I see the recent announcement regarding PER-AUH as a positive move. The demand for travellers using the airports in the sandpit as a connection to Europe is declining with most travellers still preferring the Asia stop over. Why start a service, loose money on it and then stop it, best to pull the pin before the start. EY already have a daily B787 PER -AUH service, which is sufficient for the current demand, without the need for VA's 3 days a week service.
VA will now have another airframe to continue A330 transcon services as well as sufficient number of A330's for it's planed expansion into Asia.
With regard to the 737MAX deferment, all airlines defer orders. Look at QF they deferred the B787 orders until this year and have just announced they are delaying the A320NEOs on order for Jetstar. From a passengers perspective there are no being cabin enhancements in both the MAX and the NEOs and from the a fuel saving costs the benefits of the new engines etc are next to nothing on the golden triangle routes. The fuel saving coots kick in on the longer sectors. So why pay a premium price (above the cost of the current aircraft) for the MAX and NEO for no immediate gain. Airlines such as Fiji Air who are also taking the MAX, will see immediate fuel saving gain as the majority of their flights are over 3 hours.
And for those who thing QF's B787 Perth to London direct flights will be a great experience for the passengers have a read of this.
https://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetal...ything-dreamy/