V veers to Japan and other news
 

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23349,00.html

Perth to Japan maybe?

Only QF do, 3 per week to Tokyo, in a B763:o

If this becomes reality, it won't happen until next year when their 5th aircraft arrives. Their 4th aircraft will fly MEL-LAX-MEL from 15/9.

Would be great to see them expand to other cities ... would be nice having an alternative Australian carrier to fly with to many destinations, the three people i know who have flown them so far have raved about their service.

Hakan

There are quite a few rumours around that they won't start MEL-LAX non stop and will instead run the airftaft daily on MEL-SYD-LAX instead or drop MEL completely. If they do that, then they have a 4th aircraft that can be put to JNB/NRT from OCT. Interstingly their South African route authority expires in OCT so they need to use it or lose it.
Someone on A.net also posted that the guys hired for VA in MEL have now been let go.

Has it been confirmed that any JNB ops would be via PER because of ETOPS restrictions?

Virgin Atlantic is also eyeing Shanghai - Australia service in the next 18 months.