State of Virgin Blue
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Rumour here is that Emirates are not happy with the A380. Could be a very prudent decision by any airline not to purchase the A380, unless you'll be using it for high volume short haul.
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The Sheikh did warn Airbus that if the A350 and A380 turns out to have the same reliability issues as the A340-500's then he wouldnt look at them....the 777 on the other hand.....well, airlines cant get enough of them...I think the point Quokka was trying to make was that VA have the right aircraft...and they do!!!
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Virgin Blue Considers Additional Capacity Cuts - WSJ.com
Virgin Blue Considers Additional Capacity Cuts
By ROSS KELLY
SYDNEY -- Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd.'s chief executive said the Australian airline is looking at further cuts to its domestic flying capacity in the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1.
The airline's current plan to reduce the number of seats it flies next fiscal year by 2.4% on an annualized basis needs to go further as demand remains weak, CEO Brett Godfrey told an investment conference in Sydney. "So we are looking at further capacity cuts to take us somewhere around [minus] 5.5%," he said.
Virgin Blue, Australia's second-largest airline, cut 8% of its domestic Australian services and as many as 400 jobs in May by removing five Boeing 737 aircraft from service for at least 12 months.
Like key domestic rival Qantas Airways Ltd., Virgin Blue has been reducing capacity and jobs to save costs as passengers curb travel.
Mr. Godfrey said further cuts would require "taking out some flights," but didn't elaborate on which routes or flights may be affected.
Virgin Blue shares fell 5.1% to 28 Australian cents (U.S. 22 cents) Thursday, compared with a 1.1% fall in the wider market.
The airline, which began operations in August 2000, operates a fleet of Boeing 737 and Embraer jet aircraft on domestic and South Pacific routes across three separate airline brands, and in December commenced trans-Pacific services to the U.S. with its new long-haul international airline V Australia.
Mr. Godfrey, who co-founded the airline with the backing of Virgin Group chief Sir Richard Branson, also flagged that he may be considering leaving the group.
When asked about succession, Mr. Godfrey acknowledged that at 10 years next year, he's been with Virgin Blue for some time. "We are recruiting right now for a new chief commercial officer, who we would expect be a strong internal candidate for succession," he said.
Domestic cuts loom for Virgin Blue | The Australian
Domestic cuts loom for Virgin Blue
Ross Kelly and Bill Lindsay | May 29, 2009
Article from: Dow Jones Newswires
VIRGIN Blue is looking at making further cuts to its domestic flying next financial year, chief executive Brett Godfrey revealed yesterday.
The airline's current plans to reduce the number of seats it flies next year by 2.4 per cent on an annualised basis, needs to be cut further as demand remains weak, Mr Godfrey told an investment conference in Sydney.
"So we are looking at further capacity cuts to take us somewhere around (negative) 5.5 per cent," he said.
Australia's second-largest airline, Virgin Blue this month cut 8 per cent of its domestic services and up to 400 jobs by removing five Boeing 737 aircraft from service for at least 12 months.
Like key domestic rival Qantas, Virgin Blue has been reducing capacity and jobs to save costs as passengers are curbing travel.
More 73's to go?
Virgin Blue Considers Additional Capacity Cuts
By ROSS KELLY
SYDNEY -- Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd.'s chief executive said the Australian airline is looking at further cuts to its domestic flying capacity in the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1.
The airline's current plan to reduce the number of seats it flies next fiscal year by 2.4% on an annualized basis needs to go further as demand remains weak, CEO Brett Godfrey told an investment conference in Sydney. "So we are looking at further capacity cuts to take us somewhere around [minus] 5.5%," he said.
Virgin Blue, Australia's second-largest airline, cut 8% of its domestic Australian services and as many as 400 jobs in May by removing five Boeing 737 aircraft from service for at least 12 months.
Like key domestic rival Qantas Airways Ltd., Virgin Blue has been reducing capacity and jobs to save costs as passengers curb travel.
Mr. Godfrey said further cuts would require "taking out some flights," but didn't elaborate on which routes or flights may be affected.
Virgin Blue shares fell 5.1% to 28 Australian cents (U.S. 22 cents) Thursday, compared with a 1.1% fall in the wider market.
The airline, which began operations in August 2000, operates a fleet of Boeing 737 and Embraer jet aircraft on domestic and South Pacific routes across three separate airline brands, and in December commenced trans-Pacific services to the U.S. with its new long-haul international airline V Australia.
Mr. Godfrey, who co-founded the airline with the backing of Virgin Group chief Sir Richard Branson, also flagged that he may be considering leaving the group.
When asked about succession, Mr. Godfrey acknowledged that at 10 years next year, he's been with Virgin Blue for some time. "We are recruiting right now for a new chief commercial officer, who we would expect be a strong internal candidate for succession," he said.
Domestic cuts loom for Virgin Blue
Ross Kelly and Bill Lindsay | May 29, 2009
Article from: Dow Jones Newswires
VIRGIN Blue is looking at making further cuts to its domestic flying next financial year, chief executive Brett Godfrey revealed yesterday.
The airline's current plans to reduce the number of seats it flies next year by 2.4 per cent on an annualised basis, needs to be cut further as demand remains weak, Mr Godfrey told an investment conference in Sydney.
"So we are looking at further capacity cuts to take us somewhere around (negative) 5.5 per cent," he said.
Australia's second-largest airline, Virgin Blue this month cut 8 per cent of its domestic services and up to 400 jobs by removing five Boeing 737 aircraft from service for at least 12 months.
Like key domestic rival Qantas, Virgin Blue has been reducing capacity and jobs to save costs as passengers are curbing travel.
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Good to see BG give himself another 1.6 million options. Must have been to make up for the pay cut he took a while back. In the mean time CC and GS must work harder for less money. I wonder who else was eligable for the options? Could the rest of the paycut taking board been in line? What about the Senior Management Team?
These blokes at the top are a bit rich aren't they?
These blokes at the top are a bit rich aren't they?
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Heard they are looking at dropping a few more LA flights with the low fare competition etc.
Hope not as this means the recovery is way off.
When is the world cup and will this extended dowturn have an effect on starting or having the aircraft for JBourg.
Hope not as this means the recovery is way off.
When is the world cup and will this extended dowturn have an effect on starting or having the aircraft for JBourg.
From SMH today.
Interesting.
Virgin hit by US fare war
Matt O'Sullivan
June 3, 2009
VIRGIN BLUE'S long-haul carrier, V Australia, has scaled back some direct flights from Sydney to Los Angeles as competitors scramble amid falling demand on the Australia-US route.
In the latest sign of the extent of the difficulties on the trans-Pacific route, Virgin is doing its best to feed US-bound traffic from Sydney through the Queensland capital to boost passenger numbers on the thrice-weekly Brisbane-Los Angeles flights.
Just months after beginning daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles, passengers on some V Australia flights between the two countries are having to go via Brisbane on domestic aircraft. Its website shows that V Australia passengers leaving Sydney this morning will have to catch a flight to Brisbane, where they will later transfer to a Boeing 777 bound for Los Angeles.
Competition on the trans-Pacific route has been cut-throat between V Australia and the two incumbents, Qantas and United Airlines, for the past few months. Competition will heat up further when the world's largest carrier, Delta Air Lines, begins daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles.
It is unusual for a start-up carrier that has been advertising direct flights to resort to making some passengers take a stopover because it frustrates them, particularly corporate clients.
V Australia began services to the US in February - three months' later than originally planned - at the worst possible time. It has been using three Boeing 777s to fly daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles, and three times a week between Brisbane and Los Angeles.
It is still due to take delivery of a fourth 777 in the third quarter so it can begin flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles three times a week on September 15.
But it has deferred the delivery of two Boeing 777-300s for up to two years, which will delay plans to enter the Australia-South Africa market. The carrier had intended to begin services to Johannesburg in October after gaining approval last year for five flights a week.
Virgin has been redeploying aircraft from Australia to trans-Tasman and South Pacific routes in recent months as it reduces domestic capacity.
