Pac Blue pulls out of NZ Domestic OPS
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Pac Blue pulls out of NZ Domestic OPS
Pacific Blue is to exit its New Zealand domestic operations as part of a wider review of its network.
The airline will also boost trans-Tasman services and generally increase its Australian services to South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Virgin Blue Group of Airlines chief executive John Borghetti said the ongoing network review was aimed at delivering increased competition and capturing growth opportunities.
"As we enter a new era for Virgin Blue it is vital that we have the right aircraft on the right routes if we are to fully exploit our competitive advantages in the context of the Group's three core business: domestic short haul, international medium haul and international long haul.
"We are adding capacity to routes with strong revenue potential and accordingly, removing capacity from services which are underperforming," he said.
Pacific Blue will cease flying New Zealand domestic routes and redeploy two Boeing 737-800 New Zealand-based aircraft on to trans-Tasman and medium haul international routes. These aircraft have 180 seats.
The New Zealand domestic network includes Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Auckland with 106 flights a week, including twice daily services from Christchurch to Wellington and Christchurch to Auckland.
"Guests holding forward bookings on New Zealand domestic routes from 18 October onward will be provided with re-accommodation and refund options,'' Borghetti said.
Growing capacity on trans-Tasman routes was a positive step that would see an increase in New Zealand-based staff, he said.
Pacific Blue currently employs around 450 New Zealanders at crew bases in Christchurch and Auckland and its head office in Christchurch and the increase in international flying means up to 100 new jobs would be created.
Virgin Blue is the 100 per cent owner of Pacific Blue, and in turn is owned by major shareholder of Virgin Group, co-founder CEO Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue staff and other shareholders. Founder Richard Branson is president of Virgin Blue.
Separately, Pacific Blue and national airline Air New Zealand have proposed an alliance on trans- Tasman services. Both airlines operate on the Tasman and have applied to regulators to combine their networks to better compete against Qantas and Jetstar.
Key route and frequency changes:
* From September 17 Dunedin to Brisbane services will increase from three to four flights a week
* From October 31 Christchurch to Melbourne will increase from four flights per week to a daily service.
The airline will also boost trans-Tasman services and generally increase its Australian services to South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Virgin Blue Group of Airlines chief executive John Borghetti said the ongoing network review was aimed at delivering increased competition and capturing growth opportunities.
"As we enter a new era for Virgin Blue it is vital that we have the right aircraft on the right routes if we are to fully exploit our competitive advantages in the context of the Group's three core business: domestic short haul, international medium haul and international long haul.
"We are adding capacity to routes with strong revenue potential and accordingly, removing capacity from services which are underperforming," he said.
Pacific Blue will cease flying New Zealand domestic routes and redeploy two Boeing 737-800 New Zealand-based aircraft on to trans-Tasman and medium haul international routes. These aircraft have 180 seats.
The New Zealand domestic network includes Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Auckland with 106 flights a week, including twice daily services from Christchurch to Wellington and Christchurch to Auckland.
"Guests holding forward bookings on New Zealand domestic routes from 18 October onward will be provided with re-accommodation and refund options,'' Borghetti said.
Growing capacity on trans-Tasman routes was a positive step that would see an increase in New Zealand-based staff, he said.
Pacific Blue currently employs around 450 New Zealanders at crew bases in Christchurch and Auckland and its head office in Christchurch and the increase in international flying means up to 100 new jobs would be created.
Virgin Blue is the 100 per cent owner of Pacific Blue, and in turn is owned by major shareholder of Virgin Group, co-founder CEO Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue staff and other shareholders. Founder Richard Branson is president of Virgin Blue.
Separately, Pacific Blue and national airline Air New Zealand have proposed an alliance on trans- Tasman services. Both airlines operate on the Tasman and have applied to regulators to combine their networks to better compete against Qantas and Jetstar.
Key route and frequency changes:
* From September 17 Dunedin to Brisbane services will increase from three to four flights a week
* From October 31 Christchurch to Melbourne will increase from four flights per week to a daily service.
Well there it is. No suprise I guess but it looks like the only intl flying done by VB crew from early next year will be PER-HKT. But wait there's some great new opportunities that will excite us all apparently. I'll go and get my vaseline now to be ready.
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Air New Zealand has just issued a press release saying it will carry "disrupted Pacific Blue passengers".
"Pacific Blue contacted us this morning to see if we could carry their disrupted passengers," said Air NZ group general manager for Australasia Bruce Parton.
"We have confirmed that we're able to re-accommodate their customers and understand Pacific Blue will soon contact passengers to discuss their options."
Passengers will be able to be rebooked onto Air New Zealand services as close to their currently booked departure time as possible.
"Pacific Blue contacted us this morning to see if we could carry their disrupted passengers," said Air NZ group general manager for Australasia Bruce Parton.
"We have confirmed that we're able to re-accommodate their customers and understand Pacific Blue will soon contact passengers to discuss their options."
Passengers will be able to be rebooked onto Air New Zealand services as close to their currently booked departure time as possible.
