Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[HS-TQE]

Pretty much. I mean I would just take a refund and rebook on the CNS-NRT Jetstar flight, vs taking the Virgin scenic tour via god knows where.

I wonder if ANA could operate it for Virgin for say a month? I guess that would depend on negotiations with the said bodies.

Those 737-700s are very old, engineering will be problematic, adding fuel stops also tightens the whole schedule. Sounds all very risky to me.

There would be IASC regulations i'm assuming VA would need to stick to, and as for short term wet leases the IASC (again assuming here) need to know about it in advance and whether if they give the okay.

 

[SydneySwan]

You would hope VA had planned for this contingency. The Max being delivered late was always a realistic possibility.

 

[HS-TQE]

[

You would hope VA had planned for this contingency. The Max being delivered late was always a realistic possibility.

Thus the legacy 2-class -700s being reported across the social media as the planned backups.

Those two aircraft as posted by others in this thread are the only EDTO equipped aircraft with the range (although a payload hit is likely)

 

[Saab34]

Well they have two months to get wifi, power, usb and in flight wifi entertainment installed then. Those 700s are not built comfort and entertainment wise for such a mission. Pretty poor experience for the pax paying higher than normal airfares for the what -700 product is today.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Exactly, I can't imagine too many are concerned about the aircraft type.


What sort of a delay are we looking at? I've cleared missed something as I thought it was still being delivered on time.

It hasn’t been confirmed if VA is affected that I can see. But this came out a few days ago. Report on max delays.

 

[Quickstatus]

Related to this?:

Is the VA² 737Max delivery going to be affected by a vertical stabiliser production issue?

Edit: link now embedded

 

[_flyer]

Related to this?:

Is the VA² 737Max delivery going to be affected by a vertical stabiliser production issue?

ET posted an article on 27th March stating VAs Boeing 737 MAX appears to have slipped from an initial April 2023 delivery due to delays at Boeing’s end, not sure if it’s the same delays reported.

Virgin did apparently respond and stated that the 737 MAX remains on track to launch its new Cairns-Tokyo route on June 28, 2023.

I guess we will soon know.

Virgin Australia counts down to first Boeing 737 MAX

The arrival of the Boeing 737 MAX will also serve as the launchpad for new business and economy seats.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Quickstatus]

ET posted an article on 27th March

However the Aviation Week article in the link is only days old.

 

[justinbrett]

You would hope VA had planned for this contingency. The Max being delivered late was always a realistic possibility.

And I said as much in this very thread-

The MAX 8 should be on schedule

Quite a lot of carriers have had delays to their -8s this year. Not overly significant (several months), but enough to spoil this slot plan.

 

[Quickstatus]

wings of the -800

I thought all the 737 NG versions have the same wing?

 

[justinbrett]

I thought all the 737 NG versions have the same wing?

source - 737 Boeing Business Jet | Air Force

and Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) Long-Range - Aerospace Technology

"The design of the fuselage is based on that of the proven, Classic 737-700 combined with the centre section, strengthened aft section, wings and landing gear of the 737-800."

 

[Quickstatus]

The design of the fuselage is based

I understand it says that, but I thought the NG wings are the same across the NG variants. At least they do appear to have the same dimensions, and even the winglets appear the same. Maybe the wings are strengthened for the larger NG versions while keeping the same dimensions? @AviatorInsight might have an answer?

 

[justinbrett]

I understand it says that, but I thought the NG wings are the same across the NG variants. At least they do appear to have the same dimensions, and even the winglets appear the same. Maybe the wings are strengthened for the larger NG versions while keeping the same dimensions? @AviatorInsight might have an answer?

Yeah I'd have to defer to a 737 expert - I only know that definitively it is not a -700 - it has an increased MTOW and can be equipped with aux fuel tanks. The RAAF aircraft regularly fly SYD/CBR-HNL(HIK) direct which is obviously well beyond the range of any of the commercial NG variants.

I knew a couple of pilots and I remember telling me how it was a mix-match of the different variants.

USAF version: C-40B/C (also references the -800 wings)

 

[clifford]

Glad I didn't book VA for my trip to HND in August.

I had the choice of flying via CNS on the Max or flying from SYD on ANA's NH880 (B789), both in J.

Was more expensive but ANA was the right choice (in hindsight), given developments.

 

[Quickstatus]

it is not a -700

I agree there. Much like the P8 poseidon is really a 737NG -800? of sorts.

 

[justinbrett]

I agree there. Much like the P8 poseidon is really a 737NG -800? of sorts.

Yes, P-8A is based on 737-800; E-7A is based on 737-700.

All are very different aircraft obviously.

 

[HS-TQE]

Here's Australian Aviation's article on the 'reporting' of the 737-8 MAX delays.
I gotta love the social media responses on the FB posted article e.g 'clickbait reporting' and 'sCrAp ThE mAx!'

Question mark over Virgin 737 MAXs as Boeing finds another supplier issue

The airline’s order of 737 MAX aircraft is under a cloud, with an issue found in aft fuselage sections from troubled Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Are we going to take bets/odds that in the future, like VA1 SYD - HKG, the VA2 CNS - HND will sooner or later be cancelled.

 

[HS-TQE]

Are we going to take bets/odds that in the future, like VA1 SYD - HKG, the VA2 CNS - HND will sooner or later be cancelled.

When the Queensland Government subsidy ends (at least a 2 year agreement) would be my bet.

Can't see it lasting beyond the funding agreement.

 

[dajop]

When the Queensland Government subsidy ends (at least a 2 year agreement) would be my bet.

Can't see it lasting beyond the funding agreement.

I would have thought the IPO might be also be a factor with regards to how long they need this particular asset (HND slots). Either it will be stopped after the IPO or it won’t be stopped if the post-Bain strategy evolves into one that pushes the company to the brink of bankruptcy will expand once more into wide bodies and long haul international.