VA cancels all NZ flights up until NOV22

[HS-TQE]

I think that would likely stifle demand for a while. I can see why JQ/QF scaled back and VA's not bothering (for now).

Another question is whether the long haul carriers will return to AKL (including two of the US3: UA and AA), although I suspect the later won't be returning, and the former who knows if even late this year is feasible for them (UA has an approved JV with NZ on the NZ to USA routes, which is currently suspended).

 

[drsmithy]

Now that NZ is opening up to Australians from April, here's hoping they put on at least some weekend flights to/from ZQN and CHC. Pretty keen to hit the snow there in June/July and would love to be able to take advantage of my UpgradeMe's before they expire.

 

[jakeseven7]

I don’t think VA being cautious with international ops is a silly approach – focus on the domestic core, then commit to international when the demand is more stable

Totally agree, they don't have a competitive product and can't afford any more miss-steps right now. Why launch into a red sea market (at the BEST of times). Best to be very cautious.

Now that NZ is opening up to Australians from April, here's hoping they put on at least some weekend flights to/from ZQN and CHC. Pretty keen to hit the snow there in June/July and would love to be able to take advantage of my UpgradeMe's before they expire.

Possible but suspect unlikely.

 

[jase05]

Totally agree, they don't have a competitive product and can't afford any more miss-steps right now. Why launch into a red sea market (at the BEST of times). Best to be very cautious.



Possible but suspect unlikely.

VA has just signed a new contract with Menzies to look after their NZ port operations so I suspect they will have some intent of heading back it’s just a matter of when

 

[gwilli1]

I would be surprised if VA didn't bring back some NZ flights earlier , at least from June / July to coincide with the Ski season, to ZQN , with the announcement this morning. It would be a missed opportunity IMO .

 

[Harrison_133]

Totally agree, they don't have a competitive product and can't afford any more miss-steps right now. Why launch into a red sea market (at the BEST of times). Best to be very cautious.

Much better to wait until they can fully commit to the market, rather than attempting it for a while but then temporarily suspending. Inconveniencing less people that way at least.

I would be surprised if VA didn't bring back some NZ flights earlier , at least from June / July to coincide with the Ski season, to ZQN , with the announcement this morning. It would be a missed opportunity IMO .

I’d imagine ZQN will at least come back given they’ve tried a few times to get it started under the various bubble arrangements. The other NZ destinations I’m still unsure on. I’d see AKL coming back before CHC & WLG. DUD I doubt will return at all.

 

[jakeseven7]

I would be surprised if VA didn't bring back some NZ flights earlier , at least from June / July to coincide with the Ski season, to ZQN , with the announcement this morning. It would be a missed opportunity IMO .

But its a marginal / loss making route for them even pre-covid so I'm not sure how much they would see it as a lost opportunity...

 

[ozstamps]

Now that NZ is opening up to Australians from April, here's hoping they put on at least some weekend flights to/from ZQN and CHC. Pretty keen to hit the snow there in June/July and would love to be able to take advantage of my UpgradeMe's before they expire.

What VA upgrades could you use to NZ?

 

[drsmithy]

I would be surprised if VA didn't bring back some NZ flights earlier , at least from June / July to coincide with the Ski season, to ZQN , with the announcement this morning. It would be a missed opportunity IMO .

I am ready to pull the trigger pretty much immediately, if they do. Accommodation already booked.

 

[jase05]

What VA upgrades could you use to NZ?

The 4 free Platinum upgrades

 

[drsmithy]

What VA upgrades could you use to NZ?

I am VA Plat - 4x UpgradeMe from Economy to Business. There's an offer on until the end of June to use them on Freedom (?) fares as well as the usual Flex.

(Unless they've changed the rules again, but a quick look suggests they're still valid for trans-Tasman flights.)

 

[HS-TQE]

Much better to wait until they can fully commit to the market, rather than attempting it for a while but then temporarily suspending. Inconveniencing less people that way at least.

I’d imagine ZQN will at least come back given they’ve tried a few times to get it started under the various bubble arrangements. The other NZ destinations I’m still unsure on. I’d see AKL coming back before CHC & WLG. DUD I doubt will return at all.

DUD was marginal at best, even when VA had a virtual monopoly on that route. There were unconfirmed reports that it was subsidised from a government on the DUD end.

