I wonder if Virgin will reintroduce Bne and Mel to Phuket now that Air Australia has wound up. Is the Jetstar flight only from Syd?

Doubt it as they pulled the 777 out of those exact routes as soon as Borghetti came on board.

I doubt VA will reintroduce Phuket services but you have to wonder if it would be a beter use of the A332s on weekends. I doubt if they are full on many flights on Saturday or Sunday (I flew Mel-Syd on one on a Sunday afternoon and almost had Y class to myself). They could do a return Mel-Hkt on a Saturday afternoon and still be back in service for busy Sunday evening PER services.

The 77W never really worked as there is too much premium classes on the 77W for HKT and the 77W was better used elsewhere (USA services!!!).

Maybe VA could pick up their 330 cheap and also the ones that strategic had on order,
They had the right idea just bad timing thats all.
Good luck to all.

There is simply no profit on this route. Its low yield leisure traffic and better left to a LCC


They never owned it. VH-SSA is owned by Air Castle, as far as I was last advised. Basically Strategic owned nothing

Wrong way around buddy!

Slightly off topic, but can someone explain the relationship between the VOz 777 pilots and the Virgin Australia pilots - are they in the same or separate groups? Is there a plan to integrate the groups or keep them separate? Also, do VOz have any additional 777s on order or plans to expand the 777 network?

Sorry, I never quite understood the relationship.

Cheers

VA is moving toward a group seniority across VB, VA and PB. Thus, there will be an integrated pilots' list in the coming months.

There are no known plans for further B777s at present.

Where did Virgin NZ (formally PB) get its extra 7, 737s according to Wikipedia they had 10 at the start of the year and now have 17 in their fleet. Have they been transfered from Virgin Domestic ?

Pity, I think that is where they could really chase the Red Q down in a few places. Maybe too big and gutsy move compared to the domestic sector.:confused:

pistinaround

Wikki may be a bit out.

VAA 48 737 - 1 E170 - 18 E190 - 2 A332
VANZ 12 737 (Two seem to still have Aussie regos though....?)

That would be VUM and VUN

VOQ/VOX

Not sure why!

Still just the 10 aircraft:

ZK-PBA
ZK-PBB
ZK-PBF
ZK-PBD
ZK-PBJ
ZK-PBG
ZK-PBI
ZK-PBM
ZK-PBK
ZK-PBL

VH-Rego'd aircraft (REGARDLESS of livery/paint scheme) are operated by Aus crew.

I was of the understanding that 777 and Domestic seniority was in the process of being merged... but I wasn't sure if Tasman pilots were to be merged too??? Are they still contractors or are they company employees now???

PB (aka VA (NZ)) often operate a VH reg 737 when one of theirs is in the shed, usually VOX. They have 10 737s, no plans for that to change.

It makes sense that VANZ sometimes operate VH reg aircraft it is my understanding VANZ crews need a NZ licence as well as holding and Aus Licence ( to fly the VH aircraft). Have only heard this third hand though so I may be wrong.

Thanks all for replying to my previous post about the fleet numbers.

That is correct. All Virgin Australia (New Zealand) (VANZ) Employment and Crewing Pilots hold both Australian and NZ Licenses and both are kept current by the company so they can fly VH tails.

99% of pilots are now company employees of Virgin Australia New Zealand Employment and Crewing, a Virgin crewing company.

I have heard that yes, they are looking at a merged seniority list across the board however there is a bone of contention that Brisbane will not recognise prior time spent as a contractor. Some of the PB/VANZ guys have been there for 7-6 years. Probably much to the relief of Virgin Australia crew.
The only seniority date would be when Pacific Blue Employment and Crewing came into existence..

I've heard 100 out of 140 pilots are now ALPA members... could be something brewing...

Correct. Only other link is from Perth on VA with 737 equipment.

Gate - I was under the impression that VANZ pilots no longer needed both licences, ie only need NZ ATPL to fly the VH aircraft. They no longer get a CASA IR check do they?

Still have to do the CASA IR, bloody circling approaches :ugh: