Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[Himeno]

That's no different to the situation at many airports where the airline recommends a lounge, but the smart traveller knows they can access a different lounge under oneworld class of service.

I was on NRT-MEL about a month ago. Check in tried to get me to go to the old QF lounge.
I went right to the JL F lounge.

 

[bernardblack]

I think ideally in the long run they would like 3x daily’s into Sydney. Possible 2 into SYD and 1 into WSI so by time that is built hopefully they have secured another bilateral

Is WSI actually exempt from the current caps? It could be like ADL or CBR or OOL, as another port they can add without the limit?

 

[WilsonM]

Is WSI actually exempt from the current caps? It could be like ADL or CBR or OOL, as another port they can add without the limit?

My understanding is that while technically, it's not mentioned in the Air Services agreement. But when WSI comes online it'll most likely be treated the same as AVV, which is part of Melbourne (so AVV is included in the weekly cap for capital cities).

 

[WilsonM]

What's to stop them getting "VA" to run more flights to DOH under either a wet lease or dry lease arrangement?

I haven't read the application in full but does it (or will the eventual approval) state a specific number of flights they are limited to?

They can't run more than what QR can run in return (that's why they're bilateral agreements, they apply to each nation equally). So VA is limited to the 7x weekly from the 4 major airports and one additional routing a la ADL-MEL-DOH

 

[Himeno]

My understanding is that while technically, it's not mentioned in the Air Services agreement. But when WSI comes online it'll most likely be treated the same as AVV, which is part of Melbourne (so AVV is included in the weekly cap for capital cities).

AVV is a bit confusing. Some agreements list it as part of the cap, others don't mention it.

AVV is as much a part of Melbourne as OOL is part of Brisbane.

 

[ANstar]

They can't run more than what QR can run in return (that's why they're bilateral agreements, they apply to each nation equally). So VA is limited to the 7x weekly from the 4 major airports and one additional routing a la ADL-MEL-DOH

I presume if VA do use all the AU rights then both airlines would lobby their respective governments to look at increasing for the benefit of carriers in each. My understanding is one of the many reasons Qatar got knocked back for more capacity is because Australia wasn't utilising their capacity.

 

[jrfsp]

Will be interesting to see flight timings for the new flights, id imagine additional PER/BNE/SYD flights would want to depart late arvo / early evening (same as the QR989 from MEL) to arrive around midnight for the 12-3am Dept bank.

For the DOH-SYD/BNE departures for 12-3am bank make the most sense to arrive on the east coast late at night. PER (and 1 MEL) already depart at this time.

 

[ben95]

Do wonder if the protection on these services not approved applies to redemptions via FFP points.

I wouldn’t be surprised if VA releases a large number of reward seats on the new service as part of the launch campaign which if of course wonderful. Would be a shame if Velocity members are left out of pocket or treated worse compared to cash fare customers.

 

[markis10]

AVV is a bit confusing. Some agreements list it as part of the cap, others don't mention it.

AVV is as much a part of Melbourne as OOL is part of Brisbane.

Not really, recent decisions have included AVV in wording because of its proximity, OOL not the case, neither is Wellcamp, WSI is very much an AVV scenario

 

[Saab34]

I doubt anyone would launch Avalon ops even if they did make it part of a ‘regional’ allocation.

Avalon only works for airlines when cash is thrown at them. It will never be an airport that will stand on its two feet without all the subsidies. Perhaps when Geelong joins Melbourne in the future.

 

[Human]

I doubt anyone would launch Avalon ops even if they did make it part of a ‘regional’ allocation.

Avalon only works for airlines when cash is thrown at them. It will never be an airport that will stand on its two feet without all the subsidies. Perhaps when Geelong joins Melbourne in the future.

You are right, but I also strongly suspect that WSI will be different, not least because of the number of people who live in proximity and also the very different level of infrastructure that the airport will have. Whether or not WSI is part of the bilateral agreement, I suspect it would make strong sense for Qatar to have at least some services there.

