Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[travelislife]

MEL-DPS would be an absolute cash cow at the moment vs Perth.

I am not seeing anything sub $1500 return until Feb.

Yep the yields must be good. And Virgin aren’t offering anything more than they offer on a 1hr MEL-SYD flight which is pretty cough.

 

[antycbr]

Yep the yields must be good. And Virgin aren’t offering anything more than they offer on a 1hr MEL-SYD flight which is pretty cough.

That’s the model they have, you can’t claim that you weren’t warned before buying the ticket about the inclusions.

You actually get less on the DPS service as you have no lounge access, with MEL-SYD you at least get lounge access if eligible.

 

[AIRwin]

You actually get less on the DPS service as you have no lounge access, with MEL-SYD you at least get lounge access if eligible.

At least domestic lounge is available if departing MEL...

 

[antycbr]

At least domestic lounge is available if departing MEL...

Moving the lounge airside has made this pretty inconvenient.

 

[AIRwin]

Ferried back to BNE this afternoon as VA9904...

Looks like VH-NBV has been out of action since being ferried back on Saturday and not scheduled to operate any flights until Thursday...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would get very annoyed if the planes we picked get downgraded to 737.

OffT: I wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Pre covid, your chances were better in getting a dom 330 with QF, but 99% of QF's trans Au east to west coast or vv flights are showing as provided by the 737.
Even PER - BNE that used to have at least one 330 with QF, are now all 737s.OnT.

 

[N860CR]

I’d hazard a guess that the new 700s are only being used on the East coast while they get their Perth based FIFO crews from the Fokker trained. Once that happens, I’d imagine all the KLM fleet will make its way over to Perth with just the odd surprise on the domestic network (like the current PER-ADLs etc).

 

[Must...Fly!]

Even PER - BNE that used to have at least one 330 with QF, are now all 737s.OnT.

Indeed. One might be cynical about this lack of capacity between Perth and the eastern capitals.

 

[jrfsp]

Indeed. One might be cynical about this lack of capacity between Perth and the eastern capitals.

Fares are eye watering at the moment, but then that seems to be the case on most domestic routes

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Wait till Rex wakes up, ie, start their FF program, and we will see.
Who knows, Rex might join ST!

 

[antycbr]

Wait till Rex wakes up, ie, start their FF program, and we will see.
Who knows, Rex might join ST!

We have been waiting for some time now…

 

[HS-TQE]

Agreed. REX's proposed FF program keeps on being pushed back. They could spend some of that time picking up more interline partners across SkyTeam and Star, and perhaps talk to Etihad (EY) about switching from VA for them as their primary Australian partner.

Taking into consideration of the recent news that VA are in discussions with '2nd 3' HA, AC and NH about deepening those partnerships further. Leaving EY further down the 'pecking order' in the secondary partnerships space in regards to future VA partnerships.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Between EY and VA, I guess no one wants to make the first move, as what like DL and (Air) NZ and VA did.
Either EY or VA could easily put in notice to end it all.

 

[HS-TQE]

Source of the original ACCC authorisation between VA and the "Big 3" (of QR, UA, SQ).

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd

On 14 April 2022, the ACCC received an application from Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd on behalf of itself and its related bodies corporate, Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd and its related bodies corporate (collectively, Virgin Australia) and partner airlines within a...

www.accc.gov.au

VA are reported to currently applying to add HA, NH and AC to the party.

I guess we know that the VA/VFF airline partners are now being merged from three tiers to two tiers.

 

[docjames]

OffT: I wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Pre covid, your chances were better in getting a dom 330 with QF, but 99% of QF's trans Au east to west coast or vv flights are showing as provided by the 737.
Even PER - BNE that used to have at least one 330 with QF, are now all 737s.OnT.

Indeed. One might be cynical about this lack of capacity between Perth and the eastern capitals.

Aside from the very obvious capacity limitation meaning plump transcon airfares, overall fleet wide body capacity is well short of pre-COVID, so the 330s are needed on international.

 

[AIRwin]

Looks like next one will be VH-NBP

Ferried from XSP to BNE today as VA9948

 

[Saab34]

All white also which is weird. I thought painting was done in Asia. Otherwise Townsville got the contract perhaps.

 

[AIRwin]

I’d hazard a guess that the new 700s are only being used on the East coast while they get their Perth based FIFO crews from the Fokker trained. Once that happens, I’d imagine all the KLM fleet will make its way over to Perth with just the odd surprise on the domestic network (like the current PER-ADLs etc).

While helping a friend search some flights in December 2022 and January 2023, I noticed that the all Economy 737-700 is scheduled to operate one of the daily rotations between BNE and PER on certain days...

 

[Harrison_133]

While helping a friend search some flights in December 2022 and January 2023, I noticed that the all Economy 737-700 is scheduled to operate one of the daily rotations between BNE and PER on certain days...

They’re scheduled on some BNE-MEL flights in December and January too. Usually the 1725 departure (VA344). J is available on 737-800 flights at 1655 and 1755, but it is slightly odd to be putting the all Y -700s on one of the golden triangle routes.

 

[AIRwin]

According to the current fleet lists maintainers across a number of websites, the proposed layout is 138Y (different from KLM's 142Y), so it's possible there is probably another EconomyX row to compensate for no J when they are used on non-FIFO routes.

Seat map shows 5 rows of EconomyX - 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11 (emergency exit):

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