Virgin Blue Sets Out Sydney Growth

“We have about 18,000 Lounge members nationally and growing, and we’re continually evolving our product,” said CEO Brett Godfrey.

“Our premium economy seat which was launched in March this year was front of mind when it came to these types of facilities, as was our Capital Jet service which was launched out of Sydney with the first Embraer 170s. ” At its “Lounge warming”, the new world carrier revealed a demonstrator of V Australia’s business class seat, which will be able to transform into a lie-flat bed.

Based upon the same design as used by South African Airways which won a Skytrax award in 2005 for the most comfortable business class seat, the design features well padded cushions, several storage spaces, and when laid out flat to its full 195cm length, will be made up with a fitted sheet and doona/quilt by cabin crew for sleeping. The 33 business class seats will be arranged with a 78in (198cm) pitch in a 2-3-2 configuration, while the international premium economy product will have a relatively compact nine-abreast layout. The airline will also feature two inflight ‘V-bars’ on its Boeing 777-300ERs, in both the business class and international premium economy cabins.

Godfrey confirmed that delivery of its first 777 had been delayed until mid November due to ongoing internal furnishings supplier delays, although he didn’t expect this to impact the planned December 15 inaugural service from Sydney to Los Angeles.

Virgin Blue also announced that it expects to create up to 1000 jobs over the next five years through the opening of a new Sydney operating base, which will be located at the airline’s new Botany training centre which was opened in early 2008. The base will support the operations of V Australia’s 777 and Virgin Blue’s 737 and Embraer E-Jet fleets, with 450 cabin crew, pilots and engineers expected to be working from it by the end of the year.

“We agreed earlier this year to a commitment through the 777 program to establish an operational base, the headquarters for the 777 program here in Sydney, and we promised to create 1000 jobs by July of 2011, and I’m glad to say we’re actually ahead of track on that schedule,” Godfrey said. “It also gives me tremendous pleasure to announce that Virgin Blue will be setting up a new jet crew base to support Virgin Blue’s domestic operations following incredible support by the NSW government.

This new jetbase will generate in excess of an additional 1000 jobs for NSW by the end of 2012. It will include jobs in relation to cabin crew, pilots and engineering roles, and they have already begun.

Over the next 18 months we envisage about a third of our fleet will be based in Sydney – it is now our busiest port and will become more so. ” In addition to the new crew base, speculation is also high that the airline is looking to establish a 777 capable maintenance facility at Sydney, details of which will no doubt be revealed when Sydney Airport Corporation releases its revised master plan in late September.