Virgin Bali expansion, next up CBR-DPS

[Saab34]

The priority should really be PER-DPS which will enable connections across WA.

Not sure when the next opportunity comes for applying for extra bilaterals, but if VA needs to route it as ADL-PER-DPS then they might need to just suck it up if that’s what the bilaterals involve, they blew the chance in the last application so hopefully they will think differently next time.

It’s a fairly basic D transfer experience for passengers between those two specific airports, it’s not like the JQ CNS-MEL which departs from separate terminals which can be somewhat complex for passengers.

I assume ‘D’ Passengers also costs the airlines more in fees/charges, even though all customs do is stamp my boarding pass and yell at everyone for not having ID out at the checkpoint

 

[Bali Guy]

I have visited Baki 23 times.

Before the pandemic, the PHE to DPS was popular with miners and their families.

Some miners rented villas in Canggu where their Indonesian wives/GFs lived. Every month they would turn up to relax after a month on the mines.

 

[Saab34]

I guess the big difference in today’s costs is the E2 has a lease cost of around 10k per day while the F100 is owned and has no value, it’s just engineering and fuel.

 

[twinaisle]

The priority should really be PER-DPS which will enable connections across WA.

Not sure when the next opportunity comes for applying for extra bilaterals, but if VA needs to route it as ADL-PER-DPS then they might need to just suck it up if that’s what the bilaterals involve, they blew the chance in the last application so hopefully they will think differently next time.

It’s a fairly basic D transfer experience for passengers between those two specific airports, it’s not like the JQ CNS-MEL which departs from separate terminals which can be somewhat complex for passengers.

I assume ‘D’ Passengers also costs the airlines more in fees/charges, even though all customs do is stamp my boarding pass and yell at everyone for not having ID out at the checkpoint

With a current scheduled 14 flights on this route I don't think VA would want to even though they want it if that makes sense.

They want the other mainline ports. Nothing stopping them from launching ADL but they haven't even looked at it.

 

[HS-TQE]

I guess the big difference in today’s costs is the E2 has a lease cost of around 10k per day while the F100 is owned and has no value, it’s just engineering and fuel.

IIRC 4 of the 8 E2s are leased, whilst the other 4 E2s are mortgage purchased (similar to the recent announcement where 9 of the next 12 737-MAX8s will be purchased through mortgage payments rather than leased).

 

[Harrison_133]

Not sure when the next opportunity comes for applying for extra bilaterals, but if VA needs to route it as ADL-PER-DPS then they might need to just suck it up if that’s what the bilaterals involve, they blew the chance in the last application so hopefully they will think differently next time.

Problem is, there is no next opportunity on the cards. At least until there is a renegotiation of the bilateral for the major ports, which isn't on the horizon anytime soon. Until then, they're stuck with adding secondary cities and beyond Canberra, there are not many realistic options that Jetstar hasn't already covered.

 

[Chatswood]

Broome-Dps would probably be the best out of those three ports. E2 would suit that route quite well. I imagine the government would subsidise it quite heavily, which could help VA. Then again, SIN might be more attractive because of the SQ partnership and the fact its a proven route

3K couldn’t make SIN-BME work - the load factor worked out to be averaging 54% in June-October 2024, during the dry season when inbound tourism should’ve been more favourable. The fact that Scoot only picked up Labuan Bajo and Okinawa following 3K’s demise whilst not resuming the Broome services (one might think they could feed through to SQ) should tell you how viable it would’ve been.

Besides I don’t think there’s utilisation downtime for the E190s in Broome so I can’t see it happening.

 

[ben95]

Nothing stopping them from launching ADL but they haven't even looked at it.

I think the true reason is probably that JQ is operating with a much lower cost base on this route and can compete ferociously eroding all if not most of VA's margin. Afterall JQ uses foreign crew (separate and controversial topic on its own but I think australian registered aircraft should be subject Australian workplace conditions and laws) that gets paid peanuts and have the A321 LR which is superior to the 737-800 VA is putting on this route. VA also have just 7 VH-8IX registration aircraft that can fly internationally so it's already quite tight on some day given the schedule they fly.

 

[AIRwin]

VA also have just 7 VH-8IX registration aircraft that can fly internationally

8IA to 8IK so 11 not 7?

 

[Saab34]

I thought VA was driven out of ADL when JQ doubled its capacity to 2x321N’s per day? That’s a lot to low cost seats to go up against, back in the day Jetstar was less than daily even competing against VA.

JQ did the same with CNS, upgraded to a 321N when AirAsia started, then pulled back to the 320 when they left.

