Virgin Australia Fleet Update Thread.

[samh004]

You obviously have not had many QF J meals then :|

Old post to quote sorry, but agree with you having had the 'pleasure' of trying some of the on-board food. I found the New York sandwich to be a bit bland and wondered if they’d taken tastebuds at high altitudes into account when making it (normally you have to make things stronger and spicier in the air).

Likewise the noodle box was so boring, packed full of shredded vegies and some noodles in the bottom, with a tiny sauce packet and a taste that was very boring.

I tried a wrap the other day, was better.

The Karmarama is very nice though!

 

[777]

Does an a330 have the range to do PER-AUH? That one strikes me as no brainer for either VA or EY to get to sooner rather than later. I still think VA have huge potential to turn PER into a connecting hub to Indonesia, India and the Middle East once they relocate domestic and international to the same building - they would have a good few years head start of QF.

I also see fairly strong potential for the a330 to target various regional destinations in China or Japan where the one stop via SIN is problematic, to perhaps beef up HK and it has has been flagged elsewhere to connect northern Australia (DRW in particular) direct to SIN on the 737s. Too much beyond that i'd be surprised.

 

[Noob]

Does an a330 have the range to do PER-AUH? That one strikes me as no brainer for either VA or EY to get to sooner rather than later. I still think VA have huge potential to turn PER into a connecting hub to Indonesia, India and the Middle East once they relocate domestic and international to the same building - they would have a good few years head start of QF.

I also see fairly strong potential for the a330 to target various regional destinations in China or Japan where the one stop via SIN is problematic, to perhaps beef up HK and it has has been flagged elsewhere to connect northern Australia (DRW in particular) direct to SIN on the 737s. Too much beyond that i'd be surprised.

It does:

Max range of A330-200 = 13,400KM
PER-AUH = 9,021 km

 

[Justchecking]

The flights to Abu Dhabi were about giving Etihad the slots it couldn't get for itself, a daily service. And better utilizing existing loss making aircraft. It resulted in a reduction of overall routes and the cancellation of some 777 deliveries. If not for the pax sharing off Etihad there would be no financial reason to fly there. And in fact that was the point of the alliance from Etihads point of view.

The NZ services were existing services which have now been scaled back due to the alliance. It doesn't necessary follow that an alliance will see a new route on DJ metal.

No-one was privy to the talks between DJ and SQ, but one thing is for certain there must be something pretty good in the alliance for SQ. So
the big question is, are they missing slots into Australia? Are they short on aircraft to operate additional services? Are they looking to pull out of routes into Australia but still want to sell the ticket? These would be reasons for DJ to send their ships offshore. My guess would be if they fly into Asia at all, it will be from secondary cities in smaller aircraft to supplement an existing network.

 

[oz_mark]

No-one was privy to the talks between DJ and SQ, but one thing is for certain there must be something pretty good in the alliance for SQ. So the big question is, are they missing slots into Australia? Are they short on aircraft to operate additional services? Are they looking to pull out of routes into Australia but still want to sell the ticket?

The benefits to Singapore Airlines are disclosed in its submission to the ACCC. The major reasons were

• offering Singapore coded flights beyond the main capital cities
• offering ability for KF members to earn/burn on Australian domestic flights
• offering a stronger corporate proposition, with SQ and DJ able to bid jointly on travel contracts

 

[Justchecking]

The major reasons were

• offering Singapore coded flights beyond the main capital cities
• offering ability for KF members to earn/burn on Australian domestic flights
• offering a stronger corporate proposition, with SQ and DJ able to bid jointly on travel contracts

None of which seem like compelling reasons for DJ to send A330s into Asia. The other hiccup I can see with the dream of DJ A330s traversing the globe is that would require a different business class product to the domestic one. Any long haul flight needs a flat bed in business, it's the expected standard. So that would limit flexibility where you'd have to have internationally configured A330s for the purpose. It's not like they can send their transcons offshore in the short term.

 

[LiamR]

My understanding is like that of MarkD, Virgin Australia are trying to get as many A330s as they can.

Rumors are they will be going to Asia.

 

[markis10]

It does:

Max range of A330-200 = 13,400KM
PER-AUH = 9,021 km

Range versus profitability, two different things, and PER AUH may not be 9K with twins.

