V Australia Product Launch
 

Daily Virgin flights from Sydney to LA
Email Print Normal font Large font March 31, 2008 - 10:35AM

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The Virgin Blue Group has launched a premium, three class international airline, V Australia, with a daily direct route between Sydney and Los Angeles.

"The trans-Pacific route is in dire need of competition and a good shake-up and that's a challenge we are always keen to take on," Virgin Blue founder Sir Richard Branson said in Sydney on Monday.

"The launch of V Australia means the Virgin Group for the first time will offer a global network of airlines that allows travellers to fly worldwide on Virgin airlines that all share the same vision and commitment to safety, service, fun and flair."

The launch of V Australia will be the first time there has been a second Australian airline competing on the trans-Pacific route.

The launch comes after the Australian and US governments reached an open skies agreement, allowing Australian and US-owned airlines to fly freely between the two countries.

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said V Australia would offer three classes of travel - Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

"V Australia's focus on space, comfort and entertainment, coupled with Virgin Blue's renowned customer service will stand the airline in good stead to compete with the region's best carriers, with the added bonus of lowering the fares," he said.

V Australia will include full service features such as complimentary meals and beverages and "generous" seating.

V Australia says it also will be the only airline on the trans-Pacific route to offer the latest in-flight technology in all cabins so passengers can send and receive SMS text messages and receive emails using GPRS devices such as BlackBerrys and mobile phones.

V Australia says it will set up its Australian operations in Sydney, at a total coast of $44 million.

"V Australia Airlines is a multi-billion dollar investment for the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines and it's not one we have taken lightly," Mr Godfrey said.

"Today's announcements are the first of many and we have every intention of bringing revolutionary change not just to the trans-Pacific route but across the region."

The new Sydney-LA route will begin on December 15, 2008.

© 2008 AAP

Good luck to all that are involved in this venture.

Any firm word on pay scales yet?

Branson quote

V Australia will have the newest aircraft and the best pilots, yadda yadda.

The best pilots will not come at the prices indicated thus far.

V Australia will be paying the lowest take home pay of virtually
any B777 operator on earth.

Perhaps Sir Richard will be sending his B777's into space, which
would then qualify them as the best pilots off earth.

Sorry I'm confused, there's so much hype in the world nowdays.

...at these pay rates!:E

.....?
 

tell me it aint true........................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ...........:{:{:{:ugh::ugh::ugh::mad:

If the base pay I was told is correct, I suspect the expat Australians, endorsed and otherwise, will be staying away in droves.

Underwhelming, to say the least.

I suspect there'll be a lot of "itzapleazures" over the airwaves from Kanga flights, 'cos the poor bloody Yapeas want out of SA at any price and will take whatever's on offer.

They'll be happy for a short time...then feel like they're getting shafted when they look around and see what they just did to themselves.

"Poor pity meeeee!"

Sadly there will be no shortage of people willing to accept the amount on offer!

Very true Hughesy, unfortunately ( for Oz aviation ) plenty of widebody drivers in this part of the world that have made their fortune and ready to head home for early retirement. ( when I say retirement, referring to the pension type pay, not the roster :suspect: )

"dire need of competition and a good shake up"

I agree that competition is a good thing but Virgin group historically poaches profitable routes rather than 'saving' the public as claimed ( LHR-JFK, LHR-HKG-SYD and now SYD-LAX)...i.e. let the incumbent airlines wear the risk of route development then Virgin comes along to poach and skim the fat. Next they'll be 'saving' us on SYD-JNB......why not SYD-NGO or KIX, oh that's right they're not profitable routes!..no competition needed there huh!?

It's all spin Ladies and Gentlemen :ugh:

request deferred

Agree with your post. In addition, Virgin Atlantic is doing very nicely on the London-Shanghai route and has extensively lobbied the British Government to prevent any new operators on the route - in particular Qantas, despite being given rights Hong Kong to Sydney. Their lobbying has been very successful to the extent that the recent Open Skies agreement between Britain and Australia had one significant exclusion ie routes via China to Britain.

Branson would have to be the best spin doctor in the world.

I've heard that at the Cruise FO interviews when candidates are asking about upgrades they are being told they can expect to transfer to B737 or EMB170 domestic fleet as FO's rather than upgrade on the B777.

Watch the fine print carefully, and note Q & A carefully.

By the way domestic crew are hearing zip at present.

Hey JB maybe that's so the Cruise FO's can get experience to then be able to upgrade on the 777's ?

But get your drift about the fine print :ok:

Under the terms of the current domestic EBA I'd say that is not a given. Though space may be made for SO's in the 737/E-Jet fleet, they will then be competeing with the rest of the VB pilots for a 777 right/left seat. Of course having said that there may not be much competition if the T&C's are not good and they won't be.

Remember VB and V Oz are two seperate companies and VB pilots only have a letter/deed of agreement that allows SOME pilots to go across to the 777. Having been forced to produced this letter for the EBA agreement VB will simply manage the flow of pilots wanting to go to the 777 by making the conditions so poor for 777 flying that many of us will just stay where we are as it won't be worth it, deed or no deed.

Whether or not it is a given, I can absolutely confirm that at the current interviews JFOs are being told by those interviewing they WILL be moving to the EMBs as FOs for experience for a period as yet unknown. Weather this means they then stay there to get initial commands on the EMB/737 who knows? All this is news though to VB flight OPS who didn't even know this is what is being told to prospective pilots.

In the end though if Management told VB FLT ops they will take them in as FOs then I would think they will have no choice in the matter. Nothing in the current EBA stops the introduction of new FOs from anywhere.

I was told the rate for a cruise F/O was 40k p.a. for CPL only, rising to 60K for pilots with an ATPL.

Considering a QF S/O can be on twice that or more in a relatively short time after joining the company, who is going to put up their hands for V Australia?

QF rejects maybe?

Aspiring CPLs whos parents are "well off"...

"well my little johnny is an airline pilot"

For $40k/yr they can have their jet job! I get paid more flying around in S/E bug-smashers! Ohh and im actually flying as well!

CMN

Request Deferred and Going Boeing

Clearly you guys are new to the industry. You should get a copy of the textbook, "How to building an Airline in a regulated, no competition environment", writed by Qantas.

It covers such topics as 'The two airline policy" and "Ansett can be an International carrier as long as it doesnt fly anywhere that Qantas does"

Did anyone ask the interview panel why a VOZ second officer cannot simply be upgraded to F/O on the 777 when the time arrives?

I mean, isn't that what every other airline does?