VA direct Perth-Hobart flights

[HeavyElectricity]

Virgin Australia to launch direct Perth-Hobart flights

Virgin Australia will launch non-stop flights between Perth and Hobart from September, becoming the only airline to offer a direct service between the two cities.

Running three times per week and with a flight time of around 4.5 hours each way, travellers will no longer need to connect via Sydney or Melbourne when jetting between Tasmania and Western Australia, trimming at least two hours of travel time on a return trip.

Nice to see a direct option, but not sure if it can persuade me from 'The Business' on the A330 (and the extra status credits) when flying via Melbourne/Sydney. I guess it depends mostly on timing, price difference, and if the A330 frequency is further reduced.

 

[travellerqff]

I’ve been waiting for an airline to launch this route! The timings are decent too. I have a feeling QF might copy....

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Whilst VA is not my preferred airline - Good on them for giving this new route a go!
5 years this route would have lasted only a few months before being killed off , but with tourism absolutely booming in Tassie at present, they might be able to pull this off.

I reckon QF/JQ will be eyeing off this route off if VA can pull some decent numbers.

 

[Mattg]

Interesting, didn't see this coming!

I’ve been waiting for an airline to launch this route! The timings are decent too. I have a feeling QF might copy....

I doubt Qantas will copy. This route wouldn't have enough demand for direct flights on two different airlines. However it may cause Qantas to lower fares for passengers flying HBA-MEL-PER.

 

[mannej]

Seeing the rejig of the QF network currently taking place, do they have the resources to run this route?

 

[Pleb Status]

I doubt Qantas will copy. This route wouldn't have enough demand for direct flights on two different airlines. However it may cause Qantas to lower fares for passengers flying HBA-MEL-PER.

There is no need for QF to lower their prices as the suckers will still fly QF no matter the price and/or inconvenience.

On topic, I would have liked to see a Sunday rotation so you can make a weekend of it in HBA. Hopefully this new route will be successful and VA will be able to fill out the schedule moving forward...

 

[oz_mark]

Seeing the rejig of the QF network currently taking place, do they have the resources to run this route?

Maybe with a 747

 

[Pleb Status]

Bookings are now live PER-HBA v.v on the VA website....

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Direct flights to Perth from Hobart to begin in two months - ABC News

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin told ABC Radio Hobart it would open opportunities for more international visitors, with Qantas now offering direct flights from Perth to London.

"The ability to be able to market Tasmania as a single-stop destination from London, or any of the European or Asian markets, is just a game-changer for us," he said.

 

[RooFlyer]

Geepers ... that was unexpected. Now for an excuse to go to WA. You up for another lunch @JohnM ?

 

[Ribbo83]

What are the chances it will prompt VA to do something about the lounge in HBA??

 

[Mattg]

Bookings are now live PER-HBA v.v on the VA website....

Prices seem quite reasonable!

 

[RooFlyer]

What are the chances it will prompt VA to do something about the lounge in HBA??

They may want to do something, but until the terminal owner (half Mac bank entity) spends some serious coin to expand HBA, it won't happen. And because the owners won't spent the dollars needed, full stop, it won't happen.

The last thing the owners did was to launch their grand new 'master plan' a few years ago which involved more parking (revenue), shops (revenue) and arrivals area and a new departures area. No expanded terminal footprint and no air bridges.

That Master Plan was out of date within a year, as tourist numbers exploded. So now its paused, while they come up with a new one. In the meantime, unless all flights arrive and depart on time (yeah, right), you can get arrivals waiting on the apron for up to 30 mins until a flight leaves because of limited space.

 

[oz_mark]

The last thing the owners did was to launch their grand new 'master plan' a few years ago which involved more parking (revenue), shops (revenue) and arrivals area and a new departures area. No expanded terminal footprint and no air bridges.

Sounds like all the owners run their airports pretty much the same as each other.

Sweat the assets, till they can sweat no more....

 

[RooFlyer]

Sounds like all the owners run their airports pretty much the same as each other.

Sweat the assets, till they can sweat no more....

In this case, not so much a case of sweating the asset, as wringing every drop of blood from it.

Apologies to the OP for the thread diversion. Just to steer back, locals are now going for a Hobart- NZ tag flight. What a pity Virgin -ANZ had a break up

 

[Mattg]

For anyone that doesn't want to wait until September, there will be a couple of one-off flights on 27 and 29 July on the new PER-HBA route. Timings are perfect for a weekend away.

Fri 27 July:
VA591 PER 13:30 - HBA 19:55
VA592 HBA 21:10 - PER 23:40 (Y is available for $193 on this flight)

Sun 29 July:
VA592 HBA 18:20 - PER 20:50

 

[Pleb Status]

For anyone that doesn't want to wait until September, there will be a couple of one-off flights on 27 and 29 July on the new PER-HBA route. Timings are perfect for a weekend away.

Fri 27 July:
VA591 PER 13:30 - HBA 19:55
VA592 HBA 21:10 - PER 23:40 (Y is available for $193 on this flight)

Sun 29 July:
VA592 HBA 18:20 - PER 20:50

It would be nice if those timings were permanent, particularly the Sunday flight.....

 

[serfty]

For anyone that doesn't want to wait until September, there will be a couple of one-off flights on 27 and 29 July on the new PER-HBA route. Timings are perfect for a weekend away.

Fri 27 July:
VA591 PER 13:30 - HBA 19:55
VA592 HBA 21:10 - PER 23:40 (Y is available for $193 on this flight)

Sun 29 July:
VA592 HBA 18:20 - PER 20:50

AFL: West Coast Eagles are playing Kangaroos at Bellerive Oval ("Blundstone Arena") that Sunday.

 

[kermatu]

Good on VA for opening this up. Hope it does well.

Agree re comments on the woeful airport facilities at HBA.