Virgin Cancels DCT Melbourne - Darwin

[birdman]

Virgin have cancelled their overnight Melbourne - Darwin - Melbourne flights due to:
"changes to our Virgin Blue schedule. (Schedule changes may occur as a result of Virgin Blue's expanding network, addition of new planes to our fleet, our uncompromising commitment to safety in the air.)"
(source: VB email sent to pax holding ticket for DCT ML-DN)
Rumour has it that this is PR speak for "we don't have enough crews to cover these sectors":ugh:
Anyone travelling North will have to route via Brisbane with less seats now available overall to the Top End and greater travel time and cost (just in time for the start of the dry season, too!).
Not Happy Jan.:mad:

[resboy]

from www.abc.net.au/news

Last Update: Friday, April 20, 2007. 12:47pm (AEST)

Virgin cancels Darwin-Melbourne flights until June

Virgin Blue has cancelled its direct flights between Darwin and Melbourne until the start of June.

The airline usually has three direct flights a week between the two cities at this time of year.

The only flights between the cities currently being sold by Virgin Blue between now and June 3 are via Brisbane.

Passengers have been emailed about the changes to this weekend's flights.

Earlier this month the Australian Federation of Air Pilots said it believed a shortage of pilots was behind the airline's decision to axe a number of flights.

Virgin Blue rejected the claims.

[greenslopes]

Speaking with the eng in ADL seems lots of cancelations,primarily due tech crew shortage. How could any airline in Oz be short crew? Shake a tree and pilots fall out, whats more they will even pay for their own endorsement?!

[hotnhigh]

Right on greenslopes,
That is why every regional airline in OZ, except QFlink, has advertised in the australian during the past three weeks, looking for pilots.
Nah. No shortage. Just ask QF management.:ok:

[dirty deeds]

There is a pilot shortage at VB,

1. 25 pilots have resigned in the last few months (leaving for jobs at EK/CX/Dragon/Retirement). Senior Captains on part time roster, one month on, one month off have had this agreement cancelled due to lack off crews, they have subsequently resigned as they are cashed up.

2. 15 pilots currenlty doing EK interviews, 60 pilots with active EK applications and waiting for a phone call.

3. Command upgrade training stopped due to lack of sim time and lack of new FO's being available, (endoresment delays due to QF and Alteon having limited training slots available, back log till July/August).

4. 12 Captains leaving the B737 fleet for C&T positions on the EMB170/190.

5. Aircraft getting older and going TECH more often.

6. 40% of FO's failing their command upgrade, (six sims and 20 sectors over four weeks, no wonder their failing).

7. MEL-DRW flights being cancelled so a pilot can be utilised on high yield routes like MEL/SYD/BNE.

Pilot shortage a little imaginative, Company Mismangement a reality.

[Yusef Danet]

CaptainToBe

Yes.

VB would love a bunch of 737, pref NG qualified, FOs to knock on their door. they have taken a few from Air Pac and Pac Blue, and while canceling flights on a regular basis would be hard pressed to knock back a ready made NG pilot, obviating the need to find sim space in a very crowded market.

[bentandtwisted]

I know one B737 pilot (with NG) who has an application in with VB and he has heard nothing.