Could Virgin Atlantic to Riyadh Work?

I'm sorry to start such a random thread on this invaluable forum, but this is a question I have thought about for months.

After IAG bought bmi, the EU decided that BA had to give up 12 daily slots for routes to Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Nice, Moscow or Riyadh. Obviously, Virgin is starting it's domestic programme using 9 out of 12 slots after plans to start twice daily A330s to Moscow failed. So that leaves the only long-haul route on the list as Riyadh. Since the slots are coming from BA, why doesn't VS start 4/5 weekly, maybe on to Jeddah, on this potentially high yielding route.

Would it work?

Would you guys use it?

Thanks!

Huh, never really thought about it like that...

Sorry, but I am going to play the pessimist on this one. With the lacking in any kind of regional partners it would serve as a one destination purpose for VS to promote which is not the easiest thing in the world. I actually can't think of any VS airline partners in that neck of the woods ?| ?| ..... have I missed someone out?

There are also a fair few carriers to chose from already heading that way, which is why VS would have to offer something pretty special to garner business on this route. With a lot of up/down service being reported I am unsure that this can be achieved at this current time.

In my opinion, have never needed to go that way professionally. So no, would not use that route on a regular basis. Although, with AU under my belt as well as a healthy mileage account, I tend to consider any port that VS flies into as a potential holiday destination so fully support the implementation of any new routes to places I have not yet been ):

Some good points, though regarding partners, Saudia would be a good feasible choice. In today's FT, VS CCO Julie Southern effectively confirmed the airline will join skyteam. As Saudia are joining too, and they are huge domestically, they could be ideal.

Ok to confirm the exact wording, she says: "probably make sense.."

FT article makes a good read actually, for anyone who hasn't seen it yet: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c1655ed4-7763 ... z2LCVOb6jd

Agreed, VS joining SkyTeam would change the game. Although I would question as to whether or not there may be better destinations with which to fill the map in with.

Slightly off topic, but how did your Small change, big improvement! research go?

EDIT: for those without an FT sub, just whack "Virgin Atlantic ft" into google and it is one of the top options... for some reason this gets around the login request.

Might it have to be one dedicated aircraft? Missing that Virgin lady on the nose if you see what I mean. Or a supply of 24 hour long lasting burkha stencils at T4 before departure.

Could probably work if they were in Skyteam and partnered with Suadia. I believe they could get some of the US-Saudi traffic.

There are undoubtedly better destinations, but my point is that owing to the slots coming from BA, it is worth a try, as the only long-haul bmi option left. Another factor is that after 3 years, Virgin get to keep the slots in question, quite an incentive! (I've read the EU ruling)
Not sure about aircraft, but considering how much slots are worth, it might even be worth delaying a retirement.

Joeyc, thanks for asking, I definitely noticed many improvements from that thread. One big theme running through the thread was the website, be it redemption, seat selection, product information, upgrade bids, seat plus; it seems to be a big factor. Considering that editing one page on the website is not that expensive, I think it fits in to the low cost category too. Lot's of other ideas too though!

An interesting idea. Let me show my hand... I've worked in airline management for years, and in particular strategy and route planning (although never with VS, or indeed with a direct competitor of VS). Looking at a route like RUH... well, it is a high yield route, and in fairness won't need many connections at the destination end, people go to RUH to go to RUH, rather than to fly on. Very serious proportion of terminal business traffic, very low on the other categories.

The issue here is whether VS strategy fits this - as I mentioned in a previous post, I do think that VS are focusing more and more on supporting VH in terms of flying people to 'holiday' destinations, and are focusing less and less on the regular business traveler. On that basis, and having seen RUH first hand, I would say that since RUH is never going to be a tourist destination, then VS would be extremely unlikely to do it. My money is on BKK, and perhaps a return to YYZ.

...alright for some no doubt .....but I've done my share of flying in and out of the Sandbox

I won't quote from the FT but I will paraphrase: delta doesn't have much of a foothold within the UK, so would this partnership be strengthened for both parties if VS flew to Atlanta also? I realise that JFK is also a Delta hub, but it's not the main one.... Flying into Atlanta would give VS a huge boost (especially into south america markets), and would allow Delta to then get the pax the rest of the way