 2025, terminate its limited remaining partnership with Etihad Airways"

• Bagpuss
• Replies: 8
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

• 
• 

 

[TheInsider]

B

Thread 'Confirmed : Etihad Airways Gone by Late 2025 (Regardless of Qatar tie-up)'

Today at 1:43 PM

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/public-registers/documents/Virgin%20Australia%20and%20Qatar%20Airways%20-%20Response%20to%20interested%20party%20submissions%20-%2013.11.24%20-%20PR%20VERSION%20-%20AA1000679%20Virgin%20Qatar.pdf?ref=0&download=y

"Etihad Airways will cease to be a Velocity partner and, with or without the Proposed Conduct, Virgin Australia does not codeshare on Etihad Airways’
services. Further clarifications on the changes that will be made are provided below."

"Virgin Australia will in late 2025, terminate its limited remaining partnership with Etihad Airways"

• Bagpuss
• Replies: 8
• Forum: Virgin Australia | Velocity

• 
• 

Looks like EY has had enough of their BS.