Virgin to fly international, at least to NZ
 

have a source at virgin who says they will be flying to NZ (B738s only), when there are no restrictions whatsoever.

Actual start date is unknown. Tried to pin them down, but wouldn't come up with any date, due to covid restrictions in place right now, but did get out of them, certainly before winter.

One of the first 'bubble' flights on Saturday was reported as being VA

up until now, think it was all speculation.

Tried to find out routes & frequency, but wasn't told much, except will be determined by demand, which presume means less frequencies than in 2019, but that that AKL & ZQN were definite.

Has the Townsville Refueller relocated?

So essentially what was reported in The Fin over two weeks ago.

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal...0201002-p561f6

I hope VA have that pesky issue of an AOC they had pre covid of using Oz crew on Tasman etc. considering QF and JQ are doing it already with 2/5s of f all punters on it one way starting ex AKL never alone a return. Can’t wait to watch VA mess this up.

Reactivate the Kiwi AOC and employ pilots on Kiwi pay scales.....

there's a big difference between will look at it (sometime in the future) & definitely next year, probably earlier rather than later.

Sounds like way less flights to ZQN than in 2019 (were up to 8/week BNE/ZQN, IIRC in winter 2019), as ZQN is mostly a leisure & price sensitive market & Queenstown is getting very VERY expensive, which will mean, with recession, less Australians will go there. AKL is different of course.

Will JQ fly BNE/ZQN ? Maybe. Although QF flies up to 3 times a week, different market. EG. JQ & QF did both fly SYD/HNL.

Getaway I’ve heard they are putting Tiger over on Kiwi domestic. Any hints or news on the start date for that one?

Operating out of Bankstown apparently too.

Na I’ve got Auckland to DPS via Isa.

Only in some people's minds.

Hmmmm-

'Tremendous' insight there, 'BNEA320'..............

YOU, ARE- all over 'it', could you perchance educate 'Jayne from Bain/ & Co'- as toward this 'fabulous' opportunity- that, 'they' seem to have Not factored 'into' the Business Case....????, Yet.

Took the opportunity- to speak, with both the LRE and ISA Refuellers' and Mate 'they' ARE ALL onboard for this Bali Gig...... when, you get it 'UP'- Good to GO!!!!!

rgds all
S28- BE

That isnt a bad business plan at all.

Reactivate the Kiwi AOC and employ pilots on Kiwi pay scales.....

Might not be a bad idea something to think about for Bain.

Yep, they're going to use the Beech 1900's that were previously used by Eagle......

Unless you're doing the odd NZQN for tourists you really need to start the Tasman flight early in the AM NZ time. This means either NZ based crew or overnights for Aussie based crew

Think you may have this the wrong way around, eg. almost all QF, JQ & VA flights from BNE, OOL, SYD & MEL to ZQN depart in am & turn around & go straight back to where they started. Not sure what NZ does ? 3 sectors maybe (triangle if originate in New Zealand ?

Is eg. AKL/BNE/ZQN/AKL possible with same crew ?

Maybe, but if you start in NZ early the aircraft can fly 4 sectors (2 trans-Tasman return) and get back to NZ around midnight

spot on, exactly how it went pre covid.

Those a/c leaving for Zqn have already done 1 sector nz-aus, hence the benefits of nz originating.