A vision realised

The occasion? The reveal of Virgin Australia’s new inflight product offering to be launched in March, and the delivery flight of its latest A330-200, VH-XFJ, from Toulouse, France.

Everything about this flight was different – very different.

No long queues for check-in and security for us – we were VIPs.

Our small group of Australian media was checked-in atSingapore’s exclusive VIP terminal where you might run into Bill Gates or Bill Clinton.

Well they weren’t there but our gleaming new showroom condition 274-seat A330 was and we were summoned by a hostess and escorted on a private bus to our magic carpet for the day.

On board and the chilled French champagne arrived in seconds.

This was going to be a good trip.

Being a delivery flight, we had four captains and two engineers to look after the technical side and eight flight attendants – one for each aircraft door – to attend our every whim.

And there were lots of whims as we took on the role of VIPs with gusto.

While a delightful and indulgent way to fly home there was a serious side to the trip.

Our Virgin Vision to 2017 is to become Australia’s favourite airline group. JOHN BORGHETTI

The day before Virgin had unveiled its latest weapons in the pitched battle for the hearts and backsides of Australian travellers.

And this is a billion dollar battle! From March the airline will introduce what Borghetti terms a business/first class suite on transcontinental routes as part of one of the most dramatic upgrades of cabin product ever seen by an Australian airline.

The new product, which the airline claims is longer and wider than the one being introduced by Qantas in December, will be fitted to its domestic A330-200s and international Boeing 777-300ERs.

The revolutionary business class suites, which convert into 80in lie-flat beds, represent a major enhancement to the travel experience on board Virgin Australia’s A330 and 777 aircraft, says Borghetti.

“The innovative 1-2-1 configuration will guarantee passengers a window or aisle seat and maximum privacy to work and unwind, the Virgin boss says. The suite includes a unique tablet holder, a 16 to 18in touch screen for entertainment, multiple lighting settings and plenty of storage. The seat also offers a new level of comfort with new soft furnishings, a number of adjustablepositions to suit the differing needs of customers and an adjustable armrest to increase the seat width when sleeping.

Borghetti added that the new suites are inspired by the interiors of some of the world’s most premium automotive designs.

Virgin Australia enlisted the support of renowned design agency Tangerine London, which led the industrial design of the new seats and cabins to create the premium and tailored suites.

B/E Aerospace was chosen as the manufacturer and has named the new Virgin Australia Business Class suite the ‘Super Diamond’.

The rollout next year will be the first initiative in the airline’s Virgin Vision to 2017.

The airline is also revamping its international premium economy, increasing the seat pitch by 7cm to 104cm and will soon announce upgrades to economy class.

Borghetti was coy on details but promised some great initiatives.

However, Australian Aviation was able to extract that the first few rows of economy on the 777 at least will be an economy plus type of product.

And the serious side to the trip continued on board despite the camaraderie and banter of a VIP delivery flight.

Our captains were not just ordinary captains but these were some of the most experienced from the Virgin Australia ranks.

Captain Danny Billings is the airline’s A330 check captain and he came through to check that everything was shipshape and introduce himself.

He advised me that the takeoff was going to be something special.

And indeed it was.

Our takeoff weight was 183 tonnes, somewhat less than the maximum of 230 tonnes and we were off the ground in 25 seconds thanks to a TOGA setting. (For the technically-minded V1 was 139kt and V2 147kt. ) Borghetti joined me for lunch for a chat about the new product and the industry in general.

Fascinating stuff! Lunch is magnificent and we are served personally by Luke Mangan, who has created Virgin Australia’s menus.

“The dishes are all from the menus we’re currently flying and are my favourites” said Mangan.

And one could say that the new inflight product offering from Virgin Australia will also be magnificent.

“The new bed will widen the gap between Virgin and Qantas much more in our favour,” says Borghetti. “It is virtually a first class style of product. ”

“The new suites will set a new standard in business class travel, not just in Australia but around the world,” he continues.

The configuration of the new suites will be 1-2-1 so every business passenger will have direct aisle access and the maximum of privacy.

The suites bristle with business-friendly features that will make the perfect office combined with what appears to be the perfect bed.

To round that off, new menus and a turn-down service will be introduced in March.

However, it will not cost any more.

“We have reduced fares significantly since we introduced business class in 2011. ” Borghetti also talks about the enhanced premium economy on the Boeing 777s used on international routes. “This product will be a ‘business lite’ rather than premium economy,” he says.

Also on the 777s Borghetti explains that the airline will add extra legroom to the first few rows of economy for an economy plus-styled product with further details to be announced soon.

That announcement will be coupled with others related to the airline’s economy cabin.

The product upgrades are part of the airline’s overarching strategy to become the country’s airline of choice.

“Our Virgin Vision to 2017 is to become Australia’s favourite airline group and the new products are central to this strategy as it will see Virgin Australia deliver the best premium travel experience in Australia. ” The suites will rollout in Virgin Australia’s A330 fleet in early 2015 with the first aircraft expected to be in service by March and the complete refit of the fleet to be finalised by August.

The rollout of the new business class product for the 777 fleet will commence from November 2015 and be complete by early 2016.

It was very clear from talking to Borghetti that the battle for hearts and backsides is moving from price to who has the softer bed.

But it was also clear that the economy passenger hasn’t been forgotten either with numerous announcements to follow.

But for now, and all too soon the lights of Sydney are visible and our eight hour magic carpet ride is over.

But the magic carpet for Australian travellers is about to get a whole lot better!