27 February 2009

Sir Richard speaks candidly to TravelMole TV

SYDNEY ââ¬' There was a big roll-up at Sydney Airport today for the launch of V Australia, the trans-Pacific carrier which is part of the Virgin group.

On the tarmac at Sydney airport for the opening was Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Group, who has been celebrating the launch of the new global Virgin network and Virgin Atlanticââ¬â¢s 25th birthday by travelling around the world in eight days.

Flying Virgin Atlantic and V Australia, passengers are now able to fly around the world from Sydney to Los Angeles, then to London and return to Sydney via Hong Kong.

Or they can travel west using a route Sydney-Hong Kong-London-Los Angeles-Sydney.

When V Australia launched in the US, a candid Sir Richard spoke to TravelMole TV about his new Boeing 777, a trip to Mars, and his favourite friends. You can find the interview on TravelMole TV

Critics have questioned the timing of the V Australia launch from Sydney to Los Angeles at a time when the global economy is shrinking and rivals on the route, Qantas and United, have upped their products.

Aviation writer Ben Sandilands, writing his Plane Talking column, notes, ââ¬ÅâœV Australia is using a 360 seat Boeing 777-300ER that has a much more realistic division of capacity between economy, premium economy and business class than the giant Airbus A380 which is already taking over the Qantas services to America in a 450 seat layout.

ââ¬ÅâœLuck maybe, but Qantas seems to have over-catered for a shrinking cadre of high fare paying corporate travellers, while the Virgins are offering smaller premium club rooms including two bars, and a private suite conversion in which seven business class seats can be isolated from the rest of the flight.

ââ¬ÅâœGetting these proportions between economy and premium travellers right can drive many millions of dollars of advantage from one airline to another, especially if one of them, like V Australia, has started from a clean sheet, and included the levels of efficiency Qantas is trying to get from Jetstar.ââ¬~

Sandilands adds, ââ¬ÅâœWhat V Australia seems to have done is come up with quirky product that doesnââ¬â¢t replicate the equivalent fare categories on Qantas.

ââ¬ÅâœThe toilets play rock musicââ¬~¦yes they doââ¬~¦all of the seats are roomy for the type of cabin, and when you get a blanket you donââ¬â¢t have to choose which part of you will stay cold.

ââ¬ÅâœIt seems to have been designed with the maxim in mind that if you just duplicate an existing product you will fail.

ââ¬ÅâœBeing ââ¬Ëœdifferentââ¬â¢ is critical.ââ¬~

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