Agree with AKL. BNE-AKL (and possibly OOL-AKL) probably may be fast tracked if UA restarts their AKL-LAX/SFO services sooner or later.

Unsure of SYD/MEL-AKL, CHC or WLG.

 

[jase05]

DUD was marginal at best, even when VA had a virtual monopoly on that route. There were unconfirmed reports that it was subsidised from a government on the DUD end.

Agree with AKL. BNE-AKL (and possibly OOL-AKL) probably may be fast tracked if UA restarts their AKL-LAX/SFO services sooner or later.

Unsure of SYD/MEL-AKL, CHC or WLG.

With AC not offering direct routes to NZ currently I’ve noticed they are funneling them on NZ or QF from SYD so there is possibility of feeding them to VA if the service is back and running.

 

[HS-TQE]

Etihad isn't flying to NZ currently either, though I believe they do have a codeshare with NZ across the Tasman (whereas AC does not). There's also that possiblity for VA on the SYD-AKL route carrying EY and AC codes (alongside SQ and UA).

 

[Harrison_133]

Etihad isn't flying to NZ currently either, though I believe they do have a codeshare with NZ across the Tasman (whereas AC does not). There's also that possiblity for VA on the SYD-AKL route carrying EY and AC codes (alongside SQ and UA).

I don’t reckon codeshares will play into VA deciding which NZ routes/destinations to bring back at all. If they can’t make the route work themselves, there’s no way they’ll try for the sake of a codeshare partner. Any pax picked up off EY, AC, UA or whoever will just be an added bonus.

The only way I see VA returning to AKL/CHC/WLG is if they can justify tapping into the local markets, both ex AUS and ex NZ. Being a feeder for international carriers will have little influence.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The only way I see VA returning to AKL/CHC/WLG is if they can justify tapping into the local markets, both ex AUS and ex NZ. Being a feeder for international carriers will have little influence.

Agree. UA & NZ are both Star Alliance, so a natural feeder airline in NZ.
VA struggled on TT route after the divorce from Air NZ. I got some cheap VA fares on flights with low pax numbers

DUD was marginal at best, even when VA had a virtual monopoly on that route. There were unconfirmed reports that it was subsidised from a government on the DUD end.

Agree with AKL. BNE-AKL (and possibly OOL-AKL) probably may be fast tracked if UA restarts their AKL-LAX/SFO services sooner or later.

Unsure of SYD/MEL-AKL, CHC or WLG.

NZ is closer SYD/MEL than is PER. TT is a hard market. CV19 testing ~$200 RT (extra to fare) and real AU NZ govt taxes of ~$200 RT in a competitive market based on price, price & price to/from many AU airports
Non AU & NZ airlines have come and gone from TT. EK used to have SYD-CHC tag on. Will be interesting to see if that returns. LA fly SCL-AKL-SYD, but ex NZ is at an unsociable time.

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

 

[HS-TQE]

I don’t reckon codeshares will play into VA deciding which NZ routes/destinations to bring back at all. If they can’t make the route work themselves, there’s no way they’ll try for the sake of a codeshare partner. Any pax picked up off EY, AC, UA or whoever will just be an added bonus.

The only way I see VA returning to AKL/CHC/WLG is if they can justify tapping into the local markets, both ex AUS and ex NZ. Being a feeder for international carriers will have little influence.

Good point on the codeshare, but at the same time in some markets I suspect the old Government Subsidy under the guise of Tourism will likely come into play in the Tourist markets as well (where government(s) of varying levels on one or both ends will partially subsidise the operating costs of the airline flights for a contracted period.

 

[HS-TQE]

With AC not offering direct routes to NZ currently I’ve noticed they are funneling them on NZ or QF from SYD so there is possibility of feeding them to VA if the service is back and running.

On a related note AC just announced resumptions of both BNE and AKL flights for later this year. So there's more one stop competition alongside the sole QF nonstops to LAX (and possibly later SFO)

 

[SteveLL]

Just booked award tickets to Queenstown with Virgin over Xmas would be very lizard if they do not go ahead with this route by then

 

[jakeseven7]

Just booked award tickets to Queenstown with Virgin over Xmas would be very lizard if they do not go ahead with this route by then

Perhaps book a back up.?