What Pacific Blue planes have been refitted? Flying MEL>AKL with VA and it still has premium and no business. When will PB planes be refitted and repainted? Will they be? When? Have any?
Some have been refitted and repainted; all will eventually be refitted and repainted. As mentioned in other questions, I've not been able to find out from Virgin what sort of seating will exist at the front of the planes -- whether it'll be extended-pitch economy seating (like Air NZ has) or whether it'll be business-style seating. I'm sure you'll hear from AusBT when Virgin actually answer that question.
One thing that won't happen is full business-class service -- this is because Air NZ and Virgin Australia NZ are working on a "common product" for their trans-Tasman services; and Air New Zealand spent a considerable amount of money *removing* their TT business class service back in 2010 -- they're not likely to put it back just because Virgin wants it.
Chrisjrn, according to thevasource.com, it seems that all current WY180s are pacific blue. We still seem to be getting a few of these in HBA. So these 738s that fly into HBA are in PB livery arent they? Why are they operating HBA routes?
Basically, Pacific Blue was the name of many airlines that Virgin Blue flew internationally -- this includes Australia-New Zealand, Australia-Thailand and Australia-Bali.
All services into New Zealand were operated by New Zealand-registered aircraft (with Premium Economy + Economy).
All other international services were on Australian-registered aircraft, painted in a Pacific Blue livery (because they couldn't use the name "Virgin" on international routes).
The Australian-registered "Pacific Blue" aircraft were otherwise identical to Virgin Blue aircraft of the time, and because they were Australian-registered, that meant they could otherwise be deployed on Australian domestic sectors. These aircraft are the ones that you occasionally see at HBA.
So basically, the reason why they fly into HBA is because they're Australian-based 737s that are allowed to fly Australian domestic routes. They just happened to be the only planes that could fly out of Australia without breaching trademark.
Yes it does. I suspect we will be hearing reasonably soon on what the interior of those aircraft will be made up of. I hope we get something along the same lines as what we get on the trans-tasman A320s.
It is really a bit of a pain for VA that they will have a few of their 738 fleet standing as the odd ones out if they dont have a business product. The reason being that if they bring an all Y aircraft along and sub it in for AU domestic routes, it'll leave a few people unhappy. Is that what you think? I suppose if they did sub an all Y aircraft in, they would block off the middle seats of the first two rows at any rate. What are you hoping for onboard these PB aircraft?
Basically, Pacific Blue was the name of many airlines that Virgin Blue flew internationally -- this includes Australia-New Zealand, Australia-Thailand and Australia-Bali.
All services into New Zealand were operated by New Zealand-registered aircraft (with Premium Economy + Economy).
All other international services were on Australian-registered aircraft, painted in a Pacific Blue livery (because they couldn't use the name "Virgin" on international routes).
The Australian-registered "Pacific Blue" aircraft were otherwise identical to Virgin Blue aircraft of the time, and because they were Australian-registered, that meant they could otherwise be deployed on Australian domestic sectors. These aircraft are the ones that you occasionally see at HBA.
So basically, the reason why they fly into HBA is because they're Australian-based 737s that are allowed to fly Australian domestic routes. They just happened to be the only planes that could fly out of Australia without breaching trademark.
Not Quite.Out of Melbourne You still have the one NZ 777 service to Auckland that provides a Three Class Service on the Tasman That is a DJ codeshare with Air NZ Metal and the occassional 767 might pop up every so often on the second flight of the day so Business Class still in a way does exist but it's mainly for business travellers or people heading onwards TO LA,San Francisco and Vancouver.
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What Pacific Blue planes have been refitted?
AirportAddict
AirportAddict
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 05 Jan 2012
Total posts 175
What Pacific Blue planes have been refitted? Flying MEL>AKL with VA and it still has premium and no business. When will PB planes be refitted and repainted? Will they be? When? Have any?
chrisjrn
chrisjrn
Member since 09 May 2011
Total posts 177
Hi there!
