Virgin Blue Orders 19 new Boeings

[Haywood U. Cuddelmie]

Whisper seeping through from the Brekky Creek HQ to the crew rooms today, that VB has placed an order for 19 shiny new Boeings with an undisclosed number of 900ER's included in the mix. An additional 1000 hours per month of flying is planned, with several new international routes included. The oversupply of Boeing pilots vs. Embraer pilots should no longer be a problem, if the above turns out to me more than a rumour.

[Buster Hyman]

There'd be more spin in that than a CFM56!:rolleyes:

[mates rates]

The price would be right at Boeing at the moment.They have done similar good deals on price in the past with their timing.

[chimbu warrior]

Bearing in mind that deliveries would probably be a couple of years away, and perhaps some of the existing fleet is due to be returned (end of lease), this could be a smart move indeed.

As mates rates very appropriately said, they'd be getting a real good deal by ordering now.

[maui]

More grist for Krusty and the Doomsday brigade.

Wait for the cascade of ex spurt opinions.

Maui

[Captain Sherm]

Maui,

VB has obviously got it wrong in spades. World's best practice as was in vogue at Ansett would suggest that the order for 19 Boeings should have included instead:

5 X 737 NG
4 X Bae 146
6 X A320
4 X 767 (with F/E)

Or Qantas:
10 X 767 (all old with mix of GE, RR and PW engines)
4 X 747-300 (last airline in the top 25 to operate them)
0 X 777 (only airline in the top 25 not to operate them)

Or Australian:....the J31!!!

[maui]

The only way to keep Krusty and his mates happy and the airline in business, would be to include a clutch of Saab 340's and pay 2nd officers thereon circa 200,000.

Why can't management see that!

Maui

[porch monkey]

You guys crack me up....... However, IF the order is true, most would be for lease renewals I would think. As pointed out, good time to order from the manufacturers, just like they did initially. Still, IF the extra flying comes on, then good thing. Buying Boeings doesn't solve the E jet crew shortage tho.

P.S. They could solve the oversupply/shortage thing tomorrow if they really wanted to...... :ugh:

[Massey058]

They could have got even more favourable terms for taking some of the Lion Air order of 178 739ER's. Rumour has it Lion are now looking on the second-hand market as they can't afford all the new builds they ordered.

[Sand dune Sam]

Maui..all of KRUSTY's mates have left or will be soon leaving for greener pastures..he's a bit sensitive about the issue..Your being a tad harsh on him.

Maybe with the new order and possibly the fact VB and Jetstar may start hiring again, it would be an opportune time for KRUSTY to move into a jet operation. Sounds like the old fella could do with a new start and a new lease on life.

[7378FE]

An order for a few -900ER's sounds like a good move, send them to PB for routes like:
AKL to PER, DPS, PPT & HNL:ok:

[turbantime]

An order for a few -900ER's sounds like a good move, send them to PB for routes like:
AKL to PER, DPS, PPT & HNL

The 900ER's have the same range as the 800's, the only difference is the extra seating capacity. The 900's (if this rumour is true) will be used in/out of Sydney on domestic ops due to the slot constraints. As it stands VB have flights every 15 minutes SYD-MEL during the peak periods.

And of course quite a few aircraft coming off lease. VB have 10?? 737-800's to be delivered this year to replace those coming off lease...this info is straight from their annual report. So the new orders could be for future replacements.

[The Green Goblin]

pfffffft i thought the rumour was they were getting A320s and A340's to compliment the 777's for the punters noticing they are missing two engines! :ok:

[Cloud Cutter]

The 900ER's have the same range as the 800's

It's just a wee bit more:

- 737-800 (high gross weight version) - 2940 nm
- 737-900ER - 3200 nm

[apacau]

Due to listing requirements, if an order has been made, I would imagine an announcement would have been made to the ASX, not to mention a press release announcing the order of the first of a type in Australia... Nothing as yet...

[porch monkey]

Wouldn't have thought it to be first of type so to speak. Same rating and such. You only get the extra range with the aux tanks, something I doubt VB would fit.

[coaldemon]

This whisper didn't come from a group of Ex DJ drivers (now EK drivers) that were in town for the weekend per chance?

[turbantime]

It's just a wee bit more:

- 737-800 (high gross weight version) - 2940 nm
- 737-900ER - 3200 nm

About the same as the 700HGW ;)

[KRUSTY 34]

Are the new aircraft for fleet replacement, or expansion?

[coaldemon]

I would be surprised if they are for expansion.

[airtags]

.......................should read as "options" on 19 for lease replacement.

Given the leaked internal doc of DJ forecasting net operating losses for 09 & well into 10 - capex for "expansion" (apart from Y1 -Y4 for Voz) is grasping much more foreskin than foresight.

Speaking of grasping foreskin:
remember that the 777 party bus delivery flight is near and with it DJ's desperate need to solicit Boeing's spin as a third party endorser of the VB 'new world' strategy, hence the dressing up of a standard lease replacement deal - (Suspect they will also want to keep Sir Richard well away from commenting on anything other than the girls' tight skirts.)

AT

:E

[who_cares]

Dont think this is a new order. The Boeing website shows 19 737-800 deliveries still outstanding.

[Yusef Danet]

900ERs would fit well in VB's fleet, replacing the 700s that they're not that pleased with. 700s were supposed to do the smaller runways but all the runway challenging places (MCY, BNA, HTI) get 800s more often. Go from a 700 to an 800 and you get 25% more seats for about 10% additional fuel burn.

As for those range figures, 2400 nm is about as good as you get from a loaded 800, and flights on those routes tend to be capped, at least into a headwind. APW-SYD and BNE-DPS for instance.

SO... if the E190 has about 36 seats fewer than the 737-700 (108 vs 144 I think) and the E Jet pilots are worth 20% less... I guess if the 900ER seats 36 more than the 800 (about 216 in a VB style config) then the 737 pilots are in for a payrise..? Good time to discuss fleet pay.

[KRUSTY 34]

The problem is Yusef, pay only goes one way, irrespective of whether the aircraft get smaller or larger.

Just ask the Vaus pilots!

[Pedota]

Please forgive a little bit of thread drift - didn't want to start a new for this - there is quite a long article on Brett Godfrey and Virgin Blue in a recent Boss Magazine (comes with the AFR). See . . .

afr.com application (http://www.afraccess.com/Index_mxml.html?URL=EDP:%2f%2f20081205000030606255)

[737 wannabe]

I just hope that recruitment kicks up again soon so that I can live up to my name

[footloose]

Be careful what you wish for!

[snakeslugger]

737 Wannabe - good on you for being keen mate:ok: