Virgin aims at the long haul

[Keith009]

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-news/virgin-aims-at-long-haul-18989.html

 

[Keith009]

Hong Kong please! (but not with a 738!)

I think a case could be made out for a codeshare agreement with VS, whereby VA flies to HKG and transfers its pax to VS aircraft for the onward journey to LHR. Or even a JV which could see VS pull out of SYD and fly only as far as HKG. Given the myriad of competitors on the LHR route I don't see any problem getting ACCC approval. VS does not really make money flying to SYD anyway, except the Bearded One would loathe to concede SYD to BA. Though I think VA might need to wait for more aircraft to arrive.

 

[notzac]

Hong Kong please! (but not with a 738!)

Since we're all requesting routes ... +1 for that suggestion!

 

[Nigelinoz]

Hong Kong please! (but not with a 738!)

I think a case could be made out for a codeshare agreement with VS, whereby VA flies to HKG and transfers its pax to VS aircraft for the onward journey to LHR. Or even a JV which could see VS pull out of SYD and fly only as far as HKG. Given the myriad of competitors on the LHR route I don't see any problem getting ACCC approval. VS does not really make money flying to SYD anyway, except the Bearded One would loathe to concede SYD to BA. Though I think VA might need to wait for more aircraft to arrive.

My thoughts exactly QF009 :!: I've done SYD-LHR with VS and it wasn't a pleasant experience,I would love see VA doing the route using a 777,would give a few other airlines a run for their money IMHO.But SYD or MEL to HKG would be a good start.

 

[Keith009]

I think a case could be made out for a codeshare agreement with VS, whereby VA flies to HKG and transfers its pax to VS aircraft for the onward journey to LHR. Or even a JV which could see VS pull out of SYD and fly only as far as HKG. Given the myriad of competitors on the LHR route I don't see any problem getting ACCC approval. VS does not really make money flying to SYD anyway, except the Bearded One would loathe to concede SYD to BA. Though I think VA might need to wait for more aircraft to arrive.

Or come to think of it - even an agreement with Cathay Pacific. CX and QF are essentially competitors anyway. Find me an alliance that contains 2 members who hate each other more than these 2! If QF/AF is possible why not CX/VA.

It is nice to speculate...

 

[MrGreg]

MEL or BNE - HKG +1 here too

 

[Dee Thom]

....splash

Sorry CrazyDave98, meant to add via CNS (2760miles) or similar...

Cheers Dee

 

[docjames]

+1 more for HKG doing codeshare with virgin atlantic to London.

 

[crazydave98]

• twice weekly BNE-HKT and weekly MEL-HKT: once weekly for MEL is not great, but you can of course connect over BNE which gives 3 weekly services on VA/VB. Then there is always the option to connect over SYD, SIN of BKK in one direction with other airlines. But let's just say Virgin Blue group is not finished with HKT yet - stay tuned.

Well you can't accuse me of keeping you in suspense. It is now on the public register of the International Air Services Commission that we have applied for the rights to fly daily to Thailand.
Applications and Other Matters Currently before the Commission

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[Dee Thom]

Well you can't accuse me of keeping you in suspense. It is now on the public register of the International Air Services Commission that we have applied for the rights to fly daily to Thailand.
Applications and Other Matters Currently before the Commission

cheers

CrazyDave98

From Where Davo ???????

 

[concorde70]

While I am pleased that V Australia have now announced the commencement of their service to South Africa and even more pleased that they have made a sensible decision and will be flying from Melbourne, I am surprised at the commencement date and frequency of the services and of the duration of the flights.

According to the IASC 's determination [2008] IASC 113 V Australia were required to commence five services a week by 31 October 2009, although there is a provision in the determination to allow for another date to be approved by the commission. I can find no public record of an alternate date being approved by the commission but I assume that this must have been done at some point

As for the duration of the flights I understand from the discussion above that this is due to ETOPS requirements but so far as 50% of the public are concerned they only care about the fact that they will be cooped up for a longer time than if they flew Qantas or SAA, 49% will not know the difference and the other 1% are reading this forum. I know that there are great hopes that ETOPS restrictions will be relieved in future but there is no certainty of that occurring and if it does it will only be a slight relief initially and at an indeterminate date. Therefore would there be any possibility and/or benefit in leasing or swapping a B777-300 for an A340-600 from Virgin Atlantic in the meantime? That all said V Australia should still get me from Melbourne to Johannesburg quicker than SQ, MH, EK, EY etc.. and hopefully for a comparable price.

