Virgin Australia to partially wet lease 777 to alliance partner Etihad for Kuala Lumpur services

[alberttky 0]

Virgin Australia will wet lease one of its Boeing 777-300ERs to alliance partner Etihad Airways during a once weekly 34 hour 55 minute layover in Abu Dhabi. Etihad has earmarked using the aircraft to bolster services to Kuala Lumpur, a popular market for Gulf travellers and one that competitor Emirates has been increasing capacity to.

 

The decision to wet lease the aircraft to Etihad once a week, from May-2012 subject to regulatory approval, finally allows Virgin to better utilise the once weekly extended layover as part of the carrier's three times weekly Sydney-Abu Dhabi services which commenced in Feb-2011. The other two services have 10 hour 55 minute layovers.

 

While of little competitive pressure, not lost is that Virgin's aircraft will be sent to Kuala Lumpur, the hub of Malaysia Airlines, which is due to join Qantas in oneworld and which has explored deeper ties with Qantas. MAS has remained on the Dubai sector despite facing large competitive pressure and network restructures elsewhere across its route map. Dubai-Kuala Lumpur is Emirates' fifth-largest route by available seats (it is not in the top 10 for Etihad).

 

http://www.centreforaviation.com/blogs/southern-contrails/virgin-australia-to-partially-wet-lease-777-to-alliance-partner-etihad-for-kuala-lumpur-services-69549?utm_source=Aviation+Analyst&utm_campaign=0b8586b52b-Aviation+Analyst&utm_medium=email

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

MAS has remained on the Dubai sector despite facing large competitive pressure and network restructures elsewhere across its route map.

 

Somebody didn't do their research!

[Mike P 0]

And so MH won't discontinue KUL-DBX route after all?

[Nabiel Haniff 1]

Hi, just passed by KLIA today around 1420hrs and saw virgin flight with red font and white background on final approach to KUL. Can anyone confirm this? Is it Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Australia? Are they coming to KUL or the aircraft has been diverted from others station?

[flee 5]

Hi, just passed by KLIA today around 1420hrs and saw virgin flight with red font and white background on final approach to KUL. Can anyone confirm this? Is it Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Australia? Are they coming to KUL or the aircraft has been diverted from others station?

It is operating Etihad flights - wet lease.

[Nabiel Haniff 1]

TQ