Virgin Australia - Phoenix Rising from the Ashes?
I think I read recently that VARA was taking another two A320s to add to its fleet. At some point they will need to make a call on the F100s, however all the cheap E190-E1s have now been taken up by that other operator, so a natural replacement may be some ways off. My sense is though that once a major mining company that has wants to reduce their Scope 3 emissions completes their tender process, there may be a few moves to newer equipment in the 100 seat category. Bottom line is that for some of the airports and charters that VARA flies in, the A320 will be too big and not capable, so they will need to replace the F100s, sooner rather than later.
My sense is though that once a major mining company that has wants to reduce their Scope 3 emissions completes their tender process, there may be a few moves to newer equipment in the 100 seat category.
I think I read recently that VARA was taking another two A320s to add to its fleet. At some point they will need to make a call on the F100s, however all the cheap E190-E1s have now been taken up by that other operator, so a natural replacement may be some ways off. My sense is though that once a major mining company that has wants to reduce their Scope 3 emissions completes their tender process, there may be a few moves to newer equipment in the 100 seat category. Bottom line is that for some of the airports and charters that VARA flies in, the A320 will be too big and not capable, so they will need to replace the F100s, sooner rather than later.
Spot on…have a look at the routes QQ are currently doing for VA in the F70/100 and the E190, they were all done by the VA in the Ejet.
The problem with VA is they think the 737 can do every route in Australia and the current management have still failed to fix this.
Australia like the rest of the world need 100 seat jets. VB had the right idea, but then JB came along and all he wanted was wide bodies.
During the GFC the Ejets saved VB has they moved a lot of the flying from 737s to the Ejets. Not one Ejet pilot was displayed or forced to move base during the GFC, yet a number of 737 pilots (FOs) were.
The problem with VA is they think the 737 can do every route in Australia and the current management have still failed to fix this.
Australia like the rest of the world need 100 seat jets. VB had the right idea, but then JB came along and all he wanted was wide bodies.
During the GFC the Ejets saved VB has they moved a lot of the flying from 737s to the Ejets. Not one Ejet pilot was displayed or forced to move base during the GFC, yet a number of 737 pilots (FOs) were.
Last edited by Zinfandel; 21st Apr 2022 at 10:34.
If you're alluding to the 'toxic culture' rumours in the media, ANYONE who worked at that company knows that the culture was thoroughly toxic to the point that many, many good people left or were pushed out the door who showed a modicum of talent or experience for YEARS before Bain took over. The epitome of that toxic culture was people who clearly had zero ability and zero track record constantly being promoted beyond their level of competence.
The people who knew what they were doing were easy to spot, because they didn't last long. From what I've heard, a LOT of the offending managers have gotten the boot since Jayne took over, so from my perspective, she's batting .100 so far, certainly compared to someone who run up billions in debt and even got an AO for their 'services' to the industry.
The people who knew what they were doing were easy to spot, because they didn't last long. From what I've heard, a LOT of the offending managers have gotten the boot since Jayne took over, so from my perspective, she's batting .100 so far, certainly compared to someone who run up billions in debt and even got an AO for their 'services' to the industry.
If you're alluding to the 'toxic culture' rumours in the media, ANYONE who worked at that company knows that the culture was thoroughly toxic to the point that many, many good people left or were pushed out the door who showed a modicum of talent or experience for YEARS before Bain took over. The epitome of that toxic culture was people who clearly had zero ability and zero track record constantly being promoted beyond their level of competence.
The people who knew what they were doing were easy to spot, because they didn't last long. From what I've heard, a LOT of the offending managers have gotten the boot since Jayne took over, so from my perspective, she's batting .100 so far, certainly compared to someone who run up billions in debt and even got an AO for their 'services' to the industry.
The people who knew what they were doing were easy to spot, because they didn't last long. From what I've heard, a LOT of the offending managers have gotten the boot since Jayne took over, so from my perspective, she's batting .100 so far, certainly compared to someone who run up billions in debt and even got an AO for their 'services' to the industry.
If you're alluding to the 'toxic culture' rumours in the media, ANYONE who worked at that company knows that the culture was thoroughly toxic to the point that many, many good people left or were pushed out the door who showed a modicum of talent or experience for YEARS before Bain took over. The epitome of that toxic culture was people who clearly had zero ability and zero track record constantly being promoted beyond their level of competence.
