Virgin Atlantic wants to fly London-Perth non-stop

Replicating QANTAS's PER-LHR-PER is stupid, the route is monopolized it offers no growth. They will create their own route, where it doesn't currently exist, lowering the air time and increasing the flexibility, don't forget SQ out of BME. It is truely sad that there are people who cannot think outside the box.

PER is a market in its own right several industries and companies are based there and one reason why its a good departure point from Oz.

I think Broome makes sense only as a refueling stop. And even then it doesn't, because my guess is that jet fuel in Broome costs a lot more than it does in Perth.

Refuelling and Distributor (Transfer hub) for ADL, MEL, SYD, CBR, AKL, WLG, CHC. etc. Even if you don't believe BME can serve as a western Cairns/Townsville type destination.

Interestingly, there was an article in the Fairfax media today about Sir Richard B wanting Virgin Atlantic to fly nonstop to Australia from the UK. This was only to be watered down by a company spokesman.

As lovely a place as it is, Broome doesn't make commercial sense as a refueling and distribution destination and here's why:

1. Added cost for crew accommodation in both directions, because they will not have allowable work hours to continue onward on the same flight.

2. Added aircraft servicing costs, (landing charges, terminal parking charges, ground handling, etc)

3. Broome is not a hub. There are limited domestic services in the frequency you need. The SilkAir services from Singapore were charters and a trial. Twice weekly for a limited period. Not operating now, but may return. In any case, customers going to Singapore from London will not fly via Broome when there are many daily nonstop flights between London and Singapore.

Perth is the only West Coast hub that's viable. It's commercial, pure and simple.

As others have already well stated - for any airline to fly a 250+ seat aircraft into Australia it needs to be able transfer many of those passengers throughout its national / trans Tasman network seamlessly. What your suggesting would require Virgin Australia to set up a network ex Broome (or elsewhere) that allows it to compete with Qantas ex Perth. That's never going to happen because VA would never risk inveting into Brooome when there is very little corporate demand for that city. If I were Virgin Atlantic, I'd rush to get non stops to Sydney/ Melbourne or Brisbane from London to pip Qantas to the post and forget the West coast for now.

Darwin would be a much better choice compared to Broome - not much further, doesn’t compete with Perth but most importantly has an established city, airport infrastructure in place and an exisiting network of domestic connections

Not sure if trolling.

If not trolling, the rising costs of operating a hub, plus little O&D demand does not make a "hub" in smaller cities with little business demand work in today's market - American examples - the Mid USA hubs e.g Pittsburgh (US), St Louis (AA) and Cleveland (UA) lost their hubs due to lack of O&D demand.

Oh this was a good laugh... Walks away chucking....