V Australia

[Debra Rettie]

Hi,

I've noticed that the V Australia website is indicate that flights will start in December 08 "Subject to Regulatory Approval". Have they been granted that yet.

We were going to book them to fly to the States back in April of this year but changed our minds and decided to book with Hawaiian Air.:):)

[Radi K]

In short no.

Approval won't happen until the plane is in Oz (mid Nov) and a number of checks by CASA have been done prior to Dec 15.

[Marty H]

In short no.

Approval won't happen until the plane is in Oz (mid Nov) and a number of checks by CASA have been done prior to Dec 15.

Boeing machinists strike effecting delivery radi???

[Radi K]

Marty,

All that can really be said at this stage is that there are numerous things placing some stress on the delivery of the first 777. How serious these issues escalate too I'd rather not speculate as it's simply still too early to say.

[Shameel Kumar]

Boeing machinists strike effecting delivery radi???

It's actually not the machinist strike which has lead to a good number of 777s sitting idle on the ramp at PAE. It has more to do with a delay in the supply of cabin furnishments.

As Radi said, seems like a early-mid November delivery.


As for your question Debra, I wouldn't worry too much about VA getting their regulatory approval. I've booked a return flight with them within their first week of planned operation, so I'm confident that VA will get off the ground as planned.
But then again, there's nothing wrong with having a stop-over in Honolulu. A very nice way to break-up the long flight to the States! :)
Only downside is VA's inflight service and amenities look like they'll be better than HA's. Nonetheless, as I said, the stop in HNL makes up for that. :)

[Malcolm Parker]

Just announced the launch for them has been delayed until 28 FEB as per recent release.

V Australia delayed by Boeing strike

Virgin Blue has just announced that ongoing strike action at Boeing's Seattle plant will delay the launch of its long-haul international airline V Australia.

V Australia was meant to launch on 15 Dec, but has now issued a revised launch date of 28 Feb.

Alternative travel arrangements will be offered to all guests booked for travel in the Christmas/New Year period.

Full details in tomorrow's Travel Daily.

[Brian Wilkes]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm 787 has been pushed back to a 2020 launch now:eek:

[Rhys Xanthis]

:eek::eek::eek:

This is something VAustralia do not need, if its true. One would've thought getting into the market ASAP is top priority.

[Michael Morrison]

Wow - 2 months delay - I wonder if Beoing will have to fork out any lost $$$$$

[Lukas M]

From the email..
In the first instance, from today we have commenced contacting all Guests booked in the period 15 December 2008 to 16 January 2009 to offer the following alternative arrangements:

If you wish to rebook on V Australia for flights that depart on or after 1 March 2009, we would be delighted to reaccommodate you at no additional cost. As a goodwill gesture we would also provide you with a $200 voucher for travel on Virgin Blue's Australian network;
If you prefer, we can provide you with a full refund; or
We will do our very best to secure an alternative flight on another airline, arranged at our expense."
Number 3 is attractive, here we come A380!

[Rhys Xanthis]

Would Boeing have to pick up the tab on that?

[Marty H]

http://www.vaustralia.com.au/about-us/media-releases/view-media-releases/P_005714.html

:mad:

[Malcolm Parker]

They would probably accommodate them on UA which would be the closest aligned partner out of QF,NZ or UA. if they preferred to go on a different flight.

[Marty H]

Would Boeing have to pick up the tab on that?


More than likely there would be some sort of compensation from Boeing.

[Greg McDonald]

Not new news but look who got their name in the article:



V Australia launch postponed
By staff writers October 02, 2008 05:02pm
In an email to those who have booked tickets for the airline’s first services, V Australia blamed a strike at an aircraft factory for the cancellation of all services between December 15 and January 16.
About 64 flights would be cancelled, affecting “thousands” of customers who had already booked tickets for the first month of services, an airline spokeswoman said.

“As you may be aware from media reports, Boeing has ceased assembling aircraft at its Seattle factory due to the fact that 27,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have been on strike since 6 September 2008,” V Australia executive Scott Swift said.

“V Australia has three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in advanced production at the factory.

“It is in these circumstances that we feel we have no choice but to delay our V Australia launch and have nominated a revised V Australia launch date of 28 February 2009 to protect the interests of our guests.”

'It was a shock," said Tania Cammarano, who with her partner was booked on a V Australia return flight to LA just before Christmas for a three-week stay in the US.

"We had spent a lot of time putting together our travel plans and the domestic US flights are non-refundable

"However the email seems reassuring and we trust V Australia will do the right thing."

Another customer, Shameel Kumar from Sydney, was booked in to fly to the US with his girlfriend to be with her family after Christmas.

“I was just going over for a holiday… my girlfriend lives over there, so I was going to spend some time with her,” Mr Kumar said.

“If (the tickets) are going to be refunded, I’ll probably try to book another flight.

“The fare’s are probably very high (around Christmas)… it probably will be quite costly.”

