Virgin Blue gets the Cocos & Christmas Is. routes

[7378FE]

NEW AIRLINE SERVICE TO CHRISTMAS AND COCOS KEELING ISLANDS

23 December 2009
The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, has announced a new service provider to conduct regular flights between Perth and Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands.
Virgin Blue will commence services from Thursday 1 April 2010 with twice weekly flights to Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island and an additional third weekly flight to Christmas Island only which will be reassessed after six months, subject to demand.
Virgin will be flying a modern Embraer E190 aircraft which will provide increased passenger and freight capacity. The contract will result in better passenger fares and direct and faster flights which will reduce the overall flying time to and from the mainland.
“I am pleased that Australia’s second largest airline will provide air services to these remote communities, and excited by the potential tourism benefits that this contract could bring to the Island’s economy,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The Australian Government will continue to underwrite these services to ensure that it meets its community service obligations by maintaining a link between the mainland and the Islands.”
Mr O’Connor thanked the existing provider Cobham Aviation for its service to the Islands over the past decade.

This was predicted some months ago on Pprune. (can't find the post atm)

7378FE

[airtags]

good to see - just hope DJ puts on the additional CC member. Doing that long overwater flight with just 3 CC crew is not ideal.

Take it the duty will be a return?

[neville_nobody]

Why? If that's what the aircraft is designed for what's the problem?

[drop bear ten]

Best wishes for the contract-just make sure you have a spare engine at XMX for the birdstrikes.

[NOT WITHSTANDING]

Airtags, have heard there isn't much accomodation available on Christmas no matter how you get there!

[ozangel]

The E190 only has 3 cabin crew seats - crewing them with 3 never really was an issue.

4 crew on the 800 however - that needs to be 5.

[sleeve of wizard]

I'm interested how they will plan these flights, will it be direct if so what ETOPS does vb have for the ejet? what will be used as etops pairs? will they be planning to use isolated reserves or use Jakarta as an alternate?

[Dehavillanddriver]

The E190 in VB config has 4 cabin crew seats

[Windshear]

G.T. got it wrong, Lorenzo got it wrong who can you trust for a good solid rumour ! Merry Xmas Windy

[Monopole]

sleeve of wizard,

I dont know the E-Jet, but I would hazard a guess and say they would likely go over Canarvon before heading over to Christmas. Holding CAR then PLM before being in range of CHX.

[Maxum2400]

Great news for me 13 hours duty and the wiz wheel out for most of it. Hope it works for VB but I will doubt it. Not much return even with the $$$ subsidy.

[Dog One]

Required to carry mainland alternate, which means Jakarta and usually plus 60 as well.

[mates rates]

VB now have EDTO approval for the EJ190 as they are running it accross the Tasman.Don't know about the range of the aircraft though !!

[3 Holer]

Great news for me 13 hours duty and the wiz wheel out for most of it.

Must have been doing it in a Bae146.

[littlehurcules]

VB now have EDTO approval for the EJ190 as they are running it accross the Tasman

REALLY ??

What runs are the E190 doing across the ditch ??

How did they get around the APU for the EDTO..

Would like to know your sources - as i only thought the 737 was running across the ditch .....

I hope you are not talking about tassie as in "across the tasman"

[NAMD]

Incorrect information.

The only ditch they're crossing is the one inbetween Tassie and the big island north of it.

[nig&nog]

As far as I am aware the e-jet comes out of the factory with 90 mins. VB are only use 60 mins at moment but may wish to fill out the paper work and get the extra time. The e-jet any way you look at it is going to be better than the RJ with a tech stop.

[VBA Engineer]

E190 is out of the factory with 120 minutes: Skycontrol.net: Embraer 190 Jet receives 120-minute ETOPS approval: Aircraft is the first in the world to meet the new FAA certification requirements

VB have no EDTO approval for the E-jets yet, only the 737NG at the moment.

[Icarus2001]

Can the E-Jet do Perth-Cocos direct (around 1600nm) with the winter westerlies?

[Gunger]

Can the E-Jet do Perth-Cocos direct (around 1600nm) with the winter westerlies?

Easily. The range of the model of E190 VB operate is the 190IGW - 100AR. Despite what most people think, the range is quoted as being 2402nm with reserves.