 

[Noob]

Range versus profitability, two different things, and PER AUH may not be 9K with twins.

Thanks for correcting that, I don't know much about planes - just was quoting range/distances :/

 

[Justchecking]

So I've done a little digging on the net to try and substantiate this rumor...

DJ are getting as many a330s as they can get their hands on.

Airbus A330 orders for 2011, Virgin Australia has no orders listed with Airbus themselves. Air Lease Corp has a total 7 of the 200 & 300 variant. Virgin Australia is listed as a customer of this leasing company on their website. However, Air Lease Corp also lease ATR 72-600, so that could
be DJs involvement with them too. Although last reports were that Avation was leasing the ATRs.


And this interesting tidbit from a seperate article about Air Lease Corp...

the A330s [due for delivery] between October and September 2012. The lessor also notes that the
A330s are already placed with operators.

 

[oz_mark]

So I've done a little digging on the net to try and substantiate this rumor...

DJ are getting as many a330s as they can get their hands on.

Airbus A330 orders for 2011, Virgin Australia has no orders listed with Airbus themselves. Air Lease Corp has a total 7 of the 200 & 300 variant. Virgin Australia is listed as a customer of this leasing company on their website. However, Air Lease Corp also lease ATR 72-600, so that could
be DJs involvement with them too. Although last reports were that Avation was leasing the ATRs.


And this interesting tidbit from a seperate article about Air Lease Corp...

the A330s [due for delivery] between October and September 2012. The lessor also notes that the
A330s are already placed with operators.

My understanding is that the next two are leased through CIT.

As for their use in Asia, remember this from May:

But this week he revealed that Virgin would soon start flying into Asia, giving a strong hint in a throwaway line on the likely routes to be covered by the new jets.


Pressed as to whether the carrier would switch any of its five Boeing 777s on to the new network, Mr Borghetti dismissed the question, saying: "Don't forget the A330s."

Wide-bodied Virgins ordered for Asia | Herald Sun

 

[Justchecking]

That article also says they plan to use 4 A330s on the transcon route which rules out Asia until aircraft number 5 which currrently has no delivery timeframe although I imagine it will be after the oct delivery 2012. A long way off yet.

 

[Noob]

That article also says they plan to use 4 A330s on the transcon route which rules out Asia until aircraft number 5 which currrently has no delivery timeframe although I imagine it will be after the oct delivery 2012. A long way off yet.

In airline terms a year isn't very long at all

 

[Justchecking]

Oh well then. I'll bottle my enthusiasm for a330s not Asia until next Christmas shall I?

 

[MarkD]

In airline terms a year isn't very long at all

I disagree A year is a very long time for an airline in today's airline environment


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Noob]

I disagree A year is a very long time for an airline in today's airline environment


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

Oh, I meant specifically in terms of fleet/deliveries - should have been clearer

 

[JohnPhelan]

I would hope any international expansion would be via the far superior Boeing 777, to fit with the rest of the international fleet.

 

[Justchecking]

I would hope any international expansion would be via the far superior Boeing 777, to fit with the rest of the international fleet.

Quite a lot of the international fleet are 737s actually. There are more of those going offshore at the moment than 777s. But what exactly is it about the 777 which is in your estimation vastly superior? So much so that those rather than a330s should be purchased?

 

[JohnPhelan]

But what exactly is it about the 777 which is in your estimation vastly superior? So much so that those rather than a330s should be purchased?

1. Greater pax comfort (wider, more spacious, feels more 'solid' and less plasticky)
2. Superior range (ER variant)
3. Does not have a history of multiple inexplicable uncontrolled descents

 

[Justchecking]

I couldn't really care which aircraft they use for international ops as long as I'm not sitting in a row of three....:mrgreen: which is my main aversion to 737s internationally. 2/3 of the aircraft have to climb over someone else to access an aisle. Not a big deal for a 1hr flight, very big deal on a 5+hr flight. The A330s are big enough for my liking, they have my favourite, rows of two. Ive no problem flying on them and have not experienced them as particularly plasticky. Although all aircraft are wall to wall plastic on the inside.

I suppose what will really drive the aircraft type decision will be 'right size for the route'. I haven't heard JB wax lyrical about 777s yet nor heard him mention the possibility of getting anymore. But it's early days, who knows.