In another sign it is desperately searching for new routes, Virgin's offshoot, Pacific Blue, recently applied for regulatory approval to operate seven weekly services between Australia and Phuket in Thailand by next April using 180-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Macquarie Equities believes the competition on the trans-Pacific and the trans-Tasman routes is likely to prevent Virgin from posting a profit over the next 18 months. The broker says Delta's entry will mean it will take V Australia more than two years before it reaches break-even.
The trans-Pacific route has become a lossmaker for Qantas after having been one of its most lucrative international legs for years. It could lose 200 passengers a day when Delta begins daily flights between Sydney and Los Angeles.
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Matt O'Sullivan
June 3, 2009
VIRGIN BLUE'S long-haul carrier, V Australia, has scaled back some direct flights from Sydney to Los Angeles as competitors scramble amid falling demand on the Australia-US route.
In the latest sign of the extent of the difficulties on the trans-Pacific route, Virgin is doing its best to feed US-bound traffic from Sydney through the Queensland capital to boost passenger numbers on the thrice-weekly Brisbane-Los Angeles flights.
Just months after beginning daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles, passengers on some V Australia flights between the two countries are having to go via Brisbane on domestic aircraft. Its website shows that V Australia passengers leaving Sydney this morning will have to catch a flight to Brisbane, where they will later transfer to a Boeing 777 bound for Los Angeles.
Competition on the trans-Pacific route has been cut-throat between V Australia and the two incumbents, Qantas and United Airlines, for the past few months. Competition will heat up further when the world's largest carrier, Delta Air Lines, begins daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles.
It is unusual for a start-up carrier that has been advertising direct flights to resort to making some passengers take a stopover because it frustrates them, particularly corporate clients.
V Australia began services to the US in February - three months' later than originally planned - at the worst possible time. It has been using three Boeing 777s to fly daily services between Sydney and Los Angeles, and three times a week between Brisbane and Los Angeles.
It is still due to take delivery of a fourth 777 in the third quarter so it can begin flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles three times a week on September 15.
But it has deferred the delivery of two Boeing 777-300s for up to two years, which will delay plans to enter the Australia-South Africa market. The carrier had intended to begin services to Johannesburg in October after gaining approval last year for five flights a week.
Virgin has been redeploying aircraft from Australia to trans-Tasman and South Pacific routes in recent months as it reduces domestic capacity.
In another sign it is desperately searching for new routes, Virgin's offshoot, Pacific Blue, recently applied for regulatory approval to operate seven weekly services between Australia and Phuket in Thailand by next April using 180-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Macquarie Equities believes the competition on the trans-Pacific and the trans-Tasman routes is likely to prevent Virgin from posting a profit over the next 18 months. The broker says Delta's entry will mean it will take V Australia more than two years before it reaches break-even.
The trans-Pacific route has become a lossmaker for Qantas after having been one of its most lucrative international legs for years. It could lose 200 passengers a day when Delta begins daily flights between Sydney and Los Angeles.
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Compare & book cheap flights from Australian airlines at Webjet.
Cheap Flights, Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar - Cheap Flights & Airfares - Compare Flights at Webjet - Webjet.com.au
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Virgin Blue May Start Tokyo-Sydney Flights Within 18 Months
By Chris Cooper Bloomberg.com
June 2 (Bloomberg) -- Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd., Australia’s second-biggest airline, may start flights between Sydney and Tokyo within 18 months in anticipation of a rebound in international travel demand.
The carrier would use Tokyo’s Haneda airport, Richard Branson, the billionaire who owns about 25 percent of the carrier, said in an interview today in Tokyo. The new route would be dependent on government approval.
Haneda will open a fourth runway next year and plans to allow 60,000 overseas flights a year, including late-night and early-morning landings. The airport, Asia’s busiest, is closer to central Tokyo and handles mainly domestic flights now, while the airport at Narita is the nation’s largest international gateway.
“We’re thinking seriously about it,” Branson said at a press conference. “The late flights into Haneda would work well.”
Business travel, which traditionally accounts for about 40 percent of sales at international carriers in the Asia-Pacific region, has fallen as businesses slash costs to cope with the global recession.
