Virgin australia

The first Virgin Blue plane flew up on August 31, 2000. At that time, the company had four Boeing 737-400 aircraft leased from its sister company Virgin Express , which operated seven flights a day between Brisbane and Sydney . Subsequently, the airline's route network expanded and covered all major cities in Australia and tourist destinations.

Virgin Blue's entry into the Australian market turned out to be very successful, as the airline was able to fill the vacuum created by air travel after the bankruptcy of Ansett in September 2001. The bankruptcy of Ansett allowed Virgin Blue to quickly become the second largest operator in terms of domestic traffic, without having to compete with major market players for airfare. In addition, the situation allowed the airline to gain access to the necessary terminal areas, without which growth opportunities would be severely limited. However, delays in negotiations to use the former Ansett terminal at Sydney Airport forced Virgin Blue to use its original terminal longer than it should.

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800

As the airline grew, it acquired new aircraft, which allowed it to abandon the old Boeing 737-400 leased, replacing them with a Boeing 737NG (700th and 800th series) with modern cockpit glazing, new avionics and increased fuel efficiency. This, in turn, led to a sharp increase in air traffic carried out by Virgin Blue.

The share of the Virgin Group holding in the airline gradually decreased. First, this happened as a result of the sale of half of the shares to the Australian transport conglomerate Patrick Corporation , and then as a result of Virgin Blue's listing on the stock exchange. At the beginning of 2005, Patrick attempted an unfriendly takeover of the airline, the direction of development of which the company was unhappy for some time. As a result of a series of transactions, Patrick's share in the company's share capital reached 62%, which gave them control over its activities. Virgin Group retained a 25% stake. In May 2006, Toll Holdings acquired Patrick and became the main shareholder of Virgin Blue. In July 2008, Toll completely sold its stake in the airline and currently owns only 1.7% of the company.

Virgin Blue uses the well-known business model introduced by Southwest Airlines and Ryanair , which allows to reduce the cost of air transportation due to free on-board meals and the use of paper tickets, instead of which the sale of drinks and food on the plane and a reservation system by phone and via the Internet were introduced. At the beginning of its operations, the airline also achieved significant savings through the use of one type of aircraft , the Boeing 737 .

Subsequently, this strategy changed, and now Virgin Blue uses two types of aircraft. The airline ordered 20 Embraer aircraft, six ERJ-170s and 14 ERJ-190s with the intention of acquiring at least twenty more aircraft of this type ^[3] . Orders for these aircraft were placed specifically so that the airline could resume transportation on the Sydney - Canberra route, from which the airline was forced to leave in 2004, as well as begin flights on routes with low passenger traffic. ^{[3] [4]}

The first ERJ-170 arrived in Australia in September 2007; by the end of the year, all three aircraft from the initial order were delivered. They were delivered to directions with a reduced frequency, after which they were put into full commercial operation. On February 4, 2008, the airline again began operating flights to Canberra, ^[3] Mackay in Queensland , as well as to the regional centers of New South Wales, Port Macquarie and Albury . An advertising campaign was conducted, in which the cost of flying to Port Macquarie and Albury was equal to one cent. ^{[5] [6]} Flights to Canberra and regional centers indicate the company's desire to compete with Qantas and its subsidiary airline QantasLink , which also operates flights to these cities. In addition, the independent regional carrier Regional Express Airlines , flying to Albury, is also a competitor to Virgin Blue. ^[3]

In September 2003, Virgin Blue announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Blue, was launching similar flights between New Zealand and Australia. Pacific Blue is positioning itself as a budget competitor to Air New Zealand and Qantas in this area. Air New Zealand also had a budget unit operating under the Freedom Air brand (phased out operations in March 2008) and Qantas sent its subsidiary Jetstar Airways to some New Zealand routes.

Both Qantas (as well as its New Zealand subsidiary Jetconnect flying its flag) and Air New Zealand continue to fly in these directions. In August 2007, Virgin Blue announced its intention to begin domestic flights in New Zealand under the flag of Pacific Blue. Flights between Auckland and Wellington , as well as from Christchurch to Wellington and Auckland, began on November 12, 2007.

In response to increased competition, Qantas created its own budget subsidiary, Jetstar Airways , in 2004. In May 2005, Jetstar announced the start of flights to Christchurch , and since 2006 has added many other international destinations.

Since the start of operations in 2000, Virgin Blue has not entered into any interline agreements or marketing alliances with other carriers. The first exception to this rule was made after the bankruptcy of Virgin Blue's main competitor in the domestic market, Ansett, after which Virgin Blue entered into a code-sharing agreement with United Airlines . Under this agreement, United passengers could use Virgin Blue's routes to fly to destinations that the US airline did not fly to.

