V Australia

V Australia[1] was a long-haul international airline owned by Virgin Australia Holdings that commenced operating on 27 February 2009.[2] As part of a rebranding of all of Virgin Australia Holdings' subsidiaries, on 7 December 2011 it was subsumed into Virgin Australia.[3]

V Australia
IATA ICAO Callsign
VA VAU VEE-OZ
Founded26 May 2004
Commenced operations27 February 2009
Ceased operations7 December 2011
HubsSydney Airport
Frequent-flyer programVelocity Frequent Flyer
Fleet size5
Destinations5
Parent companyVirgin Australia Holdings
HeadquartersBowen Hills, Queensland, Australia
Key people
Websitewww.vaustralia.com

History

Naming competition
Boeing 777-300ER at Brisbane Airport in 2009

The name of the airline was decided in the same way that Virgin Blue's own name was found, with a public naming competition conducted in June 2007.[4] On 25 June 2007, Virgin Blue released the eight finalists of the naming competition.[5] They were:

  • Amelia Blue
  • Australia Blue
  • Didgeree Blue
  • Liberty Blue
  • Matilda Blue
  • V Australia Airlines
  • Virgin Australia
  • Virgin Pacific

Australia Blue and Virgin Pacific were early favourites to win the competition, despite a problem with the latter, as Singapore Airlines (through its stake in Virgin Atlantic) had control over the use of the 'Virgin' name on International air routes, and had not, in the past, allowed its use (see Pacific Blue Airlines).

On 25 July 2007, Virgin Blue announced that V Australia would be the name of the new carrier, with the runner up of the competition, Didgeree Blue, to be the name of the airline's first plane.[6][7]

Creation

In early 2006, Virgin Blue announced its intention to operate up to seven flights a week to the United States through either Los Angeles or San Francisco, saying that the route was needed to make the airline as profitable as possible. The airline was given permission for ten flights a week to the United States by Australian regulators on 24 July 2007.[7] The plans were approved by US regulators on 15 February 2008, due to the signing of an open skies agreement between Australia and the US.[8] V Australia has since been allowed unlimited capacity between Australia and the U.S. by the Australian International Air Services Commission.[9]

V Australia later applied to the United States Department of Transportation to operate services to and from Sydney to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, and New York. Permission from the United States Department of Transportation was given after the signing of the open skies agreement.[8]

First aircraft
Boeing 777-300ER taking off from Melbourne Airport in 2010

V Australia placed orders with Boeing for six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.[10] Pending delivery of the six aircraft, V Australia leased its first Boeing 777-300ER from the International Lease Finance Corporation; named Didgeree Blue, it was delivered to V Australia at Boeing's Seattle headquarters on 26 January 2009. On 9 February Didgeree Blue touched down at Sydney Airport after flying from Seattle via Los Angeles where it was launched to the US press by Sir Richard Branson and Australian celebrities Julian McMahon and Holly Valance.[11] In 2010 two of the Boeing 777 orders were converted to options for delivery in 2012.[12]

V Australia commenced passenger services on 27 February 2009.[13] On 17 August 2009, V Australia announced that it would expand on its Brisbane/Sydney to Los Angeles routes. It was announced that the airline would fly from Melbourne to Johannesburg, Los Angeles and Phuket; as well as Brisbane to Phuket.[14] V Australia also announced on 17 August 2009 that it had applied to fly between Australia and Fiji.[14] V Australia also considered routes to China, according to an interview with Sir Richard Branson.[15]

In August 2010 it was announced that due to the unprofitability of some routes, V Australia would cease its 777-300ER services to Johannesburg and Phuket.[16] On 24 February 2011, the aircraft were redeployed on services between Sydney and Abu Dhabi to coincide with the partnership between V Australia and Etihad Airways.[17]

Destinations

V Australia had served the following destinations prior to being absorbed into Virgin Australia in December 2011.

Australia
United Arab Emirates
United States

Terminated destinations

Before V Australia was absorbed into Virgin Australia, it previously served Johannesburg, Phuket and Nadi.[16][18]

Codeshare & interline agreements

V Australia had interline agreements with Alaska Airlines to Seattle;[19] Delta Air Lines;[20] and Horizon Air to Portland. It was announced on 26 August 2010 that V Australia had signed a codeshare and interline agreement with Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airlines, giving Virgin passengers access to 65 destinations in Europe and the Middle East.[21]

Within Virgin-branded airlines V Australia offered codeshare services with Virgin Australia throughout its network in Oceania, and to and from New Zealand with Pacific Blue Airlines. V Australia also had an interline agreement with Virgin America to Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York City, Seattle and Washington DC.[22] Virgin America and V Australia shared terminal facilities at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 3; inbound V Australia flights used to arrive at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, as of November 2011 inbound flights arrive at Terminal 5. All V Australia connections were through Los Angeles International Airport. US interline passengers were transferred onto V Australia to a destination within Australia.

