lukeyboy95 From Papua New Guinea, joined Apr 2008, 951 posts, RR: 35 Reply 1, posted (8 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 11274 times:
I try to remain optimistic about this move... and it is excellent that they are recognising markets north of the border.
But my feeling is that PAX have long since adjusted (and are comfortable) to the current providing. It will have to be highly competitive to come up against BA. I feel the BA brand recognition is more favourable these days it might be like starting afresh for Virgin.
As for ABZ - I don't see it. Over and above connections to Nigeria - alot of revenue on ABZ routes comes from oil sector related traffic. For leisure many people will go klm and connect in AMS.
Bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3019 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (8 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 10902 times:
The title is misleading. VS have applied for the slots that BA are giving up as part of the purchase of BD. Someone will be starting these flights, VS want it to be them. Nothing is fixed yet.
vv701 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 6628 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (8 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 10561 times:
VS are launching LHR-MAN flights next March. I think that the launch of the MAN service may be to demonstrate to the authorities that VS are serious about operating UK domestic flights from LHR and are therefore a prime applicant for the former BD slots for EDI and ABZ flights that BA will surrender.
"Airliner World" in its October 2012 edition is reporting a conversation with VS CEO Steve Ridgeway. The report says:
"The airline plans to apply for all of the 'remedy' slots being awarded by the European Commission . . . but is initially using some of its existing slots - that it has leased out to other airlines - to service the [MAN} route."
jumpjets From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2012, 471 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 10501 times:
Quoting vv701 (Reply 3): I think that the launch of the MAN service may be to demonstrate to the authorities that VS are serious
I am sure you are right - but one of the conditions of applying for the BA 'remedy' slots is that the applicant must be using all their current slots. VS has at least two of its slots leased out [to Cyprus Airways I think] so they had to take those back into the VS fold and use them somewhere on VS metal.
I hope they will be successful in getting some remedy slots and I am looking forward to seeing what sort of service VS offer compared to the fairly standard domestic/European service offered by BA. When they first introduced long haul services VS were just that bit different [though sadly no more] so I have high hopes for something a bit innovative to distinguish themselves from the pack. Whatever they come up with can hardly be less inspiring than the BD services that they are to replace.
T8KE0FF From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2009, 400 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 9628 times:
Quoting vv701 (Reply 7): On wet lease. But from whom?
Nothing has been said officially as yet, although I have heard a rumour from someone who is apparently in talks with VS that they'll 'borrow' a few A319's from VX. It would make sense, although I didn't really think that VX had any aircraft laying around.
virgincrew From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 411 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 9279 times:
Quoting jumpjets (Reply 4): I hope they will be successful in getting some remedy slots and I am looking forward to seeing what sort of service VS offer compared to the fairly standard domestic/European service offered by BA. When they first introduced long haul services VS were just that bit different [though sadly no more] so I have high hopes for something a bit innovative to distinguish themselves from the pack. Whatever they come up with can hardly be less inspiring than the BD services that they are to replace.
VS still offer a very competitive product and have relised in the last few years they needed to up their game again... They are spending alot of cash of product & service improvement.
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 2): The title is misleading. VS have applied for the slots that BA are giving up as part of the purchase of BD. Someone will be starting these flights, VS want it to be them. Nothing is fixed yet.
I agree the title is mis-leading, VS have only applied for the slots that IAG have to give up as part of the BA/BMI merger. However, if VS get them - they will have to be used on those Scottish routes (for 3 years at least).
Fingers crossed the VS short haul network works.
Quoting T8KE0FF (Reply 8): Nothing has been said officially as yet, although I have heard a rumour from someone who is apparently in talks with VS that they'll 'borrow' a few A319's from VX. It would make sense, although I didn't really think that VX had any aircraft laying around.
I don't know that this is true, because the aircraft and crew will be leased to VS. VS crew's will not be manning the flights.
vv701 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 6628 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 9154 times:
Quoting T8KE0FF (Reply 8): Nothing has been said officially as yet, although I have heard a rumour from someone who is apparently in talks with VS that they'll 'borrow' a few A319's from VX. It would make sense, although I didn't really think that VX had any aircraft laying around.
I think that VS will need to demonstrate to the authorities that no suitable aircraft registered in the EU are available for wet lease before they will be allowed to lease aircraft from outside the EU.
virgincrew From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 411 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 8966 times:
Quoting vv701 (Reply 10): I think that VS will need to demonstrate to the authorities that no suitable aircraft registered in the EU are available for wet lease before they will be allowed to lease aircraft from outside the EU.
EIDL From Ireland, joined Apr 2012, 209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (8 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2666 times:
Quoting virgincrew (Reply 12): I agree... I think EI will operate the flights !
EI have expressed an interest in operating these routes for themselves - although it is possible that if they do get them, that they'll have a VS codeshare.
sam1987 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 939 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (8 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1594 times:
Quoting virgincrew (Reply 9): Fingers crossed the VS short haul network works.
If BD couldn't fly UK domestic routes from LHR profitably (with the Star Alliance to feed into), I really don't see how VS think they can make any money.
I give them 18 months on LHR domestic routes before they pull them...
[Edited 2012-09-15 09:05:06]
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