New Virgin Blue Routes

[brissyflyer]

From the Virgin Blue website:

Wednesday 11 February 2009: Virgin Blue Airlines has announced it will launch five brand new services between a number of ports on its network including daily return flights between Canberra – Hobart, Canberra – Townsville, Townsville-Gold Coast, Townsville –Rockhampton as well as Townsville - Cairns. The new services will all commence from Monday 6 April.

Special online SALE FARES for each of the routes go on sale from today until 17 February 2009, for travel from first day of nonstop service until 25 June:

• Canberra – Hobart $99* one-way on the internet
• Canberra – Townsville $149* one-way on the internet
• Townsville-Gold Coast $99* one-way on the internet
• Townsville-Cairns $69* one-way on the internet
• Townsville-Rockhampton $69* one-way on the internet

Virgin Blue will operate its executive-style EMBRAER E-Jets on all the new routes offering two by two seating configuration.

 

[Standby]

Virgin Blue-FIVE BRAND NEW ROUTES TO BE INTRODUCED TO NETWORK

5 New Routes using EMBs....isnt this a bit at odds with expected Route cuts openly being touted?

Virgin Blue > News and Press Releases

 

[ANstar]

Interesting!

Do they have any new Ejets arriving or are they coming from another route?

 

[ANstar]

Jetstar to start Interlining

Perhaps a sign Virgin Blue's New World Carrier strategy is working

“Whilst many other value based airlines globally remain fixated with a particular business model, the demonstrated nimbleness and adeptness of Jetstar to best meet its existing and future distribution needs will continue to see us well placed to support sustainable future expansion across the Asia Pacific region.

Jetstar to introduce interlining with Qantas and international airlines - Low Cost Airline News

 

[NM]

Re: Virgin Blue-FIVE BRAND NEW ROUTES TO BE INTRODUCED TO NETWORK

5 New Routes using EMBs....isnt this a bit at odds with expected Route cuts openly being touted?

no really at odds with what Brett Godfrey has said recently. I believe he indicated that all routes will be reviewed in light of the current climate. many people have interpreted "reviewed" as meaning "reviewed to see if they should be cut". But there may well be good business decisions to open new routes at this time. It may well be that the routes were once in the difficult capacity band between a 737-700 and an E-Jet. So it makes sense to look for viable routes for aircraft like the Embraers.

 

[Mal]

Look to be re-deployees:

The new flights are a result of the company’s strategic review in 2008 which highlighted an opportunity for the airline to redeploy aircraft from under–performing markets onto other routes.

 

[NM]

note that I have merged three threads on the same topic into this one thread.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Brett Godfrey openly talke about capacity cuts in this thread which I posted yesterday.
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-news/capacity-cuts-likely-virgin-16315.html

 

[Mal]

Brett Godfrey openly talke about capacity cuts in this thread which I posted yesterday.
]

So we don't know yet which routes these planes will be redeployed from? Will be an interesting announcement on the 20th.

 

[Platy]

Nice. Well done DJ!

For us, finally, some proper competition on CNS-TSV (I don't think the SkyTrans service still exists on that route).

 

[Nigelinoz]

So we don't know yet which routes these planes will be redeployed from? Will be an interesting announcement on the 20th.

One thing I do know is that they were using an Embraer on DJ 519/520
on SYD-OOL-SYD,there was a thread on here a few weeks ago about the usual 73 being replaced with the Embraer,I checked their timetable and it was only being used on one return service a day,on the new timetable that service has been returned to a 737.

 

[kevrosmith]

Definitely timely to have some more competition on the CNS-TSV route... I wonder if the TSV-ROK will connect as well? More competition for the traditional milk-run down the coast for regional-Queensland Business travellers.

I wonder if DJ have plans to increase the frequency depending on the success of the new route?

Perhaps they want to take over the MacAir routes to the Cape as well???

 

[Bundy Bear]

Definitely timely to have some more competition on the CNS-TSV route... I wonder if the TSV-ROK will connect as well? More competition for the traditional milk-run down the coast for regional-Queensland Business travellers.

I wonder if DJ have plans to increase the frequency depending on the success of the new route?

Perhaps they want to take over the MacAir routes to the Cape as well???

Macair used SAAB340Bs which are turbo props; once the airport is served by jets then the airport facilities need to get upgraded to include security.

I would hope that Virgin Blue would introduce a milk run type service to compete with Qantas.

 

[docjames]

Macair used SAAB340Bs which are turbo props; once the airport is served by jets then the airport facilities need to get upgraded to include security.

I would hope that Macair would introduce a milk run type service to compete with Qantas.

Uh, didnt they (Macair) go under?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Uh, didnt they (Macair) go under?

got the wrong airline; I knew what I was on about.

I meant Virgin Blue; Macair shut down.

 

[Paul_PER]

Interesting!

Do they have any new Ejets arriving or are they coming from another route?

Two more E-190's I think for a total of:

6 x E-170
14 x E-190

 

[anat0l]

The idea of CBR/HBA is interesting. Then again, DJ were brave enough to have ADL/HBA and it's still surviving, so there's no reason why CBR/HBA wouldn't be worth a go too (especially when QF don't have that many options ex-HBA, period.)

 

[dajop]

The idea of CBR/HBA is interesting. Then again, DJ were brave enough to have ADL/HBA and it's still surviving, so there's no reason why CBR/HBA wouldn't be worth a go too (especially when QF don't have that many options ex-HBA, period.)

Govt traffic probably helps. Likewise with CBR/TSV - probably hoping for some army business with that one? I am sure DJ look closely at what connections are being booked on their services, and really DJ probably already capture a good chunk of HBA/CBR business, as QF services are quite limited into HBA, and connecting to JQ can be a pain (which probably also factors into TSV). That no makes DRW the only state capital without direct connections to CBR (which now has direct flights to ABX, TSV, OOL, NTL, HBA + the big five). Wonder if they'll ever see direct services to NZ? WLG?

 

[Saab34]

Adelaide-Hobart-Adelaide is no longer for Virgin Blue from 29th April according Adelaide Airport Staff. The booking engine also backs up this statement from them.

Tiger killed them before they even started, not suprised though, considering they are offering fares for around 60-70% cheaper. So its just Tiger now!

 

[ANstar]

Looks like DJ are not into comepting with Tiger on some routes (IE the pulled out of MEL-DRW also).

Was ADL-CBR ops with a 737 or EJet?