"Virgin extends its reach into Asia" (The Australian)

[Fruitcake]

Virgin extends its reach into Asia

"The Australian understands Virgin is considering starting flights to Singapore or another major Asian destination using Boeing 777 or A330 long-range aircraft, in line with its stated strategy to fly its own services to hubs operated by its alliance partners."

...

"In one scenario, one of its Boeing 777 aircraft that presently flies to Abu Dhabi would be redeployed in a service to Singapore. In another scenario, that aircraft could continue to fly to Abu Dhabi via Singapore. In a third scenario, one of the new A330 aircraft could be deployed on the Australia-Singapore route."

Also re-reported in the AFR, but with no new information.

 

[cmon0005]

Good luck to em'.... the route is already saturated in my own opinion.

 

[smit0847]

I guess from secondary ports (BNE, ADL and PER) there is opportunity but Im not sure what VA can offer out of MEL and SYD that SQ don't already. They already have the frequency, the reputation and as good (A330, 777) or better (A380, 77W) product than VA can offer. I doubt VA will take on extra 777s to send to SIN - it seems like too short a route, as evidenced by the attempts with NAN and HKT.

I would have thought if they wanted to deploy A330s internationally they would look at trying them on DPS and HKT (and possibly NAN and eventually HNL) as these routes receive complaints in both Y and J about the poor hard product for a fairly long flight.

If they wanted to take on more 777s wouldnt it make more sense to work with EY instead of SQ to increase frequencies into AUH?

I overheard a VA CSM last night observing how low the A330 loads to PER are and how unsustainable it was. He said VA are just waiting for QF to blink first before they start deploying these A330s on more sensible routes (i.e. mid-haul intl).

 

[Boris spatsky]

Singapore with A330 i reckon, been an expansion rumour for 5 years

 

[moa999]

But reportedly QF also has very low loads on the new SIN returns, so wouldn't think smart to enter routes with existing overcapacity

 

[elbarto]

I always thought China was on their radar. Why bother with SIN when there's plenty of competition and you have a partner in SQ who has it more than adequately covered.

 

[lovestotravel]

The domestic A330's won't stay on domestic forever

SIN is a waste of time with SQ flying up to 4 times daily from MEL + SYD with a better product on the A380/77W

 

[markis10]

The domestic A330's won't stay on domestic forever

SIN is a waste of time with SQ flying up to 4 times daily from MEL + SYD with a better product on the A380/77W

From your origin perhaps, however ex BNE the VA equipment would equal to best on the route.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It would seem to me that taking an A330 out of coast to coast which are actually doing quite ok to put them on oversaturated Asian markets wouldn't be a great idea. Both my flights to/from SYD last week were almost if not completely full in J and very healthy in Y.

Perth to Hong Kong with a VS codeshare is a possibility but if QF couldn't make it work...

 

[Jousams]

EY could do BNE-AUH direct. VA could pick up excess capacity. on BNE - SIN

 

[Jousams]

also there is already a "virgin to asia" thread.
could we merge?
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ocity/virgin-sets-its-compass-asia-38879.html

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The domestic A330's won't stay on domestic forever

Where did you come up with this? What is your reason?

I don't believe they are going to go backwards to a 737 product.

 

[lovestotravel]

Where did you come up with this? What is your reason?

I don't believe they are going to go backwards to a 737 product.

They are "too good" for a domestic only product

No chance of going backwards to a 737, they will stay on domestic but will be mixed with international as well.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

They are "too good" for a domestic only product

No chance of going backwards to a 737, they will stay on domestic but will be mixed with international as well.

so they will stay on domestic... but also fly international. Bit different to your original post ;-)

 

[SteveJohnson]

I agree with those who suggest Singapore is already saturated. SQ has, three or four daily flights SYD-SIN and MEL-SIN, why on earth should Virgin seek to replicate this? It makes no sense.

They could do better on SYD-HKG except that Cathay Pacific pretty much 'owns' that, maybe they should try MEL-HKG because there's also VS on SYD-HKG at the moment. Either that or Sydney to Shanghai if they could hook up with a Chinese partner?

As for A330s to Perth I agree they are waiting to see if Qantas blinks or 'vice versa'. Easiest thing might just be to scrub one SYD-PER and/or MEL-PER flight and hope that most people shift to another VA flight on that same route?

 

[markis10]

Two possibilities, they replace EY in BNE where the only other SIN competition is SQ with similar config in the afternoons, and/or they start PER to India connecting with VS which would be quicker than SIN, this would also allow current India customers to route via PER from the east coast, possibly using 777 domestically given Sydney now has 777 config NIG bays at the domestic terminal.

 

[Noob]

EY could do BNE-AUH direct. VA could pick up excess capacity. on BNE - SIN

That's a really plausible scenario - EY/SQ are both shareholders in VA and make money if VA makes money, the service could codeshare with EY/SQ etc...

Maybe some ex-SQ 772s might be swung their way and totally refurbished a la refurbished QF 747s (on all accounts they are like near-new aircraft)

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Two possibilities, they replace EY in BNE where the only other SIN competition is SQ with similar config in the afternoons, and/or they start PER to India connecting with VS which would be quicker than SIN, this would also allow current India customers to route via PER from the east coast, possibly using 777 domestically given Sydney now has 777 config NIG bays at the domestic terminal.

Transiting in India is not something anybody wants to be doing. I think that would be a VERY hard sell.

 

[777]

The only way that SIN makes sense is if SQ agrees to drop a frequency ex SYD or MEL and the two get some sort JV up and running. That could actually make some sense -- what SQ might lose in terms of tix on their own metal they may well pick up in terms of extra feed to their Asian and European network.

Personally, i think the logical place to deploy excess a330 capacity is PER-AUH but that's just me.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Personally, i think the logical place to deploy excess a330 capacity is PER-AUH but that's just me.

Before EK's 3rd daily I would have agreed.