Government Loan to Virgin Australia
Evertonian
I still can't see QF agreeing to the setting up of a LCC (JQ) to compete against them. However, it would be interesting if they were made to revert to QF as an INTL airline only & JQ as a DOM airline only...back to how it was. Of course, I can't see this happening either, but it would make it easier for a new entrant into the market.
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VA atleast looking after its employees
https://7news.com.au/politics/virgin...rkers-c-967464
At least it looks like Virgin is looking after its employees and taking a more conservative stance on how to use the Jobkeeper payments and Annual Leave.
I wonder if Qantas and Jetstar will follow suit?
At least it looks like Virgin is looking after its employees and taking a more conservative stance on how to use the Jobkeeper payments and Annual Leave.
I wonder if Qantas and Jetstar will follow suit?
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It seems that in your altruistic world sending QF and their decently paid 30,000 workforce down the tube would unleash the aviation Kraken, bringing in thousands of million of billions of lower paying jobs from exceptional airlines such as Lion or Scoot so that towns such as Coober Pedy can be served by a daily double return B787 service to La Palma International. Where do I sign up?
At least it looks like Virgin is looking after its employees
Did you forget about the ~220 Tiger pilots that "Virgin is looking after."?
The car industry wasn't an essential strategic asset, vital to the national well being. Cars can easily be imported from multiple sources at a lower price, and dare I say it, better quality than they could be produced in Australia. Whilst it did provide jobs directly and also throughout the supply chain, the cost of maintaining those jobs was prohibitive. Given the limited local market and high cost of production the industry would always require support, and whilst everyone wanted Holden to be saved, few people actually went out and bought their cars. Ford Australia and Holden weren't going to become major exporters similar to Toyota and Hyundai so their prospects were very limited.
Qantas on the other hand is a strategic asset, particularly on the domestic side and can compete well with foreign airlines on the international side. It was previously profitable and will likely generate future profits once we are over the current situation. It may not even require a bail out if relative normality returns soon. Government resources will be stretched extremely thin in the coming months, if any aid is given to Virgin at all it will be very limited and conditional on the airline showing it can turn around in a fairly short time, which will require major restructuring and downsizing. Anyone who thinks Canberra will simply write a cheque which enables Virgin to continue in its present form is dreaming.
Qantas on the other hand is a strategic asset, particularly on the domestic side and can compete well with foreign airlines on the international side. It was previously profitable and will likely generate future profits once we are over the current situation. It may not even require a bail out if relative normality returns soon. Government resources will be stretched extremely thin in the coming months, if any aid is given to Virgin at all it will be very limited and conditional on the airline showing it can turn around in a fairly short time, which will require major restructuring and downsizing. Anyone who thinks Canberra will simply write a cheque which enables Virgin to continue in its present form is dreaming.
Anyone who thinks Canberra will simply write a cheque which enables Virgin to continue in its present form is dreaming.
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QF is using the money to paydown annual leave - using taxpayer money to clean up their balance sheet. I thought they were against government handouts?
One thing is for certain and that is that the Australian Government or any potential investor won't make may decision until they've made careful analysis of the expert opinions written down by the pilots on pprune.
I have heard this from an internal source.
I have heard this from an internal source.
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Yes, a separate confidential source has also indicated a government decision will be influenced by the sage comments within these forums.
So now we have multiple points of confirmation - facts always win out.
So now we have multiple points of confirmation - facts always win out.
ampclamp. Whilst being interviewed on ABC breakfast radio Paul Scurrah effectively said 90% of the shareholders in VA indicated there were no funds available for VA. He went on to say VA were attempting to raise from other sources. In my opinion the only option would be to sell owned assets such as aircraft. If the assets were required in the future it could be a sale and leaseback. As there is uncertainty re the future of VA the lease rates would be prohibitive on a sale and leaseback arrangement.
Virgin don't have any unencumbered aircraft or other assets...they even have had E190's and ATR's parked in US and NZ for a year or two unable to get out of those leases. Big bucks per month for aircraft earning nothing..
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A decision that is still negatively impacting VA. What a great Board, they should be so proud of their decisions in recent years! And to think these wankers are still drawing a wage....
4 of their 777Ws are also registered under "Virgin Blue (VB) Leaseco Pty Ltd" (a wholly owned subsidiary of VAH).
https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Virgin-Australia
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From The Australian today: "Mr Godfrey said the airline had lost its cost advantage over the Qantas Group and any private or public investment should be contingent on Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scrurrah forcing through a massive restructure to make the carrier viable in the long term."
What (if any) steps is the VAH CEO taking to significantly lower the cost base long term? Have the unions been approached about wage reductions or, at the very least, significant wage freezes to help make it more viable over the next 5-10 years?
What (if any) steps is the VAH CEO taking to significantly lower the cost base long term? Have the unions been approached about wage reductions or, at the very least, significant wage freezes to help make it more viable over the next 5-10 years?
JB, in haste to transform Virgin into a QF competitor, signed too many bad supplier contracts which contributed more to loss of cost advantage than the salaries paid to the staff.
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Can't see any government investment - One of Scurrah's remaining options would be to position Virgin back to it's roots as a true loco with a single aircraft type only (B737) with a reduced fleet size. Get rid of VARA which has probably got some value in the west.
The problem is no private investor has come forward to date, the stakeholders are clearly not interested, so it's a matter of trying to reduce outgoings to the point where there is enough cash going forward beyond COVID. That's a very tricky exercise as the timing of the end of COVID restrictions is unknown, plus the recovery time back to a more "normal" market could take years.
The problem is no private investor has come forward to date, the stakeholders are clearly not interested, so it's a matter of trying to reduce outgoings to the point where there is enough cash going forward beyond COVID. That's a very tricky exercise as the timing of the end of COVID restrictions is unknown, plus the recovery time back to a more "normal" market could take years.
Can't see any government investment - One of Scurrah's remaining options would be to position Virgin back to it's roots as a true loco with a single aircraft type only (B737) with a reduced fleet size. Get rid of VARA which has probably got some value in the west.
The problem is no private investor has come forward to date, the stakeholders are clearly not interested, so it's a matter of trying to reduce outgoings to the point where there is enough cash going forward beyond COVID. That's a very tricky exercise as the timing of the end of COVID restrictions is unknown, plus the recovery time back to a more "normal" market could take years.
The problem is no private investor has come forward to date, the stakeholders are clearly not interested, so it's a matter of trying to reduce outgoings to the point where there is enough cash going forward beyond COVID. That's a very tricky exercise as the timing of the end of COVID restrictions is unknown, plus the recovery time back to a more "normal" market could take years.
While the 'shareholders' may not be happy for 'losing control' of VA through administrators being called in, it may be better for VA (or a post-administration successor, whatever they call the post-administration airline, in the long run).
For SIA, Etihad, HNA, et al. If I were any of that lot, I'd be ensuring that VA wasn't trading while 'insolvent', as they'd be in trouble otherwise if they were (and face possible bans from managing a company in Australia if they were to invest in any Australian based company in the future).
If VA were found to be trading while 'insolvent', it'll add to the numerous Australian failures for the "so-called messiah" SIA (and would be a big setback for SQ 'trying to tap' into the Australian domestic market). SIA already has a trail of investment failures in Australia through Air New Zealand/Ansett and Tiger Airways Australia.
Reverting back to the LCC option using the owned 737 fleet is probably the more ideal option, via filing Voluntary Administration by calling in the administrators and relieving the shareholders of their requirements.
While the 'shareholders' may not be happy for 'losing control' of VA through administrators being called in, it may be better for VA (or a post-administration successor, whatever they call the post-administration airline, in the long run).
While the 'shareholders' may not be happy for 'losing control' of VA through administrators being called in, it may be better for VA (or a post-administration successor, whatever they call the post-administration airline, in the long run).
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From The Australian today: "Mr Godfrey said the airline had lost its cost advantage over the Qantas Group and any private or public investment should be contingent on Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scrurrah forcing through a massive restructure to make the carrier viable in the long term."
What (if any) steps is the VAH CEO taking to significantly lower the cost base long term? Have the unions been approached about wage reductions or, at the very least, significant wage freezes to help make it more viable over the next 5-10 years?
What (if any) steps is the VAH CEO taking to significantly lower the cost base long term? Have the unions been approached about wage reductions or, at the very least, significant wage freezes to help make it more viable over the next 5-10 years?
Brett, go back to your eco lodge and comfortable lifestyle c/o the original Virgin Blue float. The days of dancing around the tarmac and waving goodbye to planes are long gone, and so are you. Or are you camping this long weekend on Makepoo’s Island, the Island bought exclusively (supposedly) for staff to use? Another Virgin deception.