The people who knew what they were doing were easy to spot, because they didn't last long. From what I've heard, a LOT of the offending managers have gotten the boot since Jayne took over, so from my perspective, she's batting .100 so far, certainly compared to someone who run up billions in debt and even got an AO for their 'services' to the industry.
The people who knew what they were doing were easy to spot, because they didn't last long. From what I've heard, a LOT of the offending managers have gotten the boot since Jayne took over, so from my perspective, she's batting .100 so far, certainly compared to someone who run up billions in debt and even got an AO for their 'services' to the industry.
the yearly profits which could be in the billions if they play their cards right
Have a look at the profits Qantas were bringing in pre covid.
Meanwhile the opposition now has more debt than virgin did when it went into administration.
‘Then why continue to invest in A320’s when they’re considered too big for the 100 seat market? Couldn’t they just run them on rpt services and have them half empty into the mine sites? I’m sure the mining companies would keep their risk down by staying with the 320 instead of going for another fleet type.
They weren't bringing in billions regularly (in fact only once, in 2016, 2 years after a 2.8 billion loss), and there was some pretty "imaginative" accounting across the Qantas Group to even get the figures they did in the other years.
It's just taken them longer to run out of "imaginative" accounting ideas, but...they haven't ended up in administration, or sold off, so they must still be doing something right. VA are very, very lucky to even still be in existence
It's just taken them longer to run out of "imaginative" accounting ideas, but...they haven't ended up in administration, or sold off, so they must still be doing something right. VA are very, very lucky to even still be in existence
VA has new management, new owners, a new strategy, less debt and a new cost base. It is only similar to the old VA by name.
Qf has the same (albeit great) management however a lot more debt.
Both airlines will continue to survive and be extremely profitable.
Are all the mining strip runways at least 30m wide? If this is so,then the B737-700 can operate into them.I guess the problem with some of these mining contracts is they don’t need 144 seats.So they are reluctant to pay for a B737-700?
Yes, mostly 30metre. It’s not just about which aircraft “can operate into them”. The mining airports were set up around 90-100 seat aircraft. With the big advantage of no GSE for loading as F100 and BAE146 have low door sills for the hold and can be loaded from the trolley or ground.
The mine site terminals struggle with 170+ passengers at a time leaving and arriving. They prefer frequency to volume.
The 100-115seat market remains viable for FIFO. The QF guys did not understand that when taking over Network, VARA with a Skywest heritage understood much better.
The mine site terminals struggle with 170+ passengers at a time leaving and arriving. They prefer frequency to volume.
The 100-115seat market remains viable for FIFO. The QF guys did not understand that when taking over Network, VARA with a Skywest heritage understood much better.
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Here is an AFR articlal to brighten up your day https://www.afr.com/rear-window/no-h...0220425-p5afzk
Here you go:
For Virgin Australia staff, it’s been a rocky road – and not the sort paved with chocolate and marshmallows – since management called in administrators two years ago and the airline was reborn under the ownership of private equity barbarians Bain Capital.
As the largest cohort of creditors, Virgin employees, remember, were implored to vote in favour of Bain’s takeover, and 99 per cent of them did so after Bain boss Mike Murphy offered this unambiguous assurance: “Virgin has a great management team run by Paul Scurrah, and I’d like to again reaffirm that we are backing Paul to successfully lead Virgin through the current turbulence and back into the skies.”
The very next month, Bain removed Scurrah as Virgin’s chief executive to install Jayne Hrdlicka, making a lie of Bain’s explicit assurances to Virgin’s administrators and to union leaders that she would never lead the airline.
A more incongruous candidate than Hrdlicka – who ran Jetstar and The a2 Milk Company without an ounce of human feeling – could scarcely have been imagined for the leadership of Virgin, a business (once) renowned for the warmth and enthusiasm of its workforce.
The past 21 months have only cemented Hrdlicka’s reputation as remarkably tone-deaf, and as a gifted self-immolator. Recall the spectacular hit job she conducted on herself in March last year with false claims about her time at a2 Milk. As Tennis Australia president, her speeches are a real crowd favourite at the Australian Open.
There have also been multiple reports of Virgin’s dysfunctional workplace culture and a string of senior departures. Multiple payouts were made to victims of Virgin’s PR boss Moksha Watts – handpicked by Hrdlicka – who then resigned to remake herself as LinkedIn’s most cloying networker.