 

[twinaisle]

I think the true reason is probably that JQ is operating with a much lower cost base on this route and can compete ferociously eroding all if not most of VA's margin. Afterall JQ uses foreign crew (separate and controversial topic on its own but I think australian registered aircraft should be subject Australian workplace conditions and laws) that gets paid peanuts and have the A321 LR which is superior to the 737-800 VA is putting on this route. VA also have just 7 VH-8IX registration aircraft that can fly internationally so it's already quite tight on some day given the schedule they fly.

Still wouldn't stop some delulu people here saying "but VA have a lot of flights/a lot of velocity members so it'll work"

 

[twinaisle]

8IA to 8IK so 11 not 7?

Still not enough frames as some older frames are leaving as new ones come in.

 

[trisreed]

By who? Who exactly is keen? You'd think there would be direct routes if there was demand and not by some keyboard aviation warriors who think they know best.

The airport operators certainly are. Whether it stacks up commercially is another matter.

Karratha residents hopeful as council bids for international airport

The City of Karratha has applied to the federal government for international airport status in a move that has been welcomed by residents.

www.abc.net.au

 

[liam1098]

If VA want PER-DPS so badly, why don't they ditch BNE, and put that capacity on PER-DPS. OOL-DPS could be increased to daily, and MCY-DPS could be added as well to absorb the exit of BNE.

 

[Lucass]

If VA want PER-DPS so badly, why don't they ditch BNE, and put that capacity on PER-DPS. OOL-DPS could be increased to daily, and MCY-DPS could be added as well to absorb the exit of BNE.

They could fly PER-DPS with the 737-700s daily, then use the left over seat capacity to increase SYD-DPS. A morning flight out of SYD would be very popular on VA and probably more profitable than BNE-DPS

 

[liam1098]

They could fly PER-DPS with the 737-700s daily, then use the left over seat capacity to increase SYD-DPS. A morning flight out of SYD would be very popular on VA and probably more profitable than BNE-DPS

Yes, and the good thing with Perth is they could do overnight flights, so instead of having a 737 parked overnight in PER, it would be doing PER-DPS. - similar to what VA have done with CBR-DPS.

 

[HS-TQE]

If VA want PER-DPS so badly, why don't they ditch BNE, and put that capacity on PER-DPS. OOL-DPS could be increased to daily, and MCY-DPS could be added as well to absorb the exit of BNE.

Oh boy, there's a lot of "wishful thinking" on VA's network. I get that some of you want VA to be the "besterest airline in Australia", but let's be realistic here on VA's network and expansion.

If VA actually wanted PER-DPs that badly they would've exited BNE-DPS well and truly by now.

Considering they haven't done so suggests that route is making revenue for them.

Considering PER-DPS is one of the most congested leisure routes in the Asia-Pacific, I'd think VA would probably stay clear of that one for a long while as it would seem very low yield when aircraft on the VA network may be better utilised elsewhere on slightly higher yielding routes.

 

[liam1098]

If VA actually wanted PER-DPs that badly they would've exited BNE-DPS well and truly by now.

Considering they haven't done so suggests that route is making revenue for them.

Considering PER-DPS is one of the most congested leisure routes in the Asia-Pacific, I'd think VA would probably stay clear of that one for a long while as it would seem very low yield when aircraft on the VA network may be better utilised elsewhere on slightly higher yielding routes.

All I meant is if they exited BNE, they could reshuffle their major city capacity. BNEs current slot could be switched to a second daily SYD-DPS, which would offer a morning departure option - like what they did in MEL with their second frequency. I know its unlikely, I was just saying they can reshuffle capacity, and BNE would be the best place to do it considering OOL and MCY are only an hour drive from BNE, and have no seat restrictions to DPS

 

[Lucass]

Oh boy, there's a lot of "wishful thinking" on VA's network. I get that some of you want VA to be the "besterest airline in Australia", but let's be realistic here on VA's network and expansion.

If VA actually wanted PER-DPs that badly they would've exited BNE-DPS well and truly by now.

Considering they haven't done so suggests that route is making revenue for them.

Considering PER-DPS is one of the most congested leisure routes in the Asia-Pacific, I'd think VA would probably stay clear of that one for a long while as it would seem very low yield when aircraft on the VA network may be better utilised elsewhere on slightly higher yielding routes.

VA want PER-DPS, that is abundantly clear.

 

[HS-TQE]

VA want PER-DPS, that is abundantly clear.

If VA were desperate for PER-DPS, they wouldve "exited BNE-DPS" by now