Virgin Australia
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Virgin Australia until 2011 Virgin Blue is an Australian airline. Originally started as a low cost airline in 2000, the company has developed into a smart carrier. The company's headquarters is located in Brisbane, while the bases and hubs are located all over Australia. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia is the second largest Australian airline Qantas and plays an important role in domestic traffic as well as on international routes.
- 2.1 code sharing and collaboration
History
Beginning
Virgin Australia was built around the turn of the millennium as Virgin Blue. The launch of Virgin Blue fell in November 1999 with the announcement of Virgin Group to establish a low cost airline in Australia. This took on 31 August 2000 to air operations under the name Virgin Blue. In the early days of Virgin Blue followed faithfully the traditional low cost concept; previously had in Australia can establish no low cost airline successful in the market at this time. Virgin Blue To put one hand on high circulation times of the aircraft and on the no-frills concept that no free meals offered on board, have been surrendered to a business class. There were no lounges, frequent flyer programs or the like. This Virgin Blue could offer comparatively cheap tickets on the market. The Virgin Group itself was already established at this time with airlines such as Virgin Express and Virgin Atlantic in the aviation business.
After the announcement of a new low cost airline was organized for naming a public tender, after which the company received more letters about 3200 with proposals by its own account. It gained the name Virgin Blue, which was announced in February 2000. In May, Virgin Blue announced that she wanted to enter the market with a range for the time being. So it should come from August seven times a day from Brisbane to Sydney and go back, with Brisbane acted as a base. The fleet was to consist of two originating from the Belgian sister company Virgin Express Boeing 737-400, but should, according to plans to expand the route network at the end of another three sister aircraft, the focus of the uptake of the compound Brisbane -Melbourne should be.
The starting date for the reception of the first route from Brisbane to Sydney August 3, 2000 was announced. Due to problems with licensing Air Australia was unable to comply with the intended start date and announced on 21 July 2000, a smaller delay in operation recording. After she had finally obtained the operating certificate on 25 August 2000, flight operations on 31 August 2000 was recorded on the opening route from Brisbane to Sydney, barely a month after the scheduled date.
As planned supplemented Virgin Blue 's fleet by a further used Boeing 737 Shortly after the start of the airline and the second route from Brisbane to Melbourne was opened, which was three - but served five times daily beginning in the same year. Also in 2000, the frequency between Sydney and Brisbane was increased to eight times daily. On December 7, was included in the flight plan with a new connection from Brisbane to Adelaide, the third connection. For now, here are two flights a day were offered.
At the end of 2000 a total of well over 200,000 people were flown with Virgin Blue. The airline had achieved an average occupancy rate of 78 percent. The fleet consisted of five Boeing 737-400. In addition, were ordered from Boeing in Seattle, which should join the fleet from April 2001 and thus allowed further growth for the further expansion of ten new Boeing 737NG.
On March 1, they took the new line Adelaide - Sydney to its flight plan, so there was a line for the first time, which was not flown from Brisbane. On March 15, was anfgenommen with Brisbane - Townsville another airline. The first ordered the Boeing 737, a version of the type 737-700, entered service in May. Associated with this took Virgin Blue on May 17, the route Melbourne - Adelaide new to the program on.
Virgin Blue managed for the last fiscal year from 31 August 2000 to 31 March 2001 an operating profit of half a million Australian dollars to achieve. The overall balance fell by one-time expenses associated with the establishment of yet into the red, so that ultimately a loss of 11 million Australian dollars had to be absorbed. Still, it managed the company very quickly move into the profit zone, so the month was December 2000, just four months after its operations, already connected with profits. Normally one expects in the industry for a period of about two years.
In June, Virgin Blue has already welcomed its millionth passenger. The following month, July, two of the new connection -oriented aggressive growth Airline Carriers between Canberra and Brisbane as well as Sydney and Melbourne went into operation. The route from Melbourne to Sydney is the busiest route in Australia.
Virgin Blue made by the success of attention and the New Zealand carrier Air New Zealand offered to the low-cost airline, which was at the time 100 percent owned by the Virgin Group to take over for 250 million dollars. The offer was officially rejected on 4 September.
