Virgin Australia A320's?

[Meggsy]

On my flight home last night I picked up the new May edition of Voyeur magazine. I noticed at the rear under the aircraft fleet section that VA is now listing A320 aircraft in VA livery as part of their fleet. Pax No is 156 which is well short of current Tiger configuration. Is VA planning on purchasing A320's or reconfiguring the Tiger aircraft now that the deal to buy Tiger is approved?

 

[777]

On my flight home last night I picked up the new May edition of Voyeur magazine. I noticed at the rear under the aircraft fleet section that VA is now listing A320 aircraft in VA livery as part of their fleet. Pax No is 156 which is well short of current Tiger configuration. Is VA planning on purchasing A320's or reconfiguring the Tiger aircraft now that the deal to buy Tiger is approved?

SkyWest would be the answer.

 

[93D]

Skywest, they currently have one with another on its way shortly, you will also notice that the Fokker 100 and Fokker 50 is also listed.

 

[oz_mark]

It will be one of the aircraft they have picked up from Skywest.

 

[dzinh]

Hence why all the VA aircraft are positioned on the left and Skywest aircraft are positioned to the right.

 

[Meggsy]

Thanks all for that info. I was unaware Skywest had an A320. It certainly is becoming a mixed bag fleet

 

[dzinh]

Skywest fleet http://www.skywest.com.au/flightinfo/fleet.aspx

VH-FNP
VH-YUD 2003 ex British Airways. Currently in SIN for a VA makeover.

Im pretty sure those aircrafts will remain and continue to operate on the routes Skywest are operating, you won't find them operating VA's main routes any time soon

 

[Virgin Bart]

I heard that Borghetti is making some kind of announcement about SkyWest on Wednesday. Not sure what.

And then in BNE also next week for a media event RE A330s.

 

[Obzerva]

Skywest announcement will be the name change from Skywest to Virgin Australia Regional Airlines am guessing.

noticed it in the system on Friday afternoon (am a travel agent) that for ATR flights it not longer says "operated by Skywest for Virgin Australia" it now says "operated by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines"

 

[Virgin Bart]

Interesting. I also noticed in MEL lounge today that the XR flights (read: flight, only one per day from MEL; MEL-PER) displayed on the departures board. Although this may have always been the case.

 

[Obzerva]

one per day? I thought they only had a weekly flight.
PER-KGI-MEL on Fridays, and MEL-KGI-PER on Sundays, although if you were in the Melbourne lounge today it does make sense as to why you have seen it.

not sure what the aircraft does on it's layover in Melbourne, unless they rotate aircraft through for maintenance maybe.

 

[bullerdude]

Skywest announcement will be the name change from Skywest to Virgin Australia Regional Airlines am guessing.

noticed it in the system on Friday afternoon (am a travel agent) that for ATR flights it not longer says "operated by Skywest for Virgin Australia" it now says "operated by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines"

Probably right - that name was mentioned in a press announcement last month

http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/media/2013/VA_APPOINTS_GROUP_EXE_REGIONAL/

 

[Virgin Bart]

one per day? I thought they only had a weekly flight.
PER-KGI-MEL on Fridays, and MEL-KGI-PER on Sundays, although if you were in the Melbourne lounge today it does make sense as to why you have seen it.

not sure what the aircraft does on it's layover in Melbourne, unless they rotate aircraft through for maintenance maybe.

Sorry Obzerva, my mistake. I made an an incorrect assumption.

I wonder that the aircraft and crew do on the Saturday.

 

[Jamesl]

The plane arrives on Friday, it is cleaned and then towed to JHAS to be PARKED. The aircraft does nothing till Sunday around 1700, the engineer arrives and completes ground inspections, then around 1730-1800 the aircraft is towed up after F12 is vacated by VA. The crew enjoy a full day off on the Saturday.

 

[Jamesl]

Also getting back on track, the likely hood of the 2 A320s and the F50s staying in the fleet is running out fast. Mainly due to age for the A320s and that the ATR-500s will replace the 50s

 

[markis10]

Also getting back on track, the likely hood of the 2 A320s and the F50s staying in the fleet is running out fast. Mainly due to age for the A320s and that the ATR-500s will replace the 50s

If that was the case I doubt they would be painting them in VA colors like they are!

 

[day-heg]

Interesting. While there is no doubt the A320 will be sticking around for a bit given they are rebranding it, I thought fleet commonality would be much more cost efficient given they'd be no need for additional staff with specific quals/experience; ie engineers, flight & cabin crew and equipment etc etc.
Flick the Airbus and buy/lease another 738 to replace it (with more seating capacity too?) But I'm sure it's not as simple as that, and smarter people that me have made the decision!

 

[Jamesl]

If that was the case I doubt they would be painting them in VA colors like they are!

VBY has just left the fleet and it didn't last long in VA colours...

 

[Fruitcake]

The Skywest aircraft don't work that hard. If you were to buy/lease a new 73H you would want it working 10+ hours a day like the mainline fleet to justify its capital costs. That's the main reason that charter fleets tend to be relatively old - higher maintenance and operating costs are offset by dramatically lower capital costs. So if demand is low or they miss a couple of FIFO contracts, that A320 can be parked in the corner for a couple months without costing too much.

 

[oz_mark]

The Skywest aircraft don't work that hard. If you were to buy/lease a new 73H you'd need it working 10+ hours a day like the mainline fleet to justify its capital costs.

The two A320s are on lease from Avation. Depends what's left on the lease - could be a few years in it!

(FWIW, the first A320 was leased at USD190,000 per month!)