Virgin sets its compass to Asia

[Justchecking]

What was the alternative, the abomination that is the new QF J config,still puzzled?

I certainly dont believe that beds are necessary nor a good use of aircraft space for optimising an aircraft for flights under 4hrs. There are plenty of alternatives, the existing A330 J layout looking pretty close to one. Lots of legroom, decent recline, comfy enough for a short snooze. Just take out the two middle seats and use privacy pods and thats a perfectly acceptable domestic J product. The people who've so far flown it have had few complaints. It's not like DJ couldn't sell J on the route due to lack of beds.

 

[DJ737]

What airline/s uses a 77W to Australia that does NOT continue on to Europe/Middle East?

Air Canada

 

[markis10]

I certainly dont believe that beds are necessary nor a good use of aircraft space for optimising an aircraft for flights under 4hrs. There are plenty of alternatives, the existing A330 J layout looking pretty close to one. Lots of legroom, decent recline, comfy enough for a short snooze. Just take out the two middle seats and use privacy pods and thats a perfectly acceptable domestic J product. The people who've so far flown it have had few complaints. It's not like DJ couldn't sell J on the route due to lack of beds.

Your points are valid but dont forget the competition specifically advertised Skybeds as part of this very route when they were introduced, I think that has always been a factor in DJs choice. Sure it does give them also the flexibility to go OS, but I dont think on current plans they have the A330 fleet to make this work versus more 777s, dont forget you also have the complication of the spin off of the international airline, making it a wet lease scenario.

 

[kamchatsky]

I would like VA to do SYD-HND and code share with NH for Japan and northern Asia connections. Range is right for A330, so is aircraft rotations (9:40 each way) of 1 round trip per day for 1 aircraft. Also HND is much better location than NRT. I actually mentioned this a while ago and hope they will do this in the future.

 

[lovestotravel]

Air Canada

Wrong and not relevant, firstly I was talking about flights between 5-10 hours where an A330 is better than the 77W!
Secondly AC use a 777-200LR now, they used the 77W for a short period before the 777-200LR's were delivered but the 77W was restricted to the number of passengers they could carry

Heck if the 77W was so good, they would use it on the SYD-PER runs then.......

 

[lovestotravel]

I would like VA to do SYD-HND and code share with NH for Japan and northern Asia connections. Range is right for A330, so is aircraft rotations (9:40 each way) of 1 round trip per day for 1 aircraft. Also HND is much better location than NRT. I actually mentioned this a while ago and hope they will do this in the future.

Indeed - Japan is very likely as Qantas is dropping it for Jetstar only really and other parts of Asia are covered with SQ...
China is another one, but Air NZ couldn't get it to work really, but we are a little different here than in NZ

 

[777]

So, who wants to speculate about where in Asia VA might want to fly to first?

The most obvious:
* MEL/BNE - Hong Kong (O/D, link up with Virgin Atlantic)
* Anywhere - Singapore (O/D to link up with SQ)
* Perth-AUH (would fill a hole in the network and may be in A330 range)

All have the downside/ upside of duplicating their "virtual network" which may not be necessary?

Other candidates:
* Tokyo
* Shanghai (or Beijing at a pinch)
* Mumbai (or Delhi)
* Bangkok

All have reasonable O/D. All would be strengthened by a connection to a local partner but none are announced.

Leisure destinations? Jakarta, Seoul, Saigon, secondary cities in China/ Japan?

Anyone want to take a punt?

 

[greenfish]

How about SYD-HKG, with VS exiting Oz? I've flown VS a number of times to LHR, and it has always been busy HKG-LHR, and lightly loaded SYD-HKG. The A340-600 is wasted on the HKG-SYD segment.

 

[lovestotravel]

So, who wants to speculate about where in Asia VA might want to fly to first?

Anyone want to take a punt?

It's really hard to say and given this from the SMH article, it goes against what VA has been doing over the the past 2 or so years.....

"Mr Borghetti's plans to launch some international routes mark a change in Virgin's approach towards long-haul flying. It has been relying on alliance partners to perform the majority of flights which make up its so-called "virtual international network".

 

[yohy?!]

HKG and SIN are both destinations I have previoulsy heard mentioned by VA 777 cabin crew as being discussed as future destinations last year.

 

[777]

It's really hard to say and given this from the SMH article, it goes against what VA has been doing over the the past 2 or so years.....

"Mr Borghetti's plans to launch some international routes mark a change in Virgin's approach towards long-haul flying. It has been relying on alliance partners to perform the majority of flights which make up its so-called "virtual international network".

JB has been talking about expanding into Asia for at least a year. The "virtual international network" never precluded VA from doing their own international flying (indeed flying to AUH and LAX were quite critical to it) but it allowed for global lounge, codeshare, FF, etc coverage without the up front costs involved in trying to cover the world with their own metal or joining an alliance. I think it's been signalled all along that once they hardware they would look to more international flying.

 

[markis10]

It's really hard to say and given this from the SMH article, it goes against what VA has been doing over the the past 2 or so years.....

"Mr Borghetti's plans to launch some international routes mark a change in Virgin's approach towards long-haul flying. It has been relying on alliance partners to perform the majority of flights which make up its so-called "virtual international network".

No it does not go against what has been the plan since JB came on board if you are following the business close enough:

June 2010 Mr Borghetti told analysts from Macquarie Equities Research that he wanted to boost Virgin's share of the domestic corporate market from about 10 per cent to at least 15 per cent over the next 12 to 24 months. International carrier V Australia, which was losing money and was not likely to break even this year, was also under a network review, the analysts said.

Aug 2010 - Axes South Africa/Thailand and Fiji from VA ops.

May 2011 - Game change announced with re branding, immediate focus on partnership hookups, additional 777s on hold, review of international ops by Q2 2012

Q2 2012 - Announce plans for international expansion as per game change plan - phase 3

 

[Noob]

It's really hard to say and given this from the SMH article, it goes against what VA has been doing over the the past 2 or so years.....

"Mr Borghetti's plans to launch some international routes mark a change in Virgin's approach towards long-haul flying. It has been relying on alliance partners to perform the majority of flights which make up its so-called "virtual international network".

Who really knows, this could have always been the goal - the virtual network may be the foundations?

 

[lovestotravel]

No it does not go against what has been the plan since JB came on board if you are following the business close enough:

LOL again... yep

All VA has really done is form partnerships with as many airlines as possible

Introducing 2 more A330's for a few more flights to Asia doesn't really grow the airline much

Feel free to wake me when they announce an order for more 77W's or some 787's

I am pretty sure SQ would not be too happy with them flying to Singapore anytime soon

 

[markis10]

Feel free to wake me when they announce an order for more 77W's or some 787's

I am pretty sure SQ would not be too happy with them flying to Singapore anytime soon

I dont think the sleep will be long, then again he did promise to be in China by 2012:

However, he said the airline still had options to add to its five-strong 777 fleet, which seats 361 passengers in a three-class configuration, to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi, in the years ahead.
"Right now we don't need another 777. That does not mean we've written off all options and all deliveries going forward," Mr Borghetti said.
He said the airline would announce details of the revamp of Virgin's international aircraft by the end of 2011/12, having already unveiled business class seats and a new cabin interior on Australian domestic aircraft.

Virgin still has international ambitions | News.com.au ​

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-new...ns/story-e6frfku0-1226204006964#ixzz1t2064iR2
​

 

[777]

LOL again... yep

Did you actual read the documentation that contradicted your earlier point?

 

[markis10]

So, who wants to speculate about where in Asia VA might want to fly to first?

The most obvious:
* MEL/BNE - Hong Kong (O/D, link up with Virgin Atlantic)
* Anywhere - Singapore (O/D to link up with SQ)
* Perth-AUH (would fill a hole in the network and may be in A330 range)

All have the downside/ upside of duplicating their "virtual network" which may not be necessary?

Other candidates:
* Tokyo
* Shanghai (or Beijing at a pinch)
* Mumbai (or Delhi)
* Bangkok

All have reasonable O/D. All would be strengthened by a connection to a local partner but none are announced.

Leisure destinations? Jakarta, Seoul, Saigon, secondary cities in China/ Japan?

Anyone want to take a punt?

My punt (perfect for a 777 naturally )

 

[lovestotravel]

Did you actual read the documentation that contradicted your earlier point?

Sometimes you have to give up with the fanbois.... There is no point

Off to your JQ flight - I find that funny

 

[lovestotravel]

My punt (perfect for a 777 naturally )

View attachment 7088

Yep India is great for a 777/787

It's not in Asia which was my point earlier........ and previously

 

[markis10]

Yep India is great for a 777/787

It's not in Asia which was my point earlier........ and previously

India is not in Asia, is that another ignored fact??

In the west, Asia is bordered by Europe, the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, as well by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus Strait, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/as.htm