Virgin Atlantic & Australia plan closer ties

The partners plan to strengthen ties across “mutual connection points”.

Off the top of my head this is likely to be focused on LAX and HKG - but perhaps also SFO and SIN (of the VS/VA, VS/SQ and VA/SQ ties permit.

Link below.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... rtnership/

Interesting, thanks for posting. I'd be keen to see what comes out of this. I always hoped for a VS-VA link-up via DXB but I suppose that is now not to be. The only other connection points I can think of would be SFO as you say, perhaps PVG as well.

Interesting, thanks for posting. I'd be keen to see what comes out of this. I always hoped for a VS-VA link-up via DXB but I suppose that is now not to be. The only other connection points I can think of would be SFO as you say, perhaps PVG as well.

No problem!

There is a lot going on at VS (which appears to be significantly shifting its market position) and this is another piece to add to the puzzle.

We also have speculation about the following, which should answer much of what is proposed at VS:

1 - what they propose to do with the FlyBe network (eg new aircraft, MAN hub etc)

2 - the outcome of the interest in Thomas Cook long haul.

3 - new aircraft orders (eg the A330neo news) and any corresponding retirements or delayed retirements.

4 - new or enhanced strategic partnerships beyond AF/KL/DL (eg the VA news posted above and the relationship with SQ)

5 - the fluid situation in India.

6 - the recent launch of a number of new routes from LHR.

7 - the B789’s starting to have better availability.

8 - the apparent stagnation at LGW.

It’s a very fluid situation.

[mitchja]

Arn’t Qantas and AA in the process of planning a new agreement as well so this is probably aimed at that?

I do agree that the whole VS thing at MAN is getting interesting now though especially considering MAN now already has as many VS departures/arrivals as LGW does some days.

Is VS at LGW 'stagnant'?

Yes the LAS flight has been moved to LHR but have there been any other losses?

And they much have confidence in LGW if VS/DL are starting LGW - JFK and BOS next year.

[mitchja]

LGW>CUN ended in January.

Stagnant may or may not be a fair summary, but my feeling that whilst LGW is very much status quo, LHR and MAN feel like they are in growth mode.

I do agree that the whole VS thing at MAN is getting interesting now though especially considering MAN now already has as many VS departures/arrivals as LGW does some days.

Agreed.

On long haul, it seems reasonably clear that the intention is to expand, and (at least in broad terms) the types of routes chosen, the aircraft likely to operate them and the scale that is achievable.

What is planned with FlyBe is more intriguing to me, because it’s a complete unknown. I cannot begin to imagine what type of network they have planned (UK, Europe), or the scale or whether new aircraft are to be ordered.

Of course they could just rebrand the existing aircraft and network (culling some routes) - but who knows.

UPDATE: approved (it’s a day for approvals with the FlyBe purchase also approved today!)

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... pe-459490/