Virgin Blue 'could fold over fuel costs'

[Marty H]

Originally Posted by Philip Argy

Quote

... do your homework Virgin Blue offerr all of that now

Unquote

Hmm - which of DJ's aircraft are fitted out for J class? Is my homework that bad that I overlooked this?

All apart from three aircraft are offering a Premium economy product, do your homework.

[Rob H]

Just found this on PPRUNE.

"Tiger are currently standing down or asking pilots to take leave without pay. Some senior FO's have been asked if they would go to Singapore.

Looks like the fuel costs are starting to hit them.

I also hear Lion have delayed their plans to enter Australia."

It would appear Tiger are heading into trouble.

[Marty H]

Originally Posted by Rob H

Just found this on PPRUNE.

"Tiger are currently standing down or asking pilots to take leave without pay. Some senior FO's have been asked if they would go to Singapore.

Looks like the fuel costs are starting to hit them.

I also hear Lion have delayed their plans to enter Australia."

It would appear Tiger are heading into trouble.

No airline is going to be immune for this and anyone is kidding themselves if they think otherwise.

[Philip Argy]

Originally Posted by Marty H

All apart from three aircraft are offering a Premium economy product, do your homework.

My case rests

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Originally Posted by Rob H

I also hear Lion have delayed their plans to enter Australia."[/B]

Lion delayed their Australian plans because, since Adam Air went bust, Lion need all the capacity it can get in Indonesia for now, so the six 737-900ERs which were slated for Skyairworld will be employed in Indonesia until things start to ease there.

[Rob H]

You cannot compare Virgin with the Ansett collapse. Ansett had cash flow problems for years leading up the collapse, plus they had CASA problems with the grounding of the B767 fleet at times.

Here’s my take on what Virgin Blue might do:

Virgin currently owns 22-23 aircraft, including all the E-jets. They have some 737 leases that are due to expire over the next 12months. They have another 20 odd E-jets on order plus another 3-5 737’s
They could return these older leased aircraft now, defer the order for the new B737’s and slow the delivery rate of the E-jets (ie 1 aircraft every 2 months).

The E-jets could be used to replace the returned leased B737 aircraft and deploy them on the following routes:
SYD-HVB
SYD-CFS
SYD-PPP
SYD –BNA
SYD-MKY
SYD-ROK
SYD-BNE (some off peak flights only)
SYD – MEL (some off peak flights only)
MEL –HBA (off peak flights only)
MEL-LST (off peak flights only)
MEL – ADL (off peak flights only)
ADL-HBA
BNE-ROK
BNE –TVL (off peak flights only)
BNE –MKY (off peak flights only)

Delay the introduction of further regional routes with the E-jets until the price of fuel drops (if ever); however SYD-TMW could do with some competition (maybe twice daily E170).

Deploy 3-4 E190's to NZ to replace the B737's currently operating domestic flights and make greater usage of the E190's on flights to the pacific islands.


Changes to Premium Economy, ie drop the price (by about 20-30%), give free Live-to-air and free food and drinks. This will entice a larger customer base.

That’s my thoughts, but I guess by this time next week we all will know their plans.

[Clarke P]

Originally Posted by Rob H

Virgin currently owns 22-23 aircraft, including all the E-jets. They have some 737 leases that are due to expire over the next 12months. They have another 20 odd E-jets on order plus another 3-5 737’s
They could return these older leased aircraft now, defer the order for the new B737’s and slow the delivery rate of the E-jets (ie 1 aircraft every 2 months).

I thought I recalled a special livery for their 50th 737??

Wikipedia also says they have 52 737's and 5 e-jets...

So your statistics (or theirs & mine!) might be off.

But I like your idea, however I don't know if they'd consider it.

It would make their premium economy a full-service product.. direct competition with Qantas that hasn't been seen on a lot of routes for ages.

However I don't know how it would work thus i'm keeping my output to a minimum.

[Rhys Xanthis]

Originally Posted by virginblue.com.au

Virgin Blue operates a fleet of 53 Next Generation Boeing 737 and Embraer aircraft. Below is technical information on all of the aircraft flown by Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue.

http://virginblue.com.au/AboutUs/OurFleet/index.htm

no info about numbers of e-jets though.

[Adam P.]

Clarke,

Virgin currently owns 22-23 aircraft,

(my bolding).

They LEASE the rest....

[Daniel M]

Originally Posted by Rob H

Changes to Premium Economy, ie drop the price (by about 20-30%), give free Live-to-air and free food and drinks. This will entice a larger customer base.

Preceisely what I have been talking to a few people about the last week or so...its ridiculous...we send out planes every day and 90% of them have no pax, or perhaps 1 or 2 at the most, in Premium Economy. And that is no exaggeration. It literally is not selling, to/from Melbourne anyway. Granted you get a bit more leg room, some extra width, extra baggage (what corporate travellers are going to be lugging ~32kg of stuff with them?), access to the blue room...but what about in flight? As you mentioned Rob...how hard would it be to offer free Live2Air, free coffee/alcohol and some food...

Interesting times ahead...