Virgin - new Asian destinations?

Does anybody know if Virgin have any new destinations in Asia planned for the future?

[Nottingham Nick]

Do you have any destinations in mind?

Given that SQ own 49% of VS, I would doubt that they would open many new routes that are in direct competion with them.

Nick

Yeah I know but it seems a shame that one has to fly to Singapore to transit to the likes of Thailand. But if they own as you say 49% its not likely - I wonder how they however got away with Shanghai then? Maybe other Chinese cities could be an outlet also

Actually thios is a good question to ask - Does the association with Singapore restrict VS expanding into the Far East and therfore only really leaves them to fight with the long haul charters to the likes of Antigua / Barbados etc. Surley Asia is the huge growing market that could be exploited by VS / Or maybe its already taken up by BA and other European airlines

Originally posted by porsche911
... I wonder how they however got away with Shanghai then? Maybe other Chinese cities could be an outlet also

Singapore to Shanghai is around 5 hours flying time. And considering it takes longer to get from London to Singapore than it does to Shanghai, I guess that is the answer. I for one wouldn't consider flying to the equator just to go north again.

Other European airlines are starting to serve less known destinations in China now. There is a huge market waiting..... But my immediate concern is a direct VS miles earning flight to Seoul!

Well it's a valid question and I'm sure the chiefs and boffins at VS HQ are continually looking at where expansion is possible, and profitable. VS will be constrained by aircraft, inter-country agreements, ability to invest and more. However SA are supposed not to have any operational management control over VS so perhaps they don't?

There are lots of threads, if you do a search on new routes, discussing what is known to be happening.

Personally, I'd love to see VS fly to Seoul (if only for the airport;))

VS.

Another vote for Seoul....

Originally posted by slinky09
However SA are supposed not to have any operational management control over VS so perhaps they don't?

I also thought SQ took a bak seat and let VS get on with it?

AFAIK, SQ have a one or two seats on the board but apart from that their involvement is pretty limited, although I for one would not mind if they did play a more active role:D

VS.

I would certainly love to see VS fly to SGN and once the new International Terminal opens next year it would certainly provide first class facilities. There are only one or two European airlines that fly there and no direct flights. It is a real pioneering destination both for leisure and business and will continue to grow as foreign investment pours in.

I thought I did read here somewhile ago about Bangkok being on the wish list so possibly a short extension would serve SGN.

Commercial Over

Phil

Phil

Well PEK will be the next asian destination as it was announced over a year ago and with the 2008 olympics you cant believe that VS wont have started on the route by then.

I think that SQ have a larger say in what VS is doing than is being made out. SIN will never be served by VS as they codeshare with SQ but also because SQ wouldnt want to be in direct competition with VS on the route.

I certainly know when Virgin Blue launched international services from BNE, MEL and SYD to CHC they couldnt operate as Virgin Blue as SQ did not want the Virgin name to be used on international services into an aiport where SQ was a major player (CHC). I believe there is something that says Virgin branded companies must never be in direct competition.

A while back I posted about KLIA (Kuala Lumpur) looking to get VS in.

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8085

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by willd
Well PEK will be the next asian destination as it was announced over a year ago and with the 2008 olympics you cant believe that VS wont have started on the route by then.

Not quite, VS and Air China are going to codeshare LHR-PEK (see here) so sadly i dont think we will see VS metal at Beijing.

A while back I posted about KLIA (Kuala Lumpur) looking to get VS in.

Bring it on! This rumour was doing the rounds last year, and while i personally am not convinced, id greatly love to see VS flying direct to Malaysia!

I expect we will be seeing more expansion in India before Asia, though gaining another Asian route or two would be great, and could hopefully gain further expansion into Australia (ideally MEL), though i think VS are up to their eyeballs in proposed new routes right now what with ORD, YYZ & MRU, in addition to a second daily to HKG.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Originally posted by willd
Well PEK will be the next asian destination as it was announced over a year ago and with the 2008 olympics you cant believe that VS wont have started on the route by then.

Not quite, VS and Air China are going to codeshare LHR-PEK (see here) so sadly i dont think we will see VS metal at Beijing.

A while back I posted about KLIA (Kuala Lumpur) looking to get VS in.

Bring it on! This rumour was doing the rounds last year, and while i personally am not convinced, id greatly love to see VS flying direct to Malaysia!

I expect we will be seeing more expansion in India before Asia, though gaining another Asian route or two would be great, and could hopefully gain further expansion into Australia (ideally MEL), though i think VS are up to their eyeballs in proposed new routes right now what with ORD, YYZ & MRU, in addition to a second daily to HKG.

Thanks,
Sarah

WEll i thought we got PEK because BA were given rights to PVG- cant believe that VS would allow BA to take pax off them on their PVG service and not want to take a lot of pax off them on their own PEK service? after all how many seats do they have on the CA service- which is normally full?

I thought that KLIA was operated on a codeshare with MH or was that stopped some years ago?

Yes LHR-KUL-SYD codeshare was stopped last October

Beijing is a coming for the Olympics.