Virgin Australia resumes some regional services (some ports operated by Alliance)

[HS-TQE]

Many are operated by mainline 737s, although a few are operated by Alliance.

Virgin Australia lands at Emerald and Alice Springs ahead of expanded holiday options this summer

The increased frequencies to Byron Bay, Hamilton Island and Adelaide will help the tourism industry to get back on its feet, said Mr MacLeod.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

• Reintroduction of regional routes between Brisbane-Alice Springs and Brisbane-Emerald*
• Expanded holiday destination frequencies between Sydney-Ballina Byron and Brisbane-Hamilton Island
• Expanded capital city frequencies between Brisbane-Adelaide and Sydney-Adelaide

BRISBANE, 28 October 2020: Virgin Australia will reintroduce two regional services and expand frequencies to key holiday destinations and South Australia ahead of the summer holidays.

The airline will reintroduce five-times weekly services between Brisbane-Emerald* and twice-weekly services between Brisbane-Alice Springs.

Customers from New South Wales will benefit from expanded options to holiday destinations such as Ballina Byron, Hamilton Island and Adelaide, while South Australians and Queenslanders will see increased frequencies between Brisbane and Adelaide.

* operated by Alliance Airlines

 

[Bagpuss]

Tip of the iceberg.

Virgin Australia & Alliance Airlines

On 23 October 2020 Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines (the Applicants) applied for authorisation to cooperate in relation to the provision of services on 41 regional routes and two short-haul international routes (Relevant Routes). Details of the routes are provided in the application which...

www.accc.gov.au

On 23 October 2020 Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines (the Applicants) applied for authorisation to cooperate in relation to the provision of services on around 40 regional routes and two short-haul international routes (Relevant Routes). Details of the routes are provided in the application which is available from the link below.

 

[flydoc]

Tip of the iceberg.

Virgin Australia & Alliance Airlines

On 23 October 2020 Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines (the Applicants) applied for authorisation to cooperate in relation to the provision of services on 41 regional routes and two short-haul international routes (Relevant Routes). Details of the routes are provided in the application which...

www.accc.gov.au

On 23 October 2020 Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines (the Applicants) applied for authorisation to cooperate in relation to the provision of services on around 40 regional routes and two short-haul international routes (Relevant Routes). Details of the routes are provided in the application which is available from the link below.

fascinating. Thanks for posting

The move is framed in the application as “a temporary measure to allow the Applicants to continue providing essential airline services to regional communities in Australia and minimise costs and risk exposure in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic“. Oh, and also to “ efficiently offer a more compelling product, providing choice and convenience for consumers and competition for Qantas.”

Quite the level of detail in the 52 page application, including analysis of passenger booking behaviour and load factors pre/post COVID, and commentary on both the Virgin administration saga and government support for the sector.

Virgin and Alliance targeting a 2 year period of cooperation, and sought an interim authorisation by the end of October but the ACCC timeframe has this projected for mid November with a final determination in March 2021.
Be interesting to see the content of any submission by Qantas and Rex.

 

[jakeseven7]

In unrelated news, Qantas as a major shareholder of Alliance welcomes Bain/VA2’s business

 

[Bundy Bear]

Page 16 of the document also lists the routes that are being mentioned.
Ones like SYD-CBR, SYD-PPQ, SYD-TMW, SYD-ABX,
Brisbane-Proserpine could be a mix of VA or Alliance depending on the market.

 

[HS-TQE]

In unrelated news, Qantas as a major shareholder of Alliance welcomes Bain/VA2’s business

Owning only 20% and not allowed to purchase more (nor have a rep on the board), the income would likely be pocket change to the QF group

Seems according to the recent ownership structure Alliance has "multiple" part owners.
QF is the 'largest' shareholder at 19.8%, followed by Commonwealth Super at 15% and other superannuation companies at stakes between 5-10% each.

Alliance Aviation Services Limited: Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | AU000000AQZ6 | MarketScreener

Alliance Aviation Services Limited: Company profile, business summary, shareholders, managers, financial ratings, industry, sector and market information | Australian S.E.: AQZ | Australian S.E.

www.marketscreener.com

 

[jakeseven7]

Owning only 20% and not allowed to purchase more (nor have a rep on the board), the income would likely be pocket change to the QF group

Seems according to the recent ownership structure Alliance has "multiple" part owners.
QF is the 'largest' shareholder at 19.8%, followed by Commonwealth Super at 15% and other superannuation companies at stakes between 5-10% each.

Alliance Aviation Services Limited: Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | AU000000AQZ6 | MarketScreener

Alliance Aviation Services Limited: Company profile, business summary, shareholders, managers, financial ratings, industry, sector and market information | Australian S.E.: AQZ | Australian S.E.

www.marketscreener.com

Yes, every dollar counts

I just think its a little funny to be honest, welcome onboard VA2/Bain flight 1234 to Outbush Town, operated by Alliance Airlines on behalf of Qantas and Commonwealth Super

 

[Obzerva]

Just looking at the routes, there's 2 international routes, POM I understand was already an Alliance route, but HIR, is that new? (thought VA operated that)

 

[henrus]

So it seems that Virgin Australia wants Alliance to be able to offer a large number of routes on their behalf:

Virgin Australia & Alliance Airlines

On 23 October 2020 Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines (the Applicants) applied for authorisation to cooperate in relation to the provision of services on 41 regional routes and two short-haul international routes (Relevant Routes). Details of the routes are provided in the application which...

www.accc.gov.au

Obviously, not all of these will happen but they're basically pitching to the ACCC that they want the ability to cooperate more with Alliance with the potential to operate some more routes:


Some of them like Brisbane to Weipa or even Allice Springs to Ayers Rock I can't see happening at all.

 

[AIRwin]

Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines authorised to cooperate to support regional airline services

The ACCC has today granted interim authorisation to Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines allowing them to cooperate on 41 regional routes and two short-haul international routes. The ACCC’s preliminary view is that these arrangements are likely to result in a public benefit by assisting in the...

www.accc.gov.au

.

 

[mrmerc500]

Reviewing the VA & VARA routes within WA, there seems to have been some movements.

Kunnunurra was always serviced by VARA’s Fokker’s, now it’s the mainline 737 whilst there is now 14 return Broome flights, up from 11 originally when announced.

The 7:25am ex Perth flight is now a mix of either; Fokker flights x 3 & 1 each 737 & a320 flight.

 

[jakeseven7]

Reviewing the VA & VARA routes within WA, there seems to have been some movements.

Kunnunurra was always serviced by VARA’s Fokker’s, now it’s the mainline 737 whilst there is now 14 return Broome flights, up from 11 originally when announced.

The 7:25am ex Perth flight is now a mix of either; Fokker flights x 3 & 1 each 737 & a320 flight.

Probably want as much $ for themselves and not Alliance

 

[HS-TQE]

Probably want as much $ for themselves and not Alliance

Most of the WA regional ops are VARA anyway, which is in-house. Can't recall any prominent Alliance ops out there, which are mostly contracted to East Coast ops.

Edit: Alliance operates their own regional (government subsidised) RPT ops in WA with the remainder FIFO charters. Little to no VA work whatsoever.

 

[Bagpuss]

Reviewing the VA & VARA routes within WA, there seems to have been some movements.

Kunnunurra was always serviced by VARA’s Fokker’s, now it’s the mainline 737 whilst there is now 14 return Broome flights, up from 11 originally when announced.

The 7:25am ex Perth flight is now a mix of either; Fokker flights x 3 & 1 each 737 & a320 flight.

Broome and Kununurra moved to B737 ops over a year ago.
Broome is now seeing a320’s ops over the weekend.
Two F100’s were scrapped early last year. Think it was FNN and FZO was always going to put the squeeze on the VARA ops especially as the a320 fleet reduced for VARA and FNP was sold.

The B737’s are operated by VA Domestic crew.

 

[HS-TQE]

I'm surprised Bain managed to sell off the legacy Skywest A320 (FNP), being almost at the end of its life after going through many operators in Europe.

 

[Must...Fly!]

KNX was always load restricted and usually operated by the HGW sub-types of the F100 within the VARA fleet. Moving to a 737 is a pretty straight forward move as it allows more passengers and more cargo with very few restrictions, and also selling business class. Higher fuel burn would not be much of a concern.

 

[mrmerc500]

I'm surprised Bain managed to sell off the legacy Skywest A320 (FNP), being almost at the end of its life after going through many operators in Europe.

Who was this sold to?
Cant find any information as to the new owner / operator.

SX-AQK Olympus Airways Airbus A320-200

Airbus A320-200 with registration SX-AQK (ex N429RX, EI-TLE, G-BYTH, D-ASSR, C-GTDM, VH-FNP) airframe details and operator history including first flight and delivery dates, seat configurations, engines, fleet numbers and names

www.planespotters.net

 

[mrmerc500]

KNX was always load restricted and usually operated by the HGW sub-types of the F100 within the VARA fleet. Moving to a 737 is a pretty straight forward move as it allows more passengers and more cargo with very few restrictions, and also selling business class. Higher fuel burn would not be much of a concern.

Having been to Broome now twice, may actually consider visiting KNX with the 737 on this route now as the Fokker without entertainment isn’t ideal.

Anyone know why VARA don’t serve Paraburdoo?

With QF’s 27 return flights weekly, there must be a market share to obtain.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Anyone know why VARA don’t serve Paraburdoo?

They used to, but without mining contracts to deliver staff there and back, it would be entirely uneconomical. I remember pax numbers were usually single digits.

 

[mrmerc500]

They used to, but without mining contracts to deliver staff there and back, it would be entirely uneconomical. I remember pax numbers were usually single digits.

Had thought that be the case, they do have Rio contracts so be good to see any further expansion considering the volatility of RPT services currently.
Found this list of contracts online, it does seem old but good for future reference.