Virgin blue implements capacity consolidation

[Nigelinoz]

Noticed this on the Virgin Blue website:

Virgin Blue said today it had revised its Australian domestic schedule following the descheduling of five Boeing 737 aircraft from May 7, 2009.
The airline said the capacity reduction equated to the removal of 28 flights daily from a total of over 330 domestic daily services. The schedule changes are effective for flights from 7 May, 2009. As of this morning they are reflected on Virgin Blue’s web site and will be progressively updated in travel agent and global GDS systems over the next few days.
Virgin Blue had not withdrawn from any markets and had conducted a thorough review to identify high frequency routes where projected traffic flows could bear a temporary consolidation of capacity. The airline said it would contact Guests whose bookings may be affected to ensure any changes are advised and inconvenience minimised.

 

[bambbbam2]

Would be nice to know which routes suffered the cuts...

 

[Nigelinoz]

Would be nice to know which routes suffered the cuts...

I agree,but there was nothing in the press release to indicate which services had been cut,only that the changes had been made to the Virgin reservation system.,perhaps crazydave98 can provide extra information?

 

[straitman]

This seems like a perfectly sound business approach to me. All airlines continually adjust schedules in line with purchases, sales, changes in lease arrangements and numerous other yield management practices.

 

[Nigelinoz]

This seems like a perfectly sound business approach to me. All airlines continually adjust schedules in line with purchases, sales, changes in lease arrangements and numerous other yield management practices.

Yes,and to be fair the media release did state that Virgin would contact passengers booked on the affected services and inform them of the changes,which as you say,bill,is common practice,only today I received an email from Qantas advising me of a change to a flight I have booked for May.

 

[dajop]

Yes this is done all the time, QF are always adjusting their schedules, as are many airlines. I think the media release is more for the audience of investors than customers.

 

[Saab34]

Some routes that have had cuts..
MEL-ADL (3 cut)
MEL-HBA (1 cut)
ADL-PER
SYD-LST (gone)
ADL-HBA (gone)
SYD-OOL (3 cut?)
MEL-OOL (1 cut)

 

[ANstar]

Some routes that have had cuts..
SYD-LST (gone)

Just for winter - it is back for summer which makes sense.

Also ADL-PER is still showing as 2 x daily.

 

[oz_mark]

Just for winter - it is back for summer which makes sense.

Also ADL-PER is still showing as 2 x daily.

I thought it might be one that was reduced, given that Virgin Blue, Tiger, Jetstar and Qantas all operate flights on the route.