I cant help thinking that the arrival of NZ on the route has alot to do with this decision. After all NZ and VS work very closely, and offer near enough the same inflight product (UCS). Maybe VS have decided that pax will be happy to fly NZ to HKG and then route onward to SYD on VS if they need to. After all you still earn miles on NZ (ok not as mnay but still!). That way an a/c becomes free for another service or to add an extra frequency that doesnt have a VS Partner on it. Doesnt SQ have a stake in NZ as well as VS or have they sold it now?
Originally posted by vscss
The reason the 2nd HKG has been cancelled is because Virgin have decided to operate a 2nd daily CPT instead. Which generates better load factors and profit!!
Thnaks for the update vscss, do you know if the additional service will also be seasonal or will it be a year round fixture???
Originally posted by vscss
The reason the 2nd HKG has been cancelled is because Virgin have decided to operate a 2nd daily CPT instead. Which generates better load factors and profit!!
Not quite, the cancellation of the 2nd HKG has enabled a daily CPT service to be confirmed but was not caused by it.
You'll see a 2nd HKG service coming back just as soon as VS get some of the cost issues sorted out.
CPT will never be more profitable than HKG in revenues received (CPT is mainly Leisure travellers, as keeping this service seasonal has hindered contracting Corporate business on the route), but currently the cost of going east is just too much.
Also VS are pretty keen to get extra capacity on HKG to help out the HKGSYD routing.
Originally posted by mavml
I noticed a couple of weeks ago tha CPT was only scheduled at 2 flights a week for this winter, which seemed strange - obviously this changes it back to last year's frequency.
Last winters frequency was only twice a week to start with - Didn't VS increase it to daily for the last 6 weeks just to keep that extra 9.00 LHR landing slot in use. The CPT service ended the day before the DXB inaugural which used that slot up.
quote:
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Originally posted by mavml
I noticed a couple of weeks ago tha CPT was only scheduled at 2 flights a week for this winter, which seemed strange - obviously this changes it back to last year's frequency.
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Last winters frequency was only twice a week to start with - Didn't VS increase it to daily for the last 6 weeks just to keep that extra 9.00 LHR landing slot in use. The CPT service ended the day before the DXB inaugural which used that slot up.
It's all sooooo confusing[B)]
VS.
I had booked a reward flight on the VS239 for April next year in UC. A friend tried to book on it last week and was told that it had been cancelled. When I called Virgin to ask what was going on, they initially told me that the flight was running but was full. When I presses to talk to a manager, I finally was told that it had been cancelled and was moved onto the VS201. Not the best service!
I also heard that the flight may be reinstated in the future, Vigin just were not sure !
I also heard that the flight may be reinstated in the future, Vigin just were not sure !
CPT Frequencies will be annouced soon, but its pretty good news for those that like the place. And my birthday weekend looks like being moved from Honkers to CPT next feb!
As I've said before the HKG cancellation has nothing to do with aircraft or worries about the likely revenue.
As for the Contact centre advice mentionned above... thats pretty much all they could say. The flight had been put on stop for selling but a final annoucement hadn't been made.
I'm fully confident 2nd HKG will come back... at the very least its needed to satisfy large corporate contracts in Upper... and HKG has such a strong VFR and connecting OZ traffic that it should never go out with seats free down the back.
Look on any IATA/ Industry/ Investment Banking report on world airline routes... LHRHKG is ALWAYS in the top three routes for yield and revenues.
As I've said before the HKG cancellation has nothing to do with aircraft or worries about the likely revenue.
As for the Contact centre advice mentionned above... thats pretty much all they could say. The flight had been put on stop for selling but a final annoucement hadn't been made.
I'm fully confident 2nd HKG will come back... at the very least its needed to satisfy large corporate contracts in Upper... and HKG has such a strong VFR and connecting OZ traffic that it should never go out with seats free down the back.
Look on any IATA/ Industry/ Investment Banking report on world airline routes... LHRHKG is ALWAYS in the top three routes for yield and revenues.
How can it be nothing to do with aircraft??? If VS had the aircraft & had such confidence in the revenue they would do both. Your kind of backing this up with your comments on yield, nothing negative about VS. It would look like they are stretching the fleet & fleet additions a littleto far.
By the way V-Ben, are you Ben S??
By the way V-Ben, are you Ben S??
Originally posted by Denzil
How can it be nothing to do with aircraft??? If VS had the aircraft & had such confidence in the revenue they would do both.
Because having the aircraft and being confident of revenue are only two variables. As I said earlier, 2nd HKG has been indefinately postponed due to higher than expected operating costs.
Take just one of these: Overfly rights. The Ruskies charge an absolute fortune for these... and its not necessairaly £X per flight, the amount can vary wildly. And will be negotiated by each and every airline that flies over Russia to the Far East. Getting overfly rights for a new frequency can be pretty daunting for any airline.
I know the reason its been postponed and its down to cost it was going to cost more to operate it only a few times a week and once we have more a/c its going to start daily in March. The a/c will be used on a daily CPT svc instead as we can make more rev from that until we can do a 2nd daily HKG svc.
Perhaps a double act like the Two Ronnie's!!!!
As basically it still comes down to the fact that VS don't have enough aircraft to do a 2nd HKG service daily. I fully understand the operating costs & the fact that 3 times a week can't compete with daily, it's still a matter of not enough aircraft to expand existing routes & add new ones!!!
As basically it still comes down to the fact that VS don't have enough aircraft to do a 2nd HKG service daily. I fully understand the operating costs & the fact that 3 times a week can't compete with daily, it's still a matter of not enough aircraft to expand existing routes & add new ones!!!
Originally posted by V-Ben
CPT Frequencies will be annouced soon
Announced on the back of my FC statement that i received today actually.
Additional services on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1st November, going daily to CPT from 1st Feb 2007.
Also mentions something about Virgin Atlantic Travel Plus? A 'one stop shop' for hotel and airline booking? Not heard of it myself but apparently its under the 'book hotels' link on the VA website and you can earn FC miles using the service.
Thanks,
Sarah
Originally posted by HighFlyerOriginally posted by V-Ben
CPT Frequencies will be annouced soon
Announced on the back of my FC statement that i received today actually.
Additional services on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1st November, going daily to CPT from 1st Feb 2007.
Indeed, the timings are much better than before as well, its returning overnight as well as outbound over night... so perfect for a longweekend away.
Originally posted by V-Ben
Indeed, the timings are much better than before as well, its returning overnight as well as outbound over night... so perfect for a longweekend away.
Gonna do this next year and use up some rewards - out and back in UC - its a 12 hour flight so you really get value for money, you get to use the LHR clubhouse during the day - so good for a bevvy or two and Cape Town and the Western Cape area is a joy to visit. And no jet lag either!! Hurrah
Cant wait![y]
With all due respect 747340, not sure if you work for virgin or fly with Virgin. When we started LHR-SYD the LHR/HKG loads were already very very high, most flights that I did pre SYD route were always full, therefore adding an extension onto SYD with already high load factors on the LHR-HKG sector, is gonna mean that the aircraft either needs to be larger....or....add another service to cater for the HKG bound passengers which can also be used as a transit.
I am sure come february when we have the extra aircraft to begin Hong Kong twoey Daily then we will see the VS238/9 come in. The allowances alone in HKG for the crew for a 4/3night stop would put an airline off doing anything but daily service lol.
Bring on the extra CPT I say.......will look forward to the extra Hong Kong too.......any expansion is good news eh?
I am sure come february when we have the extra aircraft to begin Hong Kong twoey Daily then we will see the VS238/9 come in. The allowances alone in HKG for the crew for a 4/3night stop would put an airline off doing anything but daily service lol.
Bring on the extra CPT I say.......will look forward to the extra Hong Kong too.......any expansion is good news eh?
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