Air Asia drops Darwin, but starts Melbourne to Bali

[liam1098]

VA MUST take this opportunity and start ADL-DPS flights. JQ will dominate if they don't. This is a real opportunity for Virgin, I can't see how they don't start ADL-DPS flights

 

[Lucass]

Agreed. JQs growth into DPS must be slowed by VA. Re-instating ADL-DPS would be the smartest thing virgin can do

 

[jase05]

JQ already have 11 flights per week on the route and at peak periods have a double daily. I’m not sure they are willing or able to add a third daily

 

[Saab34]

They did cite delayed aircraft deliveries for the prior suspension so it seems probable they will re enter the route, perhaps Q4 this calendar year.

Pretty sure VA has a ADL crewing base.

 

[twinaisle]

They did cite delayed aircraft deliveries for the prior suspension so it seems probable they will re enter the route, perhaps Q4 this calendar year.

Pretty sure VA has a ADL crewing base.

Va's problem is by the time they re enter the market there is a very small market for them. They leave it too late and then give up as it's not making $

 

[Aussie_flyer]

VA MUST take this opportunity and start ADL-DPS flights. JQ will dominate if they don't. This is a real opportunity for Virgin, I can't see how they don't start ADL-DPS flights

too late mate

 

[markis10]

VA MUST take this opportunity and start ADL-DPS flights. JQ will dominate if they don't. This is a real opportunity for Virgin, I can't see how they don't start ADL-DPS flights

LOL what opportunity? If a LCC cannot make a go of it what chance do Virgin have? Virgin does not have the planes spare, nor the Denpasar crew base JQ have. The only thing aussie about JQ is the planes rego and the tech crew.

 

[Lucass]

AirAsia reported a net loss of $50 million this quarter, VA's net profit for the first half of Fy26 was $279 million. VA has stronger brand awareness in Australia, differentiated business model to Jetstar, business, economy x, velocity, AirAsia has none of that. Just because AirAsia has cheaper fares it doesn't mean they would be more successful than VA. VA did operate this route as well but stopped due to MAX-8 delivery shortages, they now have a much stronger delivery pipeline.

 

[jase05]

AirAsia reported a net loss of $50 million this quarter, VA's net profit for the first half of Fy26 was $279 million. VA has stronger brand awareness in Australia, differentiated business model to Jetstar, business, economy x, velocity, AirAsia has none of that. Just because AirAsia has cheaper fares it doesn't mean they would be more successful than VA. VA did operate this route as well but stopped due to MAX-8 delivery shortages, they now have a much stronger delivery pipeline.

I stand corrected but VA still don’t have enough aircraft do they?
As much as I’d love to see the return and would fly them on the way over I suspect other routes are more of a priority for them currently

 

[Lucass]

I stand corrected but VA still don’t have enough aircraft do they?
As much as I’d love to see the return and would fly them on the way over I suspect other routes are more of a priority for them currently

Yes the aircraft situation is probably still not ideal- the good thing with ADL-DPS is they could do an overnight trip, so instead of having a 737 sitting in ADL overnight, it could do ADL-DPS, DPS-ADL and continue its normal flights throughout the day