Annouced: Virgin Australia Cargo

[EFAHEAVY]

Hi all.

Any truth to the shortly announced rumour of Virgin Freight operating the B737F for the soon to be announced Australia Post contract renewal? It's currently being done by Express Freighters Australia (Qantas freight)? Apparently an announcement in the coming weeks? Anyone know anything? Will Virgin pilots fly the B737F? Some make a connection with Airwork NZ buying I think 6 new/old 737-400's...

Cheers and thank you.

[Just N Cider]

Great 1st post!

[moa999]

truth.. shortly annoucned.. rumour
headhurts

[onehitwonder]

Airwork has bought more aircraft for Toll....



Note, they're three aircraft down already

1 aircraft being phased out as its out life
1 aircraft written off in Honiara
1 aircraft on contract overseas

[Higs]

I would be very surprised if Virgin pilots were used to operate any freighters as their terms and conditions are way above the current freighter jocks, but, hey what do I know....

[Goat Whisperer]

And so far there's no such thing as a 737NG freighter, I don't see VA pilots getting taught the ways of classic again.

[VH-FTS]

If the bid to purchase TOLL Holdings by the Japanese post office goes through, this may well be a game changer for OZ air freight.


How so exactly? Air freight only makes up a small proportion of the Toll Holdings business. The purchase is to help the Japanese diversify, and I don't think they'll be looking to replace the current aircraft or suppliers anytime soon.

[LAME2]

[And so far there's no such thing as a 737NG freighter]


I thought Boeing offered a dedicated -700 freighter. As far as I'm aware there is no STC for conversion PTF for the NG but that will change as the supply of classics run dry.

[tdracer]

And so far there's no such thing as a 737NG freighter, 737-700C (i.e. "Convertible") - it's basically set up to be quickly converted from all passenger to all cargo. Not to be confused with the Aloha 737 style "Convertible" :}

I think this link works outside the Boeing firewall:
Boeing: The Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 Convertible (http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/737family/737_700Cback.page)?

[TBM-Legend]

US Navy operates quite a few C-40A Clippers [B737-700C]...freight doors and fully convertible.

[ebt]

AEI are doing the design work for a 737-800 conversion at the moment, with and STC expected in a couple of years, so that could become an option further down the track. I wonder if, with Virgin Freight linked to VARA, they could even become an early customer for the A320P2F being worked on.

[SRM]

A320F, Yep that's what Virgin, need another type

[SHVC]

The Freighter will be operated by VARA for Virgin. Aircraft type still has not been made public.

[romeocharlie]

Hasn't been made public because there's only one type of freighter that can service certain ports. :rolleyes:

[SHVC]

Just curious, what happened to j3pipercub post?

[DutyofCare]

Whilst refuelling the Singapore Straw into Cols V 738 yesterday, he said that they have lost THE TAE FREIGHT CONTRACT TO Q.

TAE will announce this week that their new plans / contract ( with the Japanese Blessings ) will involve Q & move away from V which have taken them to great heights in recent yrs.

Looking more into it, seeing EFA currently off loading 1/2 empty 734s in CS / 146s down south >>> TAEs current market dominance >>> Aust. Post huge downturn in vols >>> Airworks recent 7yr contract signing >>> 1 would have to think that:Q didn't have a option if they wanted to survive the night freight market & rollover to TAEs terms & prices.

If I was Vs Ms Macarthur: I'D BE REAL WORRIED ABOUT MY NEW FREIGHT NETWORK / NEWSPAPER POSTS & LOSS OF THE TAE VOLs next financial yr !
Maybe she can rely on Speedy Express to fill her a/c :{:{:{

Moveover, will TAE do the 2 remaining Pelair Saab runs shortly >>> TAE take all the Aust. Post mail work now >>> the takeover of EFA & a/c to Airwork in the coming yrs with their recent converted 734s coming online???

Chatting to Marty, he said if you put 2 + 2 together = Expect to see more TAE ATR freighters next yr -not just up here in CS- but also in TL, AD, BK & HB parked on the line each morning cooling down ;) ;) ;)

[Gas Bags]

Come again?????

[BPA]

DoC also indicates that Toll we increase the ATR fleet and the ATR's will replace the Pelair Saabs.

[wessex19]

From 1st August 2015, Toll will cease filling the belly's of Virgin Australia aircraft. Contract has been signed and formally announced on Friday that all air freight that isn't being flown by Toll's own aircraft will now be transported on Qantas aircraft (80-100 million dollars per annum). Big win for Qantas!!

[ad-astra]

I think things are not quite as simple as that.
Virgins contract with Toll expires on 30th June 2015

'Virgin Australia Cargo' commence operations on 01st July 2015.

[Skystar320]

Interesting... Qantas now has x 3 cargo carriers, TNT / Toll & Australia Post.

Virgin Yet to sign any new customers.

Will we see aircraft in Virgin Australia Cargo colours [ATR's?] or will they be utilising the underbelly of the aircraft [in Case of the ATR's the front]


Virgin Australia Cargo joins competitive air freight market | afr.com (http://www.afr.com/business/transport/aviation/virgin-australia-cargo-joins-competitive-air-freight-market-20150622-ghu5ot)

Virgin Australia to expand freight operations after ending Toll Holdings contract (http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-to-expand-freight-operations-after-ending-toll-holdings-contract-20150622-ghu7yk.html)

[Oakape]

Will we see aircraft in Virgin Australia Cargo colours [ATR's?] or will they be utilising the underbelly of the aircraft

The second article seems to answer your question -


Asked whether it would buy dedicated freighters, Ms Macarthur said the focus was to utilise the belly space in Virgin's existing fleet "but if anything stacks up we are willing to invest".

"The immediate focus is to get the low hanging fruit, which we believe is getting more cargo into the bellies of our commercial aircraft," she said.

[Ken Borough]

The immediate focus is to get the low hanging fruit

Nothing new here as they've been doing that since day dot. Such innovation!

[das Uber Soldat]

DoC also indicates that Toll we increase the ATR fleet and the ATR's will replace the Pelair Saabs.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

[doug606]

Virgin Australia loses air-freight contract with Toll to Qantas (http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-to-expand-freight-operations-after-ending-toll-holdings-contract-20150622-ghu7yk.html)

[Chocks Away]

Straight from Merren McArthur herself. (http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/06/virgin-australia-establishes-cargo-unit/)

Was only a matter of time.
:ok:

[VH-FTS]

If anyone thinks Virgin chose to end the Toll contract to spend yet more money establishing a cargo division they are kidding themselves. Qantas would have been the cheaper option for Toll, hence the end of the agreement.

Cargo isn't like their normal self loading freight - how is it going to get to and from the aircraft? You need a total transport solution, so unless they partner with someone like DHL I can't see it being very effective. What other big players are left in the market since TNT, Aust Post and Toll are all now being flown by Qantas?