Virgin sets its compass to Asia

[Justchecking]

Well, if it's the full journey they are looking for, then one also has to speculate about onward carriage rights and where in Asia they would be able to get them. I'm not sure either China or India fall into that category.

 

[markis10]

Well, if it's the full journey they are looking for, then one also has to speculate about onward carriage rights and where in Asia they would be able to get them. I'm not sure either China or India fall into that category.

AUH?? DJ are already exercising their 5th freedom rights through codeshares.

 

[Justchecking]

Which would make them a direct competitor with both Etihad and Atlantic? Hmmm....not good for the ol' alliance partners me-thinks. All the alliance partnerships are contingent on each partner being the sole provider of a particular route. I'm not convinced Virgin are ready to annoy so many airlines at once, especially as they rely on them for lounge access and network coverage.

 

[Jousams]

I would rather see VA take over the VS SYD-HKG flight and meet up with the VS HKG-LHR.
Each time I have gone to hk with VS load factors have been very poor.
Maybe VA could do thrice weekly from SYD, Mel & Bne with their new a330


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[tm.smile]

I would rather see VA take over the VS SYD-HKG flight and meet up with the VS HKG-LHR.
Each time I have gone to hk with VS load factors have been very poor.

Previously read this from AusBT (I know how much some of you guys love that site...)

Unlike the Red Roo’s post-March 2012 schedule which will rely on British Airways for onwards flights from Hong Kong to London, “when you book Virgin Atlantic you get Virgin Atlantic, and you’ll get it all the way” says Luke Fisher, Australian Country Manager for Virgin Atlantic.

“If you’re going from Sydney to London you want consistency” Fisher told Australian Business Traveller.

“You don’t want to be changing aircraft and going onto a different airline with different seating and product. The benefits of travelling all the way with the same carrier can’t be overstated.”


So perhaps HKG won't be an option, as I don't see the two sisters fighting it out now that they are playing nicely.

I'd put my money on China, one focus to ensure a decent schedule?

 

[Jousams]

Well maybe BNE & MEL to HKG
didn't VA have slots at HKG a while back?


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[maninblack]

It will be tough for VA to bust into Asia and what will be the attraction of flying VA given that they are not part of any major alliance and their hard product is just standard.
SIN is very well served by SQ and others
HKG very well served by CX and others
NRT by JL and QF
KL well served by MH
BKK by TG

China pretty well served now by the Chinese Airlines but I suppose it's a maybe. What else is there? India.

 

[Justchecking]

It will be tough for VA to bust into Asia and what will be the attraction of flying VA given that they are not part of any major alliance and their hard product is just standard.

My thoughts exactly, they may be a major player domestically but I wonder about the FFer strong preference for Asian airlines. Asian airlines have all the lounges, frequency etc that most FFers could hope for. Unless they are planning on just being supplemental to their partners frequencies from say secondary ports. But still they have to make money on the route. It reminds me of the early 90's when the 'Tiger' economies were going to take over the world, it didnt exactly happen that way. There is so much expectation over China now and I wonder is that too might fizzle.

 

[MarkD]

I tend to agree with India being a potential destination


Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

 

[gwilli1]

It will be tough for VA to bust into Asia and what will be the attraction of flying VA given that they are not part of any major alliance and their hard product is just standard.
SIN is very well served by SQ and others
HKG very well served by CX and others
NRT by JL and QF
KL well served by MH
BKK by TG

China pretty well served now by the Chinese Airlines but I suppose it's a maybe. What else is there? India.

Agree it will be a tough gig going into Asia , but i have a slight leaning towards HND in Japan, that may work for them . HND is obviously more central to Tokyo than NRT & is not serviced by any other airline direct into/out of Aust. HND has announced a further expansion of there new international terminal, albeit that won't be ready until 2014 . Whilst it was pre JB , Richard Branson back in 2009 indicated that that Virgin may be interested in operating to HND ex SYD Virgin Blue May Start Tokyo-Sydney Flights Within 18 Months - Bloomberg . Maybe there might be a future partnership with ANA , as HND is an ANA domestic hub

 

[777]

Worth noting that i read somewhere that VA have recently started Wet Leasing their 777s to EY to fly AUH-BKK (i think) in their downtime. Looking at the Gcmap figures AUH-BKK is only a few hundred miles less than AUH-LHR. Entirely plausible (without doing a lot more maths) that they could fly AUH-LHR as an EY and VS codeshare on their own metal. Maybe it's a way of EY adding an extra frequency, VS developing another code share and VA getting on to London on what would otherwise be downtime. Logically, i reckon they'd do it as a codeshare with EY not as a competitor (a la SYD-AUH).

 

[loobloke]

Worth noting that i read somewhere that VA have recently started Wet Leasing their 777s to EY to fly AUH-BKK (i think) in their downtime. Looking at the Gcmap figures AUH-BKK is only a few hundred miles less than AUH-LHR. Entirely plausible (without doing a lot more maths) that they could fly AUH-LHR as an EY and VS codeshare on their own metal. Maybe it's a way of EY adding an extra frequency, VS developing another code share and VA getting on to London on what would otherwise be downtime. Logically, i reckon they'd do it as a codeshare with EY not as a competitor (a la SYD-AUH).

I thought it was KUL, irregardless, the down time they mean is the 1.5 day stopover in AUH. (7 days a week but only 3 flights (6 days))

 

[gwilli1]

Worth noting that i read somewhere that VA have recently started Wet Leasing their 777s to EY to fly AUH-BKK (i think) in their downtime. Looking at the Gcmap figures AUH-BKK is only a few hundred miles less than AUH-LHR. Entirely plausible (without doing a lot more maths) that they could fly AUH-LHR as an EY and VS codeshare on their own metal. Maybe it's a way of EY adding an extra frequency, VS developing another code share and VA getting on to London on what would otherwise be downtime. Logically, i reckon they'd do it as a codeshare with EY not as a competitor (a la SYD-AUH).

777, are you referring to downtime in AUH ? VA's timetabled downtime in AUH is only 11 hours ( which is more like 8 hours with unloading /loading ) before they turnaround , in which case wet leasing to EY to do a AUH-BKK-AUH (13-15 hrs) wouldnt be possible. it maybe on a shorter route .

 

[gwilli1]

777, are you referring to downtown in AUH ? VA's timetabled downtime in AUH is only 11 hours ( which is more like 8 hours with unloading /loading ) before they turnaround , in which case wet leasing to EY to do a AUH-BKK-AUH (13-15 hrs) wouldnt be possible. it maybe on a shorter route .

Apologies , I just picked up that VA are on the ground in AUH from Sat to Mon for 35 hours , in which case a return KUL is no problem.(see attached ) http://www.centreforaviation.com/bl...artner-etihad-for-kuala-lumpur-services-69549

 

[Rotation]

Which would make them a direct competitor with both Etihad and Atlantic? Hmmm....not good for the ol' alliance partners me-thinks. All the alliance partnerships are contingent on each partner being the sole provider of a particular route. I'm not convinced Virgin are ready to annoy so many airlines at once, especially as they rely on them for lounge access and network coverage.

I wouldn't say all partnerships are contingent on being sole provider - DL flies SYD-LAX just as VA do, EY fly AUH-SYD just as VA do, and NZ fly many/most/all routes DJ does to the New Zealand ports.

 

[777]

Sorry thought it was BKK not KUL. Point is if it's long enough to wet lease may be long enough to get to London.

 

[markis10]

I would not be surprised to see BNE-SIN-AUH plans morph into BNE-AUH-onwards, with the benefit of two aircraft allowing service recovery should something go wrong.

 

[greenfish]

Any prospect of dovetailing with VS routes to DXB or PVG?

 

[maninblack]

I would not be surprised to see BNE-SIN-AUH plans morph into BNE-AUH-onwards, with the benefit of two aircraft allowing service recovery should something go wrong.

Cannot see it paying off for them, big costs involved in this and they have no competeive advantage especially with such a small fleet. I think whatever they do it will be single hops into Asia and return.

 

[markis10]

Cannot see it paying off for them, big costs involved in this and they have no competeive advantage especially with such a small fleet. I think whatever they do it will be single hops into Asia and return.

Same arguments could be said for their existing destinations, yet they are doing well!