Virgin Blue signs to buy long haul trans-Pacific aircraft
Virgin Blue takes another big step in its ambitious plans to become an international airline tomorrow when it inks a deal with Boeing for seven 777-300 extended range aircraft.
Virgin Blue MD Brett Godfrey and Boeing Australia president Craig Saddler will complete the formalities watched by Federal transport minister Mark Vaile, with the signing significant because it signals that Virgin Blue is on schedule to launch services to the US West Coast in competition with Qantas by 2008.
Virgin Blue’s choice of the B777 is another blow for Airbus, with last year Virgin going looking for “aircraft capable of operating the trans-Pacific route including the Airbus A340 and Boeing 777”.
A DJ spokesperson said, “The choice has been confirmed and it’s Boeing”.
Brett Godfrey says the regulatory approval process for the launch of transpacific services to the USA is well under way and the airline is targeting a launch date in the second half of next year.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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