Virgin(Skywest) first ATR'S to be BNE based

[lloyd fox]

I am going to start a new thread although this topic has started to be covered in the rebranding post, as i believe it deserves it's own post.

Pprune have stated a few weeks back that BNE will be the first base for the first 4 aircraft ?

Today in the Australian Skywest are advertising for Cabin crew BNE based.

ATR experience highly desirable but not essential.
Training and checking positions available.

It does seem from this that SYD-CBR may go to E-190'S ?

[Hugh Jarse]

Not necessarily, Lloyd. The E-jets overnight in CB out of all 3 bases (BN, SY, ML) and rotate crew through accordingly. Therefore, I see no reason why the ATR's couldn't service CB-SY ex BN.:)

[Zac M]

They could rotate them Luke Qantas do with the Q400s, with a Bne-CBR flight every few days.

[lloyd fox]

Hugh i think aircraft 5-8 will be SYD based and therefore do CBR flights.

[Jarden S]

There is a story in the AA about where VA may deploy the ATRs. From BNE to Gladstone, Emerald and Gladstone. From SYD to Armidale and Tamworth. I expect more routes are also on the frontrunners list.

[Rob R]

Have a look at where there has been no regional competition for the last 10 years and you will have your answer for the first ATR base:D

[Max C]

Don't expect Strategic to last all that long on the Gladstone route. They need to fill quite a few seats just to cover the fuel.
QLink have added another 4 flights per week at almost the same times as Strategic.

Emerald and Gladstone would have to be an odds on favourite. Bundy at a guess but there's not as much business traffic.

Rocky maybe to replace any under-performing E-Jet runs (If there are any)

[Arthur T]

Virgin's SYD - CBR service is pretty good as the time I took them they always full.

Also as business/government officials will commute on this route, think it deserves better aircrafts to provide better services.

Currently QF pretty dominates services to regional NSW, so as VA gets in, defintely fares will become lower and I am quite sure CountryLink will become the worst victim :D

[Oliver Gigacz]

What about MEL-MQL, or can that be upgraded to an E190?

[Zac M]

Virgin's SYD - CBR service is pretty good as the time I took them they always full.

That must have been a one off, last time I took a Virgin Flight up to Sydney I counted no more than 17 people on the flight. That is a regular load!

[Lukas M]

Ditto. At least 10 flights on SYD-CBR, no more than 20 on board.

[damian f]

Don't expect Strategic to last all that long on the Gladstone route. They need to fill quite a few seats just to cover the fuel.
QLink have added another 4 flights per week at almost the same times as Strategic.

Emerald and Gladstone would have to be an odds on favourite. Bundy at a guess but there's not as much business traffic.

Rocky maybe to replace any under-performing E-Jet runs (If there are any)

I think Strategic are targetting more of the business traffic, as well as FIFO workers... perhaps a 'quicker' flight to/from Brisbane could be appealling?? I have heard that Strategic are also considering FIFO flights from the Gold Coast to Gladstone and return too..

With the Virgin ATR's - Emerald needs security screening - space is there in the refurbished terminal - but I haven't seen or heard anything about it coming soon.. Would be great to see Virgin in Emerald - the rumor/story of them coming has been around for years...

Damian

[Max C]

Emerald won't need security for the ATR at the moment.

2012-4 I think was the timetable for aircraft above 20T MTOW to require screening.

The Gladstone council want someone to do SYD-GLT but I'm not sure if the numbers would be there for a frequent service. Possibly ex SYD.

[Jason Carruthers]

I suspect to compete with Qantaslink Virgin will need at least 4-5 daily frequencies to Gladstone and Emerald that will keep two aircraft busy. The only other possible destinations I can think of are Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay each of those probably won't need more then 2 daily frequencies. I'm not convinced Maryborough would be viable Sunshine Express and more recently Rex have tried with 30 seaters with no success. As Liam said the ATR's would suit a daily return milk run to Cairns on top of the Ejet flights I flew TSV-ROK in February with all 78 seats occupied and this isn't exactly a low yielding route with lead in fares around $180. I'll bet any money Virgin will challenge Qantaslink for the Qconnect contracts to Roma/Charleville, Blackall/Barcaldine/Longreach, Cloncurry/Mount Isa, Horn Island and Weipa when they come up for renewal.

Does anyone else think July is a bit optimistic? A month and a half seems awfully close to open a new crew base, train crews on an aircraft that has limited history in Australia and market new routes.

