Hello people
Im back. I know I have been absent for sometime and for this I apologise. I have been busy with my thesis and also now I am in Cyprus, my home. I m visitingyhe iland for three weeks.
I was checking the airline news and I saw that Virgin Atlantic has expressed commitment to the Australian government of starting daily flights to Australia via Hong Kong.
As the article states, by going to Australia via Honk Kong, they will launch a head to head war with Cathay Pacific as BA, Qantas and SIA are going via Singapore. When the service will commerce is unknown as are all pending to the outcome of the negiotiations for air services agreement between Honk Kong and UK, however Virgin Atlantic claims that they are hoping to commence the operations by the end of the year.
Well people, all bets are off, but I think the A340-600 operated by Virgin Atlantic is heading down to Australia. I remembered sometime ago when this issue came to the forum.
Finally, it is interesting to note that the only european companies that have flights to Australia are BA and LAUDA. I dont know if any other airlines used to operate to Australia with the exception of Olympic that seized operations.
By: Bhoy - 20th July 2003 at 21:25
:confused: What has Eurostar got to do with flying to Australia?
nb for those that don’t know, one of Eurostar’s co-owners is one of the Virgin group (I forget which one exactly…)
Actually, come to think of it, you can collect Miles with United Mileage Plus for travelling on Eurostar, does anyone know if you can with Virgin Flying Club?
By: EAL_KING - 20th July 2003 at 15:36
im glad they are going to australia as my aunt lives there so we can visit her now because my dad works for eurostar so we get cheap tickets also as we have always wanted to visit australia but i am still in school so next winter we will be going yay!!!!!!!!!!
By: Redwings - 20th July 2003 at 11:47
I see sense in bringing Virgin Atlantic to Australia in order to create a link with Virgin Blue, thus having a network where you could go between European and Australian destinations (maybe Pacific and NZ?) with the one ticket, like codesharing, but London via Hong Kong would be hard, as Cathay Pacific are well established there and I hear it’s hard to get landing rights as well. Also, I think Sir Richard is taking on Cathay Pacific in order to get publicity, just like in his bid to buy Concorde. In the end, I think VA will go via Kuala Lumpur.
By: skycruiser - 20th July 2003 at 05:15
Quote.
Also, it’s really stupid I know, but people may not take Cathay due to SARS
Yes that would be really stupid. But we now have over 25,000 pax a day at the moment, alot better than 6,000 a day in the recent months. SARS is fast becoming a distant memory.
By: steve rowell - 20th July 2003 at 01:06
It will be great to see the Virgin Atlantic birds down under.
By: MapleLeaf_330 - 18th July 2003 at 18:48
Perhaps they are just looking at feeding more people through Hong Kong (the government) and they may take Cathay to other destinations. Also, it’s really stupid I know, but people may not take Cathay due to SARS. Here in Toronto, it’s terrible, Chinese restaurants have been devistated by impact. And it’s completely uncalled for, a total media hype.
Richard Branson seems like a pretty shrewd negotiator as well.
By: Saab 2000 - 18th July 2003 at 18:43
But surely Hong Kong would rather protect its own carriers in that case? Kuala Lumpur on the other hand has open skies and does a great deal to attract foreign carriers.
By: MapleLeaf_330 - 18th July 2003 at 14:12
Yes, but I’m sure Hong Kong is offering attractive landing fees to airlines in the wake of SARS.
By: KabirT - 18th July 2003 at 10:43
good point Adrian…….KL will be a good choice. From KL also there is a lot of rush to MEL and SYD and from KL to London also there is quite alot of rush.
By: Saab 2000 - 18th July 2003 at 10:22
Well Branson said the inaugural flight could be on Concorde :rolleyes:
The traffic rights to Hong Kong and Sydney would be a firm difficulty for Virgin, just look at the problems British Airways and Qantas had getting them. To be honest I don’t know why it is not via Kuala Lumpur where they already have traffic rights. It would save a lot of problems.
By: dartie - 18th July 2003 at 04:37
Dont forget Alitalia the Italian Flag carrier!
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July 18, 2003 at 12:12 am