Rise by the end of the Ansett Australia
On September 14, Ansett Australia introduced as a result of severe financial problems and then perpetrated by September 11, a death-blow to flight operations. Ansett was at this time according to the second largest Australian airline Qantas and mainly focused on the important and lucrative domestic market. The failure of the carrier left a big hole. Virgin Blue possessed thanks to their mother financially sound on a lot of capital that allowed her to quickly take up a lot of new routes or to strengthen existing ones, since the mastered Ansett Australia traffic needed alternatives. In addition, Virgin Blue had the opportunity to develop their networks as desired by the now vacant capacities at the mostly working at this time at capacity airports. Previously, it had come at the Australian airports due to missed investment in expanding capacity problems. Virgin Blue were now many free check-in times are available so it was not hampered by capacity gaps in their growth. Due to these positive factors was Virgin Blue expand rapidly. In addition, Virgin Blue took over several former Golden Wing lounges for premium passengers out of the bankruptcy estate of Ansett Australia. Virgin Blue changed the name of the lounges in The Blue Room and operating it from now on as paid lounges.
After the end of Ansett Australia Virgin Blue offered as usual discounted tickets for the stranded passengers. At this time flew Virgin Blue nine routes and served seven goals. Virgin Blue was itself through the elimination of Ansett Australia itself overnight into the second largest airline in the country, since Ansett Australia and Qantas had for years conducted a duopoly and Virgin Blue was already so large that it is the other mainly active in regional traffic Airlines in the number of passengers surpassed. In the half year that ended on 30 September 2001, Virgin Australia has already generated a profit of 8.2 million Australian dollars, which the airline was now arrived with more than 1500 employees in the profit zone.
Mid-October 2001 Virgin Blue has already welcomed its two millionth passenger flight. Meanwhile, the company carried 10,000 passengers per day, the age of the fleet was less than four years. On October 31, the target Mackay in Queensland has been added from Brisbane. This was to continue to grow in the regional sector in Queensland, in which one had advanced just over a half of the route Brisbane - Townsville. December 9, followed by new routes from Melbourne and Adelaide to Perth, which were served from 9 December with the first delivered to Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800. Due to the convenient location followed in 2001 still several other routes such as from Melbourne to Gold Coast and Canberra and Launceston or Brisbane to Cairns. Addition was increased to many existing routes, the frequencies dramatically.
Overall, Virgin Blue took in 2001 to a total of 14 new routes in the flight plan and increased drastically the frequencies on existing routes.
Gradually, Virgin Blue began to distance itself from low cost model. This included the introduction of Flights from February 2002. Usually these are frowned upon by low cost airlines.
Entry of Patrick Corporation
Already in November 2001, Virgin Blue announced that they were looking for a buyer for a 49 -percent share of the budget airline, which already could have a market share of 12 percent to 13 percent. Furthermore, other parts of the company were to be sold later in the stock market. As the first prospective long- Corporation has been known that an offer submitted just days after the announcement to take over half of the airline. This was then rejected later.
In March 2002, it was then announced that they would sell half of the shares of the airline, which had found until then wholly owned by the Virgin Group, at the Patrick Corporation. She had offered a prize of 260 million Australian dollars for the 49 -percentage - participation. Meanwhile, the market share of the low cost airline had risen to 15 percent. The IPO, in which additional shares should be sold, was scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2002, but this was not maintained. Meanwhile April 2002, the ten millionth passenger was welcomed since start of flight operations.
Unrestricted held Virgin Blue in 2002 firmly in rapid growth. While the fleet at the time of signing the entry declaration by Patrick Corporation a total of 16 Boeing 737 was, the fleet grew by a further seven other Boeingjets in 2002. Thanks to this new aircraft which now active in all Australian Territories low cost airline was incorporated in 2002 more new destinations and increase frequencies, so that the carrier robbed gradually Qantas market share. A total of 2002 nine new routes have been added. In addition, they reached the acquisition of the rights of the bankrupt Ansett Australia by six gates, and the option for six additional gates for their own flights in which, when chronically overloaded terminal from Sydney airport, which could accelerate the previously limited by lack of capacity expansion here.
The following year in 2003 included continued rapid expansion, as previously sat on frequency increases and new connections. Overall, the number of passengers Virgin Australia would more than double. So Virgin Blue confirmed in January, the order for ten Boeing 737-800 and an option for another 40 aircraft of the Boeing 737-800 and the Boeing 737-700 and smaller version of the larger Boeing 737-900. Both variants up to the latter were already present at the time in the fleet of Virgin Blue. The ten aircraft on firm order should be available from August 2003 encounter in dense intervals to the fleet, while the 40 options are to be lax delivered within the next decade.
In August 2003, Virgin Blue Sydney Airport opened on a lounge under the name The Blue Lounge to appealing to going with business travelers. Since Virgin Blue had no business class installed at this time in their planes, the lounge was open to all passengers an entrance fee of 5 Australian dollar. Alternatively, it was a year membership. Shortly after the lounge in Sydney opened a second Blue Lounge in Brisbane was established. More should follow within the next few years.
