Virgin Blue Hints at ST Membership
 

What an exciting rumour, which together with a potential new name for the one airline (bringing all the existing Group airlines DJ/VA into a single brand) shows they are trying hard to evolve, while one of their major regional competitors (QF) continues to devolve.

Given that the article only made reference to the potential for V Australia to join SkyTeam, could this imply that's the new name? Would they consider dropping the Virgin? It wouldn't make sense not to bring the domestic and South Pacific operations into an alliance...

The only thing that DJ seems to have voiced, is that they are likely to move to a single airline brand at some point soon. I love to guess at things, but this is a real hard one to call!

Of course at LAX they have shacked up with Alaska Airlines - and have probably learnt much from their bed fellow about bed-hopping and keeping all your partners satisfied.

At the same time, they are probably playing hard ball with Sky Team & Virgin Group (maybe even others), to see if either can make them an offer, which they can’t refuse.

In the end, I can only guess that the brand & partnerships which are likely to bring the best shareholder value, will be deployed. (Not withstanding, any geographic restrictions on brand usage.)

Interesting video interview here - http://crankyflier.com/2009/02/09/ac...tralia-launch/

If they decide too, it would take a long process rememer when they were offered a place in *A when they hooked up with United? Everyone thought that they would be jumping to *A but that had never eventuated, now they dropped their code-share with UA, only interline agreement.

DJ has an interline agreement with VN & DL the only future & current SkyTeam members.

I'd think it would be more likely for the Virgin Group airlines to form their own alliance.

In this thread on a.net (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...in/4690429/#20) there's comment that the relationship between Virgin Blue and Virgin Atlantic is barely on speaking terms.

There also appears to be a lot of confusion about Virgin Blue and Virgin Atlantic, which would partly justify the rationale behind a common name (not including Virgin) before joining an alliance.

Virgin Blue Group’s association with Delta is bigger than anything it has ever done, with any other airline before!

It is certainly more than interlining as, for the first time, it involves some reciprocal benefits for elites, specifically including lounge access. Additionally, Delta Sky Club membership now comes with Virgin Blue - The Lounge access.

When DJ and UA were close, DJ was still an toddler, with a lot more growing up to do. Today DJ is more the cockie adolescent, striding about with pimply confidence, and likely to respond well to a seasoned mentor looking to spread its wings.

Virgin Blue and China Southern Airlines have just formed a new interline relationship.

http://www.etravelblackboard.com/sho...d=101267&nav=2

At the beginning of this week, Virgin Blue Airlines Group also strengthened its relationship with Virgin Atlantic - http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/co...ntic/index.htm. Both now offering reciprocal elite benefits.

Fingers crossed though, that DJ's final play is for Sky Team: if so, it would make Sky Team the only alliance with a member offering domestic services in Australia & New Zealand. (Limiting Oneworld to QF domestic in Australia and Star Alliance to NZ domestic in New Zealand.)

Noting that - SQ’s (co-investment) Tiger (TT) offers domestic in Australia & QF’s Jetstar (JQ) offers domestic in New Zealand.

What exactly does this means for DL, and V AUS, does this means a full partnership :D

They were never offered a role in *A.

SQ and NZ are 2 carriers that would not want their membership.

As for the single brand, most billboards no have the V Australia branding at the bottom before Virgin Blue. Read into that what you will.

I'm hoping this does not happen as it lessens the chances of VS becoming part of *

I doubt what DJ does alliance wise, particularly if it commonly-brands to something not including the Virgin name, will impact VS becoming part of *. It probably has a lot more to do with what LH as the full owner of bmi has planned in relation to LHR.