Fleet
Boeing 777-300ER at Sydney Airport

In September 2011, the V Australia fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[23]

V Australia Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Passengers
J P Y Total
Boeing 777-300ER 5 33 40 280 353

Services

Cabin classes

V Australia offered a three-class service on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft: International Business Class, International Premium Economy Class and International Economy Class. All three classes featured ambient Mood Lighting relative to the time of day or night, similar to that of sister airline Virgin America.

International Business Class International Business class[24] had a 2-3-2 configuration with fully horizontal flat beds that are 188 cm (6'2") long and seat pitch of 77". There was a personal workstation with laptop power, USB slot and reading light. Business Class In-Flight entertainment had a 12.1" touchscreen PTV with AVOD on every seat.

International Premium Economy Class Premium Economy class[25] had a 2-4-2 configuration. Premium Economy had all-leather seats with a 38" seat pitch, 20" seat width and a 9" seat recline. The seats were equipped with adjustable headrests and footrests. There was a personal workstation with laptop power, USB slot and reading light. Premium Economy class In-Flight entertainment had a 10.6" touchscreen PTV with AVOD on every seat.

International Economy cabin on a Boeing 777-300ER

International Economy Class International Economy class[26] had a 3-3-3 configuration. Economy seats had a 32" seat pitch, 18.8" seat width and seat recline of up to 6". USB slots were available to power laptops and other personal devices (MP3 Players etc.). Economy class In-Flight entertainment had a 9" touchscreen PTV with AVOD on every seat.

In-flight entertainment

V Australia's In-Flight entertainment RED was based on the Panasonic eX2 system. RED was fully touch-screen and handset controlled and there was no fee for use. It featured an extensive video on demand library that included new release film, TV series and TV programmes. Destination guides were also available. Other functions available through RED included music on demand (approx 200+ CD library) and video games. Seat-to-seat chat was available as well as in flight map and flight information.

Lounge access

Lounge access was available when flying V Australia for International Business Class passengers and Velocity Gold members only. Velocity Gold allowed access regardless of class of travel.

Both V Australia Business Class and Premium Economy Class passengers connecting to V Australia on Virgin Australia flights domestically within Australia were entitled to access Virgin Australia's domestic lounges on the day of travel.

At the time services ceased, V Australia used Air New Zealand's Koru Lounge in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; Alaska Airlines' Board Room lounge in Los Angeles (Terminal 3) and Etihad Airways' Lounge in Abu Dhabi.

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References
  1. Historical details for V Australia Airlines Pty Ltd Australian Business Register
  2. V Australia To Begin Service 4Q 2008 Sydney Morning Herald
  3. Virgin Australia Re-Brands its International Airlines Virgin Australia 7 December 2011
  4. Name Australia's Newest International Airline Virgin Blue 7 June 2007
  5. Name the Airline Competition Virgin Blue 25 June 2007
  6. "V Australia Airlines Struggles to Succeed". DiscountMyFlights.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  7. Introducing V Australia Virgin Blue 25 July 2007
  8. Virgin Blue signs up for open skies to the US Sydney Morning Herald 15 February 2008
  9. Bird, Michael (1 August 2008). "Determination [2008] IASC 110" (PDF). Australian Government - International Air Services Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  10. Virgin Blue Orders Boeing 777-300ERs to Initiate Long-Haul Service Boeing 21 March 2007
  11. "First V Australia Boeing 777 Arrives in Sydney Plus More Aviation News". PopSci.com.au. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  12. Thomas, Geoffrey. "Virgin Blue converts two firm 777-300ERs to options", Air Transport World retrieved 5 September 2011
  13. Australia's New International Airline Takes Off V Australia 27 February 2009
  14. "V Australia Launches New Routes". PopSci.com.au. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  15. July/Aug 2009 official newsletter of the British Chamber of Commerce [Shanghai]
  16. The Virgin Blue Group Announces Second Phase of Network Review V Australia 26 August 2010
  17. Virgin Blue launches first V Australia flight to Abu Dhabi V Australia 24 February 2011
  18. "Virgin Blue may cut routes and brands". The Age. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  19. "Release to the Australian Stock Exchange - V Australia announces SYD-LAX as launch route" (PDF).
  20. V Australia and Delta sign agreement Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  21. O'sullivan, Matt (26 August 2010). "Virgin tie-up with Etihad a blow to Qantas". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. V Australia and Virgin America Sign Interline Agreement Virgin Blue
  23. Australian civil aircraft register search Archived 11 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, using "Virgin Australia International Airlines" as the search parameter. Search conducted 5 September 2011.
  24. International Business Class V Australia
  25. International Premium Economy Class V Australia
  26. International Economy Class V Australia

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