In 2006, trying to increase competition with Qantas , Virgin Blue began to pay attention to the possibility of agreements with other carriers. Mutual recognition arrangements were made for frequent flyer programs with Emirates Airline , Hawaiian Airlines and Malaysia Airlines . In addition, Virgin Blue entered into an interline agreement with the Australian regional airline Regional Express Airlines .

In November 2007, the carrier announced an interline agreement with Garuda Indonesia , which simplified transfers from Virgin Blue domestic flights to Garuda international routes in Perth , Melbourne , Sydney and Darwin . ^[7]

Recently, Virgin Blue announced a similar agreement with Vietnam Airlines , allowing passengers from Melbourne and Sydney to fly to Ho Chi Minh City , and then transfer any domestic or international Vietnam Airlines flight. ^[eight]

In 2008, the carrier introduced the Premium Economy Class on all of its flights, located in front of the cabin. It is distinguished by the ability to fold the middle chair, turning it into a table, as well as an increased step of the chairs. Also, premium economy class passengers check in out of turn, can carry more luggage, have access to the frequent flyer lounge and receive free meals during the flight. Thus, the airline is trying to attract more business passengers.

Since September 2008, the carrier began to charge for baggage in the economy class.

The name Virgin Blue was chosen as a result of a public competition; it beats the bright red livery and the tradition, fixed in the Australian slang , to call the red ("red") man `Blue` or` Bluey`. ^[9]

As of February 2009, the Virgin Blue fleet consisted of the following aircraft: ^[10]

Initially, Virgin Blue leased aircraft, but recently, many aircraft were purchased directly by the airline itself. In June 2006, Virgin Blue placed an order for nine Boeing 737-800 aircraft using previously acquired options. ^[eleven]

In November 2006, Virgin Blue announced its intention to acquire 11 Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft and three Embraer ERJ-170 aircraft with an option for six more aircraft of this manufacturer, later transferred to orders for three ERJ-170s and three ERJ-190s. ^[12] Later, the options were used, and in February 2008 the airline acquired four more ERJ-190s. Virgin Blue also has six options and the right to buy ten more Embraer planes. ^[13]

Virgin Blue received its first Embraer 170 in early September 2007 at a special ceremony held at the Embraer factory in San Jose dos Campos. ^[14] Aircraft of this type use a modified airline logo that is fully consistent with the logos of other Virgin Group companies. ^[3]

As of April 2009, Virgin Blue operates regular flights to the following destinations: ^[15]

Australia

• The territory of the federal capital
  • Canberra - Canberra Airport
• N.S.W.
  • Albury / Wadong - Albury Airport
  • Balina - Balina Airport
  • Coffs Harbor - Coffs Harbor Airport
  • Newcastle - Newcastle Airport
  • Port Macquarie - Port Macquarie Airport
  • Sydney - Kingsford Smith Airport
• Northern Territory
  • Darwin - Darwin Airport

• Queensland
  • Brisbane - Brisbane Airport - airline hub
  • Cairns - Cairns Airport
  • Gold Coast - Gold Coast Airport
  • Hamilton Island - Great Barrier Reef Airport
  • Hervey Bay - Hervey Bay Airport
  • Mackay - Mackay Airport
  • Rockhampton - Rockhampton Airport
  • Sunshine Coast - Sunshine Coast Airport
  • Townsville - Townsville Airport
  • Whitsunday Coast ( Proserpine ) - Proserpine Airport
  • Fraser Coast - Fraser Coast Airport
• South Australia
  • Adelaide - Adelaide Airport
• Tasmania
  • Hobart - Hobart Airport
  • Launceston - Launceston Airport
• Victoria
  • Melbourne - Tallamarine Airport
  • Mildura - Mildura Airport
• Western Australia
  • Broome - Broome Airport
  • Karratha - Karratha Airport
  • Newman - Newman Airport
  • Perth - Perth Airport
  • Kalgoorlie - Kalgoorlie Airport

New Zealand

• • Auckland
  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Wellington

Oceania

• Samoa
  • Apia
• Solomon islands
  • Honiara
• Fiji
  • Nadi
• Tonga
  • Nukualofa
• Vanuatu
  • Port vila
• Cook Islands
  • Rarotonga

Papua New Guinea

• • Port moresby

Indonesia

• • Denpasar

• Alice Springs ^[16]
• Mount ica

• Virgin Blue official website
• Voyeur inflight magazine