Jacobin777 From United States, joined Sep 2004, 13323 posts, RR: 69 Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 663 times:
how are the flights doing?
i've read that LHR-SYD isn't doing too well.....I hope this route is doing better..
I also believe they would get better results if they used a smaller plane, such as an A330 (which would be cool to see in VS colours)
David_itl From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 5488 posts, RR: 18 Reply 6, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 507 times:
I'm pretty sure that DEL began in 2000 using AI's spare frequencies which became "free" when AI pulled out of MAN, though it would have been operated as codeshare service with AI initially as BA had all the UK frequencies.
i've read that LHR-SYD isn't doing too well.....I hope this route is doing better..
Actually the HKG-SYD section of this flight has really picked up in comparison to last year. Average load factor seems to be around the 85%-95% mark. (based on the next 7 days)
6thfreedom From Bermuda, joined Sep 2004, 2958 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 450 times:
Quoting 747uk (Reply 7): Actually the HKG-SYD section of this flight has really picked up in comparison to last year. Average load factor seems to be around the 85%-95% mark. (based on the next 7 days)
A bit hard to base year round loads on 7 days during peak season, especially as HKG will be full for lunar new year traffic.
Jacobin777 From United States, joined Sep 2004, 13323 posts, RR: 69 Reply 9, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 438 times:
Quoting 747uk (Reply 7):
Actually the HKG-SYD section of this flight has really picked up in comparison to last year. Average load factor seems to be around the 85%-95% mark. (based on the next 7 days)
Quoting 6thfreedom (Reply 8): after that:
July In/Out 82.6%/58.2%
Aug 58.9%/76.3%
Sept 43.4%/40.7%
wow..it looked like loads dropped quite a bit afterwards...and this is a problem with VS, they have only large planes...if VS had an A330, it would have been better served for them.......until they can get this route established...then send the A330's off to some other new route............
not to mention, there basically wouldn't be any over-water flying so VS wouldn't have to deal with ETOPs issues.........
I'm sure SRB would be happy to drop the "four engines for long haul" mantra if using a twin results in a profit..
to top it off....the A330's would look nice in VS colours...
6thfreedom From Bermuda, joined Sep 2004, 2958 posts, RR: 26 Reply 10, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 421 times:
Quoting Jacobin777 (Reply 9): wow..it looked like loads dropped quite a bit afterwards...and this is a problem with VS, they have only large planes...if
Not only have loads dropped, but VS has some of the lowest fares going around for SYD-HKG.
Cricket From India, joined Aug 2005, 2375 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 372 times:
VS is offerinf India (DEL/BOM)-LHR for only Rs 17,700+taxes right now in a promo (which is cheaper than AI's promo and only S2 offers cheaper direct, not for too much longer), they haven't managed to acquire the high-yield passengers who seem to be hooked onto BA Club World. So while VS has high loads, yields are not as great as BA and might fall below AI"s as well.
Kkfla737 From United States, joined Oct 2004, 1033 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 292 times:
I believe DEL-LHR began in 2001 or 2002 with spare frequencies owned by AI under the India-UK bilateral. The flight was two or three times a week operated under a codeshare with AI but with VS aircraft. Richard Branson inagurated the service with great fanfare by riding an Elephant into Delhi.
2005 and the new bilateral saw VS gain their own frequencies to both DEL and BOM as well as the possibility to serve Bangalore as well.
Nimish From India, joined Feb 2005, 2715 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 217 times:
VS flies the 346 to DEL on occasion (I've written up a TR a couple of months ago on this - available here - VS - DEL-LHR-DEL - 343+346 Pics! (by Nimish Nov 18 2005 in Trip Reports)). They don't have much visibility in offline stations (like BLR), which is definitely a cause for concern for their overall growth in India.
As an example, BA has had a rather large presence in BLR for a long time - which helped in the past to add feed to their services from BOM/DEL (and now of course BLR is an online station).
The first VS LHR-DEL service (VS300) was on July 5th 2000. It was operated by B747-400 G-VXLG even though the service was actually served with a B742 on a twice weekly basis. The initial timetable was:
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