Hainan Airlines takes 13% stake in VA
 

Both airlines expected to form a joint alliance and stake expected to grow to 19.99% of Virgin over time. It's actually HNA Avion Group which is taking the stake, which has a few airlines:

Member companies under HNA Aviation include Grand China Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Lucky Air, West Air, Yangtze River Express, my Cargo, Ghana AWA Airlines, Aigle Azur Ailine, HNA Technik, HNA Sales, HNA Aviation Academy, HNA Cargo, myTECHNIC, etc.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviat...30-gp7peo.html

Not sure I would fly with lucky air!

VA A330's to China within 6-12 months.

That's one way of getting around restrictions on capacity for Chinese airlines!

1st June 2017

From Australian Business Traveller ...

Full Article

I think from memory the application says that the allocated capacity would be "fully" used by June 2017, the inference is that it could be partially used prior to then.

The process to commence a new route, particularly like Hong Kong or Beijing would not be one that could, or should, be rushed, so you would hope that kick off wouldn't be until the new year anyway, but it isn't impossible to start before then.

I am hoping Brisbane features and given HNA operate to Sydney you would have to think Melbourne and or Brisbane would have to be in the hunt. No (flight) crew based in Brisbane on the 330 but this might change the dynamic a bit (with luck!)

MEL, OOL & CNS are already part of the HNA network. SYD I didn't know about. I imagine BNE will feature & I have heard there may be some "outside the square" inclusions.

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