I guess another sign of VB/NZ's ever closer relationship. A domestic codeshare is looking very likely now IMO.
Thread Starter
Virgin Blue's chief executive, John Borghetti, said there was no end in sight to Pacific Blue losing money in New Zealand because three airlines were competing for travellers in a country of just 4 million people. Mr Borghetti declined to reveal the accumulated losses from its New Zealand-based operations but said they had been in the tens of millions of dollars since it began there about three years ago.
"The prospects of it turning a profit are not good so there really is no point continuing," he told BusinessDay.
"The prospects of it turning a profit are not good so there really is no point continuing," he told BusinessDay.
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Make no mistake. This IS the start of VB's own jetstar. PB crew will now fly from NZ bases through to Australia and then operate ALL the flying from Australia to Asia and Pacific Is. Add to that he has said Pacific Blue will expand to a Medium haul airline into further asia ports. Big test for what the VB pilots will do now. Lets just hope they don't get enough crew to do it on those atrocious conditions. But I am probably wishfully thinking on that last point 
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Sleuth,
You are correct, VB's Jetstar has arrived. And looks like they will do the Domestic wide body too. The car salesman has arrived, did not take long to stamp the QF style of management upon the VB group. I wonder if in two years the Board will try and sell the company to a Private Equity firm for a $100m bonus?
United we stand, divided we fall? Go the Sydney AIPA/AFAP/VIPA meeting, its time to band together and be counted!
You are correct, VB's Jetstar has arrived. And looks like they will do the Domestic wide body too. The car salesman has arrived, did not take long to stamp the QF style of management upon the VB group. I wonder if in two years the Board will try and sell the company to a Private Equity firm for a $100m bonus?
United we stand, divided we fall? Go the Sydney AIPA/AFAP/VIPA meeting, its time to band together and be counted!
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Coming home to roost
Seems like the proof is certainly in the pudding in regard to the inept management that DJ has accumulated over the years ! Some have gone yet many remain, but my oh my what a fabulous job they have done.
As for VB becoming another JQ, well if they don't start modelling themselves upon the JQ/Tiger model then the future won't be bright and they will slip further into debt. DJ`s cost base simply cannot compete with the current JQ/Tiger structure.Simple as that.The Rat is losing money hand over the fist, and its latest profit release (for those who have read through the spin and BS) is an absolute disgrace when you look at actual earnings. The industry is bleeding heavily, and only the lean will survive, that is fact not fiction. Sad days indeed.
As for VB becoming another JQ, well if they don't start modelling themselves upon the JQ/Tiger model then the future won't be bright and they will slip further into debt. DJ`s cost base simply cannot compete with the current JQ/Tiger structure.Simple as that.The Rat is losing money hand over the fist, and its latest profit release (for those who have read through the spin and BS) is an absolute disgrace when you look at actual earnings. The industry is bleeding heavily, and only the lean will survive, that is fact not fiction. Sad days indeed.
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This is a copy from the Meeting thread;
Announced today, 12 upcoming VB Commands cancelled due to PB taking over VB flying. Also announced, PB advertising for 737 Capts!!
The routes being taken over have nothing to to do flights out of NZ where PB should belong. They are all flights originating in Aus, and DPS is not even on PB's AOC.
This is costing Australian jobs, as intake courses have been cancelled as well.
Announced today, 12 upcoming VB Commands cancelled due to PB taking over VB flying. Also announced, PB advertising for 737 Capts!!
The routes being taken over have nothing to to do flights out of NZ where PB should belong. They are all flights originating in Aus, and DPS is not even on PB's AOC.
This is costing Australian jobs, as intake courses have been cancelled as well.
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This may be true, however the salaries and conditions will degrade to a point where the travelling public may want to travel from SYD to MEL for $20, but it wont be me up the front taking them there, I will leave that to the Pilot who wants to work for peanuts and work under conditions akin to a forklift driver (no disrespect to forklift drivers). Truck master, anyone got the number for truck master!
.
Obviously Australians are too expensive to employ as VB management have stated:
"PB pilots are about 25% less expensive than VB pilots".
This was in a recent memo to all Pilots.
Gotta love em, bless their little cotton calculators.
.
Obviously Australians are too expensive to employ as VB management have stated:
"PB pilots are about 25% less expensive than VB pilots".
This was in a recent memo to all Pilots.
Gotta love em, bless their little cotton calculators.
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MANAGEMENT HAVE DECLARED WAR!!!!!!!
You mean MANAGEMENT HAVE DECLARED GREED !
Besides,those who reside within Ergonomic Central have not earned the right to be called 'Management',more like grubs or parasites......
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Cactus, I was just editing my post when I realised that I'm so dis-engaged right now I couldn't be bothered even posting. Suffice to say I agree with your post. Competition dictates that we now have to compete to some degree at the basement conditions enjoyed at Jokestar and Tiger. All that remains now is to turn up in Sydney on the 23rd and do something about the future, as opposed to bickering about the past or present.
