Tamworth added to VARAs ATR destination.

[MarkR]

Six services a week from May.

Mr Borghetti's comments come as Virgin expands its regional network in NSW by flying six times a week between Sydney and Tamworth using 68-seat ATR turboprop aircraft from May 25.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/virgi...#ixzz3TUZTuPZ5

[Chris W]

This should be at least double daily (except Sunday), even as a start-up. They're not going to win customers with a mid-afternoon return.

[Rowan McKeever]

No they are not. They need to add a RON service to it, at least 6x a week.

[Arthur T]

I agree, especially once daily in mid-day is not going to attract same day return customers from Sydney. Hopefully passenger numbers to pick up and we will see more frequencies on that route.

On the other hand, great to see VA is increasing the number of destinations within regional NSW. I hope we might see something like SYD-WGA or SYD-BHQ soon.

[Robert.M]

I have doubts that Wagga will see any VARA flights in the short to mid term.

[Yusef D]

I reckon Wagga has been in Virgin's radar since the E170 days.

Defence you know.

[Robert.M]

We may have Defence but PAX numbers aren't stable enough to justify more flights, let alone another operator. I'd love to see VARA operate here but I just can't see it happening.

Back in the E170 days, the put off was the runway (since resurfaced to a better standard) and no baggage screening (which has since been installed for the Q400 to operate).

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Robert.M

We may have Defence but PAX numbers aren't stable enough to justify more flights, let alone another operator. I'd love to see VARA operate here but I just can't see it happening.

Back in the E170 days, the put off was the runway (since resurfaced to a better standard) and no baggage screening (which has since been installed for the Q400 to operate).

I would not be surprised to see them there soon, the ATR can economically handle the loads a lot better than the Q400.

[Garry Emanuel]

Do others not get tired of VA "cherry-picking" ?

They drop in and out of routes like nothing else.

Too many play them as being the "gift to the community" when in actual fact, they care little about the community and more about commerciality.

Don't get me wrong, I have no issue with the commerciality aspect - just don't play us as fools and try to sell it to the world as "doing it because they have an interest in the community" - they don't ! ! ! ! !

[Greg McDonald]

All airlines and in fact most companies are the same...the dollar rules. What it comes down to with airlines especially is that if the community doesn't support the service (bums on seats) then they won't stay around..simple economy.