Virgin Bali expansion, next up CBR-DPS

[elanshin]

Is it possible to connect with SQ947?

If yes, then it is game changer for the ACT.

I don't know why anyone in their right frame of mind would want to fly connecting in Bali on VA rather than SQ from SYD/MEL with a connection there. There would have to be a substantial price difference to be in a narrow body tube for 6+ h over a 350/777/380.

 

[elanshin]

Virgin always seems to carry high connections around its network.

Last year on a delayed MEL-OOL we needed to wait while 30 people got off quickly to connect to the OOL-DPS flight.

DPS directs on Virgin can often get pricey especially in peak while connections are cheaper. Having a look next at the June School Hols, I can connect via Sydney for cheaper on many of the days. You get a huge number of connections when the holiday periods across states don’t align also, ie the directs from Melbourne might be full or priced out for many, but NSW is a week ahead or behind in holidays, so the Sydney connection is priced well and it fills up.

VA to Bali is in this weird position.

JQ has well and truly captured the bogan missile market and QF has gone for the slightly fancier market.

So VA is in this weird middle ground. If JQ fleet expansion and network increases i see them challenging VA more and more on DPS routes. Anything remotely profitable, we'll probably see JQ challenging it.

Then there's GA quietly flying probably the best Y product who really needs to invest in some advertising.

 

[shuuy]

Easier to find point seats CBR-DPS in J, maybe?

 

[markis10]

Going CBR-SIN is just within the advertised range of the -8 and those aircraft are well suited to the economies of "long and skinny" routes."

Not when you take into account the hot and high nature of CBR and the lower hp of the VA max fleet in general.

 

[simmomelb]

Not when you take into account the hot and high nature of CBR and the lower hp of the VA max fleet in general.

I didn't write this, that was from SeaWolf

As I mentioned in my post. I was just replying to it.

 

[markis10]

I didn't write this, that was from SeaWolf

As I mentioned in my post. I was just replying to it.

FWIW range would be limited to 2300nm with 100 pax on a 30 degree day using some rough non company calcs

 

[antycbr]

VA to Bali is in this weird position.

JQ has well and truly captured the bogan missile market and QF has gone for the slightly fancier market.

So VA is in this weird middle ground. If JQ fleet expansion and network increases i see them challenging VA more and more on DPS routes. Anything remotely profitable, we'll probably see JQ challenging it.

Then there's GA quietly flying probably the best Y product who really needs to invest in some advertising.

That’s really nothing new, that applies to all of VAs ops (minus the Garuda part).

The main difference is traffic rights.

 

[AIRwin]

Media release:

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/newsroom/2026/1/virgin-australia-launches-its-first-international-service-from-nations-capital/

 

[jase05]

The fares will probably make it cost prohibitive but plenty of worse airports to do an international transfer through and at least you would get lounge access before the flight

 

[AIRwin]

SQ was using a wide-body (Boeing 777) for it though. I wonder if it might be more practical with a 737-MAX?

SQ would have deployed their 737-8 by now if profitable?

 

[kamchatsky]

SQ would have deployed their 737-8 by now if profitable?

It is more of managing expectations. If SQ sends a 737-8, a lot of Canberrans would complain about being a narrowbody and would instead fly via SYD/MEL for better J/F etc. AFFers would most certainly complain about it.

VA does not have such issue given it doesn't even have a widebody.

I would expect QF to send a 321XLR on CBR-SIN though when they get their international XLRs.

 

[Bali Guy]

Last year 1.7 m Australians visited Bali.

Virgin 2.0 has better brand recognition than Batik Air in Australia.

Holders of Velocity points will be able to use their points on these CBR to DPS flights.

JQ would like to operate CBR to SYD flights, but Qantas will not let them, as this route is extremely profitable for Qantas.

 

[Saab34]

JQ would like to operate CBR to SYD flights, but Qantas will not let them, as this route is extremely profitable for Qantas.

Run some numbers for say 50% loads on an A320Neo for Sydney to Canberra. Nice way to burn some money and waste equipment.

 

[Bali Guy]

This month I flew a JQ A320 from CBR to MEL to connect to a JQ flight from there to DPS.

The flight was full.

There are many people in Canberra who would like flights to SYD without the outrageous prices charged by Qantas for flights that are often cancelled.

When your Qantas flight to SYD is cancelled, you miss your connecting flight out of SYD.

 

[jase05]

This month I flew a JQ A320 from CBR to MEL to connect to a JQ flight from there to DPS.

The flight was full.

There are many people in Canberra who would like flights to SYD without the outrageous prices charged by Qantas for flights that are often cancelled.

When your Qantas flight to SYD is cancelled, you miss your connecting flight out of SYD.

Aren’t nearly all QF flights on that route serviced by the Dash-8’s?
They aren’t going to risk cannibalising their profit routes by running JQ against them

 

[dajop]

They aren’t going to risk cannibalising their profit routes by running JQ against them

It would probably be on brand for Jetstar to have and sell codeshares from CBR-SYD to connect with JQ flights out of SYD , with codeshares operated by Murray’s

 

[Bali Guy]

JQ used to sell the Murrays bus trip from Canberra to Sydney when booking a JQ flight out of Sydney.

I never bothered as the saving was only about $2.

 

[Generic username]

Still annoyed that this route was pulled as it was our best way to get to Bali.

I’m another person annoyed at this. Used to have two flights a day at one stage coming out of covid. Now there’s no J option direct out of Adelaide. Surely there is demand for this route?

 

[Saab34]

They axed it due to aircraft shortages or something, but I think it was more the capacity dump from JQ doing nearly double daily across the week with A321s.

I think with that and now QZ daily the market is likely full. Perhaps they could run it seasonal in peak holidays? No bilateral restrictions on Adelaide they could run it over numerous peak periods across the year.

 

[Generic username]

They axed it due to aircraft shortages or something, but I think it was more the capacity dump from JQ doing nearly double daily across the week with A321s.

I think with that and now QZ daily the market is likely full. Perhaps they could run it seasonal in peak holidays?

I haven’t researched loads on JQ but every time I’m on it it’s packed. As in 99 to 100% load.

Last trip to Europe in J we came back via Gold Coast with VA just so we could have a J seat but have now decided to take JQ direct back. To our surprise a number of people on that flight where connecting back to Adelaide as well. Seems like there’s still demand in the market but totally admit I don’t have the data.