Virgin Blue To Cocos (Keeling) & Christmas Islands

[Wunala Dreaming]

Source

23 December 2009

The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, has announced a new service provider to conduct regular flights between Perth and Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands.

Virgin Blue will commence services from Thursday 1 April 2010 with twice weekly flights to Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island and an additional third weekly flight to Christmas Island only which will be reassessed after six months, subject to demand.

Virgin will be flying a modern Embraer E190 aircraft which will provide increased passenger and freight capacity. The contract will result in better passenger fares and direct and faster flights which will reduce the overall flying time to and from the mainland.

“I am pleased that Australia’s second largest airline will provide air services to these remote communities, and excited by the potential tourism benefits that this contract could bring to the Island’s economy,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The Australian Government will continue to underwrite these services to ensure that it meets its community service obligations by maintaining a link between the mainland and the Islands.”

Mr O’Connor thanked the existing provider Cobham Aviation for its service to the Islands over the past decade.

Cheers

 

[drron]

The Christmas/Cocos islands were a place I wanted to go but the Government's holiday accommodation has put me off somewhat.

 

[docjames]

commence services from Thursday 1 April

/OT/

I heard the minister for immigration justifying the tents in which they are housing the "overflow" of refugees as "acceptable because our military uses them" when they deploy.

 

[yohy?!]

I wonder if DJ will market Xmas Island as a holiday destination to try and make it a profitable sector, has anyone been there for business?

 

[medhead]

Today's paper also has the story about how the first P&O cruise ship has visited Christmas Island.

Never been myself, but have a few collegues who have been for business. And not detention business either.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

Should be good for DJ with the onward trans-con travel for government employees will probably be with DJ as well.

The lounge in PER has come at just the right time.

Maybe DJ will start a CBR-PER service, the E190 should just about have the legs for this route, although maybe payload restricted on the westbound.

Not sure about the fares, could be cheaper for Joe Public to take a flight to Indonesia then a boat from there, seems to be plenty of them. :mrgreen:

Cheers & have a great christmas.
DJ737

 

[codash1099]

Maybe they'll service Cocos with VA as part of their JNB flight.

That would take us back to the days of the Constellation.

 

[bambbbam2]

/OT/

I heard the minister for immigration justifying the tents in which they are housing the "overflow" of refugees as "acceptable because our military uses them" when they deploy.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.. if there aren't any spare properties, what else could one do?

Anyway I so want to go to Christmas island at some stage. Looks a very beautiful place.

 

[Reggie]

The lounge in PER has come at just the right time.

I don't think "The lounge" will help for the PER to the islands flights as they leave from the internation terminal - at least when I last flew it.

It may help for the domestic sectors back to the east.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

I wasn't aware that those flights departed from the international terminal.
As you say the Lounge at the domestic side will come in handy when returning to the east coast.

Cheers
DJ737

PS. further to my previous post the E190 will make it from CBR to PER, as going PER-XCH with an E190 needs to have CGK as an alternate diversion.

PER-CGK is further than CBR-PER.

 

[russianrob]

Hi Guys,
Lucky enough to have visited them both. Completely different. Cocos is like a pacific atoll, low lying, reefs, lagoons etc. Accomodation is very "holiday Shack" style (but not the prices). Christmas on the other hand is a mountain top rising abruptly out of a very deep ocean. No beaches really, just cliff faces dropping straight into the water and keeping on going down. The crab migration is amazing, so go then if you can. Since the casino closed, decent accommodation might also be hard to find since it's all full with Govt "advisors". The triangular flight used to go to Cocos first, so you got to "see" both for the price of one! Not sure what will happen now.

 

[medhead]

Not sure about the fares, could be cheaper for Joe Public to take a flight to Indonesia then a boat from there, seems to be plenty of them. :mrgreen:
DJ737

Yes, but the prices on those boats are rather over the top. I've heard quotes of $5000 top $10000.

 

[pauly7]

Yes, but the prices on those boats are rather over the top. I've heard quotes of $5000 top $10000.

But do you get QFF points and SC's??

 

[harvyk]

But do you get QFF points and SC's??

You don't get QF points, but you do get months of free accom when you arrive.

 

[StevePER]

Prices have been released for these new flights, they are an absolute bargain at $464 or 60,300 each way. And they are "part of the domestic network" despite leaving from the International terminal, so those prices don't include luggage.

[SIZE=-1]The secret is finally out! Being literally only a few hours from Perth, Christmas and Cocos Islands are hands down two of the best, unspoilt and truly unique island holiday destinations our region has to offer. As with other markets we’ve entered we’re confident our new services will further stimulate tourism to these most remarkable jewels in the Indian Ocean and also help to strengthen relations with the mainland.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]
With those prices, the only thing they'll be stimulating is profit.[/SIZE] I think I should've redeemed Qantas points on this route years ago when I had the chance.

Press release

 

[docjames]

Why do they leave from Intl if they are "domestic"?