 

[tmdl]

I doubt anyone would launch Avalon ops even if they did make it part of a ‘regional’ allocation.

Avalon only works for airlines when cash is thrown at them. It will never be an airport that will stand on its two feet without all the subsidies. Perhaps when Geelong joins Melbourne in the future.

I have always wondered why there arent more airlines flying out of AVV?

 

[odysseus]

I have always wondered why there arent more airlines flying out of AVV?

Tried when it opened, with Jet* operating exclusively from there.

They found it was not popular so switched to both airports. While other airlines chose to avoid the lack of popularity and difficulties in connections.

 

[p--and--t]

I have always wondered why there arent more airlines flying out of AVV?

I seem to recall a couple if other LCCs tried but withdraw and there were one or two other announcements that didnt come to fruition.

Never been there and no idea if improvements have been made but is suffered from complaints/reports in forums of a lack of public transport, lack of basic facilities eg food if flight delayed, too far/costly to travel for the majority of SE Melbournites, complaints of a tin shed in the middle of nowhere, no flight connections to anywhere (terminus airport).

Whether the above criticisms/observations were valid or are still valid - no idea. Never tempted to go there to try and save $10.

 

[Himeno]

I have always wondered why there arent more airlines flying out of AVV?

Lack of ground transport options and poor airport facilitates for passenger flights (it's reportedly worse then dedicated "LCC" terminals overseas)
The airport is 7kms from the nearest train station (Lara station on the Geelong line). Skybus has services to Melbourne, but only for scheduled Jetstar flights.

There's been talk of improving rail links to Geelong and Melbourne and improving/rebuilding the passenger terminal, but nothing appears to have happened.

 

[justinbrett]

OOL isn’t having much luck either despite being a major tourist location.

 

[Saab34]

Tried when it opened, with Jet* operating exclusively from there.

They found it was not popular so switched to both airports. While other airlines chose to avoid the lack of popularity and difficulties in connections.

It was actually popular initially, Jetstar once had 12 flights per day from Avalon to Sydney. Melbourne to Sydney was once a two airline market, Virgin Blue and Qantas. The whole idea was to keep that duopoly in place while pushing the low cost traffic to Avalon. It actually worked for a while then…

In 2009 that changed when Tiger launched Sydney operations, and Jetstar then started the Tulla 6 months after, and cut Avalon back to bare bones. Tiger really disrupted the Sydney market which was probably one of the better things to happen to that market. It got even more crazy after that when Tiger launched Sydney to Avalon.

I still wish they would bring back a AVV-PER.

 

[antycbr]

I have always wondered why there arent more airlines flying out of AVV?

I actually wonder if they’d be better marketing it as “Geelong/Great Ocean Road Airport” kind of like BNK… rather than being “inconvenient MEL”

 

[Saab34]

Not that this often has any bearing on who any board would appoint but they are pushing this again. I would assume JH will stick around until this deal is sealed. Especially the ACCC Deputy Chair made the comment ‘we can pull the plug on this deal at any moment’

Union demands CEO veto in exchange for supporting Virgin’s Qatar deal

The powerful Transport Workers Union is concerned that a former Qantas executive involved in the illegal sacking of staff is the frontrunner for the top job.

www.afr.com

The powerful Transport Workers Union says it will withdraw its support for Virgin Australia’s plan to use Qatar Airways’ planes and crews if the private equity-controlled airline appoints former Qantas executive Paul Jones as its chief executive.

The TWU’s national secretary, Michael Kaine, said the union would find it difficult to support Virgin’s plans to return to long-haul flying if it proceeded to appoint Mr Jones to succeed Jayne Hrdlicka, who is leaving.

 

[A321]

I actually wonder if they’d be better marketing it as “Geelong/Great Ocean Road Airport” kind of like BNK… rather than being “inconvenient MEL”

I see now they have started referring to it as "Melbourne Avalon Airport" in all comms.