Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[encryptededdy]

The flight originally scheduled to arrive the previous night had been cancelled

You mean Wednesday's VA77? If that's the case, I'm not sure why VA waited until a few hours before the flight to cancel yesterday's VA78 then. They must've had a crew ready I'd think (or just didn't realise???)

As an aside, flight tracking websites don't report VA78 as Cancelled, despite it flying with no passengers. I wonder if e.g. BITRE statistics capture this case correctly.

 

[Saab34]

Schedule planning isn’t this companies strong point. So no surprises.

 

[AIRwin]

They must've had a crew ready I'd think (or just didn't realise???)

The crew who arrived on Tuesday night should still have been there.

 

[PERLHR]

Sounds like a dog's dinner and not well organised/planned/risk assessed/contingent planning made. Wonder if other carriers with limited resources has same issues....

 

[Saab34]

Looks like one returned back to HND night after what I assume is technical. Not great for those who have been continuously rebooked day after day.

 

[encryptededdy]

Looks like one returned back to HND night after what I assume is technical. Not great for those who have been continuously rebooked day after day.

Yikes. At least one day (Friday's 10pm flight) made it out successfully between all the cancellations, I guess. (although I have no way of verifying if it actually carried passengers)

 

[encryptededdy]

Looks like the diverted VH-8IC did fly back to Cairns eventually at 6:45pm on Sunday, a delay of approx 21 hours. VH-8IA still operated the normal VA78 on Sunday too.

 

[PERLHR]

Is there any stats on pax loads for the CNS-HND-CNS?

 

[Harrison_133]

Is there any stats on pax loads for the CNS-HND-CNS?

From the latest monthly BITRE reports, load factors were:

• Inbound: July-53.0%, August-67.3%, September-55.0%
• Outbound: July-44.3%, August-69.1%, September-67.3%

A recent Cairns Airport statement also said the flights were averaging 70% load factors. We'll have to wait to see if the BITRE data corroborates that.

Link to the monthly International Airline Activity data for those interested: International Airline Activity—Monthly Publications

Then playing around on Expert Flyer – noting that seat maps are a guide only – some rough figures for departed flights over last two days:

• CNS-HND: 6th Jan-133 PAX, 7th Jan-133 PAX
• HND-CNS: 7th Jan-148 PAX

 

[travelislife]

From the latest monthly BITRE reports, load factors were:

• Inbound: July-53.0%, August-67.3%, September-55.0%
• Outbound: July-44.3%, August-69.1%, September-67.3%

A recent Cairns Airport statement also said the flights were averaging 70% load factors. We'll have to wait to see if the BITRE data corroborates that.

Link to the monthly International Airline Activity data for those interested: International Airline Activity—Monthly Publications

Then playing around on Expert Flyer – noting that seat maps are a guide only – some rough figures for departed flights over last two days:

• CNS-HND: 6th Jan-133 PAX, 7th Jan-133 PAX
• HND-CNS: 7th Jan-148 PAX

Are the load factors based on the plane size? Or doesn't it take in to account reduced capacity restraints on the route? Or can they take a full load now?

 

[elanshin]

I guess one conclusion right now is that VA is still not a good option if you're flying from the big eastern cities to HND (over ANA especially). Unless it's extremely cheap.

 

[Harrison_133]

Are the load factors based on the plane size? Or doesn't it take in to account reduced capacity restraints on the route? Or can they take a full load now?

BITRE calculate the load factors based on all 176 seats on the aircraft being available, regardless if a seat cap is in place or not.

 

[MooTime]

I guess one conclusion right now is that VA is still not a good option if you're flying from the big eastern cities to HND (over ANA especially). Unless it's extremely cheap.

Well I'd say unless one wants the ANA twin isle plane, there's a fair chance the VA experience of a spare seat next to or entire row to yourself may be on interest to some.
Albeit if via Cairns suits.

I'd prefer a 60% capacity flight than full? No?

 

[travelislife]

BITRE calculate the load factors based on all 176 seats on the aircraft being available, regardless if a seat cap is in place or not.

Thanks. So with the seat cap in place (how many is it?) what is their actual real load factor percentage?

 

[twinaisle]

Thanks. So with the seat cap in place (how many is it?) what is their actual real load factor percentage?

The flights I've operated were quite busy with nearly full pax loads in both directions. If definitely fluctuates

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Hope they learn from the HND occurance last week, that truthfully, VAi on this route, does need contigency places, where they can top on fuel on this long flight route.
If an airport is closed, they would have to stretch their flight path further.
But most likely, its a learning experience for VA, doing this quite long flight route.
---

Well I'd say unless one wants the ANA twin isle plane, there's a fair chance the VA experience of a spare seat next to or entire row to yourself may be on interest to some.
Albeit if via Cairns suits.

I'd prefer a 60% capacity flight than full? No?

We can always buy a comfort seat booking, by phoning up the VFF phone contact cen(ter).
This at the least guarantees to a certain extend, maybe 95% chance of a an empty seat next to you on this long sector, ie, CNS - HND/NRT if they have to stretch it.

 

[HS-TQE]

Hope they learn from the HND occurance last week, that truthfully, VAi on this route, does need contigency places, where they can top on route.
If an airport is closed, they would have to stretch their flight path further.
But most likely, its a learning experience for VA, doing this quite long flight route.
---

We can always buy a comfort seat booking, by phoning up the VFF phone contact cen(ter).
This at the least guarantees to a certain extend, maybe 95% chance of a an empty seat next to you on this long sector, ie, CNS - HND/NRT if they have to stretch it.

As per most flights, VA will have alternates. Unlikely that alternate will be on out of the way places (i.e MNL), and GUM is less likely to be an option due to US Immigration Requirements (i.e clear immigration and re-check in transit) for all planes unless if they have an exception.

As discussed before other airlines operate similar if not longer legs than VA on their 737-8 MAX. GOL, an LCC in South America, operates regular 7.5-8 hr flights on the MAX in a all-Y config (Economy Plus and Standard Economy)

I'm sure all airlines that operate 7-8 hr flights on the MAX have all their alternate airports in case of diversions.

 

[PERLHR]

As per most flights, VA will have alternates. Unlikely that alternate will be on out of the way places (i.e MNL), and GUM is less likely to be an option due to US Immigration Requirements (i.e clear immigration and re-check in transit) for all planes unless if they have an exception.

As discussed before other airlines operate similar if not longer legs than VA on their 737-8 MAX. GOL, an LCC in South America, operates regular 7.5-8 hr flights on the MAX in a all-Y config (Economy Plus and Standard Economy)

I'm sure all airlines that operate 7-8 hr flights on the MAX have all their alternate airports in case of diversions.

Would the alternate not just be NRT or are we talking something different here ..

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

They would most likely do that, ie, CNS - NRT, but thats further away, isn't it?
Guess it would have to be MNL if they need it.
Or ICN.

 

[twinaisle]

There are contingency plans and pretty sure I read somewhere the tech stop for refuel in AUS/ PNG and not GUM but that's due to weather events.

Last week's event at hnd was unplanned for all airlines.