Virgin America is on approach

[trolly dolly]

Jetblue,song,and other low-cost carriers will deal with me most innovated of the airlines in the US , V I R G I N ..... cant wait for early next year ...they already are calling them the chic-low -cost airline... and also a Quality one..which we need here in the usa...so my friendly people from jetBlue , Song and other carries........ here she comes ............

 

[Ch. 12]

What is the deal? All three of your posts have been as emotional as one can get about your allegiance with Virgin. Look at Virgin Express....the other low fare Virgin product (VA and VB are normal operating...if not high cost....carriers). Express hasn't been very successful and is being swallowed up. I like the Virgin product, but to state that they will terrorize the currently strong LCCs in the US from the very beginning is quite bold.

 

[viggen597]

Well, I think the official name will be Virgin America (and not Virgin Red) because I decided to go to VirginAmerica.com and its a registered URL that redirects you to the regular VirginAtlantic.com site.

hmmm .... Im VERY interested in seeing the outcome if this venture.

 

[Diesel8]

Well, both Song and jetBlue are pretty innovative. Quality is good, fares great. Not sure what Virgin can do so incredibly much better and if it is like Virgin Express in Euope, say Hello to cattle cars. I think the pitch is 29 inches or so. Flew them from Brussels and being somewhat tall, I am happy no one sat next to me. Would have been ugly🙂

Also, as someone mentioned, Virgin Blue was an easy shot, they went up against a duopoly system and was really the only lower fare alternative. Needless to say, many people enjoy travelling without paying an arm and a leg. Virgin Express has not done well, although they are seeing a rebound, I think they will either be merged into Easy or Ryanair perhaps simply disppear.

But okay, I'll take your bait. "They already are calling them the chic-low -cost airline... and also a Quality one." First of all, who are "they", secondly, since the product does not exist, how can it be quality. What else, oh yes, have they filed for an air carrier certificate? Where are the airplanes coming from, since neither Boeing nor Airbus appears to have listed orders from them, one must conclude that they must be used a/c's?

I shall eagely await your repsonse!

 

[Diesel8]

Although, charging extra for first and emergency exit row seating, now that is innovative. Notice the pitch in the rest of the a/c, a "generous" 30 inches. But read it yourself:

"Virgin Blue lets you step into the Blue Zone by releasing a new seating offer.

Virgin Blue has called these seats the Blue Zone. For our guests who prefer certain seats on our aircraft such as the front row and the over wing exits, Blue Zone gives you the choice to pre-reserve one of these seats for a small additional charge per one way sector.

You can secure a Blue Zone seat on all our flights from 6 August 2003.

How does it work? By simply paying an extra $30 per one way sector and booking via our Guest Contact Centre you can reserve your Blue Zone seat (subject to availability and CASA and Virgin Blue safety regulations*) valid until 30 September 2003."

I guess Grandma can take her cane to the last row or cough up 30 AUD.

 

[Flyboy4u]

Does anyone know if they are hiring flight attendants yet? Just curious?

 

[psa328]

Here's a question: Where's the hub?

 

[rob2507]

Where's the hub? It could be in Boston! 😱

In yesterday's Boston Globe (they already deleted the story--here's all I could get):
Officials hope low-cost airline will call Boston home
By Rick Klein and Keith Reed, Globe Staff, 11/11/2003

Boston officials are making a serious push to land the headquarters
of a low-cost airline being launched by the owners of Virgin Atlantic
Airways, an effort that could vastly increase the discount air fare
choices available to travelers in New England.

The airline, tentatively named Virgin USA or Virgin Red, may bring
with it up to 1,400 jobs. If the airline chooses Boston as its home
from among competing cities, the start-up would become the only
airline with corporate headquarters in the city, ensuring a major
presence at Logan International Airport.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino said that if the airline chooses Boston, it
will send a message that the city is a great place for businesses to
be located, even when local firms are being taken over by
international conglomerates.

(The rest of the story talked about specific locations for the HQ offices and flight sims. It also mentioned that Virgin liked large college-aged population the area has. VS currently has one flight/day to London from BOS; there were plans for a second flight over the summer but they decided against it. I would assume this would mean that it wouldn't be a problem for them to get the gates to support 2-3 flights/day from Boston.)

 

[jimntx]

<DIV>Does anyone know if they are hiring flight attendants yet? Just curious?</DIV>

A lot of speculation revolves around EWR which would make sense. As I understand it, most of Virgin Atlantic's flights from Europe land there. AND, it serves the largest concentration of population in the U.S. International feeder flights for domestic passengers (and vice versa)--no changing terminals, ease of re-checking luggage--gives EWR the edge, but Virgin Atlantic also flies into BOS and one of the D.C. area airports (not sure which one).

This should get very interesting. I'm wondering what the domestic airlines' response will be to Virgin's entry into the domestic market.

 

[Cosmo]

... but Virgin Atlantic also flies into BOS and one of the D.C. area airports (not sure which one).

Virgin serves IAD in the Washington area.

 

[BDLDFW]

A lot of speculation revolves around EWR which would make sense. As I understand it, most of Virgin Atlantic's flights from Europe land there. AND, it serves the largest concentration of population in the U.S.

Is there any room at EWR for a hub-type operation? Aren't the terminals pretty much maxed-out already?

 

[Diesel8]

"This should get very interesting. I'm wondering what the domestic airlines' response will be to Virgin's entry into the domestic market."

Not sure, that the Virgin brand carries that much in the US. Virgin has done well, but mostly when going up against monoploies. VE is not doing to well in Europe, although they are doing better. Ryan and Easy seems to be in charge of the LCC, even though VE started before EZY. Virgin Blue has done well, but again, up against a monopoly.

Moral and pay at Virgin Atlantic could be better, I base this from reading www.pprune.com, which is frequented by quite a few VA people. Initial reports, from sources I cannot recall, also tend to indicate, that V USA will be low pay, although I could certainly be wrong.

I do however think, that the "bearded one" is in for a heck of a fight.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

??????????,
Mabey I've missed something.
How can a foreign owned company(VS) start up a low cost carrier to fly domestic USA??

thanx,

NH/BB's

 

[AirwAr]

??????????,
Mabey I've missed something.
How can a foreign owned company(VS) start up a low cost carrier to fly domestic USA??

thanx,

NH/BB's

I've posted this on another thread, but it seems more relevant here.

Could this work?

1) UA out sources cargo to Zurich-based Swissport
2) AA out sources catering to LSG/Skychefs
3) AA used to handle the revenue managment functions for Canadian.
4) DL out sources reservations calls to India & Philippines

Even though there is a 25% ownership law, Branson could start, fund and effectively control all aspects of a US based airline. He can own 25% voting rights in an airline named Virgin USA that out sources all of its functions. It just so happens that all the outsourced functions would be provided by an entity called Virgin Atlantic. Cargo handling, catering, revenue management and reservations, etc. could be outsourced to Virgin. No need for VUSA to even own planes, these could be leased from Virgin as well. Even better, VUSA could wet-lease the aircraft and would have no need to even hire pilots.

A pilotless airline? Seems possible.