from Ozflight.com.au
http://www.ozflight.com.au/
The new deal signed over the terminal will allow the airline to move from its "tin-shed" operation into the near-new Terminal Two. Although allocated only 6 of the requested 9 dedicated gates the airline will have access to a further 6 should demand warrant. Whilst the airline was forced to revise its national schedule around a major over-crowding problem at the Sydney Terminal, expansion plans are now firmly back on the agenda as operations for the new terminal are planned for early December.
The airline currently operates 27 aircraft across its 15 port network. This fleet comprises:
9 x 180 seat 737-800 aircraft
1 x 162 seat 737-400 aircraft
12 x 144 seat 737-700 aircraft
1 x 144 seat 737-300 aircraft
4 x 138 seat 737-700 aircraft
Negotiations have been underway since June for the expansion of this fleet to add a further 12 aircraft by the end of next year. Both Airbus and Boeing are hotly contesting this expansion with Airbus offering to re-train all of the airlines staff in exchange for a complete fleet change-over to their A32X series. Despite this Branson has already indicated that Boeing is well ahead on points and with Brett Godfrey visiting the Boeing plant in Seattle just a month ago, rumours that Virgin Blue will be a launch customer for the new 737-900X are looking favourable.
Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey stated that the agreement with Sydney Airport "will allow Virgin Blue to fast-track its fleet expansion plans". Furthermore "Virgin Blue can channel its resources into the international arena". More specifically a week ago on a Brisbane radio interview Virgin Blue stated that there would be 8 aircraft dedicated to international operations by the end of 2004 and that flights to and from New Zealand could be started as early as August next year.
The market is settling very nicely for Virgin Blue. Having gained a long-term hold on the Sydney Terminal it is even less likely now that a third domestic operator will enter the market. The airline continues to introduce new routes of which the most recent was Sydney-Maroochydore only four weeks ago. Virgin Blue has also announced the commencement of two new services on December the 12th with flights from Brisbane to both Rockhampton and Perth. Indiciations are that with the strong demand on the 8 weekly Maroochydore flights a direct flight from Melbourne isn't far off either.
Skip Fulton
http://www.ozflight.com.au