Lastly the cynic in me hopes that this is not just a ploy for V Australia to cash in on the Soccer World Cup next year and once that is over they will announce that they are withdrawing from the route!

 

[serfty]

... Lastly the cynic in me hopes that this is not just a ploy for V Australia to cash in on the Soccer World Cup next year and once that is over they will announce that they are withdrawing from the route!

Hey, they are a business.

Look at the significant reduction in flights to/from China this year by the red rat when compared to those in 2008.

 

[fortymilliondaggers]

but I doubt VA will be tempting many people from SYD to go with them rather than take the shorter QF option.

Price might do it.

 

[dajop]

Am impressed that VA does not seem so SYD-centric. I guess it wise not to take on the QF group directly on their home turf. Also with good group wide connectivity and ease of connection MEL is very attractive alternative to SYD for ADL/CBR (Tassie goes without saying) and possibly even AKL/CHC for connections to both HKT/JNB and BNE to JNB also.

Will be keeping a close on the HKT services, and be very tempted to take the long way around (with a night or two stopover of course) to get from SIN-MEL via HKT (not JNB!) just to try out VA!

 

[anat0l]

Am impressed that VA does not seem so SYD-centric. I guess it wise not to take on the QF group directly on their home turf.

I think it's a combination of seeking different hubs of the competition as well as the fact that it's probably going to be hard enough (and expensive enough) to get space at SYD as it is.

Good strategy by the Virgin group, I say.

 

[harvyk]

Also with good group wide connectivity and ease of connection MEL is very attractive alternative to SYD for ADL/CBR (Tassie goes without saying) and possibly even AKL/CHC for connections to both HKT/JNB and BNE to JNB also.

As someone from CBR, I have to say I do like flying via MEL over SYD, considering that it takes no longer to fly CBR - MEL as CBR - SYD, but with MEL you just wonder over to T2 without having to catch a bus \ train.

I also think that MEL T2 is a better terminal than SYD T1. (Yes I do know that SYD is undergoing renovations, but then again so is MEL)

 

[oz_mark]

twice weekly BNE-HKT and weekly MEL-HKT: once weekly for MEL is not great, but you can of course connect over BNE which gives 3 weekly services on VA/VB. Then there is always the option to connect over SYD, SIN of BKK in one direction with other airlines. But let's just say Virgin Blue group is not finished with HKT yet - stay tuned.
cheers

Is the mysterious PER-HKT flights that the Pac Blue website seems to suggest will exist (DJ 4149 PER-HKT time 12h45m and DJ 4148 HKT-PER time 23h40m with both saying non stop!) figure in this?

 

[dajop]

Is the mysterious PER-HKT flights that the Pac Blue website seems to suggest will exist (DJ 4149 PER-HKT time 12h45m and DJ 4148 HKT-PER time 23h40m with both saying non stop!) figure in this?

Press release now on website indicates services will utilise a 737-800 on the following timing:

DJ 4149 PER-HKG 1035/1620 TUE, SAT (flight time 6:45)
DJ 4148 HKT-PER 1405/2145 WED, SUN (flight time 6:40)

Which begs the question, what will happen with 737-800 in the 21hrs45mins between these flights? Cycle back through DPS?

 

[ethernet]

I have always said a ticket is a set of complicated conditions, plus an airfare.

In fine Print, Virgin want $200 +difference for changing dates, per pax.
Not the friendly happy image I was hoping for.
Plus a stopover/ slower flights. With TG,SQ and MH offering semi respectable deals, I am not overly convinced.

 

[oz_mark]

Press release now on website indicates services will utilise a 737-800 on the following timing:

Not sure of the accuracy of this bit of their press release (as TG fly PER-HKT non-stop (but to be fair they don't have a direct flight the other way):

The carrier will provide the only direct flights, twice a week from Perth to the popular Thailand resort island of coughet