jetblues
11th Mar 2006, 02:34
The Courier Mail Saturday 11 March 2006
Virgin bids for US air rights
Geoff Easdown
11mar06
THE Federal Government will send a senior bureaucrat to Washington within two weeks to negotiate a new air rights agreement for Virgin Blue to fly the Pacific daily.
A spokesman for Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss said on Friday the Government was confident the airline would get its wish.
Virgin Blue would not be limited in the number of trans-Pacific flights, "only that there must be a be minimum of four weekly", the spokesman said.
Virgin Blue accelerated its push to fly to the US 12 months ago after Singapore Airlines began lobbying for a licence on the route.
Last month the Government blocked Singapore Airlines on the route for two years.
Virgin's coming long-haul operation is likely to operate between six and eight aircraft, probably using the fuel-efficient 300-plus seat Boeing 777.
British billionaire investor Sir Richard Branson, who has 25 per cent of the Brisbane-based airline, this week outlined Virgin's plans for its trans-Pacific passengers.
He said premium passengers would get cruise-ship-in-the-skies service, far better than anything in the first-class cabin of other airlines.
"Passengers will fly at business-class rates and what they pay will help subsidise the economy section in the back of the aircraft."
The premium features were likely to include manicurists, stand-up bars and limousines to and from the plane, Sir Richard said.
The cabin service model was "bang on right" and had been tested over 21 years by Virgin Atlantic, which is 51 per cent owned by Sir Richard's Virgin Group.
He said he had recommended the features to Virgin Blue managing-director Brett Godfrey.
Virgin Blue, whose Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue offshoots fly to New Zealand and Samoa, has identified three possible Australian-US city destinations for services it hopes to start next year.
But the sticking point has been its demand for back-to-back daily services across the Pacific to make the operation profitable.
Virgin has so far talked to representatives of both Boeing and Airbus about planes.
Boeing's long-range 777-200 has emerged as a stand-out option, especially with jet fuel at prices of more than $US60 a barrel.
Boeing has attracted 150 orders for the twin-engine jet during the past year compared with single- digit sales of its European rival, the four-engine Airbus A-345.
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Heather Jeffery said the airline was very encouraged by the swift response of the Australian Government on increased frequencies.
Asked about Sir Richard's comments, she said: "We'll have to wait and see, there's no shortage of ideas around here but whatever we do, it will be different."
She joked: "Personally I'm going for leg waxing and horoscope forecasts."
Asked whether Virgin planned to set up a new company to launch the airline, or to launch a subsidiary, she said: "We're looking at several possibilities."
Ms Jeffery said no decisions had been made about aircraft types.
Virgin Blue shares were unchanged on Friday at $1.68.
Virgin bids for US air rights
Geoff Easdown
11mar06
THE Federal Government will send a senior bureaucrat to Washington within two weeks to negotiate a new air rights agreement for Virgin Blue to fly the Pacific daily.
A spokesman for Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss said on Friday the Government was confident the airline would get its wish.
Virgin Blue would not be limited in the number of trans-Pacific flights, "only that there must be a be minimum of four weekly", the spokesman said.
Virgin Blue accelerated its push to fly to the US 12 months ago after Singapore Airlines began lobbying for a licence on the route.
Last month the Government blocked Singapore Airlines on the route for two years.
Virgin's coming long-haul operation is likely to operate between six and eight aircraft, probably using the fuel-efficient 300-plus seat Boeing 777.
British billionaire investor Sir Richard Branson, who has 25 per cent of the Brisbane-based airline, this week outlined Virgin's plans for its trans-Pacific passengers.
He said premium passengers would get cruise-ship-in-the-skies service, far better than anything in the first-class cabin of other airlines.
"Passengers will fly at business-class rates and what they pay will help subsidise the economy section in the back of the aircraft."
The premium features were likely to include manicurists, stand-up bars and limousines to and from the plane, Sir Richard said.
The cabin service model was "bang on right" and had been tested over 21 years by Virgin Atlantic, which is 51 per cent owned by Sir Richard's Virgin Group.
He said he had recommended the features to Virgin Blue managing-director Brett Godfrey.
Virgin Blue, whose Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue offshoots fly to New Zealand and Samoa, has identified three possible Australian-US city destinations for services it hopes to start next year.
But the sticking point has been its demand for back-to-back daily services across the Pacific to make the operation profitable.
Virgin has so far talked to representatives of both Boeing and Airbus about planes.
Boeing's long-range 777-200 has emerged as a stand-out option, especially with jet fuel at prices of more than $US60 a barrel.
Boeing has attracted 150 orders for the twin-engine jet during the past year compared with single- digit sales of its European rival, the four-engine Airbus A-345.
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Heather Jeffery said the airline was very encouraged by the swift response of the Australian Government on increased frequencies.
Asked about Sir Richard's comments, she said: "We'll have to wait and see, there's no shortage of ideas around here but whatever we do, it will be different."
She joked: "Personally I'm going for leg waxing and horoscope forecasts."
Asked whether Virgin planned to set up a new company to launch the airline, or to launch a subsidiary, she said: "We're looking at several possibilities."
Ms Jeffery said no decisions had been made about aircraft types.
Virgin Blue shares were unchanged on Friday at $1.68.