Some have been refitted and repainted; all will eventually be refitted and repainted. As mentioned in other questions, I've not been able to find out from Virgin what sort of seating will exist at the front of the planes -- whether it'll be extended-pitch economy seating (like Air NZ has) or whether it'll be business-style seating. I'm sure you'll hear from AusBT when Virgin actually answer that question.
One thing that won't happen is full business-class service -- this is because Air NZ and Virgin Australia NZ are working on a "common product" for their trans-Tasman services; and Air New Zealand spent a considerable amount of money *removing* their TT business class service back in 2010 -- they're not likely to put it back just because Virgin wants it.
--Chris
AirportAddict
AirportAddict
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 05 Jan 2012
Total posts 175
Chrisjrn, according to thevasource.com, it seems that all current WY180s are pacific blue. We still seem to be getting a few of these in HBA. So these 738s that fly into HBA are in PB livery arent they? Why are they operating HBA routes?
chrisjrn
chrisjrn
Member since 09 May 2011
Total posts 177
Basically, Pacific Blue was the name of many airlines that Virgin Blue flew internationally -- this includes Australia-New Zealand, Australia-Thailand and Australia-Bali.
All services into New Zealand were operated by New Zealand-registered aircraft (with Premium Economy + Economy).
All other international services were on Australian-registered aircraft, painted in a Pacific Blue livery (because they couldn't use the name "Virgin" on international routes).
The Australian-registered "Pacific Blue" aircraft were otherwise identical to Virgin Blue aircraft of the time, and because they were Australian-registered, that meant they could otherwise be deployed on Australian domestic sectors. These aircraft are the ones that you occasionally see at HBA.
So basically, the reason why they fly into HBA is because they're Australian-based 737s that are allowed to fly Australian domestic routes. They just happened to be the only planes that could fly out of Australia without breaching trademark.
Does that answer your question?
AirportAddict
AirportAddict
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 05 Jan 2012
Total posts 175
Yes it does. I suspect we will be hearing reasonably soon on what the interior of those aircraft will be made up of. I hope we get something along the same lines as what we get on the trans-tasman A320s.
It is really a bit of a pain for VA that they will have a few of their 738 fleet standing as the odd ones out if they dont have a business product. The reason being that if they bring an all Y aircraft along and sub it in for AU domestic routes, it'll leave a few people unhappy. Is that what you think? I suppose if they did sub an all Y aircraft in, they would block off the middle seats of the first two rows at any rate. What are you hoping for onboard these PB aircraft?
chrisjrn
chrisjrn
Member since 09 May 2011
Total posts 177
Basically, Pacific Blue was the name of many airlines that Virgin Blue flew internationally -- this includes Australia-New Zealand, Australia-Thailand and Australia-Bali.
All services into New Zealand were operated by New Zealand-registered aircraft (with Premium Economy + Economy).
All other international services were on Australian-registered aircraft, painted in a Pacific Blue livery (because they couldn't use the name "Virgin" on international routes).
The Australian-registered "Pacific Blue" aircraft were otherwise identical to Virgin Blue aircraft of the time, and because they were Australian-registered, that meant they could otherwise be deployed on Australian domestic sectors. These aircraft are the ones that you occasionally see at HBA.
So basically, the reason why they fly into HBA is because they're Australian-based 737s that are allowed to fly Australian domestic routes. They just happened to be the only planes that could fly out of Australia without breaching trademark.
Does that answer your question?
snoopy7787
snoopy7787
Member since 10 Apr 2012
Total posts 7
Not Quite.Out of Melbourne You still have the one NZ 777 service to Auckland that provides a Three Class Service on the Tasman That is a DJ codeshare with Air NZ Metal and the occassional 767 might pop up every so often on the second flight of the day so Business Class still in a way does exist but it's mainly for business travellers or people heading onwards TO LA,San Francisco and Vancouver.