VA launches direct PER - LST flights

[Daver6]

Hadn't seen this mentioned elsewhere Virgin launches direct Launceston to Perth flights

The flights start on November 5 and operate on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.

 

[AIRwin]

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[Mattg]

A niche route indeed, although given the success of QF's HBA-PER route lately it makes some sense.

VA has launched a few new routes lately connecting states that are not subject to travel restrictions, e.g. ADL-LST and ADL-DRW. I doubt these will last once widespread travel is possible again, but they make sense for now.

 

[Bagpuss]

A niche route indeed, although given the success of QF's HBA-PER route lately it makes some sense.

VA has launched a few new routes lately connecting states that are not subject to travel restrictions, e.g. ADL-LST and ADL-DRW. I doubt these will last once widespread travel is possible again, but they make sense for now.

VA originally launched the PER <> HBA route and stopped as part of the administration process / review. That's when QF jumped and board and always felt it was a good route setup by VA and were crazy to give QF the upper hand.

If it continues as a success I'd imagine it to continues along with PER <> CNS.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I was so disappointed when VA canned the HBA - PER route late last year. Qantas swooped in and established a HBA-PER route almost immediately, so I guess that’s one of the reasons VA chose LST as the Tassie port: lack of competition.

First Adelaide, then Perth... I wonder what LST is offering VA in the way of inducements? Meanwhile, Hobartians are stuck with Jetstar as our only direct route to Adelaide.

Quarantine restrictions aside, it’s probably still quicker for me to drive to LST from Hobart than endure mainland transits

 

[henleybeach]

I was so disappointed when VA canned the HBA - PER route late last year. Qantas swooped in and established a HBA-PER route almost immediately, so I guess that’s one of the reasons VA chose LST as the Tassie port: lack of competition.

First Adelaide, then Perth... I wonder what LST is offering VA in the way of inducements? Meanwhile, Hobartians are stuck with Jetstar as our only direct route to Adelaide.

Quarantine restrictions aside, it’s probably still quicker for me to drive to LST from Hobart than endure mainland transits

Qantas is launching direct flights Hobart to Adelaide. Morning departure from Adelaide and lunchtime departure from Hobart.
We are heading to Hobart for the upcoming Oct long weekend

 

[Stealthflyer]

Qantas is launching direct flights Hobart to Adelaide. Morning departure from Adelaide and lunchtime departure from Hobart.
We are heading to Hobart for the upcoming Oct long weekend

My preference in this environment is VA because I can book with refundable points. I have so many points that I can’t use at the moment. Not through lack of trying either. Every time I have an interstate trip booked, there are lockdowns in my destination and all the points end up returned.

Enjoy Hobart!

 

[jakeseven7]

First Adelaide, then Perth... I wonder what LST is offering VA in the way of inducements? Meanwhile, Hobartians are stuck with Jetstar as our only direct route to Adelaide.

LST is apparently giving QF and VA2 a little discount love, hence new routes from both. But remember VA2 has a massively scaled back presence in Tassie these days so the airports would be pretty keen to try and get them to reconsider.

 

[justinbrett]

Going to be quite heavy Westbound from a 6500FT runway.

 

[flydoc]

Going to be quite heavy Westbound from a 6500FT runway.

@AviatorInsight - is this likely to be an issue ?

 

[AviatorInsight]

@AviatorInsight - is this likely to be an issue ?

Thanks for the shoutout Flydoc.

Unfortunately yes it will be even more of an issue on this route than a regular east coast flight. Here’s what a quick look at the numbers shows.

Maximum take off weight for the 737-800 = 79 tonnes
Maximum take off weight for the 737-700 = 70 tonnes

Conditions: 20°c, Dry runway, No wind, Packs to AUTO.

Calculations (-800) for Runway 14R shows a MTOW of 70.8T.
Runway 32L shows a MTOW of 70.5T. (More limiting due to terrain clearance to the north).

Calculations (-700) Runway 14R shows a MTOW of 66.0T.
Runway 32L shows a MTOW of 65.3T.

As soon as there’s any kind of tailwind, all those figures drop dramatically.

As a last resort at trying to increase the TOW we can use the APU to supply air for air conditioning, that could get us an extra 0.7T if we were extremely limited.

Eastbound could also prove to be difficult in the winter months if adverse weather is forecast. Usually if LST has adverse weather then it’s a similar story at both HBA and MEL.

This will mean additional fuel will need to be uplifted ex PER so pax/bags/cargo numbers would have to be decreased to be below the maximum landing weight on arrival.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for the shoutout Flydoc.

