More news - nice to see they will take on Qantas from Melbourne...

More news - nice to see they will take on Qantas from Melbourne to LA from September. I flew with United last September and they were rubbish, paying A$4,500 for the privilege for two of us. Impressed by the positive messages coming from VBA, they seem very dedicated to making this work.

V Australia cuts Pacific route faresFont Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print Steve Creedy, Aviation writer | February 08, 2009
Article from: The Australian
VIRGIN BLUE offshoot V Australia is set to cause Qantas more heartache across the Pacific with another round of fare sales that offer heavily discounted tickets and a new service between Melbourne and the US from mid-September.

The airline announced on Saturday it would launch a three-flight per week service between Melbourne and Los Angeles on September 15 with all inclusive return economy launch fares from $1199.

The route is in addition to already announced Sydney-Los Angeles and Brisbane-Los Angeles routes as well as a Sydney-Johannesburg service expected to start within 12 months.

"We know this is something people have been crying out for on both sides of the Pacific,” Virgin Blue Group chief executive Brett Godfrey said. "Even in these tough economic times passenger traffic through Melbourne has been continuing to grow, so stimulating the destination further with more than convenient value-for-money, freshly innovative and high-quality air services can only be a good thing for all.”

Australia's newest international carrier, the first outside the Qantas stable for more than a decade, has made it clear it intends to use its new, efficient Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to offer long-term price cuts on one of Australia's more expensive long-haul routes.

Major shareholder Richard Branson said over the weekend that he expected fares wars that have delivered savings of about 30 per cent to travellers across the Pacific to continue well into next year.

Sir Richard said bargain fares from Australia's newest international carrier and the weaker Australian dollar would help stimulate travel to and from the flagging US market.

"I'm sure there will be great bargains to be had just to make sure that we don't go with an empty seat,” he said.

V Australia led a recent sharp drop in ticket prices when its $1199 return economy fare between Sydney and Los Angeles was matched by other carriers.

The airline's first aircraft is due to arrive in Australia tomorrow and will undergo proving flights for its Air Operator's Certificate ahead of the start of a Sydney-Los Angeles service with three flights a week on February 27.

That service will move to daily flights daily on March 20 and will be followed by the launch of three weekly flights from Brisbane on April 8.

The airline is the first in Australia to operate 777s and will be the first to introduce them on trans-Pacific routes. It expects its cost base to be lower than Qantas or US airline United Airlines.

The new planes feature lie-flat business seats in cabin featuring a sit-down bar, a premium economy class and what it says are the widest and most comfortable economy seats on the Pacific. It will offer video-on-demand in all cabins and incorporates Virgin's trademark humour to its in-flight service.

The first aircraft, the 360-seat "Didgeree Blue”, carried media, travel agents, staff members and several Australian celebrities based in the US to an enthusiastic reception at Los Angeles International Airport.

The celebrities included actors Julian McMahon, Jason Clarke and Kimberley Joseph as well as singer Holly Valance.

Despite being forced to launch V Australia in a slowing economy at one of the quietest times of the year, Sir Richard and Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey are optimistic about its prospects.

"This is one of those cyclical downturns but we will be out there offering consumers the best deals that can be had in the air across the Pacific on the best quality planes,” Sir Richard said.

"The consumers will never have had it so good. They actually need it good at the moment because life's tough but at least it will be a lot of cheaper than if we weren't flying.

"I think with the strength of the brand, the strength of great domestic airline in Australia, a great domestic airline in America and a tremendous airline with Virgin Atlantic, we can build and do extremely well.”