Red Airbus Jets for Virgin Blue's 10 year fleet plan
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Virgin Blue is to buy 30 to 50 new 737s worth $3-4bn, Brett Godfrey told the National Aviation Press Club today. Look out for a single brand for the 4 airlines of the VB Group in a few years, Godfrey said
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Look out for a single brand for the 4 airlines of the VB Group in a few years, Godfrey said
Or was he referring to aligning all the airlines under the one brand name, i.e V Australia and making them all full service?? If so, this could be the first hint of what we've been wanting for years - more full service competition on domestic routes!
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He could mean both!!
It wouldn't be the dumbest move of all time to go all Airbus and copy Virgin America's product. Given all the government contracts are up for grabs having an aircraft with business class and wi fi etc etc might be a winner. Assuming that we have the technology to do that in Australia.
All that needs to be done then is to pay Virgin America salaries, have three cabin crew and you'll have an unbeatable airline.
It wouldn't be the dumbest move of all time to go all Airbus and copy Virgin America's product. Given all the government contracts are up for grabs having an aircraft with business class and wi fi etc etc might be a winner. Assuming that we have the technology to do that in Australia.
All that needs to be done then is to pay Virgin America salaries, have three cabin crew and you'll have an unbeatable airline.
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DJCCGUY dont think VB will be getting rid of the Embraers anytime soon as they havent finished taking delivery of them yet and have just signed a massive contract for John Holland in MEL to take over maintenence of them for the next 10 years.
As for all Airbus, hmmmm is it worth all the headaches a new aircraft type would bring???
As for all Airbus, hmmmm is it worth all the headaches a new aircraft type would bring???
Sounds like Virgin are going Boeing.
Virgin in talks to buy $4b planes
Virgin in talks to buy $4b planes
Virgin in talks to buy $4b planes
September 17, 2009
VIRGIN BLUE is in talks with US manufacturer Boeing about buying up to $4 billion of new aircraft to replace a large portion of its 65-strong 737 domestic fleet.
Australia's second-largest airline also said yesterday that it was yet to see significant signs of improvement in demand for travel despite the global economy stabilising.
Virgin's chief executive, Brett Godfrey, said the past year had been the most difficult since World War II as airlines were hit by a triple whammy of high oil prices, the global financial crisis and swine flu.
''The last 12 months … have been the most taxing, the most complex, the most challenging, the most vexing and quite frankly the most unexpected,'' he said.
Mr Godfrey said one of the bigger risks for airlines over the next year would be speculators pushing up the price of oil, at the same time as demand for travel remained stagnant.
However, Virgin plans to take advantage of manufacturers' greater willingness to sell aircraft at lower prices after airlines cancelled orders due to the severe downturn.
Mr Godfrey said Virgin was in discussions with Boeing about buying 30 to 50 single-aisle aircraft, which would be needed from 2011 onwards to replace 737s it had leased.
''Now is the best time to do a deal,'' he said. ''We are in the market because the market is right and we don't want to miss the opportunity.''
Despite the higher cost of finance since late last year, Mr Godfrey rejected suggestions the airline would face difficulties raising the capital to buy new 737s.
''We have got a good balance sheet now [following a capital raising]. The markets are coming back and I don't believe we will have an issue with financing them,'' he said.
Virgin is not in talks with Airbus about buying new aircraft.
Virgin's long-haul carrier, V Australia, underlined the tough competition facing airlines after posting last month a pre-tax loss of $124 million in its first four months of operations.
''It has been an awful few months for it but commercially the worst has to be behind it,'' Mr Godfrey said of V Australia. ''I am not sure we will see massive improvement. But we have certainly seen a levelling out. V Australia's utilisation is up, its loads are improving and as night follows day yields will also follow loads.''
Virgin reiterated that it expects to break even this financial year.
Shares in Virgin rose 2c to 38.5c yesterday.
September 17, 2009
VIRGIN BLUE is in talks with US manufacturer Boeing about buying up to $4 billion of new aircraft to replace a large portion of its 65-strong 737 domestic fleet.
