Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[HS-TQE]

Per Haneda specific restrictions in various bilaterals, international flights into HND can not be operated as wet-leased, thus the 737-MAX from CNS to HND (partly funded by the Queensland Government AAIF) in the first place.

 

[simmomelb]

I have flights booked after Feb on VA to HND

 

[encryptededdy]

I have flights booked after Feb on VA to HND

Looks like it's refund only, no rebooking (on ANA)

 

[justinbrett]

That QR codeshare was short lived

 

[simmomelb]

That QR codeshare was short lived

Exactly, that was only started this month! Bizarre.
I think this in itself shows how poorly managed VA is right now :/

 

[HS-TQE]

Plus the incoming CEO will likely sharpen his knife further as Bain pushes their appointed staff at VA towards getting the IPO up*

*Based on assumptions no 'global financial event' may further delay Bain's IPO timelines, again. (Whenever that may be)

 

[moa999]

And possibly a realisation that they missed the optimum IPO window with airfares now reducing, so they need to cut costs and unprofitable routes to keep the books looking good.

 

[hwy]

what's that saying??? 'on a wing and a prayer'

 

[jrfsp]

I wonder what $ they’ve lost with this venture, particularly in lost opportunity in one less aircraft for profitable domestic flying

Post automatically merged: Jul 22, 2024

I wonder what $ they’ve lost with this venture, particularly in lost opportunity in one less aircraft for profitable domestic flying

 

[Himeno]

Per Haneda specific restrictions in various bilaterals, international flights into HND can not be operated as wet-leased, thus the 737-MAX from CNS to HND (partly funded by the Queensland Government AAIF) in the first place.

It took the EU carriers a while to convince the Japanese government to allow codeshares to count towards the (now removed) "maintain NRT flights if starting HND flights" requirement

 

[PERLHR]

I wonder then why it holds out until Feb 25 if it's not doing so well? QLD Govt not have a "get out" clause? Hopefully (and I'm glad I booked it now) my CNS-HND -CNS runs ok in Sept.

 

[PERLHR]

It was the wrong product for connecting Australia to Tokyo. Having all of the eastern cities fly to CNS and then transfer to a 737 to fly to Tokyo doesn't make sense for any business class travel. And then when competing against Jetstar for the leisure market I think people still rather fly direct from the eastern cities in Australia.
I personally will not miss this route despite wanting a full service carrier to fly into HND.

Makes perfect sense for a points run and a decent destination. ...,

 

[HS-TQE]

I wonder then why it holds out until Feb 25 if it's not doing so well? Hopefully (and I'm glad I booked it now) my CNS-HND -CNS runs ok in Sept.

Forward bookings for NW24/25 School Holidays combined with the Queensland Government's AAIF may be 'reasonable' (at best) for VA to operate the CNS-HND flights until near the end of the NW24/25 season.

 

[ben95]

international flights into HND can not be operated as wet-leased,

Would much more expensive would it be for VA to get some crews seconded to VAi from say QR for the arrangement to be dry-lease?

 

[trisreed]

Would much more expensive would it be for VA to get some crews seconded to VAi from say QR for the arrangement to be dry-lease?

I would say 'when there's a will there's a way' to get around it with something like this, but from the press release, I am guessing this is them 'admitting defeat'. Six months is a long time though. Maybe there is something bigger up their sleeve - but probably not. Probably a good thing for the rest of the business that they know when to give up.

 

[stm1sydney]

Makes perfect sense for a points run and a decent destination. ...,

Even better sense for the status credits and sector count. Thinking of doing this once before it ends.

 

[elanshin]

Maybe they'll have some sale fares before they end the route.

 

[simmomelb]

I've just managed to move my HND flights forward a couple of weeks with VA to avoid my trip being cancelled, woohoo!

 

[PERLHR]

Yes. I'm doing PER-BNE-CNS-HND-CNS-BNE-PER all in "biz" for just under AUD2,500. That's good help maintain platinum and have some fun in Tokyo for a few days.

 

[RSVKanga]

I think this in itself shows how poorly managed VA is right now :/

Is VA that poorly managed though? They reported their first profit in 11 years last year. I think this CNS-HND decision rather vindicates the idea that Australia cannot sustain more than one major international airline.

CNS-HND would be more popular if VA had widebodies, but that's what bankrupted it last time. They won't be able to strike that balance between the right aircraft and successful long haul routes because the economics of our aviation industry don't allow for that.

A second locally-based airline operating long-haul simply doesn't work in Australia.

It's been demonstrated time and time again.

Some people will continue to argue the idea that we can sustain two long haul airlines, and I'm sure that Ansett Australia, VA1 and now VA2 will completely agree with them.