VA to HKG from Jul 5 2017, ex MEL

[Awesom Andy]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Perhaps VA could deploy the 330s on a MEL-HKG-SYD-PER-MEL route and serve both cities and some transcon timings. Fill in the remaining PER routes with 737. I haven't done the math but it seems possible on first glance.

I believe the intention is for HKG to be daily, so such routing is unlikely.

 

[Moopere]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

The 744 and the A380 are both quite good economy products even with 10 across. Much better than the economy products on the 777, 787, A330, A340 and A350.

Just shows how we're all different I guess. I'm not a fan of the 777 or the 380. I'd take a 330 any day. In fact I breathed a sigh of relief when returning from HKG last week when it was a 330 instead of the previous 380.

Tired old 747's? I'd rather economy on the tired old QF 747's than most other economy products in the market. Wish QF had them to SIN/BKK not just HKG.

I loved the 747 and would take one any day of the week ... as you say, above almost any other Y product thats out there. In fact, I'm sure it must be rose coloured glasses, but I find myself thinking fondly even of the old QF 767's before their interiors degraded away - nice ....

 

[dajop]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Just shows how we're all different I guess. I'm not a fan of the 777 or the 380. I'd take a 330 any day.

If you had a choice between a QF, EK or SQ A380 or you can take the same trip on a Cebu Pacific, Air Asia or PAL on their high density 330's (all with 9 seats across in economy, instead of 8), which would you choose?

 

[mannej]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

If you had a choice between a QF, EK or SQ A380 or you can take the same trip on a Cebu Pacific, Air Asia or PAL on their high density 330's (all with 9 seats across in economy, instead of 8), which would you choose?

That's a leading question if I've ever seen one...

 

[dajop]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

That's a leading question if I've ever seen one...

yes OT, but my point really is that it's difficult to prefer one type over another when there are so many different configurations out there...

 

[Dannyism]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Perhaps VA could deploy the 330s on a MEL-HKG-SYD-PER-MEL route and serve both cities and some transcon timings. Fill in the remaining PER routes with 737. I haven't done the math but it seems possible on first glance.

Sounds good. Tickets on sale late march can't wait.

 

[JohnK]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

yes OT, but my point really is that it's difficult to prefer one type over another when there are so many different configurations out there...

For some reason I was just thinking AK/D7 A380 11 across all economy config. :shock:

 

[woodyren]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Once this partnership starts will Hainan Airlines routes all codeshare with Virgin and as a result be available for Velocity points redemptions?

 

[tm.smile]

In light of PER/AUH being axed, I wonder if that is to free up an additional A330 for somewhere else. Also proves you can't always trust VA route announcements cos they'll just can it anyway haha

 

[Awesom Andy]

In light of PER/AUH being axed, I wonder if that is to free up an additional A330 for somewhere else. Also proves you can't always trust VA route announcements cos they'll just can it anyway haha

That's pretty much the same with any airline. Demand can change frequently, and forecasts can be wrong. It's better to be flexible rather than flying empty planes for a year and then still have to cancel it.

 

[tm.smile]

Well considering a Jun launch is now only 3 months away, with no actual word of when tickets will commence, I find it difficult to believe it will work well and have the loads with high enough revenue required to make it profitable for a significant period of time. CX and QF aren't gonna just sit by and let them enter as they wish.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Well considering a Jun launch is now only 3 months away, with no actual word of when tickets will commence, I find it difficult to believe it will work well and have the loads with high enough revenue required to make it profitable for a significant period of time. CX and QF aren't gonna just sit by and let them enter as they wish.

I think their intention is for the HU/HX to provide most of the pax in some of the initial periods - school summer holidays in HKG and China are in July/August. Afterwards, the NSW/VIC school holidays soon follow at the end of Sep. This is then followed by the week-long public holiday in China in the first week of Oct. The real test comes after that, as Nov is traditionally much quieter, but that's quite some time away.

 

[yohy?!]

They've probably resigned to a bloody price war and are focused on establishing through traffic into china and minimising losses

 

[tm.smile]

Because VA can afford to get into a price war... I get that they'll have traffic from HU/HX but they'll hardly be charging premium fares.

 

[eastwest101]

So with the PER-AUH route abandoned I guess the questions reverts to where or what are VA going to do with the extra A330 capacity? Right from the start a lot of the changes to VA's international long haul schedule seemed to revolve around increasing aircraft utilization (for both the B777 fleet and the A330 fleet).

Regarding the A330 fleet - given that they are probably having issues getting available slots for MEL-HKG that are compatible with existing A330 aircraft schedules and utilization, I would imagine that SYD-HKG would be even more of a PITA to schedule with the SYD curfew as well as tight HKG slot availibility. Maybe they will keep a lot of the A330 capacity on the domestic transcon routes after all? Its either that or parking them on the ground in Australia, or parking them on the ground for long periods in either China or in HKG - neither of which sounds like a quick way to make money to me.

 

[andyhui01]

parking them on the ground for long periods in either China or in HKG - neither of which sounds like a quick way to make money to me.

If the A330 is used on MEL-HKG, block time is almost 20hours per day.

 

[eastwest101]

If the A330 is used on MEL-HKG, block time is almost 20hours per day.

Yes - that is pretty good aircraft utilisation, if they can get slots at HKG, actually either MEL or BNE to anywhere in Asia works ok for aircraft utilisation, then it's just a matter of market economics, competition and yields. It would be interesting to know if they've considered either MEL/BNE to any mainland cities in China, I guess the investment by Hainan sort of leads to obvious conclusions, but would have been interesting to know whether there were other alternatives iconsidered such as n Japan, South Korea, Taiwan ?

If I were a betting man I would predict that the Chinese investment in Virgin Australia will have a few 'surprises' in store for VA.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Yes - that is pretty good aircraft utilisation, if they can get slots at HKG, actually either MEL or BNE to anywhere in Asia works ok for aircraft utilisation, then it's just a matter of market economics, competition and yields. It would be interesting to know if they've considered either MEL/BNE to any mainland cities in China, I guess the investment by Hainan sort of leads to obvious conclusions, but would have been interesting to know whether there were other alternatives iconsidered such as n Japan, South Korea, Taiwan ?

If I were a betting man I would predict that the Chinese investment in Virgin Australia will have a few 'surprises' in store for VA.

Just flying to HKG would leave about 3 hours spare for the aircraft each day (9 hours scheduled flying time one-way, plus 1.5 hour for loading/unloading). However, if they alternate it with other cities in north east Asia, that would be closer to maximum utilization on a daily basis. Although the shorter turnaround time in HKG might not be the best in terms of connections in HKG as the flight will need to arrive at least very late in the afternoon/early evening.

 

[tm.smile]

Wonder if the second plane is needed because of the constrained slot times and not being able to do an efficient turn around.

 

[straitman]

Re: VA to HKG from mid 2017 [From Where?]

Sounds good. Tickets on sale late march can't wait.

I'm waiting for this as it could be a good option for us in July.