VA Announce Business Class Only Airline

just heard this on R4 6.00 news...

apparently SRB's intention is to operate transatlantic business class only flights from key European bases - within 18 months - flights out of the UK to follow later.

interesting times eh?

Andrew


Edited by Mod to move topic to News Bites

[Bazz]

That will put a cat amongst the pidgeons - could make for some interesting fares.

But is it too little, too late? Will VS be the classic also-ran here, or a driver for reinventing/redefining the entire approach? Will they fly out of LHR/LGW -- more convenient than STD, LTN, etc. -- or will they, too, be flying from outliers like bloody FAB or some such?

What's the equipment? What's the customer experience -- assume UCS? V:Port? IFBT?

And shouldn't this post be in 'News?'

GJ

[Neil]

Here is a link to the news story.

Just watched it on the BBC news, and the 'experts' are saying that this is a risky thing for SRB to do and could well impact UC numbers, although reading the Sky News story stating the inference if that it will be mainly to other EU countries ex London it could well be SRB tapping into a new market as very little EOS/Silverjet type services operating in/out of mainland Europe, only time will tell I guess.

More http://www.abtn.co.uk/Virgin_to_launch_business_only_airlinehere

[Scrooge]

Very interesting..amazing how it has taken 23 years for the life of VA to come full circle.

Well I can only see this ripping the heart out of the traditional VA routes if they start service from any London airport to the US.

Of course it will also appeal to business people who like the idea of sharing a flight with only a hundred or so other people, if VS did offer a full J flight on say the LHR - JFK route at a peak time it should do pretty well.

Now of course it will be interesting to see what it does for the J pricing, it would have to act in a depressing manner no [?]

Any idea how many suites could be offered in a 343 ?

my guess is that he will he order new planes. would be great to see the 777 or 330 in VS colours the Dreamliners sound like they are part of the scheme. I cant see an order going to Bombadier or Embrarer. would they make it across the atlantic?

This is strange to me, VS's strengths are in its brand and its approach to delivering in flight service and on the ground. Then they say they're not even sure whether it will be called 'Virgin' and then the confused message about what where and when. It sounds a poor response to me, ill conceived and uncertain ... I'll look forward to some more information.

The news link I read had SRB saying that it would run under the Virgin Atlantic name, which is kind of weird in my opinion. I would have expected a name change for such a different type of carrier.

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
But is it too little, too late? Will VS be the classic also-ran here, or a driver for reinventing/redefining the entire approach? Will they fly out of LHR/LGW -- more convenient than STD, LTN, etc. -- or will they, too, be flying from outliers like bloody FAB or some such?


GJ

STD would be great for me and so much easier to get to than either LGW/LHR. My husband has used STD for years for when he flies for business and it's so much quicker. I'm probably biased, but it does seem a very much under-used airport. But hey, Maxjet work from there, and am gonna try that and see how it works out....

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by catsilversword

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
But is it too little, too late? Will VS be the classic also-ran here, or a driver for reinventing/redefining the entire approach? Will they fly out of LHR/LGW -- more convenient than STD, LTN, etc. -- or will they, too, be flying from outliers like bloody FAB or some such?


GJ

STD would be great for me and so much easier to get to than either LGW/LHR. My husband has used STD for years for when he flies for business and it's so much quicker. I'm probably biased, but it does seem a very much under-used airport. But hey, Maxjet work from there, and am gonna try that and see how it works out....

Somehow I can't see VS (or Mr catsilversword for that matter) flying in and out of Santo Domingo, Venezuela (STD) I can however see them using Stansted (STN) [|:)]

The Times are speculating that VS may not use Heathrow for the London flights but Gatwick instead.

Also, in the print version there's a nice comparison of the current business-only offerings around Europe.

Jonathan

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by jtlc2345
The Times are speculating that VS may not use Heathrow for the London flights but Gatwick instead.

Also, in the print version there's a nice comparison of the current business-only offerings around Europe.

Jonathan

Gatwick? Oh my, I sincerely hope that is a journo error. Interesting article, some of the comments have me in stitches.

For good measure, they could also make the airline adults only..... [;)]

Never going to work in my opinion if VS offers flights from London - it will take away the most profitable part of mainstream flights and if these biz only flights were operated out of a THIRD base from the city, it would have major costs associated with it; no one is going to take a step-down from the CH.
Also, what about this new development at LHR with the drive-thru check-in and the new extra UC 744 config to be introduced?. Is VS going to ignore this major investment into its current premium product?
The operation would have to be from the continent; which already has its fair share of biz only airlines with BA to come. It'll be a case of too many seats chasing too few pax.
In any case, I know the biz-only idea appeals to some, but I guess I'm a bit traditional in that I'd prefer to be sat in 744 or A380, knowing I'm in one of the greatest technological feats of human-kind.

45.

[preiffer]

Ever the cynic, let me put my rather less rosey view out there:

VS are being hit by MAXjet/EOS/Silverjet, as they know their product is now one of the more expensive offerings in the marketplace.
VS are very light on innovation right now, and also have limitations on what can be done to improve speed as a result of LHR.
SOME VS customers are already 'leaving' and using these services, especially as their route network appears to be continually expanding. Even without access to a FFP such as Flying Club, they ARE losing customers.
These Biz-only airlines are getting consistently GOOD reviews. Something that VS can only dream of.

So... How to stop the exodus? No IMMEDIATE fix is available, so how about a temporary 'band-aid'?

Let's put a press release out: 'Bear with us, we're going to launch one of these airlines too. And it'll probably be cheaper...'


Result: Some people will 'stick' with VS that little bit longer, just in case this is true. It gives VS some thinking time to work out the real plan, and puts them back in the limelight in terms of aircraft manufacturers, ready to negotiate.



Like I say, call me a cynic, but I think this statement's got more hot air in it than one of Dickie's balloons...

[ChuckC]

Paul, I would guess you've hit the nail on the head, mate.

Chuck-

For those interested in seeing the interview

link


Edit by Scrooge :shortened link

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by catsilversword

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
But is it too little, too late? Will VS be the classic also-ran here, or a driver for reinventing/redefining the entire approach? Will they fly out of LHR/LGW -- more convenient than STD, LTN, etc. -- or will they, too, be flying from outliers like bloody FAB or some such?


GJ

STD would be great for me and so much easier to get to than either LGW/LHR. My husband has used STD for years for when he flies for business and it's so much quicker. I'm probably biased, but it does seem a very much under-used airport. But hey, Maxjet work from there, and am gonna try that and see how it works out....

Somehow I can't see VS (or Mr catsilversword for that matter) flying in and out of Santo Domingo, Venezuela (STD) I can however see them using Stansted (STN) [|:)]

LOL - ah, but you just never know! [:I]

i thought virgin was going green? 55 seats on a plane isnt exactly econmical [;)]

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by G-VROY
i thought virgin was going green? 55 seats on a plane isnt exactly econmical [;)]

Good point! The more pack the plane the less carbon per person....

Interesting article here on the challenges VS business only might face in continental Europe.

one step too far for Virgin? I think so[B)] But then again i said that about the space project so who am i to talk![?]

[preiffer]

Originally posted by G-VROY
But then again i said that about the space project so who am i to talk![?]

Don't shoot yourself down just yet - passengers haven't ACTUALLY left Earth so far... [:w][:?]

Originally posted by G-VROY
i thought virgin was going green? 55 seats on a plane isnt exactly econmical [;)]

A fallacious argument. A plane of 55 business class seats produces more or less the same amount of CO2 as a plane full of 200 economy passengers, during each flight.

The only relevant point so far as the environment is concerned is that another scheduled flight has been put into the air.

Originally posted by pkatmk

A fallacious argument. A plane of 55 business class seats produces more or less the same amount of CO2 as a plane full of 200 economy passengers, during each flight.

The only relevant point so far as the environment is concerned is that another scheduled flight has been put into the air.

Not quite. We're not talking about just CO2 emissions, but CO2 emissions per person, which is more important. A plane carrying 55 people has a higher CO2/person rating than the same plane carrying 200 people.