Virgin Australia exec: why Fiji got our first international A330
By Chris C., May 28 2015
It was long thought that Virgin Australia’s Airbus A330s would at some point leave our shores and ply international routes, although the airline surprised almost everybody when the crown went to Fiji – specifically, the 4-5 hour trek between Sydney and Nadi.
With the A330s already boasting international-grade business class seats and soon to offer fully-flat beds at the pointy end, we asked Virgin Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer Judith Crompton to share why the airline chose Fiji for its A330s over destinations such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Coming to the A330s: Virgin Australia's latest business class seat
“Fiji is a very important market for us,” Crompton tells Australian Business Traveller, “and the drive behind Fiji was higher traffic that we are experiencing on the weekends and at peak periods such as school holidays.”
“It’s also a flagship product, and we thought: ‘let’s showcase it’,” Crompton shares with a smile, mentioning that the basic economics of supply and demand also favoured the decision.
Earlier this year competitor Fiji Airways was unopposed in offering business class between Sydney and Nadi, although Virgin Australia came to the plate in March by rolling out its own business class seats on flights to the Pacific Islands, and also New Zealand.
Now available on all Virgin Australia flights to Fiji, New Zealand, year-round...
“Business class across the Tasman … was one missing piece of our corporate and high-end leisure proposition,” Crompton continues.
“There we were flying across the Tasman on 2.5-3hr flights without a business class product, and it was absolutely critical that we implemented one in line with our vision and our strategy to be a full premium brand airline.”
Predominantly served by smaller domestic-style Boeing 737s, business travellers can now perch themselves at the pointy end while enjoying Luke Mangan-inspired meals and larger seats to trump the premium economy offering they replaced.
One of Mangan's Virgin Australia business class dishes: lamb meatballs
Add to that: pre-flight access to Air New Zealand’s brand new Sydney lounge for Virgin Australia’s business class guests, and on-demand inflight entertainment via wireless streaming to your own device or a supplied Samsung tablet.
The only drawback? There’s actually no lounge in Nadi for VA’s premium passengers, although Priority Pass members can stop by the Fiji Airways Tabua Lounge before their Virgin Australia flight, while any Virgin Australia passenger could instead cough up FJD$75 at the door for entry.
Virgin Australia’s Airbus A330s will appear on flights between Sydney and Nadi every Saturday between June 20 and October 24 2015, and on selected days during the Christmas and New Year period.
Also read:
- This week only: get hands-on with VA's new business class seat
- Virgin Australia: Airbus A330 flights for Fiji
- Review: Fiji Airways Tabua Lounge, Nadi Airport
- New business class seats for VA's Airbus A330s, Boeing 777s
- Fiji Airways Airbus A330 business class review, Nadi-Sydney
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 171
So is VA going to annouce a new internation destination or is this it?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
We've shared what we know in the article – if we knew more, we'd have certainly shared that too.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 171
No worries Chris. I wasn't having a go it was just a simple question
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
No worries. :)
16 May 2014
Total posts 99
I have a feeling that might be more to do with Perth. I think the delay on the Perth terminal has put back the announcement. Maybe they wanted to announce it at the same time as the terminal opens. (Just a thought bubble)
God knows when that will open tho.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
They'll scrap them before the terminal opens!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Aug 2011
Total posts 9
I am travelling from NAN-SYD on Saturday 20th June in Business... will i get to expereince the new seat?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Reason for PR Purposes:
“Fiji is a very important market for us...and the drive behind Fiji was higher traffic that we are experiencing on the weekends and at peak periods such as school holidays.”
Real reason:
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Typo! Its Nadi not Nandi!
07 Aug 2012
Total posts 192
Another "Real reason":
Where do we already fly that has higher demand on weekends, when we don't need the A330 to fly to PER? NAN.
No point sending the A330 to HKG or SIN, when VA can only spare the aircraft on weekends.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
We spent 9 days in Fiji this month for R&R disappointing we couldn't get into the Air New Zealand lounge (Platinum VA) at Nadi and the kids onboard trashed the plane, I'm sure there was a kid sitting on someone lap in every row.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
They're two major issues. Adding a business class equipped plane doesn't equate to a premium service. You need a lounge and you need priority boarding.
Family destinations and planes full of screaming kids are enough to ruin your holiday. At least a wide body aircraft can be zoned with the bassinets down back.
The demand to HKG would categorically exceed Nadi. It must be big bro Singapore leaning on VA saying "we have a 13 hour trip as an option to VA elite status guests." But not even the most points hungry person would opt for that connection when you have QF and CX running direct.
14 Jan 2015
Total posts 3
any idea when the new seats will be installed on the Fiji flight?
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