Has been confirmed, just got a sale email bout 5 minutes ago from Pacific Blue, starting Bali services from 1st December, direct services from Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth
Pacific Blue could possibly fly the services out of Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne as they already operate through those ports. However, they don't go anywhere near Adelaide & Perth at the moment & don't currently fly into Canberra. While the Canberra service will probably go through Sydney anyway & can therefore be done by Virgin to Sydney & then PB to Bali, the other two sectors would be a problem for PB. I don't see PB flying domestic sectors in Oz, & I don't see PB positioning crews & aircraft to Adelaide & Perth.
That being said, Virgin had 5 or 6 aircraft in Pacific Blue colours & Australian regos flying in Australia a year ago. These were aircraft that were supposed to go to PB, but were held by Virgin in Oz. I think that Virgin needed the capacity more at the time. One of these aircraft went to NZ when a NZ registered PB aircraft was in the hanger for maintenance. That is why the PB crews hold both NZ & Oz licenses.
That number has obviously dropped due to the expansion on the other side of the Tasman with domestic sectors & further international sectors added in the last year, but a number remain. Perhaps someone could enlighten us on exactly how many are left in Oz.
It is likely that Virgin will still have sufficent of these aircraft in Oz to fly the Bali services with an aircraft in Pacific Blue colours, although it will be a little restrictive with fleet planning. It would be likely that aircraft in Virgin colours might end up doing some of the flights, like aircraft in PB colours do some of the Polynesian Blue flying. It would depend on how close to the wind the decision makers like to sail.
I think that it is quite likely that VB crews will fly some of the sevices to Bali, if not all of them.
VB crew will operate for the initial period to when PB crew can. PB crew already told about operating POM and HON soon after that. DPS will be after that when numbers and training are sufficient.
ZH registered aircraft can operate in OZ and I am assuming therefore so can NZ based PB crew. So in time we may see PB do the connecting sectors as well. This is not so good for the VB crew but we have plenty to do already so is there much point kicking up a fuss over this?
Takingover: "It would be likely that aircraft in Virgin colours might end up doing some of the flights, like aircraft in PB colours do some of the Polynesian Blue flying."
-Yoi may find it not possible, as SQ veto the use of the the Virgin brand Internationally out of Australia. It must be Pac or Poly paintwork. Pac & Poly aircraft regos exist on all 3 AOCs PB NZ/PB Oz & Poly and so can be interchanged readily. (Not sure if the veto applies to the Indian Ocean though?) Last count 11 in Oz were that paintwork under VH rego, but that was back with a VB fleet of 50. Not sure what the mix is now.
Yes, ZK can operate in Oz, much like the 73-freighters, as well as PB crew being VH & ZK endorsed. All that has merged into one theatre of operation now, much like the VB crew flying PB routes currently... just when PB were desperately short of crew and an upgrade of T&Cs sort by their crew...
Last edited by Chocks Away : 20th September 2008 at 01:49.
VB will probably only be allowed to use PB painted aircraft only on bali runs and VB painted planes with special permission. I say this because the annoucement states that PB is flying to Bali, not VB. I assume then that the flying rights obtained from Indon government are for PB not VB. If they want to use VB painted planes then special permission will be needed each time from Indon government. This is a hassle I think VB would prefer to minimise. Just ask Valuair and Jetstar. Because Jetstar is not allowed to fly from SIN to Jakarta, they still use Valuair painted aircraft. This means those aircraft are pretty much restricted to these routes only. If for maintenance or other reasons the Valuair painted planes cannot do the run to Jakarta, Jetstar need to get special permission to take a Jetstar plane. Quite a hassle when dealing with Indonesian bureacracy.
VH or ZK rego planes can fly in and out of Australia, as Pacific Blue is registrered, AOC in NZ and AUS.
No Virgin Blue aircraft liveries will travel outside of the Australian territory, unless they are non rev flights, humanitarian services. There are plenty Pac Blue VH aircraft livery operating to cover any shortfall.
I heard that up until last week, VB pilots were operating these services on a wet lease basis. Yet the company has changed its mind and PB crews will operate these services. Anyway, time will tell. I think V would love all its crews on contracts. I think this is the begining of the end!
my info is that PB will operate to Bali. Judging from the departure and arrival times, the Perth crews will be overnighting in Bali. The other flights have a 7-8 hour layover. Poor buggers, beach but no bintang....!
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