V Australia faces 777 delivery delays
Virgin Blue’s new long-haul carrier V Australia could face delays to the delivery of its first Boeing 777s, casting serious doubt over whether it will begin services to Los Angeles in mid-December, according to the Age.
The delivery dates for the more fuel-efficient planes to airlines around the world have been thrown into question because of a three-week strike at Boeing’s plants near Seattle. V Australia was due to receive its first 777 in the first week of November, while another two of the long-haul planes had been expected in December.
Yesterday Air Canada said it expected two 777s due for delivery by the end of this year to be delayed because of the strike by Boeing machinists.
The prospect of delays will create major headaches at V Australia because it already has a tight timeframe to begin services between Sydney and Los Angeles on December 15.
A Virgin Blue spokeswoman said yesterday the airline was still “awaiting clarity” from Boeing over the expected impact of the strike and whether this would affect V Australia.
“At this stage we can still launch on time,” she said. “We’re awaiting answers from Boeing and then we will have clarity. We’re hopeful Boeing will resolve their dispute ASAP.”
V Australia’s first 777 is believed to be on a tarmac outside a Boeing production plant near Seattle, but still needs an internal fit-out. Virgin Blue has ordered seven Boeing 777-300ER planes for its V Australia operation, with an option for six more for the trans-Pacific flights.
Chief executive Brett Godfrey said this month that V Australia did not expect to get its air operator certificate until early December just days before it is due to begin services.
“Virgin Blue did its approving flight five days before its first flight (in 2000).,” he said then. “You anticipate to get it … so we are selling, you are moving, jumping through all the hoops and hurdles.”
A Boeing spokesman said the company did not know whether there would be delays to deliveries until the strike was over. He could not say whether it was closer to ending.
“As far as Boeing is concerned, we really can’t predict what impact the strike might have,” he said yesterday. “Until we get back to work we won’t know.”
V Australia sold out a promotional $999 return fare from Sydney to LA within hours in April, but has yet to fill the rest of the seats on its first flight, which coincides with the start of the year’s busiest travelling period.
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