The slide in global passenger traffic slowed for the first time in seven months in April falling 3.1 percent from a year earlier, compared with an 11 percent drop in March, according to the International Air Transport Association.
“This year will likely be the worst year in the history of aviation,” Branson told reporters today after announcing his Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. will start code-sharing with All Nippon Airways Co. on Tokyo-London services in August. “Virgin Atlantic is prepared for what is going to be a very difficult year for all airlines.”
By Chris Cooper Bloomberg.com
June 2 (Bloomberg) -- Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd., Australia’s second-biggest airline, may start flights between Sydney and Tokyo within 18 months in anticipation of a rebound in international travel demand.
The carrier would use Tokyo’s Haneda airport, Richard Branson, the billionaire who owns about 25 percent of the carrier, said in an interview today in Tokyo. The new route would be dependent on government approval.
Haneda will open a fourth runway next year and plans to allow 60,000 overseas flights a year, including late-night and early-morning landings. The airport, Asia’s busiest, is closer to central Tokyo and handles mainly domestic flights now, while the airport at Narita is the nation’s largest international gateway.
“We’re thinking seriously about it,” Branson said at a press conference. “The late flights into Haneda would work well.”
Business travel, which traditionally accounts for about 40 percent of sales at international carriers in the Asia-Pacific region, has fallen as businesses slash costs to cope with the global recession.
The slide in global passenger traffic slowed for the first time in seven months in April falling 3.1 percent from a year earlier, compared with an 11 percent drop in March, according to the International Air Transport Association.
“This year will likely be the worst year in the history of aviation,” Branson told reporters today after announcing his Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. will start code-sharing with All Nippon Airways Co. on Tokyo-London services in August. “Virgin Atlantic is prepared for what is going to be a very difficult year for all airlines.”
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Also
Hamilton as well 
Pacific Blue expected to fly out of Hamilton and BOP | BUSINESS News
Air New Zealand rival Pacific Blue is expected to announce details on Wednesday about the introduction of services from Hamilton Airport.
The Christchurch-based company, a subsidiary of Virgin Blue, has been operating Boeing 737 services at the country's four main airports for 18 months but has hinted at plans to increase its services.
Last month it took a 104-seat Embraer 190 E-Jet on a tour of the country's regional airports.
General manager Adrian Hamilton-Manns said the aircraft had been used by Virgin Blue on domestic Australian routes and could be ideal for international regional routes or New Zealand domestic operations.
The company is understood to have been in talks with regional airports including Hamilton, Palmerston North and Rotorua.
A spokesman declined to give details of Wednesday's announcement but said it would be good news for air commuters in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.
Hamilton-Manns last month said regional fares had been uncompetitive in the past as there was only one player, Air New Zealand and its subsidiaries.
Air New Zealand rival Pacific Blue is expected to announce details on Wednesday about the introduction of services from Hamilton Airport.
The Christchurch-based company, a subsidiary of Virgin Blue, has been operating Boeing 737 services at the country's four main airports for 18 months but has hinted at plans to increase its services.
Last month it took a 104-seat Embraer 190 E-Jet on a tour of the country's regional airports.
General manager Adrian Hamilton-Manns said the aircraft had been used by Virgin Blue on domestic Australian routes and could be ideal for international regional routes or New Zealand domestic operations.
The company is understood to have been in talks with regional airports including Hamilton, Palmerston North and Rotorua.
A spokesman declined to give details of Wednesday's announcement but said it would be good news for air commuters in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.
Hamilton-Manns last month said regional fares had been uncompetitive in the past as there was only one player, Air New Zealand and its subsidiaries.
not happy jane
So...
Is the Hamilton service going to be VB or PB crew? (I know it will be PB branded)
And E190 or 737?
If PB crew and E190 there will be a lot of work to get crew trained and the type on the NZ AOC by September, so I expect Aus based crew, but could still be either type.
Looks like the 30 hr layover that the Aus based crew enjoy in Wlg (and one per week 54 hour!) but what do you do on a Hamilton overnight?? Can't wait for one of the crew to pack for Hamilton Island and wind up in Hamilton NZ.
