VB to buy Air Van?
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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VB to buy Air Van?
Heard from a fairly credible source that Virgin Blue has just done a deal with the Vanuatu goverment to buy 50% of Air Vanuatu, in a similar deal that they did with Poly.
It would mean PB getting the AVN crew and plane, re-branding as Pac Blue and flying ex VLI to AKL, SYD, BNE.
Starting later this year....
Anyone care to confirm?
It would mean PB getting the AVN crew and plane, re-branding as Pac Blue and flying ex VLI to AKL, SYD, BNE.
Starting later this year....
Anyone care to confirm?
Join Date: May 2007
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Not going to happen.The locals pride themselves in having an aeroplane painted in their colours, too many locals will lose jobs, just a political stunt because the local government coming up foe re-election.To add to this the aircraft is not owned by air van rather leased from ilfc, you would be buying 50% of fu.k all. Not even worth it for the routes as VB or PB already able to fly there on a reciprocating agreement.
But i have been wrong before..
But i have been wrong before..
And here was me thinking Virgin Blue had decided they needed something smaller than their Embraers, for the very small routes, and were buying Airvans...
You can fit a lot more pax into an airvan than in that cherokee they had at Moorabbin..
You can fit a lot more pax into an airvan than in that cherokee they had at Moorabbin..
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It makes sense where a small Pacific country doesn't quite justify a whole 737, W Samoa for instance, but Air Van seems to have excellent utilisation of the 738 as they did for the 733. And then the turboprop and Islander feeder routes, vital to the running of the country, wouldn't be of interest to VB or stand alone.
I can think of Pacific countries more compatible with the successful Poly Blue business model. How's that Honiara route working out?
Mind you, I'd happily take a secondment to the Twotter. That looks like fun.
I can think of Pacific countries more compatible with the successful Poly Blue business model. How's that Honiara route working out?
Mind you, I'd happily take a secondment to the Twotter. That looks like fun.
The Evil Empire
I have heard a senior NF staff member refer to DJ as "The Evil Empire" and there would certainly be a rebellion if the "Dark Lord" was really stalking the national carrier of Vanuatu.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Deal was never really entertained by NF.
Qantas is referred to as the Evil Empire.
And yes, the Dark Lord should be feared, because he is devious, cunning, and is pissed right off.
Qantas is referred to as the Evil Empire.
And yes, the Dark Lord should be feared, because he is devious, cunning, and is pissed right off.
.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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I think the airvan would be a great choice for VB. The pax can load thier own frieght and the pod is quite roomy. The inflight entertainement of staring at your own knees may wear a litte thin though. The sim is quite cheap to purchase too - its basically just a guy with a blindfold being pulled around in a billy cart. I think they've named it the pushmepullyou
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Yes I realise that. Just as aircraft other than PBF operate to and from Samoa. I think if you look at all SYD-APW and AKL-APW sectors they'd use the better part of at least one aircraft. It's pretty impractical to designate one specific aircraft all the time.