Virgin Australia orders Australia's first 737 MAX 8 aircraft

Source: Travel Daily




Virgin Australia has just announced an agreement with Boeing for the delivery of 23 737 MAX 8 aircraft - the first in Australia.

The new planes will join the Virgin Australia fleet between 2019 and 2021, with the agreement including a further four delivery options "ensuring flexibility to respond to market conditions".

At the same time, Virgin Australia has delayed the dellivery of some of its Boeing 737NG aircraft until after 2016, leaving 31 scheduled deliveries of 737-800s between 2013 and 2016.

"This gives the airline flexibility to develop the appropriate mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft," the carrier said in a statement to the ASX.

CEO John Borghetti also said that by the end of next year all of Virgin Australia's Boeing 737-700s will have exited the fleet.

"Virgin Australia is committed to maintaining a young and flexible fleet of modern aircraft," he said, with the average fleet age dropping from 4.9 to 4. years in the last 12 months alone.

He said that the Boeing 737 MAX should reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 13% compared to today's most fuel efficient single-aisle aircraft, with the new planes to incorporate the latest quiet engine technology, significantly reducing their noise footprint.

"Virgin Australia will continue to review its fleet strategy to ensure we align fit-for-purpose aircraft to markets and maintain maximum flexibility in capacity management," Borghetti said.

More information in today's Travel Daily.

Pacific Sun sets off on final cruise

Source: Cruise Weekly

One of Australia’s most significant ships has departed on its last voyage for P&O before moving on to a new life in China. A SMALL crowd gathered in Brisbane on Sunday to bid “bon voyage” to the Pacific Sun, affectionately known for many years as Australia’s favourite cruise ship.

“It was a sombre sailaway with some of her fans lining the river to wave goodbye – I’m told there were a few tears,” a spokesperson for P&O Australia told CW.

 “It’s fair to say that Pacific Sun introduced thousands of Australians to cruising… She was at the core of the resurgence in cruising in Australia.”

In the eight years that Pacific Sun sailed under the P&O brand, Australian cruising experienced double-digit annual growth. Since 2004, the 47,000-tonne ship carried more than half a million passengers on 332 cruises, primarily around the South Pacific.

Over the past two weeks P&O Australia fans on Facebook have posted comments and reminisced about memories of fun on the ‘Sun’.

A group of “cruise enthusiasts” also set up a separate farewell page and are posting updates live from on board the final seven-night Pacific Island cruise. The 26-year-old ship was sold earlier this year as part of Carnival Australia’s continuing program of fleet renewal.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, said Pacific Sun had been “enormously popular”. “When Pacific Sun joined our fleet eight years ago, Carnival Australia had two ships based in Australia and now we have seven, so she has certainly played a role in that growth”.

The 723-cabin vessel, built in Sweden in 1986, was first named Jubilee and sailed for US-based Carnival Cruise Lines in the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska. Mystery surrounds the new unidentified owners, but according to unconfirmed rumours, the ship may be converted into a “floating casino” in China.

Virgin Australia in bed with Virgin America - Marriage approved

VIRGIN America has received approval from the US Dept of Transportation (DOT) to allow the ‘VA’ code of sister-carrier Virgin Australia on US routes (TD 12 Jun).

The “initial” list of codeshare points Virgin Australia will display its code on Virgin America metal are from Los Angeles to Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Ft Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle and the US capital, Washington DC.

VA/VX had requested expedited approval to begin marketing the services as soon as possible.

Overnight, the DOT said the statement of authorisation to display the VA code was limited to points in the United States.

The agreement is Virgin America’s first codeshare alliance.

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New Hilton brand for Australia

Source: Travel Daily

DoubleTree by Hilton to debut down under

Hilton Worldwide has announced the "breakthrough" launch of its DoubleTree by Hilton brand in the Australian market under a deal with Ramtron Australia.

The 164-room DoubleTree by Hilton Karratha in WA's Pilbara region will be the state's second Hilton-branded hotel, joining the Parmelia Hilton Perth, and is slated to open by mid-2014, complementing the group's 15 other properties spread across Australasia.

"The hotel is strategically located to support the ever growing demand from the resources sector," Robert Scullin, vice president of development, Australasia Hilton Worldwide said today.

Global head Rob Palleschi said: "The DoubleTree by Hilton, Karratha shows our commitment to providing comfortable, amenity-rich hotel experiences for business travellers as we create a rewarding and friendly hotel experience for the DoubleTree by Hilton brand globally."

The eight-storey hotel will feature 20 apartments, a fitness centre, outdoor pool and three function rooms.

Hilton Worldwide has more than 300 DoubleTree by Hilton properties in 24 countries.

More information in tomorrow's issue of Travel Daily.