Sydney Service Ending

I wonder if the freed up A346 will be redeployed or parked?

I believe it takes 3 aircraft to run LHR-SYD daily but only 2 for a terminating route at HKG.

Seems to me VS and AirNZ could do a deal?

not likely now... B)

I wonder if the freed up A346 will be redeployed or parked?

I believe it takes 3 aircraft to run LHR-SYD daily but only 2 for a terminating route at HKG.

BA has already "assigned" a 744 to AA for 1 of their LHR-JFK slots (thereby guaranteeing flatbeds on AA to JFK) - so maybe VS will do likewise for 1 of DL's LHR-JFK or LHR-BOS slots.

I wonder if the freed up A346 will be redeployed or parked?

I believe it takes 3 aircraft to run LHR-SYD daily but only 2 for a terminating route at HKG.

maybe we can get that 2nd HKG flight back.

I quit using Air New Zealand because they dropped the LHR - HKG route. I joined VS and have 150k miles towards my next trip down under... and now this. Seems to me VS and AirNZ could do a deal?

can't you do it the other direction via LAX ?

I wonder if the freed up A346 will be redeployed or parked?

I believe it takes 3 aircraft to run LHR-SYD daily but only 2 for a terminating route at HKG.

maybe we can get that 2nd HKG flight back.

I thought I read somewhere that one of the A343s was being parked in April with the others awaiting arrival of the B787-9s. It would explain the freeing up of one aircraft.

maybe we can get that 2nd HKG flight back.

This move doesn't free up any slots at LHR.

I'd never fly Qatar, apparently some of the worst employee practices in the aviation world. EK may not be perfect but are heaps better and it's not a bad airline, apart from the CC where VS remains the best.

Quite... This article was interesting to read
http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/the-tru ... r-airways/

Im obviously hoping that the NRT route doesnt get the can as I think the UCS is still nicer than the Business Class options on ANA or JAL which look more like an office area lol

I have never bothered looking, but if one looks, does virgin show in its yearly accounts which routes make money for them? Or does any airline show this? Makes me wonder why smaller airlines, like virgin, operate abstract routes.

[Darren Wheeler]

I have never bothered looking, but if one looks, does virgin show in its yearly accounts which routes make money for them? Or does any airline show this? Makes me wonder why smaller airlines, like virgin, operate abstract routes.

I doubt any airline would do that. Commercial sensitive information.

Im obviously hoping that the NRT route doesnt get the can as I think the UCS is still nicer than the Business Class options on ANA or JAL which look more like an office area lol

It's being moved to HND I believe

I have never bothered looking, but if one looks, does virgin show in its yearly accounts which routes make money for them? Or does any airline show this? Makes me wonder why smaller airlines, like virgin, operate abstract routes.

I doubt any airline would do that. Commercial sensitive information.

I doubt any company would do that... individual product info does not need to be shown on available public accounts. That kinda info is always very useful to competition ): and thankfully does not need to be disclosed.

Airlines never disclose the financial performance of individual routes or their best performing routes.

Sometimes you can get a view of how well a route is performing if the airline is the sole operator of a route as the CAA publish monthly traffic statistics for every domestic and international route from the UK.

However, I'm sure airlines are able to make a good stab at working out how rivals are performing by extrapolating market data, their own financial performance and competitor activity in terms of pricing etc.

They have access to anonymised shared data. Is anonymised a word?

So they will know what the general market is doing and then extrapolate their own performance from that.

....but looks like I'll have to check out one of the ME carriers - any recommendations?

I have also heard really good things about etihad in terms of service and cc. EY or EK would be my choice

Looks like my next Adventure Before Dementia, out April, back May, will be on Etihad. In which case I should be able to give a comprehensive review of "how it was" including lounges.
y)

ps HWLover will be along in a moment to sing the praises of their Extended Range 777 also.

Thanks Paul, consider it done!!!
ii)

I haven't flown to Sydney, but I would thoroughly recommend Etihad.

I flew Etihad to Sydney about 3/4 years ago in economy. Service was excellent, however at 6 ft I found the legroom to be not so good. Foot rest is big and awkward and dug into my leg.

Just received an updated email from VS on provisions in place to accommodate PAX

http://ebm.virginatlantic-email.co.uk/c ... J/doc.html

Interesting summary here:

http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/a ... lia-151240

Some choice phrases...

...Virgin itself is undergoing a round of pragmatism and there is no room for a high profile but unprofitable service...

...namely that with Virgin's new owner – heavily risk-averse Delta – just across the pond, Virgin's future will swing more towards the Atlantic...

Virgin has already traded an avant-garde ideal for complacency. It would be a sad end if the onetime industry trendsetter were to become a mere extension of Delta's Atlantic aspirations.

I flew as a guest on the inaugural to Sydney and we had a fantastic week. Parties in Hong Kong and Sydney were amazing.

I have flown it a few times over the years and sad to see it go.

It would be a sad end if the onetime industry trendsetter were to become a mere extension of Delta's Atlantic aspirations. [/i]

I'm afraid I think that this is exactly where VS is heading.

I can't see any growth in the airline, and suspect that eastbound services from LHR will continue to shrink in the next few years.

Follow on update on codeshares cessation :

http://ebm.virginatlantic-email.co.uk/c ... ?t_params=

Thanks

Think the last Lon - Syd flight left tonight. The last Syd to Lon flight is on May 5th. A real shame.

Yep it is. No VS200 LHR-SYD on tomorrows flight status and LHR-HKG as VS1200. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... 2014-05-04

I never flew the route but I find it sad that VS is shrinking. Obviously the economics of it all makes sense but I really like VS and whenever I hear of routes terminating I can't help but wonder whether VS will be around in 20yrs time. Accra gone, now sydney