Virgin CBR-SYD flights restarting

[Bundy Bear]

Link only had 3 x SAAB340s, some routes of theirs will drop back to a Metro.

 

[justinbrett]

Seems VA are trying to phase out whats remaining of their Alliance contracts. There's not much VA/QQ contract flying left when compared to their pre-administration work.

JH and co may not be keen on having 20% of their wet lease money to QQ going to QF, so they may be letting the contracts run out and not renew most (if not all) routes.

Which is their loss. It's commonplace in the US for regional airlines to contract for multiple major airlines (including more than one of the big 3).

It works well. I thought Alliance was heading that way but it appears not.

 

[docjames]

Which is their loss. It's commonplace in the US for regional airlines to contract for multiple major airlines (including more than one of the big 3).

It works well. I thought Alliance was heading that way but it appears not.

Yes - but the regional carriers aren’t typically owned by the big 3 - whereas Alliance has Qantas ownership (20% iirc).

Completely understand VA wanting to reduce its dependancy on Alliance.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes - but the regional carriers aren’t typically owned by the big 3 - whereas Alliance has Qantas ownership (20% iirc).

Completely understand VA wanting to reduce its dependancy on Alliance.

That's a recent development. If buying 20% of shares was enough to spook VA, that's a pretty cunning move by QF to further reduce regional competition.

 

[stryker]

That's a recent development. If buying 20% of shares was enough to spook VA, that's a pretty cunning move by QF to further reduce regional competition.

It doesn't reduce competition, but changes it, and not in QF's favour.

Which is a good thing.

 

[justinbrett]

It doesn't reduce competition, but changes it, and not in QF's favour.

Which is a good thing.

Alliance was probably the leading regional airline in Australia not linked to QF or VA - how does taking them out not reduce competition?

Not that I agree that buying 20% is taking them out - QF doesn't have a controlling share. Link is a tiny airline with inferior aircraft. They're competing with Rex by this decision, not QF.

 

[kookaburra75]

Link only had 3 x SAAB340s, some routes of theirs will drop back to a Metro.

That wouldn't be a good option from my point of view. I have been on the Metroliners many a times on CBR-NTL flights as I didn't have any other options - and flights in NZ and US. To do the CBR-SYD run on a Metroliner would be the equivalent of the old Impulse days of their Beechcraft 1900s, which at least had more headroom than the Metroliners.

 

[AIRwin]

Heard that row 2 is missing a window which I hadn't known...

 

[Bagpuss]

Seems VA are trying to phase out whats remaining of their Alliance contracts. There's not much VA/QQ contract flying left when compared to their pre-administration work.

JH and co may not be keen on having 20% of their wet lease money to QQ going to QF, so they may be letting the contracts run out and not renew most (if not all) routes.

Think they are just waiting for the demand to return I think : Virgin Australia & Alliance Airlines

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm happy to see this return in some form, even if it is a Saab 340 service operated by another airline. The lack of CBR-SYD services on VA has made it more difficult to connect to a lot of places out of CBR using VA's network.

I agree, I am surprised at the amount of hate with this move. It seems really smart to me.

VA2 were never going to survive 5 seconds with their own 737 service and rather than giving QF a cut using Alliance metal they have forged a much more reliable (as in very small planes are less likely to be cancelled due to low loads) partner with the right size aircraft for this route.

Perhaps a little small for some people but better than nothing!

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone else booked on the inaugural?

 

[Mattg]

Love the image of the V Australia Boeing 777 in this article

Virgin Australia To Restart Sydney-Canberra Route | Aviation Week Network

The planned resumption follows an agreement with Link Airways.

www.routesonline.com

 

[jakeseven7]

Love the image of the V Australia Boeing 777 in this article

Virgin Australia To Restart Sydney-Canberra Route | Aviation Week Network

The planned resumption follows an agreement with Link Airways.

www.routesonline.com

Just a tad heavy for Syd-Cbr?

 

[Obzerva]

Just a tad heavy for Syd-Cbr?

Depends whether the 777 has an oryx painted on its tail.

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone else booked on the inaugural?

Looks like it has been postponed to Valentine's Day...

 

[Mattg]

Looks like it has been postponed to Valentine's Day...

Postponed again? How many times can they keep pushing it back...

I'd be surprised if it did actually start on 14 Feb at this rate. Maybe in 2023 though?

Serious question - what happens if you were already booked on a CBR-SYD service before 14 Feb? Re-routed via MEL?

 

[AIRwin]

Serious question - what happens if you were already booked on a CBR-SYD service before 14 Feb? Re-routed via MEL?

I'd think so...

 

[Bundy Bear]

Postponed again? How many times can they keep pushing it back...

I'd be surprised if it did actually start on 14 Feb at this rate. Maybe in 2023 though?

Serious question - what happens if you were already booked on a CBR-SYD service before 14 Feb? Re-routed via MEL?

Book them on Rex or Qantas

 

[ozstamps]

Pretty amazing to understand even 1 or 2 flights a day are not worthwhile?

I'd guess AVERAGE ticket price could be quite high, and they'd get it.

 

[jakeseven7]

Postponed again? How many times can they keep pushing it back...

I'd be surprised if it did actually start on 14 Feb at this rate. Maybe in 2023 though?

Serious question - what happens if you were already booked on a CBR-SYD service before 14 Feb? Re-routed via MEL?

VA2 have actually on some cancelled routes been booking people onto Qantas which much be incredibly painful but better than a pissed off for life customer!