V Australia Operations DELAYED TO FEB09
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Roo,
If the original MOF has actually resigned whilst the Company's situation is uncertain, then maybe reading between the lines, the title of this thread is worthy of this type of info! It may have a bearing on whether the company's viability is questionalble, because as we know from previous lives, the managers create a rear guard action and have a back door option (if they are smart).
If the original MOF has actually resigned whilst the Company's situation is uncertain, then maybe reading between the lines, the title of this thread is worthy of this type of info! It may have a bearing on whether the company's viability is questionalble, because as we know from previous lives, the managers create a rear guard action and have a back door option (if they are smart).
Quote:
"You guys (but not all on this thread) have really lost the plot."
The only people who have lost the plot 'roo, are the proponents of this obviously doomed venture. First they (VA management) lost the respect of most clear thinking individuals with a new low in T&C's, then they continue with all the hype and bullsh!t while the world burns around them.
DJ will be lucky, (very lucky) to survive the current crisis. V Australia are already dead and buried, only those at the top (for reasons best known to themselves) have yet to publicly bite the bullet. And as far as the TV adds are concerned, what the F#ck are they thinking?! One could only assume that they were paid for in advance. Although nothing would surprise me with this mob!
My prediction, DJ will exorcise this failed venture within the month, if not sooner. Get out while you can boys and girls, and will the last one please turn out the lights!
"You guys (but not all on this thread) have really lost the plot."
The only people who have lost the plot 'roo, are the proponents of this obviously doomed venture. First they (VA management) lost the respect of most clear thinking individuals with a new low in T&C's, then they continue with all the hype and bullsh!t while the world burns around them.
DJ will be lucky, (very lucky) to survive the current crisis. V Australia are already dead and buried, only those at the top (for reasons best known to themselves) have yet to publicly bite the bullet. And as far as the TV adds are concerned, what the F#ck are they thinking?! One could only assume that they were paid for in advance. Although nothing would surprise me with this mob!
My prediction, DJ will exorcise this failed venture within the month, if not sooner. Get out while you can boys and girls, and will the last one please turn out the lights!
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Krusty I agree with your comments re V Aus, they could'nt have picked a worse time to start operating on the proposed routes.
Where the fark do they think the pax are going to come from ?
The whole show looks rooted to me !
Where the fark do they think the pax are going to come from ?
The whole show looks rooted to me !
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Yes, I just don't understand why they are persisting with this (VA). It has the potential to bring down the whole Virgin Blue operation and that's not a good thing.
I guess management will eventually emerge from the bunker and have to face the reality.
Virgin Blue (domestic) must be protected at all costs - surely these idiots can see this.
I guess management will eventually emerge from the bunker and have to face the reality.
Virgin Blue (domestic) must be protected at all costs - surely these idiots can see this.
I agree with Krusty, Track Direct & Dale H - the forward bookings for most international operators are looking very poor and for V Oz having very significant start-up costs they need bums on seats at a reasonable yield. In the current economic climate, this is not going to happen and I don't think that DJ's pockets are deep enough to keep V Oz going for very long.
I want this operation to succeed because the failure of V Oz would be a shame for all the workers trying to support their families but it would also give ammunition to EK & SQ in their attempts to get rights across the Pacific.
I want this operation to succeed because the failure of V Oz would be a shame for all the workers trying to support their families but it would also give ammunition to EK & SQ in their attempts to get rights across the Pacific.
Join Date: Sep 2004
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We're all geniuses in hindsight.
VA was on planning desk approximately 2 years ago, at least. DJ advertised for interest in long haul positions on their recruitment web site at about 15 months ago. Calls, emails, etc for interviews began around Dec 07 for air crew positions. Fuel prices were getting higher and higher.
[Dates are an educated guess of course! I'm sure someone knows better.]
In the mean time the world has suffered a huge economic recession (depression?). The first to be hit will always be "luxury" items such as overseas holidays.
To say that VA are stupid to have even attempted to start up I do not think is fair from kowing what was happening over 2 years ago to now. I'm sure mangement in their infinite wisdom (hmmmm....) are sh*tting themselves and trying to make things work. Nice of some to find somewhere to kick when the chips are down.
TexanPilot - couldn't agree more.
VA was on planning desk approximately 2 years ago, at least. DJ advertised for interest in long haul positions on their recruitment web site at about 15 months ago. Calls, emails, etc for interviews began around Dec 07 for air crew positions. Fuel prices were getting higher and higher.
[Dates are an educated guess of course! I'm sure someone knows better.]
In the mean time the world has suffered a huge economic recession (depression?). The first to be hit will always be "luxury" items such as overseas holidays.
To say that VA are stupid to have even attempted to start up I do not think is fair from kowing what was happening over 2 years ago to now. I'm sure mangement in their infinite wisdom (hmmmm....) are sh*tting themselves and trying to make things work. Nice of some to find somewhere to kick when the chips are down.
TexanPilot - couldn't agree more.
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I think VB are to far committed to stop this thing going now. The frames are on order, the training center and sim set up, the crew are all getting paid. They need to start flying ASAP to stop the cash outflows and start generating some inflows. If it works the way that it works for QF then it could end up supporting VB as it has done for QF for all these years (estimated 25-30% of QF revenue). If people like the 777 more than the cattle truck (A380) then they will fill the seats. Also United could decide to call it quits on the route and hand their business to VAus.
