Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[Must...Fly!]

If the price is competitive and presumably free economy X for plat, I personally couldn't care less about connecting in CNS. But they may well struggle to make it work long term against Jetstar if nothing is done with widebody.

 

[Human]

This looks to me like a “placeholder” to keep the Haneda slots until Virgin can acquire some widebodies which are capable of flying from Brisbane or one of the southern capitals.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just tried dummy booking, CNS - HND for Oct 2023. everything shows up as "unavailable".

 

[jase05]

This looks to me like a “placeholder” to keep the Haneda slots until Virgin can acquire some widebodies which are capable of flying from Brisbane or one of the southern capitals.

I agree with this. I can’t see it lasting and it will be pulled as soon as a better option is found.
Wide bodies seem to be not in their plans for some time but I wonder if any consideration was ever given to configuring some of the MAX’s similar to SQ’s version to cover the longer flights such as this or Trans Con

 

[Must...Fly!]

but I wonder if any consideration was ever given to configuring some of the MAX’s similar to SQ’s version to cover the longer flights such as this or Trans Con

There were such plans. Question is whether they were ever changed. Mentioned in passing in this article: Virgin Australia orders 737 MAX 10s - Airline Ratings

 

[HS-TQE]

There were such plans. Question is whether they were ever changed. Mentioned in passing in this article: Virgin Australia orders 737 MAX 10s - Airline Ratings

Would've been back in the SQ/EY/Borghetti era. This was dumped during the short-lived Scurrah era prior to Voluntary Administration.

 

[jase05]

Would've been back in the SQ/EY/Borghetti era. This was dumped during the short-lived Scurrah era prior to Voluntary Administration.

Would it not be a far more cost efficient than buying a fleet of wide bodies down the track?
Would only need a small portion to be fitted out this way

 

[travelislife]

And there we have it. I would hope there is at least regular Water/Tea/Coffee drink runs in Y over the 7 hours assuming VAi 'Short Haul' keeps their LCC BoB menu in Y.

They need to change this pronto. And at minimum allow preorder of proper hot meals. That shouldn’t be too hard. Bad enough to/from Bali and Fiji.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Would've been back in the SQ/EY/Borghetti era. This was dumped during the short-lived Scurrah era prior to Voluntary Administration.

Whatever announcements were made in 2019 when the Max order was delayed was in the context of having the A330s and their truly world class product (and lease payments...).


Very different without them. There's little reason not to implement an off the shelf superior business seat in these aircraft, IMO.

 

[Revenge]

To be fair I would do it for the outbound daytime flight. The business class recliners aren't at all bad if you don't need to sleep. And from recent experience flying Air Canada's 737 MAX's, they feel significantly more comfortable that 737-800's. Quiet, airy, modern. I think it could be quite popular if the price is right.

 

[pauly7]

Even being subsidised by the QLD government, the AU base will be far too skinny for Virgin to come even close to making money on this, they have zero brand in JP so will be relying almost entirely on their partners to fill their planes and will have to cut them in for the privilege.

This will just be an expensive time consuming doorstop to hold back QF from outright owning Japan until they can figure something else out then it will be dumped like a hot potato - I agree with those who before-mentioned that.

(Personally I wouldn’t fly this route on that equipment and Virgin’s offering)

 

[AIRwin]

Virgin Australia On Sale

Virgin Australia on sale. Check out the latest flight specials on offer. http://specials.virginaustralia.com/

specials.virginaustralia.com

 

[jase05]

$2300 return in J from SYD
Plenty of award availability too if that interests you

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Seat maps for those 737 MAX flights show the standard layout right now, 2 rows of 2-2 in business.

 

[twinaisle]

Seat maps for those 737 MAX flights show the standard layout right now, 2 rows of 2-2 in business.

That's what it'll most likely be unless of course someone decides to install flat beds but that's slim

 

[dajop]

$2300 return in J from SYD
Plenty of award availability too if that interests you

So reasonably consistent with premium economy pricing (closest match product wise to the VA J cabin).

 

[antycbr]

So reasonably consistent with premium economy pricing (closest match product wise to the VA J cabin).

Adding CNS to the list of international ports with no lounge access outbound, and doubling down with no connection lounge for onwards domestic services.

 

[Airbumps]

Adding CNS to the list of international ports with no lounge access outbound, and doubling down with no connection lounge for onwards domestic services.

Exactly. As was said up thread, they have no brand in Japan and I can't see a reasonable amount of the Australian market travelling on these aircraft, via this routing when there are simply better options out there. Unless it comes right down to price, I just can't see them making money on this one.

 

[jase05]

Exactly. As was said up thread, they have no brand in Japan and I can't see a reasonable amount of the Australian market travelling on these aircraft, via this routing when there are simply better options out there. Unless it comes right down to price, I just can't see them making money on this one.

I’m guessing going head to head with Jetstar they aren’t competing against much. Both offer pretty much the same service apart from lounge access. Flying into HND rather than NRT would be an attractive option for many if prices are similar between VA and JQ.
I guess AFF isn’t really the target market for this VA service and I know plenty of people that always fly the cheapest option possible so $700 return fares in Y would appeal to plenty

 

[justinbrett]

I know plenty of people that always fly the cheapest option possible so $700 return fares in Y would appeal to plenty

No doubt, but how is VA going to cover the cost of operating this flight with fares like that, and very low J fares (about the same as QF SYD-MEL); let alone make a profit.

Seems like they really want to cling on to these slots which is odd, as far as widebody routes go there's much better markets to make money on if you're only going to operate a few routes.

It was this kind of thinking that bankrupted the previous entity.