New routes

[Scrooge]

It is being reported that VS will start direct flights to Perth with the 789.

Sydney and Melbourne to follow

LINK

Just a follow one thought.

SRB's bid for world domination of the airline biz just took an interesting turn [:p]

Between VS and DJ they could now offer around the world service [:0]

2011 is a long way down the line and a lot will change between now and then. This has to be speculative Australian journalism at best currently??

Hawaii does sound innovative and a typical VS route though...

[mcmbenjamin]

Wonder if they will feature extra legroom or extra stuff on this route?

I thought yesterday's announcement mentioned that due to the extended range that Perth is now a possibility - It fell short of stating that this would be a new route!

I think this is very speculative.

Paul

Originally posted by tallprawn
This has to be speculative Australian journalism at best currently??

At its worst I reckon.

The headline is very misleading. Did they not even do their homework? Sydney is just out of the 787's range and I don't think any airline will be contemplating flying non-stop from London to Sydney for the foreseeable future, let alone VS. I'm all for getting from A to B in as short a time as possible but a 20hr flight to Sydney, even a 17hr one to Perth, is not my idea of fun, even in a premium class cabin. I can just about manage LHR-SIN non-stop, in Y, any further and I'd go mental. That's just torture in my opinion.

[Darren Wheeler]

If it's bad enough as a passenger, imagine what it would be like for the crew, even with bunks.

I am surprised the Toronto route hasn't been mentioned though. Seems a better plan than Seattle and Vancouver.

[mitchja]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
If it's bad enough as a passenger, imagine what it would be like for the crew, even with bunks.

Likely to have 2 sets of cabin crew that swap half way, just as the SQ ultra-long haul flights have.

There's no way though I'd fly that route sat in VS Y unless they do something special to the Y cabins.

Regards

acording to this link form the bbc website virgin ATLANTIC! will be flying from sydney to LA next year

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Airbus340
acording to this link form the bbc website virgin ATLANTIC! will be flying from sydney to LA next year

You mean THIS link ?

Yeah another piece of quality journalism.

I guess if VS wanted to fly LHR-LAX-SYD they could, they couldn't pick up any pax at LAX though so I don't see the point.

I think they are referring to Virgin Blue when they mention SYD-LAX!

Either I'm getting the wrong end of the stick or some of these journalists need to get their facts right!

Originally posted by Scrooge

Originally posted by Airbus340
acording to this link form the bbc website virgin ATLANTIC! will be flying from sydney to LA next year

You mean THIS link ?

Yeah another piece of quality journalism.

I guess if VS wanted to fly LHR-LAX-SYD they could, they couldn't pick up any pax at LAX though so I don't see the point.

oh silly me forgetting to actually put in the link[:I]

[Scrooge]

Yes they probably are referring to DJ, just sloppy journalism.

[Nottingham Nick]

The story of the HNL route is being reported with equal certainty in the media in Hawaii [?]

Until any of these flights are confirmed by VS, I'm very doubtful. Virgin made a statement that they could start flights to these places in their press release, but it wasn't a definite announcement.

Saying that you will be the first to fly these ultra long haul routes sometime way off in the future is all good publicity right now.
But like I said in the dreamliner thread, it's a plane just like any other, just a bit more efficient.

Now, when VS announce the start of a two hour suborbital hypersonic service to Sydney burning just superclean Hydrogen, then I'll get excited.

[RichardMannion]

SEA would be a real slap for BA given their dominance on the route. No shortage of large customers with regualr traffic either....

[Darren Wheeler]

It's always surprised me that VS didn't go to SEA. Last time I flew there I had to go on VS via SFO on Alaska. Would be much nicer to go direct.

The Europe-SEA market is really begining to open up now. BA have dominated it for years but you now have SK and AF operating as well.


Lets be honest- we will not see any 787 routes annonced for years. What we could see though is routes such as SEA, YYZ, YVR being started using other equipment (343) and then moving over to the 787 when it arrives. Rio will come as well- VS are just waiting to get the timing correct since they were given the go ahead for the route almost 18months ago.

And lets remember- in the past VS have stated their wish to fly a route and then have gone on to start them (NBO, ORD were both on the wish list). Therefore maybe their is some weight in routes such as HNL, PER, SEA, BKK, MEL etc.

[mitchja]

Originally posted by Scrooge
Yes they probably are referring to DJ, just sloppy journalism.

Business Traveller seem to have the correct facts. See the last paragraph here

Regards