Where's VX going next?
 

Any thoughts on where Virgin America will fly to next? Boston and Miami seemed like possibilities but with fuel where it is, Portland OR, Phoenix, Dallas or Houston would seem more likely.
Also, I think the Chicago service will get the go ahead.

I'm feeling pretty confident VX will ultimately pick up the slots they want at O'Hare. In fact, I'm hoping to start seeing some SFO-ORD flight schedules soon for travel in October or November, but that's wishful thinking.

BOS seems high on the list of likely new destinations, notwithstanding fuel cost from the west coast. Nonstop service to high-demand destinations seem the best strategy to predispose good load factors. I'd put my money on DFW or HOU, DEN, ATL, and MIA after that.

http://virginamerica.custhelp.com/cg...php?p_faqid=37

Also possible are new routes between existing destinations, a recent addition of which being JFK-LAS. Maybe IAD-LAS, or SAN-LAS, or SAN-JFK?

I was right with ya, until you said SAN-JFK ???

An FA told me that ORD is next starting in October... but that was a couple months ago and it is possible they were giving out bad information (to confuse competitors perhaps). I choose to believe what I was told (thinking positively).

After that I'm guessing BOS, DEN or MIA. Last year, a GA told me that they will be serving the major Canadian airports too.

Are you absolutely sure from VX is next destination cities from SFO? Perhaps I think VX will considering service for SFO-PHX. This is good logical choice from VX is next announcement sometimes in between October or November. I knows some airlines already directly service from PHX-SFO is still more competitions along UA, US & WN. Its will be very tougher completitions from PHX-SFO. I think VX will eventually to begin new routes from PHX-SFO sometimes in 2009.

I have been asking for SFO-PHX since they started. I fly OAK-PHX at least once a month on US. I will take the extra time to SFO just to fly them to PHX.

I believe they will focus on areas where capacity has been reduced by the network carriers. Looking at Expertflyer, it seems there is too much capacity on that route.

US and others are cutting capacity out of LAS (but it may still have excess- things are REALLY down in Vegas right now, plus you're competing against WN in what is as close to a fortress as they have); I would imagine the same is true for UA/AA out of ORD (and with the new runway, that would make it easy to move in).

FWIW, I've always seen UA and AA as VX's main targets- though they've picked up some nice business out of SEA against AS, I see their next set of expansion targets as being UA/AA hubs: ORD, MIA, DEN, DFW, as opposed to AS markets (PDX is a bit small, though a close hop for SFO and LAX, and operations in Alaska are complicated- plus I'm not sure SEA-IAD/JFK/ORD/LAS is where they should be going, though I'd LOVE it if VX flew LAS-SEA).

I also think they will do some East Coast service (JFK/IAD-MIA) at some point to complement the SEA-SFO/LAX-SAN/LAS they have going on the West Coast as well. Who knows, maybe they could make JFK-IAD work?

I'd love to see BOS or PVD. Boston seems like a "VX city"

BOS is likely. When they were talking like they were going to expand more this year, lots of articles mentioned MIA, BOS, and ORD as the next 3 cities (in that order).

I'd like to see SAN-HNL and SAN-MIA. If these flights come true, its probably going to be VIA SFO/LAX. No problems with that as its a joy to fly VX ^

I think SFO-OGG (Maui) is worth a look. Aloha and ATA are gone, so last I checked, only United serves this route now.

I recently paid $339 all inclusive for SFO-IAD on VX. I'm pretty sure VX could charge a lot more than that for SFO-OGG, for a flight of similar distance.

It would take a while to become an ETOPS airline, though.

I must admit that I have no idea what ETOPS certification costs and how long it takes. Any ideas what it would cost and how long it would take VX if they sought maybe 6-10 SFO/LAX to Hawaii flights per day?

I would guess it would be on the order of magnitude of years, not months. No idea how much it would cost.

No, this is not good idea by ETOPS certifications from SFO/LAX-HNL. Because it was only for overwater restrictions. VX should be installed new liferaft & lifevest, too. I knows VX will be remains in the mainland USA instead of overwater ETOPS restrictions. I'm positive sure from VX will be remains where its exact service from SFO or LAX.

That would also explain why I've been told by VX employees that they plan to eventually service Canadian and Mexican airports.

Wikipedia says that Singapore Airlines has blocked usage of the Virgin trademark for international carriage, which is why it's "V Australia", not "Virgin Australia".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_Australia

Would VX rename their international flights to "V Canada" or "V Mexico"?

We're talking VX (Virgin America). VA (V Australia) already have ETOPS as they will be flying Australia-USA transpacs.

edit - sorry I misread your post. So the SQ deal was for all Virgin Airlines? I thought it was just DJ in Australia.. ouch! And of course VS would be exempt because it was around before the deal. It must have been a pretty darn good deal for SRB to restrict usage of his globally recognized brand like that.

-- according to UA, travel between the USA and Canada/Mexico is not considered international :p

I don't think thats totally accurate. I'm pretty sure VX can use the Virgin name for some international service (like the proposed service to SJD).

And the Virgin Group only owns 25% of VX... would that mean the SQ deal would not apply to them?

No.

They lost that proposal, btw.

Oh, no! They didn't get approval for LAX-SJD for this time. Maybe VX will considerable to have reapplies again for LAX-SJD sometimes in the future. That's why VX didn't get rights more provided service to Mexico. Unfortunately, VX didn't get it chance applies for LAX-SJD.

SFO to YVR needs some serious competition. I have had horrible experiences on UA on the route, and while AC's product as gotten better, I've always thought that either VX, B6, or WN could compete well there. SFO/LAX to YYZ should also be a VX target.

Problem is, it's an open question whether YVR-SFO is a feasible route to be making money on. AS just dropped it from their route network (along with YVR-LAS), and they compete with WN on a lot of their West Coast routes.

I think it makes more sense to/from a hub than an O&D route like AS had.

Please come to Houston
 

I'd love to see VX in HOU or IAH.