[Dave Parer]

I am a regular business traveler to Rockhampton and Mt Isa from Townsville, and fly to these two destinations. I first flew Virgin from TSV-ROK about three weeks after these flights initially started, and there was only 18 people on the E170 that day. I thought to myself back then that these flights were doomed.

However, every other time I have flown this TSV-ROK-TSV sector, the flights have been very close to full and on one occasion an E190 operated ROK-TSV and this flight was also jam packed. Just recently Virgin changed schedules and the TSV-ROK-TSV service has gone from 6 per week to 4. I am actually flying TSV-ROK on Tuesday next week, and then ROK-TSV on Thursday 12th, so I will report back on the loads on those two flights.

As for Mt Isa, I regularly fly the QantasLink Q400 TSV-ISA-TSV. I can tell you that these flights are always packed to capacity, and with fares not that cheap, I would think it is a very profitable regional route for Qantas. Rex also operates Saab's on the TSV-ISA-TSV route as well, so it will be interesting to see if Virgin do bid for Mt Isa services with their ATR's when the contract comes up for renewal in a couple of years time.

[Jason Carruthers]

It will be interesting to see if Virgin do bid for Mt Isa services with their ATR's when the contract comes up for renewal in a couple of years time.

As far as I know only the flights via Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek and Concurry are contracted TSV-ISA nonstop isn't covered by Q connect so Virgin can pretty much start as soon as they like. I'd be surprised if TSV-ISA isn't one of the first routes when the start basing ATR's in North Queensland.

Getting off topic but one I've never worked out is why they didn't have a go at TSV-DRW it seems like a perfect route long enough for a Jet, no direct competition, combined population of 350k, both main economic centres of their respective regions not to mention the large ADF presence in both cities. The E170 would have been right sized too.

[Dave Parer]

Jason, I have never been able to work why there is no TSV-DRW flight. It is an ideal route for Virgin to have a crack at, as I don't think there would be enough paxs to fill a 737 or A320, but an E Jet would be perfect.

Apart from ADF, I know of a few guys who live in Townsville and work two weeks on then two weeks off at mines in NT. And how do they get to Darwin from Townsville? TSV-BNE-DRW!! Not even via CNS which I thought would be the most logical way....

[Chris B.]

As far as I know only the flights via Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek and Concurry are contracted TSV-ISA nonstop isn't covered by Q connect so Virgin can pretty much start as soon as they like.

That's correct, also Townsville - Winton - Longreach is covered by Q connect.

[lloyd fox]

With 4 aircraft based in BNE ....Yes BNE-GLT 4 a day,BNE-EMD 3 a day,BNE-BDB 3 a day .BNE-RMA 1 a day,BNE-ARM or TMW 1 a day,BNE-DBO(new mooted service by someone) 3 a week.BNE-CFS 1daily.BNE-HVB-ROK 1 Daily.BNE-MBH-ROK 1 daily.These last 2 services would also connect ROK with HVB,MBH and BNE a sort of small milk run.Out of BNE the ports are endless with Charleville,Alpha(when the big mines start in 2012),Moranbah,Thangool,Longreach via CTL or RMA.

Later on NTH QLD could have up to 2 aircraft based there to do those runs mentioned in this thread.

This would give up to 15 or 16 a day departures or roughly 4 by each aircraft.

My Thoughts only.

[Jarden S]

Jason, I have never been able to work why there is no TSV-DRW flight. It is an ideal route for Virgin to have a crack at, as I don't think there would be enough paxs to fill a 737 or A320, but an E Jet would be perfect.

Apart from ADF, I know of a few guys who live in Townsville and work two weeks on then two weeks off at mines in NT. And how do they get to Darwin from Townsville? TSV-BNE-DRW!! Not even via CNS which I thought would be the most logical way....

Actually CNS is the main hub for passengers coming up from TSV, ROK, MKY and GLT going to NT. Who can swap the QF Dash to either one of the 2 daily QF 717 flights and some passengers next to me on my TSV-CNS flight were going on the JQ flight that leaves from the international terminal which is a short 5 min walk from the domestic one. But I do reckon a TSV-DRW non stopper would work if only they had a look into it and had a spare E190 of course for DJ. QF could start it with their new 717s that they are getting

[Mick F]

Of course, this is all good and well to have these services, but considering Brisbane Airport is already pushed to its limits most days with 1 runway in use during peak periods and considerable holding (I can fly the Maleny holding pattern with my eyes closed), how many extra services can these airlines really add before it just becomes impractical?

Mick

[Oliver Gigacz]

I have been told, that at least one of these ATRs are for Virgin Australia.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2586/5762598246_4e81592072_b.jpg

[James Smith]

It's probably the middle one!