Virgin Blue Orders Seven 777's

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needaholiday

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Virgin Blue Orders 777's

Just out on the newswires that VB orders seven 777-300's (buy six, lease one) with options for six more. Order worth A$2.6 BLN and they plan to start international airline in 2008. The new venture will create 1,100 jobs...

Link to announcement

Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey was joined by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Hon Mark Vaile and President of Boeing Australia, Craig Saddler, to sign an AUD $2.2 billion deal for six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and options for six additional aircraft from The Boeing Company.
Virgin Blue has also signed an agreement with leading global lessor, International Leasing Finance Company (ILFC) for a seventh 777-300ER, taking the total aircraft commitment price to AUD$2.6 billion.
The order comes as Virgin Blue accelerates plans for its yet-to-be-named long haul airline operation. While routes are yet to be announced, the new international airline will initially focus on flights between Australia and the West Coast of the USA.
 
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Certainly be interesting to see what sort of product they come up with for these long haul flights.

I wonder how they will go about getting their ETOPS certification...
 
If JQ can get it first go on the A332's then it shouldn't be a problem. JQ used the "we already have ETOPS120 on the A320's", well Pacific Blue would have the same on their 738's and I'd imagine this new venture will operate under the Pacific Blue AOC.
 
danielribo said:
If JQ can get it first go on the A332's then it shouldn't be a problem. JQ used the "we already have ETOPS120 on the A320's", well Pacific Blue would have the same on their 738's and I'd imagine this new venture will operate under the Pacific Blue AOC.

Maybe, but A332's were used within the Qantas group prior to going to JQ. Not sure if this helped or not.
 
danielribo said:
If JQ can get it first go on the A332's then it shouldn't be a problem. JQ used the "we already have ETOPS120 on the A320's", well Pacific Blue would have the same on their 738's and I'd imagine this new venture will operate under the Pacific Blue AOC.
Looks to me though that they require ETOPS180 rather than 120.
 
Sorry I wasn't very clear. JQ used "We have ETOPS120 on the A320's" as a way of saying they are ready (and have proven themself enough) for ETOPS180 on the A332's, which they went onto receive. Hence, as Pacific Blue have ETOPS120 on the B738's, they could use the same arguement for obtaining ETOPS180 on the B773.
 
What is the maximum range of the 777-300ER? Will VB be limited to US west coast ports (LAX / SFO) from Australia or will they have capacity to fly further inland?

I believe that I have read somewhere that only the 787 will have a range beyond the west coast from SYD or MEL, but wasn't sure.
 
Thanks guy's.

I put 7880nm range from MEL in GCM and didn't look like it would include hubs such as DEN or DFW, particularly as the route between MEL and USA is not a straight line.

I guess at this stage there is no advantage for VB to want to bypass LAX anyway, particularly as all other major hubs seem to be beyond the range of the 777-300ER and LAX still gives them access to a lot of US carriers for onward connections.
 
danielribo said:
Sorry I wasn't very clear. JQ used "We have ETOPS120 on the A320's" as a way of saying they are ready (and have proven themself enough) for ETOPS180 on the A332's, which they went onto receive. Hence, as Pacific Blue have ETOPS120 on the B738's, they could use the same arguement for obtaining ETOPS180 on the B773.

I understand now.
 
danielribo said:
Sorry I wasn't very clear. JQ used "We have ETOPS120 on the A320's" as a way of saying they are ready (and have proven themself enough) for ETOPS180 on the A332's, which they went onto receive. Hence, as Pacific Blue have ETOPS120 on the B738's, they could use the same arguement for obtaining ETOPS180 on the B773.


Hmm, this begs the question as to whether Virgin Blue ever regained their ETOPS classification (needed to shave some time of Perth flights). I assume (as others have) they did.
 
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Shano said:
... I put 7880nm range from MEL in GCM and didn't look like it would include hubs such as DEN or DFW, particularly as the route between MEL and USA is not a straight line. ...
Put 7880nm@MEL into the "RANGES" bos and you get this: 7,880nm@MEL

Note that the distance is nm or "Nautical Miles"; not standard miles.

MEL-DFW is 7,814 nm's or 8,992 miles.
 
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serfty said:
Put 7880nm@MEL into the "RANGES" bos and you get this: 7,880nm@MEL

Note that the distance is nm or "Nautical Miles"; not standard miles.

MEL-DFW is 7,814 nm's or 8,992 miles.

I'm glad there is only 1 NM
 
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