The Virgin Empire

[Deleted member 29185]

I often think of the Virgin brand as just VA, VS and VX.

Three entirely different entities which occasionally work together it seems.

There's also VA (NZ) and perhaps Virgin Samoa (is Virgin Samoa a separate entity or part of VA (NZ)?).

Why didn't they call VA (NZ) simply VNZ?

Is the VS little red (or whatever it's called) a different airline or simply a set of marketed routes?

Seems we have Virgin Airlines in England (or should that be Great Britain), Australia, America, New Zealand and Samoa. Any other countries?

 

[markis10]

Virgin is a brand, not an airline, and yes, Virgin Samoa is a seperate entity as it has government ownership.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Virgin is a brand, not an airline, and yes, Virgin Samoa is a seperate entity as it has government ownership.

Yes, when I said Virgin Airlines, I meant a group of airlines branded Virgin. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[AIRwin]

Why didn't they call VA (NZ) simply VNZ?

VANZ is part of VA just like Jetconnect is part of QF...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

VANZ is part of VA just like Jetconnect is part of QF...

Yep. I understand that, but unlike the Jetconnect (and even the Jetstar) associations with QF, the VA powers that be kept the name VA. Seems an odd marketing strategy given they wanted at least some autonomy, but why alienate the Kiwis with a name. Surely Virgin New Zealand is far more attractive a name (to the Kiwis at least) than Virgin Australia (New Zealand). Heaven only knows the Kiwis get a tad protective of their little country. They barrack ferociously for New Zealand, they fight for New Zealand, they sing praises for New Zealand.....in fact about the only thing they won't do for New Zealand, is live there!

 

[jetpack]

There used to be a Virgin Nigeria but after a few years it changed its name and eventually stopped flying altogether.

 

[AIRwin]

Surely Virgin New Zealand is far more attractive a name (to the Kiwis at least) than Virgin Australia (New Zealand).

Perhaps because post-Pacific Blue the only destinations VANZ serve to/from NZ are in Australia? Whereas Virgin Samoa operates between Samoa and New Zealand as well...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There used to be a Virgin Nigeria but after a few years it changed its name and eventually stopped flying altogether.

Out all the places in the world, Nigeria wouldn't have been the first to spring to mind!

 

[cavemanzk]

Perhaps because post-Pacific Blue the only destinations VANZ serve to/from NZ are in Australia? Whereas Virgin Samoa operates between Samoa and New Zealand as well...

VANZ flys AKL-APW/TBU/RAR, Virgin Samoa is just and holding company and doesn't have an aircraft the flights are operated by VANZ

E.g ive follow AKL-OOL many times on the 'Virgin Samoa' plane, its just part of the VANZ fleet and gets the same rotation as the rest of the fleet.

 

[adl73x]

Virgin Little Red (UK) is (shortly to be was) a wetleased operation. The planes are red tailed in Virgin livery, but the aircraft belong to Aer Lingus (EI). All fights carry a VS flight number (and no EI flight number as EI are not a codeshare partner of VS). The crews are distinct from VS mainline and based in EDI, ABZ and LHR. Little Red fly from LHR to MAN, EDI and ABZ. The flights are reasonably priced, and the Scottish routes are reasonably patronised. Earlier this month SRB decided the benefits of owning Little Red had not accrued the wider operation - meaning people like me were using it for point to point rather than connecting at LHR with VS mainline. Little Red will cease flying to MAN at the end of March 2015, and to Scotland and the end of September 2015.

Until then, they are the cheapest VS Z sectors earning 40 VA SCs each you will find

 

[OzEire]

There used to be a Virgin Nigeria but after a few years it changed its name and eventually stopped flying altogether.

I got an email offering to cash in my lost shares in this venture, I just have to transfer a small admin fee ...

 

[JohnK]

I haven't flown Virgin America but have flown Virgin Atlantic and VA and I don't see them as part of the same empire even with similar names. They are entirely different.