Sky's the limit for Virgin
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Sky's the limit for Virgin
Wed "Melbourne Herald Sun" . .. .Sky's the limit for Virgin . .. .27mar02 . .. .VIRGIN Blue expects its 12-month profit to March 31 will exceed a forecast $32.5 million and has revealed radical expansion plans which could involve replacing its Boeing 737 fleet with up to 35 Airbus jets. . .. .Airline chief Brett Godfrey said yesterday that the Brisbane-based carrier would record a profit "considerably better" than the $32.5 million predicted for the year to March 31.. . . .He also revealed that the all-Boeing airline, which until now has only operated Boeing 737 jets, was talking seriously to Boeing and arch-rival Airbus about its future fleet options. . .. .Mr Godfrey said most of the past year's profits were generated in a three-airline environment as Virgin battled the now-defunct Ansett and Qantas in the domestic market. . .. ."Ansett was operating 13 aeroplanes and Qantas had ramped up significantly," he said. . .. .Mr Godfrey said Virgin, which recorded an $8 million profit for the six months from March 31 last year, had been on track to achieve its $32.5 million forecast. . .. ."The reason we've beaten them (the forecasts) is because for the last month we didn't have Ansett in the sky." . .. .Mr Godfrey also revealed that while synergies were yet to flow from the soon-to-be-signed shareholders' agreement with Chris Corrigan's Patrick Corporation other benefits had already materialised. . .. ."There's a lot of contact synergies. That's something we've never had. . . . <small>[ 27 March 2002, 06:01: Message edited by: Wirraway ]</small>
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Can someone clarify what concessions DJ still get.. I was under the impression that most if not all related to the gov chipping in only if loads were under 65% on particular routes. One would have thought that with their current loads DJ kissed that cash goodbye a long time ago.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">negotiations are in progress regarding the wet lease of 8 A320s by Virgin. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">They, of course, would be 8 ex Ansett A320s and crewed, of course, by selected ex Ansett Pilot's Association pilots.. .. .Right Muckey ?. . . . <small>[ 27 March 2002, 01:56: Message edited by: Whiskery ]</small>
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Yes Whiskerey,that`s right.It`s a rumour network and that is the rumour from the remnants of the flt dept.. .. .Doubt if APA will have much to do with it though.. .. .Would be amusing to witness the fight for the positions and the camraderie between the old, mutual foes from AN and VB.. .. .As I said,a rumour from the flight department.. .. .Thought you may welcome the news Whiskery.Forewarned to use your influence to stymie events.
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Hi all,. .Well, there goes my patronage of Virgin Blue if they replace their 73s with any 320s, it was always difficult to arrange, with Ansett, flying between Brisbane and Sydney, to only fly with the Boeings, I don't want to have to do all that again - and with VB up to this point, it hasn't been a problem, I've been very happy, but if they do this, I'll just swap to QF, I surely don't want to, but I will not travel on an Airbus!. .. .With Ansett, the service/fares were always so much better than QF, but with the service styles now changed so much with the introduction of VB, the extra effort to avoid is simply not worth it!. .Cheers
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VB is using negotiations with Airbus as a bargaining chip in order to secure a good deal with Boeing. VB is probably planning to order another batch of 10 a/c, so I guess they have the right to shop around. Airbus would have to pick up the retraining costs of 300+ pilots (unless the pilots agree to fork out money for their conversions again, he, he) and take the existing a/c from VB. We are talking big money…
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I am led to believe the main reason for DJ looking at the A320 is due to more room between the seats for Passenger comfort factor on longer sectors. PER-SYD-PER.. .Wouldn't taking a few rows out of existing a/c do the trick?. .Although on A320 you get same amount of seats with more leg room.
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B.Mac. .. .Having just the last 2 weeks having done BNE-DRW-BNE. .with DJ, your comment is the only downfall I see. .with Virgin Blue, at 6ft had to stand in the. .galley for over an hour as my knees could not. .take it anymore, I notice that Southwest Airlines. .only seat 137 on their 737-700s wheras DJ cramp. .149, you are spot on, take 2 rows out, even if. .DJ have to add $10 to the fare, and the punters. .will be happy. Yes I did get the exit row on the. .return to BNE.. .. .Wirraway
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Although I don't think Virgin Blue will change their fleet type, it does happen.. .Frontier airlines in the US were an all B737 operator operating 7 737-200's and 18 737-800's.. .They are now changing to an all Airbus fleet (A319's and A318's).
Another little aside to seat pitch on DJ. Either teach the punters a bit of manners or disable the seat recliners. So far I have intimidated at least two people into the errors of their ways and witnessed one bruiser almost push his seat clean out of the floor trying to recline a seat in front of the exit row. Amazing chap even after I told him it was a waste of time he persisted with his endeavours. Ah well <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 29 March 2002, 09:09: Message edited by: OZBUSDRIVER ]</small>