Australia's second-largest airline also said yesterday that it was yet to see significant signs of improvement in demand for travel despite the global economy stabilising.
Virgin's chief executive, Brett Godfrey, said the past year had been the most difficult since World War II as airlines were hit by a triple whammy of high oil prices, the global financial crisis and swine flu.
''The last 12 months … have been the most taxing, the most complex, the most challenging, the most vexing and quite frankly the most unexpected,'' he said.
Mr Godfrey said one of the bigger risks for airlines over the next year would be speculators pushing up the price of oil, at the same time as demand for travel remained stagnant.
However, Virgin plans to take advantage of manufacturers' greater willingness to sell aircraft at lower prices after airlines cancelled orders due to the severe downturn.
Mr Godfrey said Virgin was in discussions with Boeing about buying 30 to 50 single-aisle aircraft, which would be needed from 2011 onwards to replace 737s it had leased.
''Now is the best time to do a deal,'' he said. ''We are in the market because the market is right and we don't want to miss the opportunity.''
Despite the higher cost of finance since late last year, Mr Godfrey rejected suggestions the airline would face difficulties raising the capital to buy new 737s.
''We have got a good balance sheet now [following a capital raising]. The markets are coming back and I don't believe we will have an issue with financing them,'' he said.
Virgin is not in talks with Airbus about buying new aircraft.
Virgin's long-haul carrier, V Australia, underlined the tough competition facing airlines after posting last month a pre-tax loss of $124 million in its first four months of operations.
''It has been an awful few months for it but commercially the worst has to be behind it,'' Mr Godfrey said of V Australia. ''I am not sure we will see massive improvement. But we have certainly seen a levelling out. V Australia's utilisation is up, its loads are improving and as night follows day yields will also follow loads.''
Virgin reiterated that it expects to break even this financial year.
Shares in Virgin rose 2c to 38.5c yesterday.
A different story here it seems, giving weight to the theory that they are just trying to get the best possible deal........
Virgin Blue in talks for 30-50 Boeing planes-paper | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters
Virgin Blue in talks for 30-50 Boeing planes-paper | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters
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Mr Godfrey said Virgin was in discussions with Boeing about buying 30 to 50 single-aisle aircraft
If the 787 even gets off the ground and Virgin get into that their fleet will be the envy of Qantas!
738-9/788-9/777ER
Would you like some sauce on that Kangeroo pie?
I'd love nothing more than to see a rat on a 777
738-9/788-9/777ER
Would you like some sauce on that Kangeroo pie?
I'd love nothing more than to see a rat on a 777
737-900 is a nightmare to load and unload due to single isle. 800s take long enough as is.
From an OH&S How Virgin and J* get away with loading from both front and back when there is an aero bridge available is beyond me. No high vis vest, no earplugs/muffs, I understand when aero bridges are not available.
From an OH&S How Virgin and J* get away with loading from both front and back when there is an aero bridge available is beyond me. No high vis vest, no earplugs/muffs, I understand when aero bridges are not available.
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I am sure 737-900's will be ordered as Sydney is a problem with gates and slots and particularly more so now, as Tiger has been grabbing them whilst the big 2 reduce flights into Sydney.The larger aircraft the better .
Cheers.
Cheers.
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Capt_SNAFU are you kidding me, I remember back in the day when I used to fly with AN anf QF out of ADL and used to walk under the wing to get to the rear door no marshaller on tarmac wasnt roped off, there is no issue with the proceedure of people boarding via the rear door at major ports, allowed us to turn and aircraft in 19mins and make curfew in SYD on Sunday night.
Capt_SNAFU. By your comments I assume you have never 'seen' a 235 seat B757-200 in action, let alone a 280 seat Thomas Cook B757-300.
Last edited by B772; 17th Sep 2009 at 11:18. Reason: .
You would think that given the history of airlines in this country that people might have learnt their lesson by now. Why would anyone want to start a airline here with a view to make money? The market just doesn't support it.
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Strategic are actually operating RPT on the Perth - Derby route. I am sure they are weighing up their options as they offer full J class seating as well as Y Class and they seem to be focused on service.
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Unfortunately this doesn't seem like a move towards full service, or anything close to it! 
Less room in Virgin's new 'cattle-class'
By Steve Creedy
The Australian
September 18, 2009 08:47am
VIRGIN Blue travellers may find flying in the back of the plane more of a knee-crunching experience if a proposal for a virtual low-cost airline goes ahead.
Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said an "airline of the future" project under way at the group included the possibility that aircraft cabins could be split into two, reports The Australian.
This would see premium and "classic" economy seats before the exit rows and low-cost seating with a reduced seat pitch at the back of the aircraft.
Responding to a question about the status of the airline's shelved proposal for an ultra-low-cost carrier, Mr Godfrey said pitch at Virgin Blue was as good as at Qantas but the airline never received recognition for it.
He said one of the ideas Virgin Blue was considering was putting in extra seats after the emergency exit.
Premium economy and "classic" economy seating before the exit row would give the airline a low-cost or "virtual" third class at the plane.
"So we're looking at that as a possibility," Mr Godfrey told a National Aviation Press Club lunch in Sydney.
"Just by putting an extra row of seats in the back lowers our costs overnight by 3 per cent, so that's a good start."
The Virgin investigation into aircraft configurations comes as Qantas is also considering changing the mix of premium and economy cabins as it grapples with how first class and business class demand will look in the wake of the financial crisis.
Mr Godfrey indicated that the proposal to start a separate low-cost carrier was now highly unlikely to proceed.
"I would much rather have one airline that flies 10 flights a day that services both segments of the market than trying to differentiate and pretend that some markets are purely leisure and some markets are purely business," he said.
The Virgin boss also revealed that the airline had decided to extend premium economy seating across its network after a successful trial with Pacific Blue.
Less room in Virgin's new 'cattle-class'
By Steve Creedy
The Australian
September 18, 2009 08:47am
VIRGIN Blue travellers may find flying in the back of the plane more of a knee-crunching experience if a proposal for a virtual low-cost airline goes ahead.
Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said an "airline of the future" project under way at the group included the possibility that aircraft cabins could be split into two, reports The Australian.
This would see premium and "classic" economy seats before the exit rows and low-cost seating with a reduced seat pitch at the back of the aircraft.
Responding to a question about the status of the airline's shelved proposal for an ultra-low-cost carrier, Mr Godfrey said pitch at Virgin Blue was as good as at Qantas but the airline never received recognition for it.
He said one of the ideas Virgin Blue was considering was putting in extra seats after the emergency exit.
Premium economy and "classic" economy seating before the exit row would give the airline a low-cost or "virtual" third class at the plane.
"So we're looking at that as a possibility," Mr Godfrey told a National Aviation Press Club lunch in Sydney.
"Just by putting an extra row of seats in the back lowers our costs overnight by 3 per cent, so that's a good start."
The Virgin investigation into aircraft configurations comes as Qantas is also considering changing the mix of premium and economy cabins as it grapples with how first class and business class demand will look in the wake of the financial crisis.
Mr Godfrey indicated that the proposal to start a separate low-cost carrier was now highly unlikely to proceed.
"I would much rather have one airline that flies 10 flights a day that services both segments of the market than trying to differentiate and pretend that some markets are purely leisure and some markets are purely business," he said.
The Virgin boss also revealed that the airline had decided to extend premium economy seating across its network after a successful trial with Pacific Blue.
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The proposed revision of seating on DJ along with a realignment of the brands out of the pure LCC of Pac Blue reminds me of AirNZ journey where Freedomair was dropped and the narrow body aircraft have seen extra rows added in the rear dropping seat pitch to 30 inch while introducing space plus in the front.
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"I would much rather have one airline that flies 10 flights a day that services both segments of the market than trying to differentiate and pretend that some markets are purely leisure and some markets are purely business," he said.
I am sure all those premium pax to those "leisure" destinations would prefer the choice! How much has that cost the QF group?