Customers who had booked flights in December and mid-January had the option of changing their booking to a later flight or a full refund, the email said.

The airline also said it would try to “secure an alternative flight on another airline” if the customer requested it.

“We will be contacting everyone in departure date order, so please be patient as it will take us a little time.”

Other Virgin airlines would not be affected by the strike, Mr Swift said.


Geez Shameel...I think they'll name their first plane after you:D:D

[Andrew M]

:eek::eek::eek:

This is something VAustralia do not need, if its true. One would've thought getting into the market ASAP is top priority.

Yep this will hurt them BIG time, as Dec/Jan is PEAK PEAK travel time for people heading to the USA to ski.

I know of at least 20 people with bookings on V Australia, that are waiting to hear from V Australia.

One person has and they were offered flighs on Hawaiian airlines, which didn't suit them due to the extra time needed

[Alex Lui]

Having spoken to VAustralia after a 2 hour wait, can confirm that they have an agreement with QF to get everyone between now and launch date on a QF flight if they want the flights shifted to another airline.

I have been told that I should receive a response in the next few days as to whether they have confirmed it or what the options are.

Yep, QF A380 here we come!!

Alex.

[Shameel Kumar]

Geez Shameel...I think they'll name their first plane after you:D:D

Hahaha... a nice Business Class ticket would be enough of a recognition. :D

Well, now due to these changes I won't be able to fly V Australia at all. My circumstances are such that after my flurry of upcoming flights I won't be doing an international flight for another 2 years, so there goes all my excitement about flying V Australia and their 77Ws. :( :( :( :(

But as Alex has just said, looks like us VA passengers might get to enjoy QF's A380s if we're lucky. That's a fair trade-off I guess. :)


Ah well.. watcha gonna do aye. :(

As for that news article featuring me... I get home from work and I get a call, and it's a guy from News.com.au. I hadn't heard anything about the VA delays, I first heard it from him, so I was a tad skeptical about it all (mainly in a bit of disbelief and disappointment). I guess all my VAustralia ranting and excitement got me somewhere. :)

[Shameel Kumar]

Check out this photo from Matt Cawby's PAE website:

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae4163.jpg

Looks like all the 777s sitting there in the parking lot have got engines covers and cockpit window shades applied.


What a sad sight... :(

[Gerald A]

New airline V Australia cancels some flights because it doesn't expect to get the jets it had ordered any time soon. Layoffs loom at local aircraft parts suppliers that aren't receiving new orders.



http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-boeingstrike3-2008oct03,1,1467232.story

[Andrew S]

I was at Paine Field (Boeing Factory) 3 days ago and they have changed their future of flight tour so that it does not go into the factory, instead a bus drive around the whole field, was able to get few glances at the V Australia 777 parked, is looking really good.

The reason the tour is not going into the factory is because they do not want to cross the picket lines.

Just interesting to see the many ways the strike is affecting people.

[Karl M]

Damn, what a shame you did not go into the factory. It is worth seeing.

[Bernie P]

Check out this photo from Matt Cawby's PAE website:

http://paineairport.com/images/kpae4163.jpg

Looks like all the 777s sitting there in the parking lot have got engines covers and cockpit window shades applied.


What a sad sight... :(

Shameel,

Some more for YOUR viewing pleasure... tee hee...

VH-VGA (http://paineairport.com/kpae1279.htm) & VH-VGA (http://paineairport.com/kpae1120.htm) thanks to Matt Cawby, and on his blog just Nov 3 (http://kpae.blogspot.com/).

[Shameel Kumar]

Shameel,

Some more for YOUR viewing pleasure... tee hee...

VH-VGA (http://paineairport.com/kpae1279.htm) & VH-VGA (http://paineairport.com/kpae1120.htm) thanks to Matt Cawby, and on his blog just Nov 3 (http://kpae.blogspot.com/).



Haha.. thanks mate! Real kind of you! :)

Unfortunately my gusto enthusiam for V Australia very rapidly dissipated once I came to the realisation that I won't get to fly them..and that I may not even be able to see the delivery flight.

Thing is, I'll be migrating to the States mid-January, so I may end up missing the delivery flight into SYD and it might be a couple of years before I see a VA bird in person. :( :(

If all goes well, I wouldn't be suprised if VA look for an Australia Day delivery date..which will be too late for me. So yeah, now you guys can see why I'm so disappointed about the VA delay after all that initial enthusiam/fanaticism.

Ah well, watcha gonna do aye... there's still a slight chance I might get on the QF A380 for the 'moving-over' flight, but what aircraft I fly on that day will be the last thing on my mind.

But nonetheless, any new VH-VGA photo are great to see... can't wait to see her take to the air! :)

[Andrew M]

Well done on migrating to the States :) :D No doubt some on here will be why why why, you know the usual stuff.....

How did you manage to let them agree to migration !?

Oh and http://paineairport.com/images/kpae4163.jpg why does the Emirates plane that appears nose to nose with the other one look so much bigger ? :confused: