Virgin to partner with Hawaiian
Virgin Blue continues to spread its wings, announcing a fourth international partnership, this time with Hawaiian Airlines.
The airline is also eyeing expansion into Asia.
“We’re in the process of having advanced discussions with Hawaiian Airlines and you will see us put out those new flights to Hawaii from Australia shortly,” Virgin chief executive John Borghetti said at a Sydney business lunch.
Virgin Blue has already announced international partnerships with Etihad, Air New Zealand and Delta.
Borghetti said Asia was on the radar. “We’re not going to leave it alone. We are going to play in that space,” he said. “But you are going to have to watch this space because we’re not ready to announce that.”
Borghetti said he was confident Virgin Blue would win 20 percent of the domestic business travel market within three years and break Qantas’ near monopoly.
“From our perspective, in this high-yielding market, not only does it provide us better profits once we grow it, but it will also give us less volatility on our revenue line.
“Virgin has it in its DNA to break monopolies, or near monopolies, and that is exactly what we are going to do,” he said.
Virgin Blue says corporate travellers will have a choice of domestic airlines for the first time in almost a decade when the carrier offers business class seats on its Sydney-to-Perth route from May 26.
Borghetti said the Virgin Blue Group would work to consolidate its four separate brands, Virgin Blue, V Australia, Virgin Atlantic and Pacific Blue, saying it was “confusing for customers and not very productive”.
Ian Jarrett
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