Virgin Blue Plans Separate Airline

[Wirraway]

Dow Jones

SYDNEY -(Dow Jones)- Richard Branson, the founder and co-owner of Australian airline Virgin Blue, affirmed plans for international flights by the end of 2003, although these will be handled by a new Australian airline that may have a different name from Virgin Blue.

"It will be a different airline to Virgin Blue - it will be a quality airline, a bit more akin to Virgin Atlantic than Virgin Blue," he said. Branson is the founder and chairman of Virgin Atlantic.

As for routes, the international airline could fly to Hong Kong, with connections to Virgin Atlantic flights, and also New Zealand and Bali.

http://www.ozflight.com.au/ozmember/feedback/branson5.jpg
photo by Dave Faulkner
http://www.ozflight.com.au/

[Piz Buin]

I guess this means the opportunists of 89 will get a look in at the quality end of Virgin while those in Blue control the employment for impoverishment ;)

[The_Cutest_of_Borg]

I have nothing against VB but I have to laugh at Mr Branson's quote here..."It will be a different airline to Virgin Blue - it will be a quality airline,... "

Freudian slip maybe?

[sprucegoose]

Yeah, that didn't go unnoticed.........

[Ramboflyer]

Branson will float VB to the share market (similar to throwing it in the Garbage) let the bunnies give him his money back so he can start his new airline and if the novelty of VB wears off he'll attack them with Virgin Pacific.
Nobody is on your side.

[Al E. Vator]

......except the vast majority of the Australian travelling public.

Listing = throwing in Garbage? Rambo, your financial knowlege seems to be the equal of your aviation knowlege and writing skills.

Very few predicted VB would survive (even fewer admitted they were wrong when it thrived). Indeed it was the inefficient AN which died.

Similarly Virgin Pacific or whatever it will be called will thrive. There is very little naysayers can do to prevent that. There is simply too much grassroots support for the concept. People dislike being treated badly and in a monoploy environment that is inevitable.

Look forward in 2 years to Rambos admission he was wrong.:rolleyes:

[tottenkopf]

anyone got any ideas on what type of equipment woolie pullie will buy for his next adventure?

[MTOW]

Has this Ramboflyer person turned 14 yet?

[jetblues]

.......and the quality airline to link Australasia with Asia will be.........Virgin Atlantic itself......

[TIMMEEEE]

Float this supposed Quality company????

I believe if SQ start up in Oz then the chances of securing an underwriter for the float will be more difficult and expensive.

Not to mention being a third operator against two other juggernauts so to speak with deep pockets may dull their successful float somewhat.

But then again people were falling over themselves to invest in Compass 1.

[Ivan Urge]

I spoke with Dick this morning and he thinks they will probably operate the A340-500 or 600. Lots of Aussies working presently for Virgin Atlantic who are rated on type and are willing to come home. Eventually he reckoned they would operate the A380 and be the first to offer a non stop service from Australia to Europe with it. Of course they would be pressing Airbus to offer that range on new variants of the type.

[Theo Racle]

I think Jetblues is spot on the money. Look to see Atlantic here sooner rather than later ie HK-BN and then running premium services BN-SY, BN-ML, ML-SY as the long anticipated third(?) airline. Ties up all the lose end for the Star Alliance, takes advantage of the high public awareness of the Virgin name and complements DJ's existing services.

Done deal.

[Boeing Belly]

Are Virgin Atlantic in the Star Alliance?

[Aladdin]

No they are not a member.

http://www.star-alliance.com/isroot/SA/htmen/member_LAU.htm

[flightbunny]

hi,

i sent u a private message!!!

flightbunny[B]

[ttesna]

BB and ALADDIN,
(correct me if im wrong)
Doesn't SQ have a 49% equity in Virgin Atlantic?
I know SQ are in the Star Alliance.
(The plot thickens)

[Theo Racle]

Flightbunny - check your messages...