Future of HKG-SYD?

Hi everyone,

As a lurker on the Pacific side of things, I'm curious to hear your take on this.

There's chatter that V Australia could launch Australia-Hong Kong flights and, as a result, Virgin Atlantic could end its Sydney-Hong Kong flight, which it apparently is quite willing to do.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Will

I would have thought that that makes perfect sense now that FF schemes are aligned (although we'd like the same TPs please) - sending planes to Aus is a very time consuming and expensive proposition and I think VS and VA could do their bits much more efficiently.

There has been a bit of chatter about this but I struggle to see where exactly VA will get the planes to do this. By the latest calculation I saw the LAX routes require 4x 77W, HKT and JNB require another 2. JNB and HKT are ending but are going to be replaced by the new AUH services which will take those 2 aircraft. The appropriate threads on A.net- pointed out that VA would not have enough aircraft to operate SYD-HKG until new 77Ws arrive (which if IIRC is not until late this year or next?!).


I also am not sure how keen VS will be for this. Lets not forget SRB/SR fort very hard for the prestige of the kangaroo route and despite poor beginnings on the HKG-SYD sector it is now working well. Then there is the whole alliance issue and DJ Groups future direction, this still needs a lot of clarification.

It does make perfect sense, but it will be interesting to see if the logistics make it possible.

I think it would give some legitimacy to VA's existence.

Given Virgin Blue are getting A330's - once they have a few more than the initial 2 to be used on domestic, I wouldnt be surprised to see them on Asian routes.

Speaking of HKG, has anyone heard any more about the 2nd flight being re-introduced this year?

Given Virgin Blue are getting A330's - once they have a few more than the initial 2 to be used on domestic, I wouldnt be surprised to see them on Asian routes.

Speaking of HKG, has anyone heard any more about the 2nd flight being re-introduced this year?

It's VA not DJ flying to JKG - that is unless the rebranding coming soon merges the two (but if it merges to a Virgin branded airline that will upset SQno, unless SQ is selling their stake) ... ?

I've also heard about the second HKG flight being reintroduced. And also, according to this SRB says that Brazil will start in 2011 (and he's looking at creating a South American Virgin airline!

So, if HKG-SYD goes that creates capacity for a new destination, but with all these rumours (A333s not coming, VS joining Skyteam, DJ and VA rebranding (as one?), A343s going, HKG-SYD migrating to VA, GIG starting, 2xHKG starting, etc.) it's all adding up to something ... who knows what will actually happen! I'm agog,. it's dizzying.

My feeling is that LHR-HKG-SYD is just as much about status than traffic. To get flying rights from a non-dom country to another non-dom is not easy and I doubt they would give that up especially as in my experience about half or higher of passengers on the LHR-HKG sector are continuing to SYD (how they manage in one go is beyond me).

Commercially the HKG-SYD route always seems a bit empty when compared to the LHR-HKG which is always crammed. That is the problem for me - without that 2nd LHR-HKG flight that sector is way too busy and I suspect seats are held back for LHR-SYD thru traffic.

It's VA not DJ flying to JKG - that is unless the rebranding coming soon merges the two (but if it merges to a Virgin branded airline that will upset SQno, unless SQ is selling their stake) ... ?

Slinks chatter has been very much that the airline could drop the Virgin name entirely.

The white DJ 738 has now had an advert placed on it for Aussie Rules but the feeling is that it will be the first plane to be painted into the VA livery.

The use of VA name will mean that they can get round any issue regarding SQ. And lets not forget the only reason for the VA name currently is purely because DJ cant use the DJ name internationally, VA is really DJ in disguise, they have the same CEO run from the same building etc so the only 'merging' will be of the brands the decision is which brand will be used. Personally I reckon the DJ brand could be dropped, DJ are clearly (with their new agreement with NZ; business class being offered on the 330s; them going head to head with QF hence the 330s domestically) now looking to be more of a traditional carrier than they have ever been before and there is really no reason for the Virgin name to be kept seeing as they are very distant from the Virgin Group.

Given Virgin Blue are getting A330's - once they have a few more than the initial 2 to be used on domestic, I wouldnt be surprised to see them on Asian routes.

I am not so sure. The idea for the 330s (2 this year, 2 next) is to go head to head with QFs offering on the PER-SYD/MEL routes. If it works I think we will see these aircraft staying their for the time being.

The 77W works well for VA (excluding JNB which has its ETOPS restrictions hence decision to drop) and think it will stay for a while.

I thought VS did well on the HKG-SYD route?

I personaly wouldn't want to fly V Australia due to the lesser (IMO) J product.

I brought this up in Crawley the other day and there were real, sincere blank looks and mutterings of "Richard would never let that happen!".

Let's see how it plays out.