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View Full Version : Virgin Cuts routes in response to Oil Price


BradR
13th June 2008, 03:35 PM
Just released to ASX.

Brad


ASX RELEASE
Virgin Blue Holdings Limited
VIRGIN BLUE RESPONSE TO RECORD FUEL COSTS
13 June 2008: Virgin Blue today announced capacity reductions and a $50 million package of cost savings
as part of the company's response to continuing record fuel prices. The initiatives are the first outcomes of
an ongoing review monitoring global jet fuel prices which now equate for 35% of the company's cost base.
Board and management reaffirmed their commitment to the airline's New World Carrier strategy as the right
strategy in a period which will see a dramatic shakeout in the global aviation industry along with shifts in
business and consumer sentiment.
"It's not a case of planning interim measures to offset a spike in the cost of fuel, all airlines must come to
terms with a new reality in our industry,” said Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue Chief Executive.
Whilst continuing development of product initiatives under its New World Carrier strategy Virgin Blue will
move immediately to implement a number of measures, including the following :-
1. A programme of $50 million of identified savings in the 2008-09 financial year via a cost reduction
initiative.
2. Effective immediately a market by market fares review raising ticket prices by an average of
$5 across approximately 55% of Australian domestic routes.
3. A 6% reduction in planned 2008/9 capacity growth within the September quarter via removal of four
aircraft from the Australian domestic market.
4. A further 2% of domestic capacity will be redeployed from loss-making services into identified better
performing, new or uncontested markets.
5. Virgin Blue will cease its once weekly Sydney - Proserpine service effective July 2008, however daily
connecting services through Brisbane will remain.
6. Virgin Blue will cease flying it’s three times weekly Darwin - Melbourne direct service effective
August 2008. This route will be now be serviced via a daily service through Brisbane.
7. Immediate salary freeze for all management positions for the ensuing fiscal year.

The company has determined it will not exit nor reduce service frequency on Trans-Tasman, Pacific Islands
and domestic New Zealand routes operated by its Pacific Blue subsidiary.
Boeing 737 services operated by Polynesian Blue, Virgin Blue’s joint venture airline with the Government
of Samoa will not be affected.
No staff redundancies are necessary as a result of these initiatives.
Further proposals are under active consideration by the airline in its on-going review to effectively deal with
persistent and record energy prices.
Virgin Blue currently has 53% of its fuel bill next year hedged at $108 WTI. The airline's fuel bill in the
current financial year will be over $500 million, an increase of 21% on the prior year.

Michael Morrison
13th June 2008, 04:22 PM
I guess MEL-DRW is struggling tith TT/JQ contesting it and the 1 x week SYD-PPP is a pretty token cut.

Given that is all that is being cut I guess we will see the 6% redcution come from the return of 4 x 737's to the lessor in favour of smaller E-190's arriving perhaps?

Chris Tully
13th June 2008, 05:27 PM
For reading clarity:

VIRGIN BLUE RESPONSE TO RECORD FUEL COSTS
13 June 2008: Virgin Blue today announced capacity reductions and a $50 million package of cost savings as part of the company's response to continuing record fuel prices. The initiatives are the first outcomes of an ongoing review monitoring global jet fuel prices which now equate for 35% of the company's cost base.

Board and management reaffirmed their commitment to the airline's New World Carrier strategy as the right strategy in a period which will see a dramatic shakeout in the global aviation industry along with shifts in business and consumer sentiment.

"It's not a case of planning interim measures to offset a spike in the cost of fuel, all airlines must come to terms with a new reality in our industry,” said Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue Chief Executive.

Whilst continuing development of product initiatives under its New World Carrier strategy Virgin Blue will move immediately to implement a number of measures, including the following :-

A programme of $50 million of identified savings in the 2008-09 financial year via a cost reduction initiative.
Effective immediately a market by market fares review raising ticket prices by an average of
$5 across approximately 55% of Australian domestic routes.
A 6% reduction in planned 2008/9 capacity growth within the September quarter via removal of four aircraft from the Australian domestic market.
A further 2% of domestic capacity will be redeployed from loss-making services into identified better performing, new or uncontested markets.
Virgin Blue will cease its once weekly Sydney - Proserpine service effective July 2008, however daily connecting services through Brisbane will remain.

Virgin Blue will cease flying it’s three times weekly Darwin - Melbourne direct service effective August 2008. This route will be now be serviced via a daily service through Brisbane.

Immediate salary freeze for all management positions for the ensuing fiscal year.
The company has determined it will not exit nor reduce service frequency on Trans-Tasman, Pacific Islands and domestic New Zealand routes operated by its Pacific Blue subsidiary.

Boeing 737 services operated by Polynesian Blue, Virgin Blue’s joint venture airline with the Government
of Samoa will not be affected.

No staff redundancies are necessary as a result of these initiatives.

Further proposals are under active consideration by the airline in its on-going review to effectively deal with persistent and record energy prices.

Virgin Blue currently has 53% of it fuel bill next year hedged at $108 WTI. The airline's fuel bill in the current financial year will be over $500 million, an increase of 21% on the prior year.

Virginblue.com

Lukas M
13th June 2008, 07:36 PM
You would think TT might now reconsider their MEL-DRW options(Mabye during the day!)

Chris Tully
15th June 2008, 10:38 AM
Although TT have been splashing the media with 'growth plans' to capitalise on the reductions by QF/JQ/DJ, they are hurting just as bad.

Internally they are forcing staff to take leave and cost-cutting on a number of fronts, as you would expect.

If they think they are immune to the high fuel prices then they have another thing coming...

Lukas M
15th June 2008, 11:05 AM
The reason they are sending some Aussie pilots/crew on leave without pay/or to Singapore, is that that 5th A320 that was due to arrive in April, got cancelled and sent to their Singapore ops instead(China routes proved demanding). They had had already hired for this 320, and so TT wont pay them for standing around:mad:

Rob H
15th June 2008, 02:24 PM
When they recruited the crews for the 5th aircraft the demand may have been here, now 2-3 months later with higher fuel prices the Australian market can't support the 5th aircraft. These pilots who have left jobs to join Tiger and are now on leave without pay, shows just how much Tiger have mis-read the growth in Australia. After 6 months of operating they are pulling out of NTL and there is talk ROK is next.

Virgin and Jetstar are still recruiting and have not asked for any crews to go on leave without pay!

Lukas M
15th June 2008, 02:49 PM
mmm, Mabye the 2nd Base isn't on the cards atm

John C
15th June 2008, 04:06 PM
Virgin are not returning 4 aircraft to the lessors - they are being redeployed

Radi K
15th June 2008, 10:11 PM
Virgin are not returning 4 aircraft to the lessors - they are being redeployed

To Europe perhaps on lease? :cool: