smi0006 wrote:tullamarine wrote:SCFlyer wrote:
Per the other poster so far, I'm also tipping the Max8 launch and the refreshed cabin (with USB plugs in Y) being applied across the entire mainline 737 fleet.
Anything else predicted by other posters elsewhere (Long Haul 787 leases, Star Alliance, Qatar/United Stake, etc etc) are way too left field and wishful on their part.
I'd be surprised if it is a MAX8 launch. Apart from the potential issues of highlighting the MAX, though they are now unwarranted anyway, having a launch announcement doesn't make sense given they announced it in a press release last week; you wouldn't do both. In addition, I don't think the MAX8 will be any different product-wise from the existing VA 737s with BSI which is now most of the fleet.
The invite seems to infer whatever is announced will be very "Instagrammable"so it is obviously visual such as new seats, uniforms, catering offering or special livery.
New livery and brand would make sense. Seems timely for a refresh, and maybe new cabins? Hopefully we see less white more purple if they want to avoid QF red.
I hope not, to be honest. Livery and branding is just fine and really unnecessary to change. Doesn't look dated and of all the majors VA has the most consistently applied livery across its fleet and branding across its physical and online assets. For a while there Qantas still had 1984-liveried aircraft alongside the Silver thing and Jetstar has always been a mishmash of inconsistency.
Perhaps it could include the adoption of the Silkair interior they inherited with those couple of frames from them? The economy seat on those is fantastic - much better than the existing mainline VA seat.
I mean, given Qantas essentially made the same announcement a second time round with the Sunrise and narrowbody fleets, and everyone fell off their chair in awe (classic second bite of the cherry media strategy and all the QFites lapped it up - "unparalleled luxury", puhleeeeze!), VA may as well have a whirl of the nonsense PR push.