Aussie 'V' joins low-cost airlines
Thursday, July 26, 2007
DISCOUNT airline Virgin Blue Wednesday announced its long-haul carrier approved to fly the lucrative trans-Pacific route to the United States would be called "V Australia".
The name for the new airline, chosen from almost 6,000 entries in a nationwide radio competition, was the clear winner over suggestions such as "Randy Roo Airlines", "Choo Choo Flying Big Blue" and "Pineapple Airlines".
"We had an amazing response to help name the airline and V Australia stood out among the entries," Virgin Blue Airlines Group chief executive Brett Godfrey said.
"It is nice and simple, easily recognised, both understated and obvious and has a clear Australian identity."
V Australia will be the fourth airline in the Virgin Blue Group after the budget Australian carrier Virgin Blue, the New Zealand-based Pacific Blue and the joint venture with the Samoan government, Polynesian Blue. Virgin Blue said the new airline would bring increased competition to the trans-Pacific route after Australia's International Air Services Commission on Tuesday gave V Australia the green light to operate return non-stop flights to the US from late 2008. The airline is now awaiting US regulatory approval.
"This is the first time in decades Australia has a start-up long haul international airline and we look forward to bringing competitive air fares and a new style of service to the trans-Pacific market," Godfrey said. V Australia will initially operate 10 flights per week between Australia's east coast and the west coast of the US, with the first flight operated by a brand-new B777-300ER launch aircraft named "Didgeree Blue".
The airline will be competing with Qantas and US airlines United and Hawaiian Airlines on the lucrative route.
The Sydney-Los Angeles route is regarded by the Australian government as a key national asset and is believed to contribute as much as 20 per cent of profits earned by the national airline Qantas.
Canberra has repeatedly rebuffed Singapore Airline's decade-long campaign for access to the route despite figures showing demand for seats is growing faster than supply.
Virgin Blue is 62.3 per cent-owned by Australia's Toll Holdings while Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which set up the airline in 2000, has some 25.6 percent.
AFP
The name for the new airline, chosen from almost 6,000 entries in a nationwide radio competition, was the clear winner over suggestions such as "Randy Roo Airlines", "Choo Choo Flying Big Blue" and "Pineapple Airlines".
"We had an amazing response to help name the airline and V Australia stood out among the entries," Virgin Blue Airlines Group chief executive Brett Godfrey said.
"It is nice and simple, easily recognised, both understated and obvious and has a clear Australian identity."
V Australia will be the fourth airline in the Virgin Blue Group after the budget Australian carrier Virgin Blue, the New Zealand-based Pacific Blue and the joint venture with the Samoan government, Polynesian Blue. Virgin Blue said the new airline would bring increased competition to the trans-Pacific route after Australia's International Air Services Commission on Tuesday gave V Australia the green light to operate return non-stop flights to the US from late 2008. The airline is now awaiting US regulatory approval.
"This is the first time in decades Australia has a start-up long haul international airline and we look forward to bringing competitive air fares and a new style of service to the trans-Pacific market," Godfrey said. V Australia will initially operate 10 flights per week between Australia's east coast and the west coast of the US, with the first flight operated by a brand-new B777-300ER launch aircraft named "Didgeree Blue".
The airline will be competing with Qantas and US airlines United and Hawaiian Airlines on the lucrative route.
The Sydney-Los Angeles route is regarded by the Australian government as a key national asset and is believed to contribute as much as 20 per cent of profits earned by the national airline Qantas.
Canberra has repeatedly rebuffed Singapore Airline's decade-long campaign for access to the route despite figures showing demand for seats is growing faster than supply.
Virgin Blue is 62.3 per cent-owned by Australia's Toll Holdings while Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which set up the airline in 2000, has some 25.6 percent.
AFP
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