Sydney Service Ending

This is a surprise...

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... rvice.html

That's a real shame, it's one of the flag-ship routes and I've had some fabulous trips down to Oz in UCS. Very sad.

Definitely a big shame but I suspect this is a sensible financial decision -- a notoriously tough route with poor yields, on the hungry A346s.

Oh dear, and there was me thinking, following my recent to and fro OZ via HKG on VS, that they could put an additional service on that route. Both legs each way were on full planes.

But costs are indeed costs. So back to EK I toddle.

oh noooo
I was really hoping to take VS if we ever venture back down to the southern hemisphere. Looks like SQ then ):
on a side note - will this have anything to do with Delta?

Link to an email I just received

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

Thanks

So back to EK I toddle.

I wonder if that's the underlying reason for the decision. The new Emirates/Qantas partnership has opened up so many new - and in many ways easier and more convenient - ways to get from the UK (including several regional airports) to Australia.

The VS LHR-SYD operation can't be cheap, with a separate cabin crew base in HKG and a full service Clubhouse there. I wonder if they'll close that base and operate the HKG flights with London-based crews, and I also wonder whether the HKG Clubhouse will survive as its primary function seems to be to provide showers & refreshments to LHR-SYD through pax during the short layover.

@gumshoe - I hadnt thought of it in that way. I retract my comment re: having anything to do with Delta.
I think you are so right, especially with the regional airport options too.
VS just arent as big as Emirates/Qantas so it cant be helped.

And Etihad's tie in with Virgin Australia piles the pressure on!

Thanks

Gosh.
We managed to get 2 G's to oz a few years ago, over new year.
But yes, I can see competitive the route is now.

Still, at least it's comforting to see on the VS FAQ page that SRB 'loves this country and its people'.

Slightly patronising tone being adopted here I have to say!

So back to EK I toddle.

I wonder if that's the underlying reason for the decision. The new Emirates/Qantas partnership has opened up so many new - and in many ways easier and more convenient - ways to get from the UK (including several regional airports) to Australia.

It's a bit of a shame as I had hoped at some time to have the excuse to spend a day in the air in UC and experience the HKG CH. Oh well.

EK offering a two leg route from several airports in the UK was one of the reasons (along with cost and reviews :w ) for our picking them for our Australian adventure a few weeks back.

They've not been anywhere near matching the prices that Etihad and Emirates have had over the last year. I mean, wasn't there a 2 for 1 which worked out business for 1.25K a while back? And Emirates hitting occasional 2.4K's with limos (I assume thats to LHR, from DBX, to DBX, from SYD, all x 2, so 8 limos, correct me if I'm wrong).

Seems like a cut throat route to me, and probably wise to pull from it...

Seems like a cut throat route to me, and probably wise to pull from it...

A cut throat route, and also a route that's very costly and operationally difficult to run for a UK-based airline.

It involves a plane being away from base for nearly 3 days, a separate cabin crew base in HKG and presumably flight crews away for days on end.

Curtailing the VS200/201 to HKG will mean it can be operated just like VS's other routes, with London-based crews on standard rotations.

Dubai is the other route where I'd question VS's long-term commitment. Their one flight a day makes them look very, very small compared to EK which has - what - a dozen? More?

On the other hand it's a short route so relatively easy and cheap to operate, and of course the passenger and cargo loads may still make it worthwhile. But with their increasing dominance, I assume EK pretty much dictate the fares to & from DXB and they can afford to charge a lot less than VS.

If BA and Qantas together can't make it work, and with EK flooding the route with A380s from Europe to several points in Australia and offering much more competitive pricing (at least in the front), it's not a surprise. There was a recent thread on ANet about VS to SYD and I wonder if someone heard a rumour ...

It is however a great shame. I'm glad I had the opportunity to do SYD on VS. I also believed this was one of SRBs most desired routes so it tells me the new boss has sway to cut the losses.

In the past something new would have come of slots and planes, but with VS downsizing the fleet and no new slots released from this move, it's a further reduction in VS flying. Cutting loss making activity is one necessary strategy, but I'd like to see something new and additional too.

My understanding is that the route does not offer the premium cabin returns that one needs. (There was a discussion on FT about this not so long ago.) Plus, since VS run it with 346s, I assume that it is hugely costly in fuel terms.

I hope the HKG Clubhouse survives, from a purely selfish perspective. I struggle to think of a better experience.

Someone over on FT says this wasn't meant to be announced today but was leaked to the press early.

The FT thread also mentions that the HKG Clubhouse is also used by EVA so chances are it will stay.

But yes, this is nothing to do with LHR slots or fleet utilisation. This is pure cost cutting and making some tough decisions about under-performing routes - and in particular one that is logistically and financially very difficult to operate for an airline based in London.

[Darren Wheeler]

I suspect the crew will stay based in HK as it's more to do with language on-board. In the same way there are local crew in Shanghai and Tokyo.

I suspect the crew will stay based in HK as it's more to do with language on-board. In the same way there are local crew in Shanghai and Tokyo.

There is local crew in BOM, DEL, PVG, HKG & LOS. The NRT local crew are actually based out of LHR and can also do JFK/EWR flights.

I heard that around 90 HKG crew however would be made redundant.

I have fantastic memories of flights to SYD on VS and the HKG CH is a big favourite ^) . Very sad to see it go but if they can't make it work for them they are right to concentrate on the routes that can make a profit. y)

Gosh. just read this news, such a shame. :0

Thankfully I'm flying it - one last time as it turns out - next week. Many months ago, I booked a couple of Upper Class rewards to Sydney and I head out a week today. Fortunately we return before the 5th May.

Would be a bit of a sod if they cancelled after your departure but before your return...

Still, at least it's comforting to see on the VS FAQ page that SRB 'loves this country and its people'.

Slightly patronising tone being adopted here I have to say!

yep - loves it so much he is happy to live here and pay taxes.

I fly this route a lot. Fares have always been high in all classes v other airlines. However always busy. Just booked BA for that reason for the first time in a while. Ironically I was told the flights were full when questioning the price.

I heard the A346 was very costly with the UCS being too heavy. Assumed the 787 would be used quite quickly.

Have been a gold card for a while, but sadly this could be the time to move. Rumours that BA will pull the route too, but at least they have Cathay Pacific and Oneworld.

I just wonder if this is the beginning of the end..... maybe Willie Walsh will get to "knee" his adversary after all..... i hope not.