What is Virgin Australia's strategy (post-administration)?

[HS-TQE]

May also be one of those dodgy paintjob fixes on the recent ex-MI planes.
It was reported that the first few ex-MI 737s for VA got coughpy paint jobs out of TSV.

 

[HS-TQE]

When you wish upon a star... maybe. Just maybe. AC, UA partnerships just in the past 3 months...

Would think they kept the Plane under wraps, like they did with the original VA livery when Borghetti first took at VB from Godfrey over "if" that was the case alongside the long process of applying.

I think there would be leaks out of the Star Alliance boardroom by now if Bain sent the membership forms some time ago in considering it takes a few months to apply for Star/One/Sky Alliance membership and it's not a simple 'apply and you're approved'.

 

[jakeseven7]

May also be one of those dodgy paintjob fixes on the recent ex-MI planes.
It was reported that the first few ex-MI 737s for VA got coughpy paint jobs out of TSV.

Way to blow up a ️

 

[jase05]

Would think they kept the Plane under wraps, like they did with the original VA livery when Borghetti first took at VB from Godfrey over "if" that was the case alongside the long process of applying.

I think there would be leaks out of the Star Alliance boardroom by now if Bain sent the membership forms some time ago in considering it takes a few months to apply for Star/One/Sky Alliance membership and it's not a simple 'apply and you're approved'.

Never say never but it’s a long way off IMO

 

[HS-TQE]

Never say never but it’s a long way off IMO

Agreed.

Have to say if that was the case, the VA staff involved would've done a very good job 'keeping under wraps' for months and non-disclosure statement by Staff if Bain hid the Star application forms from the media/public, but IMO that's as likely as 'SQ TAEKING OVAH VAH !!111!!!'*

(*Of course there's a better chance of UA 'taking over' VA than SQ getting involved again after their 3 failures with Ansett, Tiger and Virgin).

 

[jase05]

Agreed.

Have to say if that was the case, the VA staff involved would've done a very good job 'keeping under wraps' for months and non-disclosure statement by Staff if Bain hid the Star application forms from the media/public, but IMO that's as likely as 'SQ TAEKING OVAH VAH !!111!!!'*

(*Of course there's a better chance of UA 'taking over' VA than SQ getting involved again after their 3 failures with Ansett, Tiger and Virgin).

I think UA buying in is a very real chance down the track

 

[MooTime]

If there going to list back on ASX, being part of the SA group surely would add value to prospective shareholder's.
Bigger market cap, bigger return for Bain.

 

[HS-TQE]

Considering the further rumours circling over UA after the signed VA agreement, I would not be surprised if UA does emerge as a minority shareholder of VA in mid 2022 after Bain relists VAH on the ASX.

 

[Saab34]

Never say never but it’s a long way off IMO

Why? Bain are not in the business of hanging around waiting and waiting. If it needs to be done, then it needs to be done. They have reconfigured/designed/ordered a whole new seat interiors behind our backs, nobody even saw that coming. Looks like they are moving at considerable speed behind closed doors.

Decisions seem to be happening much much faster vs Virgin 1.0. Well I guess ‘time is money’ when your dealing with PE.

 

[antycbr]

Why? Bain are not in the business of hanging around waiting and waiting. If it needs to be done, then it needs to be done. They have reconfigured/designed/ordered a whole new seat interiors behind our backs, nobody even saw that coming. Looks like they are moving at considerable speed behind closed doors.

Decisions seem to be happening much much faster vs Virgin 1.0. Well I guess ‘time is money’ when your dealing with PE.

Indeed the UA switch did seem to come very quickly as well.

 

[HS-TQE]

Why? Bain are not in the business of hanging around waiting and waiting. If it needs to be done, then it needs to be done. They have reconfigured/designed/ordered a whole new seat interiors behind our backs, nobody even saw that coming. Looks like they are moving at considerable speed behind closed doors.

Decisions seem to be happening much much faster vs Virgin 1.0. Well I guess ‘time is money’ when your dealing with PE.

Agreed with that one. Also as stated earlier, staff would be on non-disclosure agreements, so if there was any Star Alliance announcements, they would've sent in the application months back and sorted it behind closed doors.

Ditto when the VAH refloating occurs in 2022, bunch of investment banks and even UA may emerge as minority shareholders. When the 'usual suspects' of SQ, DL and EY were discussed 12 months back, UA getting involved from a equity perspective would be laughed at 12 months back. Well, look at UA now.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I do think if it's going to happen, it's probably going to happen quickly. Everything else has so far except for the take up of widebodies for long haul, but a *A membership would probably mean more flexibility and time for VA to figure that out in future.

At this point if Bain have money tucked away to invest further in VA prior to re-listing, you'd think an alliance membership would be better value than a widebody.

 

[HS-TQE]

I do suspect the 'trial' of two planes with the new Y seats, may not be two planes.

May possibly that the 'new' seats will be extended across the whole ex-MI fleet. Only need to remove a row of J and the whole of the MI Y cabin before installing the Y seats on that fleet.

 

[Mattg]

They have reconfigured/designed/ordered a whole new seat interiors behind our backs, nobody even saw that coming.

Not really. They just retained the original interiors on two ex-MI 737 deliveries. They didn’t design the seats, nor have they actually committed to installing these seats on other planes yet AFAIK - at this stage they’re just collecting customer feedback.

 

[HS-TQE]

Not really. They just retained the original interiors on two ex-MI 737 deliveries. They didn’t design the seats, nor have they actually committed to installing these seats on other planes yet AFAIK - at this stage they’re just collecting customer feedback.

VA's social media IIRC actually showed people removing a new bunch of Y seats from the packaging and installing them onboard the ex-MI jets.

There was a brief showing of one row of MI J and the old MI Y seats being removed. The remaining 8x MI J seats would likely had been re-upholstered.

 

[Saab34]

All seats are new including both cabins. Nothing has been re upholstered.

The only thing left SilkAir in the cabin is the leafy design on the bulkhead. However they will probably leave it as VA has some new leafy design in its branding, they have designed that into the headrests also, as well as the lounges.

 

[jakeseven7]

At this point if Bain have money tucked away to invest further in VA prior to re-listing, you'd think an alliance membership would be better value than a widebody.

The one thing there was a lot of commentary about previously of which I personally don’t know the answer, is that VA2 uses a cheep and cheerful (and not so reliable ) booking OS that can’t easily integrate with SA airlines and deliver a seamless customer experience inline with what they need….?

I have heard this many times before when SA talk crops up - but again I don’t know the real answer… All I know is that the VA2 website needs a front end UX overhaul, it’s a basic PITA to use

 

[Must...Fly!]

I think the website is fine...

 

[jakeseven7]

I think the website is fine...

I just find the UX a bit basic and kiddy, screamy big text etc. Like Jetstar. But way off topic

I was more asking the question about back end integration with SA - which I’m sure some AFF tech boffin will know…

 

[HeavyElectricity]

The one thing there was a lot of commentary about previously of which I personally don’t know the answer, is that VA2 uses a cheep and cheerful (and not so reliable ) booking OS that can’t easily integrate with SA airlines and deliver a seamless customer experience inline with what they need….?

Off the top of my head I believe TAP, SAS, Copa, and Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian might use Sabre well.

Even discounting Star Alliance, VA probably needs a new Europe partner (not that the previous ones were that great). Lufthansa could be a good option.