Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[simmomelb]

My bet is they won't give up the HND slot after the IPO and will end up with a couple of wide body aircraft in 2 years or so, with a change to the route from Cairns to SYD.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Do Bonza max8 have the range to do CNS-HND

 

[simmomelb]

Do Bonza max8 have the range to do CNS-HND

Yep. The issue is it's never going to be a popular route and, I'd imagine, difficult to get enough paying pax to fill seats, particularly on this type of aircraft and this route.
Are you thinking ultra budget tickets with Bonza CNS - HND a few times a week?

 

[HS-TQE]

Assuming Bonza's -8s are not equipped for over water flying as it was largely equipped for domestic flying for their original customer LOT Polish - which ended up NTU for them and Bonza/777 taking up their order.

 

[Saab34]

I guess the HND slot could be classed as an asset? What’s the value? Heathrow slots are worth a bit.

 

[simmomelb]

I guess the HND slot could be classed as an asset? What’s the value? Heathrow slots are worth a bit.

I know it was viewed as a big win for VA pre-Covid, as it's quite hard to get a slot in HND.
VA was forced to use it or lose it, therefore, they must be aware of the value of this slot, so I'm relatively sure they have other unannounced plans for this, even if that be longer term.
There is no real value in running this slot to CNS, once Government support dries up, as others have alluded to (it would likely be a loss-maker at that point).

 

[justinbrett]

I guess the HND slot could be classed as an asset? What’s the value? Heathrow slots are worth a bit.

Heathrow is an outlier. Most slots are not transferable, certainly not for money.

I don’t think VA could sell or lease the slots.

 

[Must...Fly!]

You would think that worst case would be a wet lease for a period if the MAX is further delayed.

 

[Quickstatus]

I guess the HND slot could be classed as an asset?

My understanding it's a use it or lose it.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Its hard to see it as not as just accepting funding from the Qld govt.
If the financial backing (Qld govt's) wasn't there, it would be hard to back it up, even if Bain had quite a lot of funds.
If I ran the airline, a big if, I would have put it something like maybe PER - HND, at least its a capital city, with an outsourced lounge (pay separately), and a a city with a lot more dom flight connections that CNS.
Even if having to lease a wide body plane, AirNZ did it with Wamos for a 777 AKL - PER - AKL for those few months.
I am sure there would be more demand, if they flew from a larger capital city than CNS, maybe a bit more expensive to use another airport, but it would give a better impression than a cheapie run that is CNS - HND.
After all, JQi already does the route CNS - NRT.
Downsides, so, to sum up, its a small plane, only 8 J seats, no lounge in CNS, maybe needing to fly up the night before, if living in another Aust city, paying accom overnight to be sure to make the flight to HND...
Upside, its the cheapest but very long winded way to get to HND in J.
QF is offering J SYD - HND (for this year), in the $7k to $8k range, for a return J flight, from ADL to connect in SYD up to Japan.

 

[Quickstatus]

Wamos for a 777

I think Wamos fleet is A330-200/-300
And ANA is planning to run PER-NRT sometime this year.

 

[jrfsp]

You would think that worst case would be a wet lease for a period if the MAX is further delayed.

i think a condition of the slot is it has to be VA metal hence why they are reportedly looking at the 700s as a back-up rather than a wet lease.

 

[Quickstatus]

it has to be VA metal

it says something slightly different:
I don't think it says VA2 cannot use a wet lease.

 

[dajop]

Heathrow is an outlier. Most slots are not transferable, certainly not for money.

I don’t think VA could sell or lease the slots.

Yes no value in selling or leasing the slot, but surely when it comes to an IPO it can be positioned as something of value for the airline? I.e. the rights to fly into Japan’s premier airport. Just one of many parts of the smoke and mirrors that will make up the eventual IPO.

 

[_flyer]

I really hope they don’t cancel or delay the service. I’m due to fly out in early July. I have booked accomodation and used flight credits.

 

[N860CR]

I really hope they don’t cancel or delay the service. I’m due to fly out in early July. I have booked accomodation and used flight credits.

They can’t cancel it. Slot needs to be used by the end of June.

 

[Quickstatus]

They can’t cancel it.

They can give it back. They have been given 2? Extensions.

 

[_flyer]

My booking no longer has an aircraft for the Haneda leg it says - unknown. It used to have 737-8. The domestic connections still have 737-800.

 

[AIRwin]

My booking no longer has an aircraft for the Haneda leg it says - unknown. It used to have 737-8. The domestic connections still have 737-800.

It's still showing on the Book Flight screen:

 

[Saab34]

I don’t think they would be able to get a wetlease sorted only two months out regardless.

Delaying it will become an issue while trying to list the airline. PR departments are put into a different gear during these periods, ie no bad press. This will rock the boat a bit and create some media backlash if they delay for a few months. MAX delays could raise some questions from potential investors also.

They really really didn’t want to let this slot get given to QF though. These are the consequences they now need to deal with.