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Top of drop
Biton,
A personal opinion of mine, generically speaking is that one should avoid contributing positively to OTP figures. Management claim OTP to be a competition tool, when in fact OTP is a bonus tool ( only for those who sit atop the gravy train). It is very easy to stretch out a turnaround and even the most miniscule reason for the smallest of delays should be accepted as an excellent opportunity and be greeted with pride and enthusiasm and embraced heartily.
After many years of being rogered in this industry I now take pride in doing all I can within my power to contribute toward an executive manager not receiving a bonus. One only has to do some research to discover that denying a request to extend a shift, uplifting incorrectly tagged destination bags (ramps favourite trick, thanks lads), burning a little excess fuel (just enough to so that Ops don't notice yet just enough to bring yourself some secret personal satisfaction), damaging a uniform, a sick day so one can enjoy some surf down at Cooly, telling passengers there is no alcohol left onboard while the carts stay full and the list goes on , can be highly rewarding for ones self esteem, and really its the little things in life that bring us pleasure !!
Of course management will tell you that such antics are frowned upon, could hurt the airlines bottom line, even put jobs at risk, but to that I say bulls&#t -it is the pathetic grubs in senior roles who have turned many a good airline into their own personal cash cow then deserted the ship when the airline turns into complete crap and it starts its decent into 'airline recession'. It is very true however that there is more than one way to skin a cat. I suggest to all and sundry that you do your research, examine exactly where and how your superiors top up their non justified executive salary (normally by way of a number of built-in bonus scams) and simply hit them where it hurts - their grubby fat pockets. Revenge can be sweeter than honey and you dont have to break the law !
And in other news, we now have "live OTP" at VB. We can now see a real time indicator of our OTP. You know how airlines love to use OTP as a key competition tool. Guess how many guys give a shi# about OTP right about now
After many years of being rogered in this industry I now take pride in doing all I can within my power to contribute toward an executive manager not receiving a bonus. One only has to do some research to discover that denying a request to extend a shift, uplifting incorrectly tagged destination bags (ramps favourite trick, thanks lads), burning a little excess fuel (just enough to so that Ops don't notice yet just enough to bring yourself some secret personal satisfaction), damaging a uniform, a sick day so one can enjoy some surf down at Cooly, telling passengers there is no alcohol left onboard while the carts stay full and the list goes on , can be highly rewarding for ones self esteem, and really its the little things in life that bring us pleasure !!
Of course management will tell you that such antics are frowned upon, could hurt the airlines bottom line, even put jobs at risk, but to that I say bulls&#t -it is the pathetic grubs in senior roles who have turned many a good airline into their own personal cash cow then deserted the ship when the airline turns into complete crap and it starts its decent into 'airline recession'. It is very true however that there is more than one way to skin a cat. I suggest to all and sundry that you do your research, examine exactly where and how your superiors top up their non justified executive salary (normally by way of a number of built-in bonus scams) and simply hit them where it hurts - their grubby fat pockets. Revenge can be sweeter than honey and you dont have to break the law !
Last edited by Cactusjack; 16th Aug 2010 at 12:50.
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I think a lot of people are jumping the gun...this is just 'phase one' of the restructure people. Give it some time for all the other avenues to be addressed. How long has he been in the job? 2 months?....Commands weren't cancelled, just pushed back. 49 new commands in 6 months after xmas and I'm tipping more aircraft arriving after that. 490,000 extra seats or something over a year. I don't see this is as bad news yet...
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Announced today, 12 upcoming VB Commands cancelled due to PB taking over VB flying. Also announced, PB advertising for 737 Capts!!
PB needed two.
Cactus
Right on the goddamn money, so to speak.
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Shredder, you don't play chess, do you? What happens here is that the company throws you an empty promise, an arbitrary number if you will, and diverts your attention from the fact that this is all about OFFSHORING AUSTRALIAN JOBS.
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After many years of being rogered in this industry I now take pride in doing all I can within my power to contribute toward an executive manager not receiving a bonus. One only has to do some research to discover that denying a request to extend a shift, uplifting incorrectly tagged destination bags (ramps favourite trick, thanks lads), burning a little excess fuel (just enough to so that Ops don't notice yet just enough to bring yourself some secret personal satisfaction), damaging a uniform, a sick day so one can enjoy some surf down at Cooly, telling passengers there is no alcohol left onboard while the carts stay full and the list goes on, can be highly rewarding for ones self esteem, and really its the little things in life that bring us pleasure !!
I'm not disagreeing with the fact that the management culture within the company leaves a lot to be desired, and if circumstances on the day prevent me from achieving OTP, I certainly don't lose any sleep when it's beyond my control anyway - but nor do I go out of my way to run the show off the rails either. Regardless of any animosity towards management, there's still the issue of personal & professional integrity, not to mention consideration for the punters who pay their money to get from "A" to "B" & didn't ask to be caught up in the firing line between us & "them" in the Village.
Last edited by The Bunglerat; 17th Aug 2010 at 06:18. Reason: spelling