Unfortunately yes it will be even more of an issue on this route than a regular east coast flight. Here’s what a quick look at the numbers shows.

Maximum take off weight for the 737-800 = 79 tonnes
Maximum take off weight for the 737-700 = 70 tonnes

Conditions: 20°c, Dry runway, No wind, Packs to AUTO.

Calculations (-800) for Runway 14R shows a MTOW of 70.8T.
Runway 32L shows a MTOW of 70.5T. (More limiting due to terrain clearance to the north).

Calculations (-700) Runway 14R shows a MTOW of 66.0T.
Runway 32L shows a MTOW of 65.3T.

As soon as there’s any kind of tailwind, all those figures drop dramatically.

As a last resort at trying to increase the TOW we can use the APU to supply air for air conditioning, that could get us an extra 0.7T if we were extremely limited.

Eastbound could also prove to be difficult in the winter months if adverse weather is forecast. Usually if LST has adverse weather then it’s a similar story at both HBA and MEL.

This will mean additional fuel will need to be uplifted ex PER so pax/bags/cargo numbers would have to be decreased to be below the maximum landing weight on arrival.

So far VA has just announced that this will be a seasonal summer route. But really interesting insight, thanks.

Do you think these kinds of numbers would lead to VA having to block seats on a regular basis, or is it not quite that bad?

 

[AviatorInsight]

So far VA has just announced that this will be a seasonal summer route. But really interesting insight, thanks.

Do you think these kinds of numbers would lead to VA having to block seats on a regular basis, or is it not quite that bad?

Even in summer there could be thunderstorm requirements requiring additional fuel flying East.

I'd say they won't block off seats until they see the demand first. Then they may tweak the bookings further down the line once they have relevant commercial data to go off. Fuel load will definitely be a factor in each direction.

I was a big fan of the PER - HBA flights, very easy flying with no ATC delays (until you got back to PER) and the radio was extremely quiet flying that far south, so I welcome the new route.

 

[Carrots]

Given it's a PER flight, could they switch to the A320 which might adjust those figures / provide more flexibility @AviatorInsight?

 

[HS-TQE]

I'd say that depends if VARA needs extra A320s on FIFO work, although I do agree the A320 would provide flexibility (including blocking seats where necessary if load restrictions require it) on the PER-LST route.

Though, there are days where the A320 would do some mainline services on days where the aircraft would sit on the tarmac in PER otherwise.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'd say that depends if VARA needs extra A320s on FIFO work, although I do agree the A320 would provide flexibility (including blocking seats where necessary if load restrictions require it) on the PER-LST route.

Though, there are days where the A320 would do some mainline services on days where the aircraft would sit on the tarmac in PER otherwise.

Please do not give them any ideas

 

[AviatorInsight]

Given it's a PER flight, could they switch to the A320 which might adjust those figures / provide more flexibility @AviatorInsight?

They could definitely do that. I asked a friend of mine who operates the A320 and their numbers come out much better. In the same scenario above they can go all the way to their certified take off weight limit of 77T.

It‘s part of the reason VARA operate the 320 to most of the mine sites, because of their better performance capabilities over the 737 when it’s hot.

But I agree with what Jakeseven7 said, you don’t want to give them ideas.

 

[mrmerc500]

They could definitely do that. I asked a friend of mine who operates the A320 and their numbers come out much better. In the same scenario above they can go all the way to their certified take off weight limit of 77T.

It‘s part of the reason VARA operate the 320 to most of the mine sites, because of their better performance capabilities over the 737 when it’s hot.

But I agree with what Jakeseven7 said, you don’t want to give them ideas.

Flown the A320 Sunday early evening flight out of Adelaide yesterday, was a full flight & from a passenger perspective, had the same experience with VH-YUD as the 737’s, it had Wifi which wasn’t aware was the case with the A320’s.

The VARA crew do round trips to ADL & DRW although the Tassie route assume be too long.

 

[antycbr]

Flown the A320 Sunday early evening flight out of Adelaide yesterday, was a full flight & from a passenger perspective, had the same experience with VH-YUD as the 737’s, it had Wifi which wasn’t aware was the case with the A320’s.

The VARA crew do round trips to ADL & DRW although the Tassie route assume be too long.

Didn’t they do KGI/MEL as well in the before times?

 

[Carrots]

Please do not give them any ideas

Now now... we cop them on weekends doing PER-ADL returns. I'd rather see they shift to LST