Virgin Blue/ Air NZ ACCC Application.

[777]

For your reading pleasure, the application that NZ and DJ have put in for Trans Tasman cooperation.

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/trim...=D10+3608354.pdf&trimFileFromVersionId=928756

Most of the details are as expected from media reports but there's a lot more info, rationale, etc here. As a regular DJ flyer who makes the occasional TT trip i hope this one comes off.

777.

 

[dk4]

Virgin Blue/ Air NZ - metal neutral

Some interesting reading in that report!

I have to admit that I love the term - “metal neutral”. But it leaves me wondering if this is merely a “vision” for the alliance or an “achievable goal”. Physically I find A320s to feel roomier than B737s, so even if they manage to approach “all other things equal”, NZ has the upper-hand 3x3-seat fleet-wise IMO.

However, given the “rogue airline thread”, that appeared recently on this website, I doubt how “metal neutrality” can be achieved when Virgin Blue can’t even meet customer consistency expectations across its own fleet. So I am left to wonder how the two airlines will be able to achieve it across two different fleets.

Interesting though, as we can probably assume that if NZ & DJ do move to consistent Tasman products, Virgin Blue will have to roll out this same consistency to its domestic product. That is -

• Seat
• Seat + Bag
• The Works
• The Works Deluxe

http://www.airnewzealand.com.au/new-tasman-and-pacific-service/

So, Premium Economy becomes “The Works Deluxe” and Go Fare buyers will be set for complimentary onboard tea & coffee.

Thus we might be about to see DJ introduce complimentary onboard meals (in addition to their Buy On Board menu) at the higher end of economy fares (to match up against Works/Deluxe). Obviously consistency will mean this has to occur on domestic flights over 3 hours, but what about domestic flights less than 3 hours? It will also mean that the Live2Air product will have to be adjusted to include complimentary onboard TV, music & games for all passengers.

Consistency is obviously a great platform from which to attack Qantas Group, because very few of us are happy about the lack of it at Qantas: but I don’t think that it’s possible to be inconsistent when promoting your consistency!

Pity that “the airline of the future” program was blacked out in the report, as it would have made an even more interesting read. (Oh, and the Sabre modelling data too.)