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Virgin Blue to shed 400 jobs ....

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Virgin Blue to shed 400 jobs ....

Old 19th Feb 2009, 10:28
  #41 (permalink)  
 
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Well, Adelaide-Hobart-Adelaide is no longer it seems after from April
Is this true? I don't know whether to believe you Skybus_319 given that it is your first post! The flights have disappeared from the booking engine, but so have plenty of others (like some CBR-ADL for example). Given that DJ are still updating their schedules for NS09, I don't think we can say that the flights are gone yet. Well, I hope not anyway; EWL will be ramming humble pie down my throat if they do go .

Looking at availability on ADL-HBA in the next few weeks, they appear to be very full. Lots of days where you can't get a flight for under $400 in either direction. I would be surprised if DJ did drop this route; they've just added a HBA-CBR, so if they can fill 70 seats a day to CBR, they should be able to fill 70 seats a day to ADL! Given that DJ have spent four and a half years building this route up and growing the market, I doubt that they would just throw it all away! Also the NS09 inbound and outbound HBA schedules aren't matching up overly well currently, so maybe there are some E-Jets replacing 737s to HBA for the winter period, and so there might be something like MEL-HBA-ADL flights in the pipeline?

I think the 8% cuts are being announced tomorrow, so I guess we'll find out then.
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Old 19th Feb 2009, 19:14
  #42 (permalink)  
 
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Wirgin Blew redundancies started happening last Wednesday at Bowen Hills. It's not as if you will read about it in the Fcon.
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Old 20th Feb 2009, 00:40
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Airtags - you are talking c**p.

What I am guessing is that the cash reserves would run the airline until 26 April IF no other income was to come in from the day the memo was released and all flights continued operating. Ie full expenses but no revenue. Days operating revenue was about 3 mths late last year so it has slipped by a couple of weeks which is prob not good.

I am sure they would be required to report to ASX if there last statement said 600mil cash reserves and they have eaten through that in 6mths. When the wage bill is say 7000 employees by 80k/yr = 560 mil /yr the company would be in trouble if they had lost all of that in 6 mths while still operating. Hardly plausible.

Only my opinion
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Old 20th Feb 2009, 01:36
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There were a number of posts on this thread relating to route structures. These have been moved to the pertinent thread.

Please stay on topic.

TID.
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Old 20th Feb 2009, 21:04
  #45 (permalink)  
 
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Yesterday the V Australia mins were updated officially for internal applicants.

Senior FO- Min 1000 hrs VB aircraft
Cruise FO- Less than the above.

It was also announced that 12 Cruise FO's would be needed. Considering that there are at least 50 VB 737 FOs with less than 1000 hrs on VB aircraft, it would be interesting to see who takes the CRFO slots. Especially when you consider that you can earn as much on RO-RO.

The worse part is waiting to hear of your fate.
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Old 20th Feb 2009, 22:10
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Whirlyman, yep i hear you. It's like waiting outside the principals office all over again. Seems funny that just over a year ago i was again waiting anxiously to find out if i was sucessful in getting the job...

Being at the end of the credit rope after years in GA, I opted for the salary sacrifice for the endorsement. I still have a few payments to go...

Whats going to happen if we get the trapdoor?? Do they expect us to pay it out ?
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 00:57
  #47 (permalink)  
 
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And the AFAP are going to support the cull by fleet and not by date of joining.
Exactly! Just who said they could spend members money fighting the startup of another union? Wouldn't be surprised if that money is a whole new conspiracy theory in itself!

The Tiger had the last of it's teeth pulled in '89. Why so many are still so loyal is beyond understanding!

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Old 21st Feb 2009, 01:53
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VB bleeding $5m per month. The aircraft groundings and staff cuts are only there to try and stop the flow.

Won't be here come June unless sold.
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 02:24
  #49 (permalink)  
 
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QF Drive

If they are bleeding 5 million a month they could go for 10 years without exhausting their cash reserves.

