VA's COVID-19 Minimal Network Schedule

[jakeseven7]

Back on topic, in true VA1 style, VA2 have cut back their Tasmanian flying schedule... they still just can’t make the Apple Isle work for them.

Unfortunately it just pisses off the locals more and they fly QF/QFLink and JQ even more... vicious circle.

We had a bunch of work conference travel booked and VA2 just canceled a bulk of our flights grrrr. Thankfully and randomly QF have actually added more flights (previously when we went to book they were almost sold out) in so we are getting refunds and rebooking all with QF.

 

[Jurahn]

I had to visit my Dad in NSW, normally wouldn’t fly QF in a pink fit but took the direct QF HBA-CBR flight to be able to get in at a reasonable time so I could drive to the South Coast the same day. Heading back to HBA today flying VA, 4.5 hour layover in MEL which was the least painful of the available options.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 10 July 2021 is part of the weekend when NSW and Victorian school holidays end but due to the Greater Sydney lockdown and associated 10km travel restriction, the airlines are continuing to drastically reduce flights.

VAd 2.0 only has two flights from Sydney to Melbourne.

Competitors QFd (two) and JQd (one) are similar.

 

[AIRwin]

Competitors QFd (two) and JQd (one) are similar.

Rex?

 

[Melburnian1]

Rex?

Nil I think. Sorry, I've not gone back and checked.

In previous months (prior to starting the B737-800 'mainline' routes), at times ZL barely operated in say Victoria on Saturdays once COVID-19 commenced.

 

[AIRwin]

Today's flights out of MEL:

 

[milehighclub]

Virgin is continuing to stand down more staff above what was announced the other day.

 

[jakeseven7]

Virgin is continuing to stand down more staff above what was announced the other day.

Bain did not budget for this that’s for sure…

 

[Must...Fly!]

Virgin is continuing to stand down more staff above what was announced the other day.

VA despite the smaller operation has ramp handling in house at Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide which will mean the numbers look worse if making relative comparisons to Qantas.

 

[AIRwin]

I was helping a friend search fares for BNE-HBA in January 2022 and noticed that there are now 4 flights scheduled on 6 January! I didn't compare it to the golden triangle though...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Check the J fares, some of them can be quite "bearable".
Edit: did you see the J fare, Aud$449 for about 18 Jan from BNE - HBA, heh, wow, get him/her to jump onto that, lounges should be open by then, granted HBA does not have a lounge, so maybe on the way back, do an econX fare to go back up.
Think I saw one short hop, for Dec, (could have been ADL - MEL) for Aud$299!
Maybe that was a price quarrel with the possibility of Rex coming back to the route, but have never seen VA1 go that low.
But as of now, for the next few weeks, lots of flights ADL - eastern state have been cancelled, fewer VA planes I see flying overhead.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Check the J fares, some of them can be quite "bearable".
Edit: did you see the J fare, Aud$449 for about 18 Jan from BNE - HBA, heh, wow, get him/her to jump onto that, lounges should be open by then, granted HBA does not have a lounge, so maybe on the way back, do an econX fare to go back up.
Think I saw one short hop, for Dec, (could have been ADL - MEL) for Aud$299!
Maybe that was a price quarrel with the possibility of Rex coming back to the route, but have never seen VA1 go that low.
But as of now, for the next few weeks, lots of flights ADL - eastern state have been cancelled, fewer VA planes I see flying overhead.

I had booked BNE-HBA in J back in August for $399 each way, but had to cancel. So booked BNE-CNS in J for later this month for $270 each way.

 

[AIRwin]

Inaugural seasonal service from ADL to MCY has just taken off...

It's back again and part of The Beach is Calling sale!

Virgin Australia re-introduces Adelaide - Sunshine Coast services in time for summer

Virgin Australia continues to expand its domestic network, resuming flights between Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast from 14 December.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[TMP]

Direct flights Melbourne to Ballina for mid-Nov (after the time when both states will be over 80 per cent double vaccinated and therefore should be open) have disappeared, unfortunately. Not good for those of us wanting to getaway for a holiday as soon as possible!

 

[TMP]

Direct flights Melbourne to Ballina for mid-Nov (after the time when both states will be over 80 per cent double vaccinated and therefore should be open) have disappeared, unfortunately. Not good for those of us wanting to getaway for a holiday as soon as possible!

Update: VA call centre confirmed that the direct flights were removed for other services (presumably the new routes announced this week) and no detail on whether they will restart.

 

[antycbr]

Also some of the strange network like PER-LST won't last indefinitely (particularly someone sneezes in Tasmania).

 

[AIRwin]

Update: VA call centre confirmed that the direct flights were removed for other services (presumably the new routes announced this week) and no detail on whether they will restart.

Sounds like crewing instead of aircraft related?