IPO
In September 2003, the two owners of Virgin Blue, the British Virgin Group and the Australian Patrick Corporation for the IPO of Virgin Blue agreed. Thus, the Virgin Blue Holdings went on 8 December 2003 to the stock market and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The starting price for a share was $ 2.25, which meant a total enterprise value of 2.3 billion dollars. The IPO, the share of Virgin Group declined dramatically; while it provided to be still at 29.1 percent while they reduced because of the good market price still on 8 December the share to only 25.1 percent. Patrick Group, previously with half of it, increasing its share and invested a further $ 137 million in shares and became the majority shareholder. For more company shares were sold to various private investors. According to Virgin Blue, 94 percent of its own staff, about 250 institutions and many thousands of individual investors had shown on December 5, already for shares of Virgin Blue interest. At the time it IPO, the share of Virgin Blue had increased to 30 per cent in the Australian domestic market.
In March 2004, ventured to continue to remain strong growing airline, which has been active so far only in the domestic market, the international airline business. But that was Virgin Blue itself is not used, but a subsidiary established in 2003 with the name Pacific Blue. You should drive based in Christchurch Christchurch and Wellington destinations in Australia. The painting corresponded largely to the title of Virgin Blue. The reason that the airline named Pacific Blue missed was not a virgin name had to do with it, which had now acquired Singapore Airlines a 49 -percent stake in Virgin Atlantic and had let it assured that there is no other international airline should give that listens to a Virgin name. In addition to the New Zealand Transport the subsidiary should be from September to focus on flights between Australia and the Pacific Islands, especially Fiji and Vanuatu. The airline started operations with Boeing 737-800. In April 2004, the 20- millionth passenger flew with Virgin Blue. Now has a fleet of 44 aircraft, which operated 41 routes. In addition, approximately 3250 employees working for the budget airline, which reached a punctuality rate of 93 percent.
Also in April 2004, they opened a flight school. As a joint venture between Virgin Blue and Boeing subsidiary Alteon Training in Brisbane These were a total investment of 45 million dollars. The Trainingswhip center should primarily be used by Virgin Blue, but are also open for other airlines.
In September, Pacific Blue took to plan the routes from Vanuatu to Australia. The following year, 2005 Pacific Blue would also take routes to Rarotonga, Tonga, Fiji and also a course of expansion.
This was followed in 2005 with another boom year for both Virgin Blue and international subsidiary Pacific Blue. Because of the now very large fleet, Virgin Blue decided to build its own maintenance center in Brisbane. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in January 2005.
2005, the third airline was created under the umbrella of the Virgin Blue Holding: Polynesian Blue. Polynesian Blue, because of the prohibition of the use of the Virgin name on international routes also without Virgin in its name, was built as a joint venture between Virgin Blue Holdings and the Government of Samoa. The government and Virgin Blue Holdings held on the airline ever 49 percent, the remaining two percent were in the hands of an independent legal person in Samoa. The project was announced in July 2005. The airline is based in Apia, Samoa, from where they operated with Boeing in late October 2005 737-800 international routes to Australia and New Zealand. Polynesian Blue Pacific Blue also contributes as basically the same color as Virgin Blue, Polynesian Blue, however, at the tail have been added to the image of a palm tree.
In November, in a frequent flyer program was launched: Velocity Rewards. The program also collaborates with various partners. Virgin Blue hoped to better bind with the frequent flyer program of business travel customers loyal. The introduction of a customer loyalty program marks another step in the metamorphosis from boarding the Smart Carrier, since such an offer at low cost airlines usually does not apply. In 2006, in consequence of the payment lounges of Virgin Blue, The Blue Room, redesigned. The price for a single visit had now increased to 30 Australian dollars, but continue annual tickets were offered. 2006 would also be held on the expanding.
Conversion for network carriers
Beginning of November 2006 ordered Virgin Blue Embraer regional jets 14 type E-Jet, with 11 orders for Embraer 190 and three other accounted for the little sister Embraer 170. In addition, options were drawn on six more E- jets. The regional jets should be used on regional routes. With the order of E-Jets to Virgin Blue adopted by the previous concept, in which a type of aircraft, the Boeing 737 was used. This saves costs in pilot training and maintenance and leads out further synergies, but one can thus only serve certain routes. Since Virgin Blue wanted to grow in regional transport, they finally decided for a smaller type of aircraft parallel to the Boeing jets.
In the first half of 2007 Virgin Blue introduced a CO2 offset program.
In addition, ran 2007, the preparations for the launch of a new airline under the umbrella of Virgin Blue Holdings, which was to start intercontinental primarily in the United States. The company, which was prepared in 2006, this year took shape. In March, followed by the determination on the Boeing 777- 300ER is an important step for hitherto unnamed company. Overall, he was ordered in March, six of these planes determined by the manufacturer, representing a total investment of 2.2 billion Australian dollars. In addition, a seventh Boeing should be leased 777-300ER from the International Lease Finance Company ( ILFC ). In addition, the manufacturer options were drawn on six more Boeing 777- 300ER. More details on its new long-haul subsidiary were announced in July 2007. She got the name V Australia missed; the aircraft should not wear the red design compared to the other three airlines to Virgin Blue Holdings, but got a completely new Livery missed. In addition, permission was granted to conduct an initial 10 weekly flights from Australia to the United States, provided that V Australia no later than November 30, 2008 comes into the air. Therefore, it announced the start of operation for the end of 2008, so the deadline could be met.
In September, the first of six EMBRAER 170 has been provisionally handed over to Virgin Blue. The first Embraer 190 was followed in early 2008.
The end of 2007 opened the first subsidiary Pacific Blue Inlandssrecken in New Zealand. In addition, the Australian regional airline Skywest Airlines joined the frequent flyer program of Virgin Blue Velocity Rewards, at. The entire Virgin Blue Holdings with the three airlines Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue operation in November 2007, a total of 56 Boeing 737 and Embraer aircraft. Controls were 20 Australian destinations, as well as eight other international destinations.
In February 2008, Virgin Blue ordered more E-Jets, so they are now a total of six Embraer 170 and Embraer received 18, including the three already supplied Embraer 170 190. For Virgin Blue in an Embraer 170 find 70 passengers place, the Embraer 190 can accommodate 104 passengers.
Early 2008, Virgin Blue, a new booking class on board their flights a: The premium economy class. It stands beside the larger seats made by an expanded range of services. Also it was decided to extend its so far limited to Boeing 737 training center and also to carry out training of pilots on E-Jets because of the growing number of e- jets in the fleet of Virgin Blue. To this end, a simulator for 10 million Australian dollars was purchased. The in- building carrier V Australia also attended a training facility with a new simulator for the Boeing 777 into service, which was not set in the previous training center of Virgin Blue in Brisbane but in the future operating basis of V Australia in Sydney.
End of 2008, the privileges for the travelers in the Ecomomy Plus class were increased and introduced an in-flight entertaiment system for premium travelers.
On 17 December 2008 rolled the long-haul subsidiary of Virgin Blue, V Australia, slightly late to the start. For now, a network of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne was introduced to Los Angeles shortly thereafter began at V Australia another track growth. The new airline is substantially different from Virgin Blue and the other two daughters Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue externally mainly by the completely different finishing, different naming. Because V Australia is active in the long- range market, where more premium travelers are at home, the aircraft received three booking classes, Economy, Business and the intermediate class Premium Economy. The standalone operating permit was issued but only on 17 February 2009. While V Australia resumed rapidly expanded and new destinations like Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi or Nadi, there was a hole in demand, as a result shut down a number of aircraft and the capacity was reduced to the Australian domestic market with Virgin Blue by the global economic crisis in 2009.
In early 2010 drew Virgin Blue Boeing with an explanation for the purchase of up to 105 additional Boeing 737, with 50 on firm order and are made for the remaining purchase options. The first jets this order should join the fleet in mid-2011, go to the delivery period to 2017. The aircraft should ask older primarily machines of the same model out of service, but also allow for further growth.
In May 2010, John Borghetti was named the new CEO of Virgin Blue. He replaced so Gedfrey board, since the founding of the airline initiated this and had previously announced to quit. John Borghetti had previously led the largest competitor of Virgin Blue, Qantas, .
The end of 2010 took over Virgin Blue the sponsorship for the football club Gold Coast SUNS provisionally three years. In early 2011, this dedicated with a special finish on a Boeing 737-800.
In February 2011 it was announced that the six Embraer 170 in the fleet of Virgin Blue replaced by ATR 72. Overall, in 18 of these regional jets come in the next few years the fleet, with the first six Embraer 170 and replace the following should be used for expansion in the regional market. The ATR 72 is not operated by Virgin Blue, but by the partner Skywest Airlines. In addition, Air New Zealand took over in the first quarter of 2011 for 145 million Australian dollars 14.9 percent stake in the company.
Relaunch to Virgin Australia
In spring 2011 a major restructuring took place at the Virgin Blue Holding to the instrumental was a renaming of the four airlines. Initially, it was with the now partner airline Singapore Airlines, which was in 2000 to assure the acquisition of a 49 percent stake in the airline Virgin Atlantic, that the name Virgin should not be used internationally in the region, agreed, all four airlines Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue and V Australia to be provided in a uniform Virgin name and branding. Thus, one named Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and V Australia to Virgin Australia and missed a new website and design. Polynesian Blue, which are not fully owned by the holding company, but a joint venture between Virgin Blue Holdings and the Government of Samoa is, was renamed in consideration with the partner in Virgin Samoa, but received the same design as Virgin Australia with modified titles and was incorporated into the new side of Virgin Australia and thus possessed no homepage more. When you relaunch the product has been optimized, including especially the new business class on board the Boeing 737 belongs.
The name change followed, however gradually, so launched Virgin Blue as Virgin Australia from early May, while the other airlines should follow by the end of 2011. For the launch of Virgin Australia in early May, a first new Airbus A330 has been integrated into the fleet, which should oscillate along with the related prior to delivery sister aircraft between eastern and western Australia. The second step of the re-launch was held on December 7 th, when Virgin Pacific and V Australia have been integrated into Virgin Australia and disappeared as an independent airline from the market, however, the operating licenses for the two airlines remain unimpaired as subsidiaries, with V Australia now officially named the Virgin Australia International carries, while Pacific Blue internally runs as Virgin Australia NZ. Simultaneously, the Virgin Blue Holdings was renamed as parent company in Virgin Australia Holdings and joint venture Polynesian Blue, Virgin Samoa renamed.
Objectives
Virgin Australia has a dense route network between all Australian states and territories, as well as the Australian Overseas Christmas & Cocos Island. With regional aircraft and regional objectives in Queensland and Western Australia are achieved. International Virgin Australia flies from Australia to New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vanuatu, United Arab Emirates & the USA.
Code sharing and collaboration
Virgin Australia now operates intensive cooperation with various airlines, which passes over the code sharing. Had previously, albeit less pronounced, occurred cooperation with other airlines.
Frequent Flyer Program
Virgin Blue in 2005 led to a frequent flyer program called Velocity Rewards, short Velocity, also marketed as Velocity frequent flyer, a. It was the first frequent flyer program of Virgin Blue and was used from the outset of the other companies under the umbrella of Virgin Blue Holdings. In the restructuring to Virgin Australia, the name was retained.
You can earn points for Virgin Australia, Virgin Samoa and the partner company Skywest who has adopted the Velocity program and no separate runs. There is also the opportunity to gain points for partner airlines with its own bonus program, which cooperate with each other the programs here. Termed Points bonus points that you collect, depend on the distance flown and after the flight fare. Besides, it is also, as with many other bonus programs possible to gain points for partners, such as hotels, car rental companies, insurance, etc., can also on the credit card to earn points.
Collected points can be redeemed for flights, which for the free flights, taxes and fees must be paid in addition. In addition, the points can be used to get an upgrade to business or premium economy class. It is also possible to exchange points for rewards by the partners, such as car rental or hotel accommodation.
Furthermore, status miles will be collected during flights, which allow a rise in silver, gold and platinum status. Then the passengers have numerous advantages, such as preferred Check -in and boarding, lounge access or free upgrades.
Criticism
An on-board determination of Virgin Australia as it occurs in other Australian airlines, stipulates that male passengers are not allowed to sit next to children who are traveling alone. This has caused in August 2012 due to the concomitant general suspicion of pedophilia against men for criticism and indignation.
Statistics
The following table summarizes the financial data of Virgin Blue Holdings Limited Group are shown below:
1 three months of fiscal 2006 were the financial year attributable to 2005, and that the year 2005 18 and 2006 nine months symbolize in the statistics.
Fleet
As of September 2013, the fleet of 90 aircraft consists of Virgin Australia with an average age of 4.3 years:
Other machines are operated by the subsidiaries of Virgin Australia International, Virgin Australia (New Zealand), Virgin Australia and Virgin Samoa regional.
Custom paintwork
Like many other airlines provides Virgin Australia aircraft with advertising or special finishes. Thus, several jets from Virgin Australia have been completely provided with a promotional paint in the past. In addition to these full- Painted jets that carry either sponsorship of Virgin Australia, promotion or publicity, numerous jets were provided by Virgin Blue with promotional stickers beyond.