Is the Hamilton service going to be VB or PB crew? (I know it will be PB branded)
And E190 or 737?
If PB crew and E190 there will be a lot of work to get crew trained and the type on the NZ AOC by September, so I expect Aus based crew, but could still be either type.
Looks like the 30 hr layover that the Aus based crew enjoy in Wlg (and one per week 54 hour!) but what do you do on a Hamilton overnight?? Can't wait for one of the crew to pack for Hamilton Island and wind up in Hamilton NZ.
VA - A major concern
VA is becoming a major concern. It's no secret that VA is losing buckets of cash... VA simply cannot compete against the QF/AA alliance and to a lesser extent the UA network. It's all fine attracting the infrequent holiday passenger but VA has failed to attract the frequent flyer (no USA citizen FF program is a major concern) or the buisness traveller. We all know loads are poor and revenue is way off anticipations. The downturn is only part of the problem.
I would hate VA to be DJ's undoing.
I would hate VA to be DJ's undoing.
SYD-LAX routes
Theres no comparison UA Versus QF. QF wins hands down. VA is better than UA but QF still wins
VA suffers from an inferior FF program and no FF for US citizens - a major issue for regular pax. As a paying discount Y pax I recive .25 points for VA and .7 from QF. VA's FA are relatively fresh but do not have that air of professionalism that QF staff have - they have not quite learnt the fine details that sets QF apart (ie disturbing sleeping pax and keeping noise levels down). I am sorry to say but QF's seats are infinitely more comfortable. The VA catering is very poor. Some of the meals I tried were cheap and nasty. VA's Y class baggage limit of 32kg is worse that QF's 46kg. Connections at LAX are painful with VA has there is very limited alliance or effective interlining for connecting flights. Its the little things with QF - a better ammenity kit, ice-creams, fruit, decent sized pillows, etc.
Sorry but when I paying for a flight I will not fly VA. I have tried it several times and the hype just doesn't match the service.
Now, for those that remember AN intenational, that was a quality experienced service from the word go. VA is a different animal.
Why VA is a worry - fare levels in the real world are clsoe to that of QF. The only way they can attract pax is with hevay discounting. It's too late to relaunch with and upgraded service.
It's sad. I expected something great
Theres no comparison UA Versus QF. QF wins hands down. VA is better than UA but QF still wins
VA suffers from an inferior FF program and no FF for US citizens - a major issue for regular pax. As a paying discount Y pax I recive .25 points for VA and .7 from QF. VA's FA are relatively fresh but do not have that air of professionalism that QF staff have - they have not quite learnt the fine details that sets QF apart (ie disturbing sleeping pax and keeping noise levels down). I am sorry to say but QF's seats are infinitely more comfortable. The VA catering is very poor. Some of the meals I tried were cheap and nasty. VA's Y class baggage limit of 32kg is worse that QF's 46kg. Connections at LAX are painful with VA has there is very limited alliance or effective interlining for connecting flights. Its the little things with QF - a better ammenity kit, ice-creams, fruit, decent sized pillows, etc.
Sorry but when I paying for a flight I will not fly VA. I have tried it several times and the hype just doesn't match the service.
Now, for those that remember AN intenational, that was a quality experienced service from the word go. VA is a different animal.
Why VA is a worry - fare levels in the real world are clsoe to that of QF. The only way they can attract pax is with hevay discounting. It's too late to relaunch with and upgraded service.
It's sad. I expected something great
Crew rest - I have a huge number of VBA (DJ) shares. I would like nothing more than to see VA success.
This nonsense about an aggressive Virgin group is exactly that. They are hurting more than QF at the moment. I cant see anybody going UA or QF unless its a corporate deal or for superior connections into the other US cities. Both QF and UA have similar aged 744 equipment.
I will ad that having Delta hit the market is going to cause an even great blood bath
This nonsense about an aggressive Virgin group is exactly that. They are hurting more than QF at the moment. I cant see anybody going UA or QF unless its a corporate deal or for superior connections into the other US cities. Both QF and UA have similar aged 744 equipment.
I will ad that having Delta hit the market is going to cause an even great blood bath