Virgin - 2
Where do I sign up to help make this merger happen? No more Virgin .. no more Branson? Oh, happy day
Captainspeaking, I guess you must either be ex BA, or you weren“t good enough for VS!
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Join Date: Jan 2000
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Avman...Well said...I've had many excellent flights on VS and BA, both Business and F/C...
Thank Jimmy Carter for all of this mess...Airline Deregulation Act/1978 (USA)
In any case, it is deregulated and the strongest (read "deepest pockets) will survive, regardless....
Thank Jimmy Carter for all of this mess...Airline Deregulation Act/1978 (USA)
In any case, it is deregulated and the strongest (read "deepest pockets) will survive, regardless....
Join Date: Dec 2006
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"I cannot guarantee Virgin Atlantic's survival if BA and AA are allowed to merge,"
That statement alone, reeks of arrogance. How on earth can anyone guarantee anything, in this economic climate, merger or no merger?
That statement alone, reeks of arrogance. How on earth can anyone guarantee anything, in this economic climate, merger or no merger?
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Why give up landing slots at Heathrow?
There are not going to be any more flights with ATI. Just the ability to share prices, profits and passengers. Why is it that as soon as BA try to make a move in the market they have to be 'fined' with slot losses.
Lufthansa is buying up the shorthaul and longhaul carriers of Europe and I don't see them having to give up either their 90%+ slot advantage at Frankfurt or give up any of BMI's slots at LHR.
This deal would put the Oneworld alliance on an equal footing with the star alliance. But the beardy one won't tell you that or his wish to tie up with Lufthansa either. No wonder Singapore want rid of their share of Virgin.
There are not going to be any more flights with ATI. Just the ability to share prices, profits and passengers. Why is it that as soon as BA try to make a move in the market they have to be 'fined' with slot losses.
Lufthansa is buying up the shorthaul and longhaul carriers of Europe and I don't see them having to give up either their 90%+ slot advantage at Frankfurt or give up any of BMI's slots at LHR.
This deal would put the Oneworld alliance on an equal footing with the star alliance. But the beardy one won't tell you that or his wish to tie up with Lufthansa either. No wonder Singapore want rid of their share of Virgin.
Unfortunately they gave up on this some years ago. They used to be good. Now their service standards are notably worse than BA, and heading for the basement levels of the US carriers.
Insufficient check-in staff lead to huge queues.
Minimum seat pitch in Y, then further compromised by huge IFE control boxes for the seat row ahead being bolted under the seats just where your legs used to go. In passing, CAA, how did you allow such things to be installed ? These units have sharp edges that can dig into your legs.
Catering that has become pathetic and sometimes inedible, all down to a minimum spend. True in both Economy and "Upper Class", the latter not a patch on what it once was.
Hacked-off cabin crews, not surprising as I understand they are paid really minimally.
Why should we "protect" such a sad organisation ?
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Have to agree with WHBM. An increase in dominance of AA/BA on transatlantic routes wouldn't be enough to make me travel with them. What will make me travel with them is the increasingly poor service that Virgin offers. My last two flights with them have been fairly bad with poor food, IFE not working and flight attendants openly moaning at the back of the aircraft about having to work and not getting the flights they wanted. I'm well aware that this probably isn't indicative of all Virgin flights or crew, but it's enough put me off and at least try the alternatives.
As WHBM says, Virgin used to pride themselves on being that bit better with a more select product. Unfortunately the reality doesn't match up to the rhetoric.
And before anyone accuses me of being anti-Richard Branson, I'm quite a big fan. That's what makes it all a bit more disappointing.
As WHBM says, Virgin used to pride themselves on being that bit better with a more select product. Unfortunately the reality doesn't match up to the rhetoric.
And before anyone accuses me of being anti-Richard Branson, I'm quite a big fan. That's what makes it all a bit more disappointing.
If BA carry 600,000 and AA carry 200,000 across the Atlantic then a combined BA/AA carry 800,000 then how will it impact on Virgin ?
More likely it will release slots as BA/AA will combine more flights to increase load factors.
More likely it will release slots as BA/AA will combine more flights to increase load factors.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Profits Jump At Virgin Atlantic
From the BBC
'Virgin Atlantic has reported a sharp rise in profits in the year to the end of February, bucking the trend seen by other airlines.
Annual pre-tax profits reached £68.4m ($109m), nearly double the £34.8m seen in the year earlier.
It said the results had been helped by a rise in premium fare passengers.'
I guess that's where some of the British Airways premium passengers have gone.
'Virgin Atlantic has reported a sharp rise in profits in the year to the end of February, bucking the trend seen by other airlines.
Annual pre-tax profits reached £68.4m ($109m), nearly double the £34.8m seen in the year earlier.
It said the results had been helped by a rise in premium fare passengers.'
I guess that's where some of the British Airways premium passengers have gone.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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This is one set of financial results that would benefit from extremely close reading, I suspect. Ricky B is not one to let the misfortunes of BA pass without a robust response. Perhaps he actually did reel in all those premium punters. We're watching.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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I guess when you only have to fuel 38 aircraft instead of 200+ plus your fuel bill will be slightly lower, I think it also dosnt help that Virgins staff are some of the poorest paid in the cabin crew industry! Now this is one more bullet for Willie to use against his crew/pilots!! 
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Did I read that fuel is 1/3rd of costs in many airlines.
Because of moving fuel prices, we will see winners and losers, would guess VS managed a low average fuel price for the year, if airlines revealed average price of fuel, state of airlines would be see.
Well done to the fuel people at VS.
Because of moving fuel prices, we will see winners and losers, would guess VS managed a low average fuel price for the year, if airlines revealed average price of fuel, state of airlines would be see.
Well done to the fuel people at VS.
Join Date: May 2008
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Ahh
When I worked in an office department at virgin, all the paperwork was on paper. You could get any answer you needed. Including a Year with not one but two, YES TWO SUMMERS. OFFICE Staff corect me if I'm wrong.
Join Date: May 2000
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Remember that the Profits include figures from the highly profitable package tour company. In the past, it has been this income that has kept the group in the black. It has been described as a tour operator with an airline subsidiary.
Last year should have been a good year for the tour operator - add in a bit of luck with the fuel hedging and you might have a very good result which does not really reflect the reality of the airline's own current trading.
Last year should have been a good year for the tour operator - add in a bit of luck with the fuel hedging and you might have a very good result which does not really reflect the reality of the airline's own current trading.