Originally Posted by
Al E. Vator
So many armchair experts on PPRUNE with opinions based on part knowledge.
Heard all this ‘they’re amateurs, they’ll never survive, they’re total jokes’ before. Specifically about Virgin Blue and Impulse/Jetstar.
Certainly the Bonza model as it appears is quite unusual but with 777 Partners behind them, they’re no lightweights.
Still amazes me that social media can be so full of anonymous experts, none of whom apologise when their expert opinions are so often proven incorrect.
I remember the same things being said about Jetgo, and Strategic.
Virgin Blue did not survive, it failed in the long run, many of the issues we highlighted during its run were true and led to its downfall over time, specifically the E-jets into regional areas. It's only here now as VA as its been bailed out several times in it's history with the latest being complete administration. 10 years ago it was being pumped with cash from SQ, EQ and AirNZ, in a hope to make it viable, which only prolonged its death.
Impulse was bought out as an industrial relations tool for the QF group and J* is the bastard child which has only existed to provide a wedge at the bottom against real low cost carriers entering the Australian market. That is, its an artificial entity that exists as part of the QF group to stifle competition, it makes small amounts of profit but nothing that would sustain the airline on it's own if it didn't have the ties with mother. Do you really think J* would have the capital pull on its own to have fleets of brand new Airbus and 787s?
And face it, without the loyalty program QF and J* would struggle, it makes billions for the group.