Perhaps by June 2018 you might be right!
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 02:40
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qf drive, a very positive post! even though you did not allude to it, if your revelation is correct then things could get very interesting with 851 pilots on the open market. how fast can they expand and reorganise jet connect?

i'd say fairly quickly.
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 02:55
  #51 (permalink)  
 
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nohumbug, I think I read somewhere that if we are given the trap door then the cost of the endorsement is no longer our problem. If we volunteer however, then we are expected to pay the balance.

I too was waiting just over a year ago to see if I get to drive a red jet, but unfortunately my previous employer's Chairman and BG made a deal to not take any of us for a while, thus now there are about 150 FOs ahead of me and probably in a safer position than me. I'm in the bottom 50 now and in the firing line.

It's interesting that, many have said that management have been offering deals for the last 6 months to avoid getting to this position, but as I understand it...None of those deals I (nor many others) could qualify for. I.E. E Jet command, PB command.

The honeymoon is definately over!
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 03:05
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Sorry. It was $5m per WEEK
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 03:10
  #53 (permalink)  
 
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$5m per week!

That'll rise once VA (sorry VB) start paying for Fuel, Airnav/Airport charges etc.... What did the VA prospectus say. 3-4 years to turn a profit?!

Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 21st Feb 2009 at 08:01.
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 03:11
  #54 (permalink)  
 
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QF DRIVE, where's your source from?

$5m is a hella money to lose every week..
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 03:33
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...None of those deals I (nor many others) could qualify for. I.E. E Jet command, PB command.
Unfortunately, as is often the case in aviation, those at the top of the seniority say "I'm OK", and have no real interest in acting to support those at the bottom.

This forum always raises the question on unity, sticking together, team work and importantly (in this case) helping each other out. I'm still to see it...
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 03:47
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Betsy,

Not really so much at all - as a percentage of last years's (06/2008) income, it only represents (5m*52)/2.134 bn = 12 %.

Most airlines would be experiencing at least this order of reduction in trading income - QF would have to be experiencing similar results.

VB's problem is the lack of long term cash and debt facilities. That's what will undo it.

VA can only make things worse for the Virgin Blue group.
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 04:56
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QF Drive,

It would seem to me that it is financial suicide to have an international start up continue if you are bleeding $5m per week. Whilst theose in the BNE Ivory tower often make silly decisions i cannot see such a one, that will cause the unemployment of 5500 people, being made.

I am sure that if they were in such a dire situation the ASX would have to have been notified some time ago.

Being blunt i think your informant is either full of s@%t or the information you are relaying is grossly inaccurate. Just my humble opinion.

Ratter
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 05:01
  #58 (permalink)  
 
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QF - 5mil/wk still gives it 2+ yrs.

As for the AFAP supporting fleet not LOFO, well I seem to recall all you guys spouting on about management talking rubbish and they were only out to lower TC's. Cuts were alluded to in several memo's, was excess leave taken? I heard very little was and not much else to help was done.
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 05:49
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I have never seen management types take double digit pay cuts, let alone 20% to 30%.
It doesn't really matter what angle your looking from, I'm sure all would agree that they must be in deep cow confetti.
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Old 21st Feb 2009, 10:42
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Cunningham,

How is this for an angle,

VB managment spread doom and gloom to its staff, Flight Attendants EBA to be voted shortly, more EMB's to come and too many 737 FO's (get them crewed), last few B777 that cannot be crewed (crap deal) shift 737 FO's to VA, and finaly shift 5 B737 to PB and there you have it (PB DEC's or the door), aircraft crewed at lower pay and conditions. Management have always portrayed a bumb facade, but they are very sneaky and very cunning at times, and know how to manipulate a situation.

Ask crewing at VB, they reckon they need these 65 pilots and more 737 captains. They are still calling out pilots on their leave and days off. Something does not add up here!

Managment taking a pay cut, its still easy to live of $1M instead of $1.3M!

The lads at VB are taking this hook line and sinker!

Or maybe QF is right, the place may be gone in 6 months, time to keep the ear to the ground.
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