Virgin Blue pacific flights
So DJ have announced FIJI as their first international destination.
Can anyone tell me if they will utilise their current domestic cabin crew on their international operations or hire crew specifically for international, as this may involve a new award and conditions for existing crew. It is probably much easier to have 2 separate awards, 1 for domestic and 1 for international. This is what Ansett had in place when they commenced international operations, separate crew for both as they were employed by their respective separate companies. From what I have read, Virgin Blue will operate as "Pacific Blue" (or another name, but not Virgin Blue). Will "Pacific Blue" be a subsiduary of Virgin Blue?
As the flight times to the proposed destinations are short, ie. BNE-NAN about 4 hrs, sometimes less will the crew be overnighting? I wouldn't think so as I know Fiji return would fit into any EBA that was negotioated. Same goes for most pacific destinations. I used to operate BNE-NAN-BNE, SYD-NAN-SYD and it was all in a days work, in fact we operated Bali flights from BNE, SYD, MEL which were longer and still a turn around. I'd be interested to hear.