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New global routes on radar

EXCLUSIVE Geoffrey Thomas Aviation Editor, The West Australian
Updated July 30, 2012, 2:15 am

Virgin Australia will order new hi-tech planes such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, add more international routes from Perth and put its Airbus A330s on transcontinental routes to WA as it speeds up its transformation from a budget carrier.

Virgin chief executive John Borghetti told The West Australian that the airline was evaluating the 270-seat 787 and its competitor the A350 for introduction from 2017 on key domestic routes to Perth and international routes.

Mr Borghetti said WA was a key part of the airline's expansion and its new 275-seat A330s would take over all Perth to Melbourne and Sydney routes by Christmas.

The 787 and A350 are the first of a new generation of aircraft that are built mostly of a composite of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer.

The 787, which burns up to 25 per cent less fuel than the models it replaces, can fly Perth to London nonstop.

This month, Virgin Australia ordered 27 of Boeing's 172-seat 737 MAX planes that use 15 per cent less fuel than the standard 737-800s the airline operates.

The carrier has had a dramatic transformation over the past two years, with new planes, interiors, business class and lounges.

Mr Borghetti promised that travellers had "only had a taste of what is to come".

He also expected an increase in international destinations from Perth over the next two years as well as more domestic capacity.

The airline already serves Bali and Phuket from Perth and code-shares with alliance partner Singapore Airlines to Singapore and London.

On the radar is a service to Abu Dhabi to connect with alliance partner Etihad Airways' extensive European network.

"Either we will operate it or Etihad," Mr Borghetti said.

Virgin plans to move into the new terminal at Perth Airport, which is due to be ready by early 2014.

"If we were in the new terminal now we could grow our capacity through Perth even faster," he said.

Virgin Australia is offering business class seats on all its jet routes and will have a sixth A330 in service early next year.

New global routes on radar - The West Australian

catch18

Surely VA could do some more flights from the northern front (Brisbane).

What about:

Brisbane - Hong Kong

Brisbane - Singapore

Brisbane - Bangkok

Brisbane - Tokyo

With the 777 and A330 on the AOC, what are they waiting for?

ohallen

Who would have thought it, an article that is almost positive in relation to a rat predator. Guess that he is finally seeing what so many others have already said about the future.

ampclamp

Please VA put something onto BKK. Q have given up capacity with a 330 and TG can fly twice a day ex YSSY with good loads.

Mud Skipper

ohallen,

That would be a rat deserting a sinking rat then

gobbledock

Seems like Geoffery 'John' Thomas may have switched to VA now that they have lounges, a loyalty program and a service that canes the dying QF?

I still think GT (Aviation non-expert) is a complete ****, however nobody can deny that VA is kicking the Rat well and truly in the dusters!!
Good work Il Deuce, we can see your smile from here as QF reaps what it sews by letting the good QF Management walk out the door. Reap it Joyce reap it.

ohallen

You betcha. I could have asked why he has spun their pr crap for years and now suddenly sticks his head above the mud line, but that would be cynical. Maybe he just had a falling out with Liv.

Lets all watch Sunrise tomorrow to see where he takes this next.

gobbledock

Let's not! To have both John Thomas and Baldy dribbling folly and espousing companies they are in bed with is nauseating. I would rather watch Elton John and his husband birth their second child than listen to or watch the duo of Thomas and Kockche falling over themselves to promote an affiliate!
Pony pooh at it's worst.

bangbounceboeing

maybe they will move one or two of the 777's over to perth and fly them up to Abu Dhabi to complement the sydney abu dhabi service?

ALAEA Fed Sec

Maybe a petition to boycott Sunrise for their continued use of a non aviation expert to discuss our livelyhoods may do the trick. Just a thought.

gobbledock

Perhaps they should rename them 'Aviation Chumps'? That is all they are. I boycott them already. A bunch of dreary gimps that are less exciting than picking up dog turds off the front lawn!
John Thomas and Kockche could do with a boroscope followed by a 'main wheel' change...........Tools

Ultergra

From a 330 pilot. Loads on type are low, very low. 40% capacity was a numerical value.

She also told me that recruitment had been slowed right down to ensure they don't get too excited and end up with a surplus.

The Bunglerat

Well I've been seeing some pretty decent loads on the SYD-PER runs, & on a number of occasions they've been close to full. On the other hand, the PER-MEL runs have got a way to go to match the SYD loads. It really depends on the flight/time of day.

rudderless1

Whilst Joyce draws lines in the sand, Borgetti builts an airline.
Why has Qantas employed an Irish Kindergarden Kid?

This is so painful, and should be illegal.

ejectx3

It's so unreal one really has to conclude he's deliberately destroying this airline. I've tried to not let myself believe the conspiracy theorists but it's hard to ignore how totally ridiculous this ceo's actions are.

standard unit

As I have mentioned before.

Had a conversation with a top Sydney North Shore surgeon at the beginning of the year who said with great certainty, that things for Qantas were about to get very bad.

What is happening is by design.

Dragun

I'm curious as the relevance of a "top Sydney North Shore Surgeon's" opinion with regard to aviation business matters?

Genuine question.

standard unit

He was very well "connected" and obviously knew people very close to the action.

Ka.Boom

What is happening ot Qantas now had its inception around 2001.A group of people comprising QF Executives and a few consultants(most notably Ian Oldmeadow)decided that in order to survive Qantas needed to be destroyed and then rebirthed.Destroy the culture of excellence,drive down the wages and conditions of existing employees and slowly cede the network to a subsidiary lost cost airline.Grounding the airline was one of the last steps in the destruction of the airline.Its been a dangerous strategy that may have ended in disaster if not for pilot skills.
This is one take on whats going on at Qantas.
The other scenario is that the Exco at Qantas together with the board are the most inept narcissistic,greed driven incompetent group ever to run a corporation.(a la Enron)
The first scenario sees Qantas at least rebirthed and survive.The latter sees the airline totally destroyed by monumental arrogance and stupidity.
The last ten years have seen many posters on blogs and websites attempt to determine what the end game at Qantas is.
No one has yet been successful.Worst still no one will be held accountable whatever the outcome

neville_nobody

Alternatively they are running Plan B after the failed private takeover. Run the airline down, but keep all the cash in the bank, get the price to where they want it then buy out the airline like they wanted in the first place. Dixon/Clifford et al would all be in on it and have some sort of cut of the pie.

Either way it's good news for Virgin!