Epsom Hold 2
11th Sep 2001, 01:03
Just a wild guess but we know Branson is desperate to serve Aus, and Ansett Int'l couldn't be a better match - Virgin Atlantic fly from Heathrow to LA, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpar (Malaysia codeshare) and Japan (OK it's Narita but anyway). Ansett Int'l fly from Sydney to LA, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpar and Japan (OK it's Kansai but anyway).
So he'll fly direct to Sydney (and Brisbane) via the #1 stopover choices on the Kangaroo Route to link up with a wide range of Virgin Blue domestic destinations in Aus. The two fleets even match (747-400s). And wait for it, there's Singapore Airlines (49% owner of Virgin Atlantic and owner of Ansett's 747-400s) in the background easing things along. My god, a round the world airline flying to Aus in both directions via (take your pick) Hong Kong, LA (with the option of SFO too, VS already fly there and the SYD-SFO rights haven't been taken up by any Oz airline), KL, Japan...with regional feed at both ends (Athens, Nice, Brussels into Heathrow)(god knows where in Aus into Sydney and Brisbane).
All for the price of four or so international licenses from a bankrupt Aussie domestic airline that no-one outside the business and Oz itself has ever heard of.
British Airways are going to go bananas if this happens - Virgin round the world, across the Pacific, onward rights from HK, LA and Japan to Aus? Poor Rod Eddington. This is going to be WILD.
:cool:
So he'll fly direct to Sydney (and Brisbane) via the #1 stopover choices on the Kangaroo Route to link up with a wide range of Virgin Blue domestic destinations in Aus. The two fleets even match (747-400s). And wait for it, there's Singapore Airlines (49% owner of Virgin Atlantic and owner of Ansett's 747-400s) in the background easing things along. My god, a round the world airline flying to Aus in both directions via (take your pick) Hong Kong, LA (with the option of SFO too, VS already fly there and the SYD-SFO rights haven't been taken up by any Oz airline), KL, Japan...with regional feed at both ends (Athens, Nice, Brussels into Heathrow)(god knows where in Aus into Sydney and Brisbane).
All for the price of four or so international licenses from a bankrupt Aussie domestic airline that no-one outside the business and Oz itself has ever heard of.
British Airways are going to go bananas if this happens - Virgin round the world, across the Pacific, onward rights from HK, LA and Japan to Aus? Poor Rod Eddington. This is going to be WILD.
:cool: