VB are operating to Indo with VH registered aircraft on an Australian AOC under a Pacific Blue brand name. If Pac Bro want access to Asia they then have to get the NZ government to negotiate rights for them to operate there. Which I imagine will then bring Air NZ into the game as well. There are also issues of operating out of Australia on a NZ AOC using Australian traffic rights etc

I cannot envisage Pac Blue doing much more than it already does unless there is a big push for deregulation throughout the world. International traffic rights are a political hot potato and I am not to sure how the NZ government will enjoy giving traffic rights to what is perceived as an Australian Airline.

I would have thought the best option would be expanding Voz into Asia and linking up with Ethiad, VB does domestic, Pac Blue the Tasman.

From what Im hearing PB cant even crew its own operation let alone anything more such as Asia...reality is that the 737 is too small to operate from east coast Australia to Bali.....Perth-Phuket as well...capping 737 loads to between 120-150 just to take enough fuel is not viable long term..the A330 will have to end up doing those routes, the 330's will not be used exclusively on domestic Australia.

777 right aircraft? I think undoubtably..

Wait and see what happens with the rebranding early next year I guess too as to what aircraft goes where....

The limiting factor with the 777 is twofold...

1. You don't need all those premium and biz class seats for holiday destinations in SE Asia, especially when you are heading up against Jetstar. So config is an issue.

2. There are only 5 of them. The current destinations & frequencies are enough to keep those 5 flying so they don't have any spare 777 to send anywhere else. The recent grounding of one of those aircraft recently showed just how limited they are with regards to service recovery.

Why buy more of these aircraft at this stage? Especially when the existing 5 are yet to turn a tidy profit. But I agree send the A330 offshore into those destinations especially as part of the eastcoast - PER pattern. Anyone who thinks the A330 will ultimately be domestic only is being short sighted. Why lease an long range version of it if you don't intend to use it's distance capabilities? :E

The A330 is the aircraft of choice for Asia-Pacific regional flying, right sized, right config, distance capability without overkill. :ok:

Hey I curious, what's the difference between VB, PB and VA. Your all talking like it's a different set of airlines, exactly what management want..... Wake up, if you currently wear calf $h!t brown pants, and work in aviation in Australia, then your either AQUIS or Virgin Blue Holdings. Solidarity people! :ok:

My prediction is Strategic will be contracted by VB to fly the International services out of Australia on behalf of V, using A330's.:ok:

VB should fold PB altogether and V OZ if not making any money and just concentrate on the domestic product

And risk being marginalized by the QANTAS / Jetstar juggernaut..
Hell, the Virgin Blue Group should just ground the entire fleet.. just think of how much money they'll save....

V have to be making money on the LAX routes with the high load factors and freight that they're pulling out of there. They are here to stay, and there will be more aircraft. Aircraft 6 is coming in 2012:D. Expect more news in the new year :ok:

They are probably making a profit right now while the QF A380's are grounded and QF has to pay full fare for every passenger that they put onto V Oz flights. That would be way above the fares that V Oz charges pax normally as they have to discount heavily to fill the aircraft and create "Brand Awareness". Are they turning a profit throughout normal operations?

The word from our management is that VA has been profitable for the last 4 consecutive months. Spin or not - at least that's what they say.

That is quite likely true. Amazing coincidence perhaps ? No Swift, no Godfrey, and Borghetti now on the job ?? I think a coincidence NOT.

I have seen the dollar figures. Not Good. Spin spin and more spin.
They are not doing well overall, and again the legacy of fools like Godfrey and his cronies lives on to haunt us. JB needs to hurry up wuth the re-branding and re-naming of this two-bob outfit. Merge the whole group into one and get rid of the deadwood that still lurk within the halls of 'funky HQ'. 'Big Jugs' needs to be punted, along with the 'Monaro Lover','Martin Scaley' and every senior other oxgen thief that pre-dates 2001 !

Thats when they will make money.