So unless you have a crystal ball it is a rumour networkafter all.
So unless you have a crystal ball it is a rumour networkafter all.
Join Date: Jan 1999
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As you say WB,
From 1st hand experience the 'cattle truck' passengers on deplaning, almost without exception, commented that the machine was brilliant and 'SO QUIET'.
As it always has been, the punters will choose to fly on the convenient, cheapest option available. Whoever offers that, will fill the seats.
Good luck to one and all, but the cattle truck will be hard to beat.
If people like the 777 more than the cattle truck (A380) then they will fill the seats
As it always has been, the punters will choose to fly on the convenient, cheapest option available. Whoever offers that, will fill the seats.
Good luck to one and all, but the cattle truck will be hard to beat.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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The projected cash flows for VA 2 years ago may well have put it above the line in terms of profitability.
But this is now a VERY different situation. The world is on the brink of a serious recession lead by the USA (bordering on depression if you read some of the more left field commentaries floating around) , commercial credit availability is, at best limited, with interest rates reflecting this tightness.
Discretionary spending on overseas travel, particularly to and from the USA is plummetting, yet this is the stuff that VA is supposed to be making money from.
Virgin Blue has its' own serious issues. It's a stand alone organisation, per seat costs now above Jetstar, limited access to cash reserves (VA will take most of this), horrendous overnight crewing accommodation costs, interest financing, brand identification etc etc.
When VB started it had clear goals, but even back then it nearly fell over. It was only Ansett's demise that gave it the kick start it needed.
Perhaps Virgin's leadership team should go back to basics and refocus the core operation to one which is at least able to survive domestically in this degraded economic climate.
As employees, we sometimes place far too much faith in the ability of managers to make the correct decisions in a timely manner.
I hope this is not a case of blindly following BG and his team as they jump off the cliff.
But this is now a VERY different situation. The world is on the brink of a serious recession lead by the USA (bordering on depression if you read some of the more left field commentaries floating around) , commercial credit availability is, at best limited, with interest rates reflecting this tightness.
Discretionary spending on overseas travel, particularly to and from the USA is plummetting, yet this is the stuff that VA is supposed to be making money from.
Virgin Blue has its' own serious issues. It's a stand alone organisation, per seat costs now above Jetstar, limited access to cash reserves (VA will take most of this), horrendous overnight crewing accommodation costs, interest financing, brand identification etc etc.
When VB started it had clear goals, but even back then it nearly fell over. It was only Ansett's demise that gave it the kick start it needed.
Perhaps Virgin's leadership team should go back to basics and refocus the core operation to one which is at least able to survive domestically in this degraded economic climate.
As employees, we sometimes place far too much faith in the ability of managers to make the correct decisions in a timely manner.
I hope this is not a case of blindly following BG and his team as they jump off the cliff.
Care to elaborate? The negativity displayed here would be regarded as mildly optimistic compared to what is going around by those now sitting around wondering how long this operation they signed up for will last. Quietly being whispered that the VAus operation has been set up such that it can fall in screaming heap and not drag VB / PB down with it.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Slice,
I hope you are right in that VA can fail without dragging VB/PB with it.
Interesting to find out what the VA start up costs to date have been and also what irreversible financial committments VBA has to Boeing or aircraft lessors if the thing folds?
I hope you are right in that VA can fail without dragging VB/PB with it.
Interesting to find out what the VA start up costs to date have been and also what irreversible financial committments VBA has to Boeing or aircraft lessors if the thing folds?
.......... This negativity is baseless.
All Brett needs is for all the major airlines crossing the Pacific to go broke and it will be a roaring success..................................................... ............................................................ ...........................
would the last one out please turn out the lights!
All Brett needs is for all the major airlines crossing the Pacific to go broke and it will be a roaring success..................................................... ............................................................ ...........................
would the last one out please turn out the lights!
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Just some news from the maternity ward, VH-VGA has been unwrapped, so its storage is over, either that or its sister ship has moved out of a paint shop, awaiting confirmation of the rego but it seems things are moving again at Boeing / VA.
Now would it not make sense for BG to be talking closely with United Airlines, codeshare and some capacity sharing, link up with a network at each end? Has this been thought of already?
J
Now would it not make sense for BG to be talking closely with United Airlines, codeshare and some capacity sharing, link up with a network at each end? Has this been thought of already?
J
Well for you guys who seem content to throw stones at those throwing stones, have you anything to add or are you just the critics critic.
Even those with the thickest rose coloured glasses would have to wonder over launching a new airline into the quietest part of the year(having missed the Christmas rush) into an economy leading the world into the direst economic time since the 1930's.
I'm no accountant but things do not add up here?
Even those with the thickest rose coloured glasses would have to wonder over launching a new airline into the quietest part of the year(having missed the Christmas rush) into an economy leading the world into the direst economic time since the 1930's.
I'm no accountant but things do not add up here?
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Now would it not make sense for BG to be talking closely with United Airlines, codeshare and some capacity sharing, link up with a network at each end? Has this been thought of already?