Virgin Australia - Phoenix Rising from the Ashes?
As an example, the A320 is limited to 160 pax on a OOL-PER sector which is about 1900nm, so to go another 500nm and still arrive with 3T of fuel, (which is very light on) you’ll have to reduce the payload by roughly 2.5 T for the extra 1 hours flight.
That equates to another 29 pax. So, how much will you have to charge each pax to make 130 seats cover the costs plus profit?
Gold Coast Airport also regularly flies near full widebody loads (Scoot) and pre-pandemic regularly flew loaded JQ and D7 787/A330s with little/no restrictions on long haul flights to SIN/NRT/KUL.
Big difference to the 320 and the 737-800 especially on long sectors - 2 odd ton less fuel and 2 ton less MTOW. Sector to Perth is also E-W vs basically N-S - so far less effected by the headwinds you get to Perth. Long sectors is where the 737-800 beats the A320 hands down.
You can pull about 77-78 ton out of OOL up to 28 degrees depending on what runway, so only about a ton or penalty off MTOW.
You can pull about 77-78 ton out of OOL up to 28 degrees depending on what runway, so only about a ton or penalty off MTOW.
The 738 variant VA uses to Bali can take off at OOL at MTOW up to 79t (RW32) wet or dry 78t (RW14), with typical conditions nil wind.
OOL-DPS is doable.
OOL-DPS is doable.
With VA also having a interline/lounge arrangement with FlyPelican, it wouldn't surprise me if VA uses FlyPelican for a proper codeshare/wetleases on thin NSW regional routes in the future at some point. Link and FlyPelican could cover the regional NSW flying for VA. Regional Qld on the other hand with the dwindling/drawing down of the Alliance contracts..
There'll be a gap in the market for VA if/when Alliance stop flying to Emerald, Moranbah, Gladstone, Rocky, Newcastle, Mt Isa on their behalf. Most of those ports can't take/won't sustain a 737-sized aircraft and Saab/J32 won't cut it either.
There could be an opportunity for Cobham to get into the East Coast with their Q400's if they can ramp up quick enough. They have a few more Q400's due before the end of the year as it is.
There could be an opportunity for Cobham to get into the East Coast with their Q400's if they can ramp up quick enough. They have a few more Q400's due before the end of the year as it is.
Airnorth also has a wet-lease arrangement with Alliance on the 2 E190s they have, considering every now and again UYC and UYR (in white livery) sometimes operate Alliance FIFO services with a QQ flight number in Queensland.
IIRC the TL E190 services are crewed by QQ pilots, but with TL flight attendants.
IIRC the TL E190 services are crewed by QQ pilots, but with TL flight attendants.
VA 2.0 has requested to the IASC to replace old partner EY's codeshares with codeshares with their new buddies QR.
Perhaps EY could join DL in forming a partnership with REX. Collecting Virgin 1.0's seconds as their new partners wouldn't be a bad pickup for REX.
Perhaps EY could join DL in forming a partnership with REX. Collecting Virgin 1.0's seconds as their new partners wouldn't be a bad pickup for REX.
Etihad is down to 2 flights a day to Australia to only two cities. Pretty useless.
Qatar are now its own metal into 6 Australian ports, plus a Tasman crossing.
Qatar are now its own metal into 6 Australian ports, plus a Tasman crossing.
3 rumours doing the rounds.
Virgin and Bonza become newly weds.
Widebody and more 700 aircraft to be announced.
Virgin is getting a rebrand.
Not sure it’s even announcement. Most likely it’s just a chance to sing Kumbaya.
“We had planned on making an announcement next week, but decided the timing was more appropriate to use this as an opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate and thank our wonderful team members…….. blah blah blah”
Virgin and Bonza become newly weds.
Widebody and more 700 aircraft to be announced.
Virgin is getting a rebrand.
Not sure it’s even announcement. Most likely it’s just a chance to sing Kumbaya.
“We had planned on making an announcement next week, but decided the timing was more appropriate to use this as an opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate and thank our wonderful team members…….. blah blah blah”