Virgin Blue announcements 26/08

[notzac]

There's a hive of activity over on the ASX announcements page (Company information - ASX listed companies - ASX - Australian Securities Exchange):

• Major new partnership with EY, including VA metal SYD-AUH from Feb 2011 and BNE-AUH by Feb 2012
• Partnership includes status/points earn and lounge access on EY immediately, and points burn from Oct 2010
• 2 x A332 aircraft from May 2011
• JNB and HKT services to be cancelled Feb 2011

 

[markis10]

They just announced an extra JNB service , now they are all gone next year??

 

[notzac]

They just announced an extra JNB service , now they are all gone next year??

From the media release, yes:

V Australia will withdraw from its loss making Boeing 777-300 services to South Africa and coughet.
“As a minor player on the African route the prospects of achieving a return are remote,” Mr Borghetti said.
“The coughet service is also sub-optimal for our Boeing 777-300 given our configuration.”

 

[gilby08]

I wonder if QF will be happy with the EY alliance with DJ!

But i reckon QF will be happy with VA pulling out of JNB, and i assume DJ won't take over the HKT route?

 

[sampson]

Makes good sense to drop loss making routes.

I just hope they

- land the Mel-LA flights in LA in the mornings as they once did. When UA and Qantas land in the morning, there's time to get to the intended holiday destination;
- adequately staff the check ins for the bread n butter passengers: we're back on Qantas late next year after delays on 2 flights this year;
- don't sell tickets for schedules without disclosing plans (if any) to change the times/dates.

 

[docjames]

Wow, the AUH/EY deal is interesting given QF currently code on EY and I personally think EY would be a good fit for oneworld!

Cant say i'm surprised to see coughet get canned, but JNB is a little surprising given QF have added capacity to the route so presumably there's some reasonable market there, and it doesnt seem like QF are throwing seats away (ie. they dont seem to be capacity sumping). I guess someone who travels SYD-JNB/PER-JNB regularly can tell us how fares are on that route. The diversion needed due to twin engine on the 777 (vs 4 on A340/744) must be a factor - presumably adding significant costs.


I also still think one of VA's issues is lack of a global alliance. They seem to be slowly improving this.


Also, not surprising the new CEO is shaking things up a little......

 

[markis10]

I wonder if QF will be happy with the EY alliance with DJ!

But i reckon QF will be happy with VA pulling out of JNB, and i assume DJ won't take over the HKT route?

DJ do operate the PER to HKT services, mind you 6 hours on a 737 would not be fun !

 

[StevePER]

The first A330-200s will operate services between Perth and the east coast of Australia enabling Virgin Blue to grow available capacity, especially at peak times, extending the airline’s appeal to business travellers,” he said.

Excellent news!

 

[MrJetset]

Virgin Blue tie-up with Etihad a blow to Qantas | V Australia

So what happens to those of us book on VA to HKT in January?

 

[oz_mark]

Excellent news!

This is indeed good. I wonder if it will be all economy, or we will see some of their new product initiatives coming through on it.

 

[crazydave98]

Virgin Blue tie-up with Etihad a blow to Qantas | V Australia

So what happens to those of us book on VA to HKT in January?

nothing. you fly as booked. changes take effect from February.

 

[777]

Great news all around Dave.

Quick question: What's happening with international lounges? Noticed that Etihad use the Qantas Club - that's not going to continue i assume. So while reciprocal lounge access is great, there don't appear to be any lounges at the Australian ports to use!

It's surely getting to be a bit of a mess when there are separate lounges for different partners and destinations on international flights?

Will this cover off partner lounges at Etihad destinations or only their own branded ones?

 

[docjames]

Where are the A330s coming from?

- new
- lease from another carrier
- lease from a/c leasing co.


Is the config known yet?

 

[kamchatsky]

Why to Abu Dhabi? I know they don't want to fight with QF/BA/SQ at Singapore but I am at a loss of the location, and EY serves the same flights, unless they want to tap into the middle east market but wouldn't the public pick EY anyway?

 

[DJ737]

DJ do operate the PER to HKT services, mind you 6 hours on a 737 would not be fun !

Why not?

No different to flying 7-8 hr hops from London to Australia or across the Pacific on a 707 or DC8 during the 60's & 70's, I've done plenty in the past and I survived.

Haven't yet noticed the difference between a standard Y seat on a 737 or a 747.

You kids need to harden up. :mrgreen:

Cheers
DJ737

 

[crazydave98]

Great news all around Dave.

Quick question: What's happening with international lounges? Noticed that Etihad use the Qantas Club - that's not going to continue i assume. So while reciprocal lounge access is great, there don't appear to be any lounges at the Australian ports to use!

Standby for further announcements on lounge access in Australia

Will this cover off partner lounges at Etihad destinations or only their own branded ones?

don't know off top of my head. I suspect only their branded ones but will check it out and get back.

 

[samh004]

• Major new partnership with EY, including VA metal SYD-AUH from Feb 2011 and BNE-AUH by Feb 2012
• Partnership includes status/points earn and lounge access on EY immediately, and points burn from Oct 2010

I’d love to see a table showing what sort of lounge access you get on EY, but couldn’t see anything on the website yet about them.

 

[crazydave98]

Where are the A330s coming from?

- new
- lease from another carrier
- lease from a/c leasing co.


Is the config known yet?

secret.....won't announce any of this until we announce other product changes.

 

[crazydave98]

Why to Abu Dhabi? I know they don't want to fight with QF/BA/SQ at Singapore but I am at a loss of the location, and EY serves the same flights, unless they want to tap into the middle east market but wouldn't the public pick EY anyway?

It's not about Abu Dhabi as a destination - it's about LHR, MAN, CDG, FRA, MUC, DUB....etc.
EY have suboptimal frequencies and spread of routes to Australia, but between them and us we have a very good network between Australia and AUH and we codeshare on all their beyond flights where the bilaterals permit.

 

[docjames]

Why not?

No different to flying 7-8 hr hops from London to Australia or across the Pacific on a 707 or DC8 during the 60's & 70's, I've done plenty in the past and I survived.

Haven't yet noticed the difference between a standard Y seat on a 737 or a 747.

You kids need to harden up.

So should we just change everything back to how it was in the 1960s, including health, crash safety, get rid of mobiles, home computers, etc etc etc....


DJ737, maybe you need to update your username to DJ330?


Seriously, I'm excited whenever a carrier gets a new type (for them) into Australia. Cant wait to see the DJ 330 flying in Aus. Can't imagine a fleet of two is particualrly economical unless they are leasing them with crew etc. Wonder if Strategic might be the source of the a/c?