VA to start Sydney to Hong Kong on July 2

[Greg Hyde]

VA to start Sydney to Hong Kong on July 2

Virgin Australia will launch its daily Sydney-Hong Kong nonstop service at the start of July.

The airline first announced plans to operate the route in February, without specifying a start date.

However, Virgin Australia said on Tuesday it will join Cathay Pacific and Qantas on the busy Sydney-Hong Kong route from July 2 2018.

It will operate Sydney-Hong Kong with its fleet of Airbus A330-200s featuring 20 business class seats with direct aisle access for every passenger and 255 seats in economy at eight abreast.

Once Virgin Australia commences Sydney-Hong Kong flights, its Melbourne-Hong Kong offering will drop back to five flights a week, from daily currently.

Flight timings for Melbourne-Hong Kong will also change from a daytime flight from Melbourne and red-eye return from Hong Kong to an overnight service in both directions.

It was understood the schedule changes were due to the availability of takeoff and landing slots at Hong Kong’s busy Chek Lap Kok Airport.

Virgin Australia’s two services between Australia and Hong Kong are supported by its alliance with HNA Group carriers including Hong Kong Airlines, which has its HX airline code on the Australian carrier’s services to Hong Kong.

There is also a codeshare arrangement with Virgin Atlantic, which in January received approval to add its VS airline code on Virgin Australia’s Hong Kong and Los Angeles services.

Full story

http://australianaviation.com.au/201...ong-on-july-2/

[MarkR]

Overnight flights both ways for HKG-MEL makes aircraft utilization tough. Wont be using the service when it changes to that setup, yuck.

[Alex Lui]

VH-XFJ is due to operate the inaugural VA83 service on 2 July 2018 at this stage.

[James Smith]

Virgin Australia is to pull out of the MEL - HKG route from February, 2020 to allow for the commencement of services to HND. Also, ceasing services from SYD - CHC, reducing services from SYD - AKL and three domestic routes.

Link to the Executive Traveller post:

https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...g-kong-flights

[Greg Hyde]

Also reduce the fleet by 5 aircraft.

[Brenden S]

2 x A320's ex Tiger
3 x F100's ex VARA

[Erik H. Bakke]

F100s to Alliance, perhaps?

Free local pickup

[Brenden S]

Possible, but probably better used for parts only.

[Greg Hyde]

Alliance still has several a/c stored in BTS and Norwich.

Can you have toooo many Fokkers ?

[James Smith]

Virgin Australia is cancelling its HKG services completely.

Virgin Australia on Thursday (06FEB20) announced cancellation of Hong Kong service, as the airline operates last Sydney – Hong Kong route on 01MAR20. The airline currently operates this route once daily, on board Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

VA083 SYD1010 – 1635HKG 332 D
VA082 HKG1915 – 0740+1SYD 332 D

The airline on Monday 10FEB20 is operating last Melbourne – Hong Kong flight.

Source: Routes Online