Chief pilot Michael Fitzgerald was terminated last month after an extended period of medical leave and has taken a claim of bullying and harassment against Hrdlicka to the Fair Work Commission.
Seventh prize – of which there were 100 winners – was a pair of Virgin Australia pyjamas, useful particularly for sleeping through Hrdlicka’s next speech at the tennis.
Sixth prize was a Virgin lounge membership.
Fifth prize was a return economy trip anywhere in Australia and fourth prize was return business class flights.
Third prize was an extra week of annual leave.
Second prize was two nights on Hamilton Island, including business-class flights and accommodation for two people.
But first prize – drum roll – was lunch with Hrdlicka. There must very suddenly be a tremendous number of anti-vaxxers at Virgin Australia.
This competition closed nearly four weeks ago, on March 31, yet the winners are still to be announced. We suspect head office has contacted multiple first prize winners, each of whom has demanded a redraw.
It would require a shocking level of remoteness to believe that your frontline staff would consider an exclusive audience with their ice-cold CEO a higher reward than a free trip to paradise or a paid week off work. In fact, a disposable set of Bangladeshi-made nightwear is a far superior offer to lunch with Jayne Hrdlicka.
Personally, we’d prefer two nights’ accommodation in Belanglo State Forest and lunch with Ivan Milat. It would certainly obviate the need for a booster shot …
As the largest cohort of creditors, Virgin employees, remember, were implored to vote in favour of Bain’s takeover, and 99 per cent of them did so after Bain boss Mike Murphy offered this unambiguous assurance: “Virgin has a great management team run by Paul Scurrah, and I’d like to again reaffirm that we are backing Paul to successfully lead Virgin through the current turbulence and back into the skies.”
The very next month, Bain removed Scurrah as Virgin’s chief executive to install Jayne Hrdlicka, making a lie of Bain’s explicit assurances to Virgin’s administrators and to union leaders that she would never lead the airline.
A more incongruous candidate than Hrdlicka – who ran Jetstar and The a2 Milk Company without an ounce of human feeling – could scarcely have been imagined for the leadership of Virgin, a business (once) renowned for the warmth and enthusiasm of its workforce.
The past 21 months have only cemented Hrdlicka’s reputation as remarkably tone-deaf, and as a gifted self-immolator. Recall the spectacular hit job she conducted on herself in March last year with false claims about her time at a2 Milk. As Tennis Australia president, her speeches are a real crowd favourite at the Australian Open.
There have also been multiple reports of Virgin’s dysfunctional workplace culture and a string of senior departures. Multiple payouts were made to victims of Virgin’s PR boss Moksha Watts – handpicked by Hrdlicka – who then resigned to remake herself as LinkedIn’s most cloying networker.
Chief pilot Michael Fitzgerald was terminated last month after an extended period of medical leave and has taken a claim of bullying and harassment against Hrdlicka to the Fair Work Commission.
Booby prize?
Speaking of tone-deaf, Virgin Australia launched a competition for its staff in September to encourage their take-up of COVID-19 vaccines (to enter, employees had to provide a copy of their vaccination certificate).Seventh prize – of which there were 100 winners – was a pair of Virgin Australia pyjamas, useful particularly for sleeping through Hrdlicka’s next speech at the tennis.
Sixth prize was a Virgin lounge membership.
Fifth prize was a return economy trip anywhere in Australia and fourth prize was return business class flights.
Third prize was an extra week of annual leave.
Second prize was two nights on Hamilton Island, including business-class flights and accommodation for two people.
But first prize – drum roll – was lunch with Hrdlicka. There must very suddenly be a tremendous number of anti-vaxxers at Virgin Australia.
This competition closed nearly four weeks ago, on March 31, yet the winners are still to be announced. We suspect head office has contacted multiple first prize winners, each of whom has demanded a redraw.
It would require a shocking level of remoteness to believe that your frontline staff would consider an exclusive audience with their ice-cold CEO a higher reward than a free trip to paradise or a paid week off work. In fact, a disposable set of Bangladeshi-made nightwear is a far superior offer to lunch with Jayne Hrdlicka.
Personally, we’d prefer two nights’ accommodation in Belanglo State Forest and lunch with Ivan Milat. It would certainly obviate the need for a booster shot …